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PC Tel UHF Antenna Question

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piper451

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I'm not an antenna expert, so please go easy on me. I have a question about the antenna pictured below. It is marked PCTel 450-470 and has a spring base. I want to use this antenna in a mobile application for GMRS. I'm wondering if I am in the ballpark with this antenna. What's throwing me off is the fact that the upper section is longer than the lower section. Can someone explain? If everything looks ok, what should the approximate length of the upper and lower be for 467 MHz? Also, can the spring base be removed and if so, will it affect the tuning length? Thank you so much in advance - I learn something new every day reading the posts on this site.
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cmdrwill

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PCTel has some weird antenna designs.

The upper rod is a end feed 3/8 wave and the lower is probably a 1/2 wave rod. The small black section between the two rods is the phasing coil that matches the two rods into one antenna radiator

There is another coil below the spring in the base that matches the half wave rod..

I do not think the black section above the spring, labeled "?", belongs there.

See:PCTEL | Heavy Duty Low Profile Base Gain Antennas
 

N0ZQR

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The "black" section is an important part of the antenna, it's the part that lets the antenna cover the whole frequency range 450-470 (wideband).

I don't think the antenna is still being made (could be wrong though).

Ron
 

piper451

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Thank you for the replies. I'm really curious to know (judging by the length of the sections) if this antenna will perform well on 467 MHz? Or does it need to be trimmed? I know I can't get an exact answer without exact measurements and testing, but is it close?


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N0ZQR

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These amtennas were designed not to be tuned.
They covered the whole range (450-470) with the
middle at 460.
Ron
 

piper451

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Awesome. Thanks Ron. It was working well on GMRS. Just wanted to know if I could make it any "better". Thanks again


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N0ZQR

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Glad to help! I have used this antenna on our
county Com trailer. Worked great for interop.

Ron
 

piper451

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Binghamton, NY
I currently have it mounted on my truck using a fender mount. I would love to put it in the center of the roof, but I would have some serious height issues driving through parking ramps and into my garage. Am I loosing a great deal of performance by using the fender mount?


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