Right angle mobile rubber duck with mini-UHF connector

[wm8s]

I inherited a couple of APX-6500s on a 700/800 MHz trunked system. They each have a rubber duck antenna that screws into the mini-UHF connector on the back of the radio, and then "folds" about an inch from the radio and can point straight up [or down, etc.; they're on a swivel]. [The antennas work fine even though they're just rubber ducks because I use them in an office at the EOC, and the building has a BDA that gets me in and out of the building.]

The antennas have dry rotted and broken [along with 100% of my other Moto accessories; what's up, Moto??], so I need to replace them. But Google has failed me; I can't find what kind of antenna this is anywhere. No logos or other markings. Thoughts?

Thanks!

...R

 

[KevinC]

Do yourself and everyone else in that room a favor and get that RF to the roof. Or at the very least (and I hate suggesting this) get antennas in the ceiling and make sure power is turned way down.

 

[mmckenna]

Easy solution is to just put some heat shrink over them.

But I agree with the Kevin, using a mobile radio and a BDA system is about as lazy as it gets.

 

[wm8s]

I'll make sure to pass all of that helpful information along to the emergency management agency that actually owns and operates the building and has graciously offered us space in it for free. I'm sure they'll appreciate my opinions that they should spend their money and punch holes in a hurricane-proof facility to fix something that has worked perfectly fine for 10 years without causing or experiencing any problems. I guess nobody's going to actually answer my question and help me identify the antenna....

 

[N4DES]

This might be what you are looking for, but this close-out item has the incorrect connector on it, so it's a start for you by model #. https://www.wpsantennas.com/exr806models.aspx

 

[KevinC]

I'm sure they'll appreciate my opinions that they should spend their money and punch holes in a hurricane-proof facility

So the BDA donor antenna isn't outside on the roof?

Anyway, I'd suspect those were old bag phone antennas and haven't been made in 20 years.

 

[K9KLC]

Anyway, I'd suspect those were old bag phone antennas and haven't been made in 20 years.

Yep, the only way he's gonna get something to work is adapt the Mini UHF to perhaps SMA male then a right angle adapter and then he can just grab an 800 MHz HT antenna and go from there. Hopefully these things are on stupid low power.

 

[mmckenna]

I'll make sure to pass all of that helpful information along to the emergency management agency that actually owns and operates the building and has graciously offered us space in it for free. I'm sure they'll appreciate my opinions that they should spend their money and punch holes in a hurricane-proof facility to fix something that has worked perfectly fine for 10 years without causing or experiencing any problems.

As a ham, please tell me you see the issue with a bunch of mobile radios all connected through s single BDA system in an emergency.
But, based on your statement, I'm guessing they've given your ham club access to a room there? How are you dealing with VHF/UHF? How do they handle interop?
I really hope there is more to this story.

I guess nobody's going to actually answer my question and help me identify the antenna....

As stated above, the days of bag phones are over. I did look at my sources to see if there was anything that would work for you, but there isn't. Mini-UHF were common back in the early cell phone days when Motorola was the big manufacturer. Now, it's pretty much just Motorola using it on their radios. There isn't a big market for this sort of stuff since it's such an inadequate solution.

When I've run into this on old portable antennas, putting some heat shrink over the antenna does the trick.

 

[Firebuff880]

Maybe this will help you--

Tessco.com

#17174 450-470 Right Angle Antenna, BNC, 6.5 in

#57417 mini-UHF/M - BNC/F Adapt

#43390 N Male/BNC Female Adapter

 

[firefive76]

I used a mini uhf to sma, sma right angle, a XTS antenna, and turned the power down to 3 watts. Works fine. Same power as a handheld. Adapters are cheap on Amazon.

 

[jeepsandradios]

As stated those were from old bag phones. We used them in the past for events where a radio was outside. Radios was set for 5 watts and made it not disapear like portables did. It had a purpose. Anyway not sure anyone makes those any more.

 

[ff026]

I'll make sure to pass all of that helpful information along to the emergency management agency that actually owns and operates the building and has graciously offered us space in it for free. I'm sure they'll appreciate my opinions that they should spend their money and punch holes in a hurricane-proof facility to fix something that has worked perfectly fine for 10 years without causing or experiencing any problems. I guess nobody's going to actually answer my question and help me identify the antenna....

You must fun at parties.

 

[AM909]

I recently did this with a transportable 5W UHF base station using a 10W-rated halfwave rubber-duck w/BNC/M, and right-angle BNC/F – PL259(/M) adapter. NX-1800 (at 5W) in a hood seems to not be bothered by the local RF field. To me, no issue with RF exposure, given the 5W power level and larger minimum distance from the antenna to the biological entity than a typical HT usage.

You should be able to get a modern 7/800 antenna with some connector for which you can also get a right-angle mini-UHF-M adapter. Worst case, you need another adapter to match what you can get in a right-angle adapter with reasonable performance at 7/800. Performance may not even matter much, though, when using a local BDA talking to/from a repeater.

 

[chrismol1]

no spare mobile antennas and coax laying around? I can't recall how many times I've seen photos of various agency office's with a mobile antenna on top of a cabinet. I recently saw one with the antenna right on top of the mobile radio on the desk. I haven't seen stuff like that antenna in a while on a mobile, hope the power isn't on high.

 

[paulears]

I see loads of that design on wireless mic systems, but normally either BNC or TNC on the bottom. The hinge design is pretty well standard on those. Ive never seen the Motorola connector on one though?