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Rubber Ducky Reommendation

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CB_charlie

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May 2, 2021
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I know how poor short antenna for CB (27MHz) handhelds will be, but I am looking for recommendation for a BNC item that perhaps works better than the provided OEM item for a Midland 75-822. This radio does fairly good when connected to my tuned roof mount magnet antenna, but very poorly using the small flex stick. But obviously I don't want a 10ft BNC antenna, but something around ~24in is still workable. I only use the radio on occasion while traveling in varoius vehicles and do not want to hassle with the magnet mount and extra wires, etc.

Even if its a direct replacement (short antenna), does Diamond or Nagoya (or other) make one that's better than the OEM supplied item?
 

Duckford

Member
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Apr 3, 2021
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Cobra makes an old fashioned collapsable antenna for their CB handhelds with a BNC, states that it has 2 db of gain over the regular rubber ducky. I have one on my Cobra WX50 and it does seem to have more power, and when I get some time off this summer I'm going to do a formal range test to prove wither it is better or not.

It is the Cobra HA-TA Telescoping Antenna. Looks like the price has skyrocketed since I bought mine. Maybe that ABREE might be the better choice if it isn't complete trash like some suggest....

I might buy an ABREE and give it a try. If it does work it would have better potential gain, and at least you learned something if it fails.
 

CB_charlie

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May 2, 2021
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I suspect the VSWR is horrible on the BNC. I need to use my VSWR meter and check, but I need to get connector adapters and a short patch cable to do it. Surely my trimmed/tuned roof mount works way better because 1) VSWR is tuned, and 2) #1 has a decent ground plane.

I wish they made a BNC that had four 0.25-0.50" long flip down ground legs to help give the "no-gnd-plane" BNC stick a little gnd plane to work with.

Thanks for the suggestions.
 

WB9YBM

Active Member
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May 6, 2019
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1,390
I know how poor short antenna for CB (27MHz) handhelds will be, but I am looking for recommendation for a BNC item that perhaps works better than the provided OEM item for a Midland 75-822.

Years ago as a special order I was able to obtain a collapsible CB antenna with a BNC from Radio Shack. It looks like their collapsible scanner antenna except upgraded to handle power from a transmitter. It definitely gave noticeable improvement over the rubber duck that originally came with my H.T.s
 

WB9YBM

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May 6, 2019
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1,390
There's no such things as a good performing rubber-ducky antenna for C.B. frequencies.

The same thing can be said about rubber duckies for other bands, too. As far as I'm concerned the only thing rubber duckies are good for is to demonstrate to the user that their radio functions (albeit at reduced range) and for the user to not get their armpit skewered when the radio's clipped to their belt.
 

iMONITOR

Silent Key
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Sep 20, 2006
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11,156
Location
S.E. Michigan
The same thing can be said about rubber duckies for other bands, too. As far as I'm concerned the only thing rubber duckies are good for is to demonstrate to the user that their radio functions (albeit at reduced range) and for the user to not get their armpit skewered when the radio's clipped to their belt.

I think scanners manufactures would do well to eliminate the rubber ducky and reduce the price of the scanner. Then let the consumer purchase the antenna of their choice.
 

WB9YBM

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I think scanners manufactures would do well to eliminate the rubber ducky and reduce the price of the scanner. Then let the consumer purchase the antenna of their choice.

Good idea, although seen from the consumers' perspective they probably don't want to have to pay extra for the initial set-up--especially considering prices of scanners, most people probably want to have everything ready-to-go once they make their purchase.

Maybe a good middle ground would be for the sellers to provide two options: the basic package that includes a rubber duck, and an upgrade with the next better antenna. Just thinking out loud, though...
 

FiveFilter

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2016
Messages
308
There are so many things working against a CB radio using a rubber ducky antenna inside a metal car body that it's virtually a hopeless undertaking.

But, if you run a coax from the radio to a good mag mount antenna on the roof, you can realize as good a performance as anyone could expect in regards to RF signals in the 11 meter CB band.
 

WB9YBM

Active Member
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May 6, 2019
Messages
1,390
There are so many things working against a CB radio using a rubber ducky antenna inside a metal car body that it's virtually a hopeless undertaking.

That's pretty much the case no matter what frequencies you're operating on--not just CB.
 

FPR1981

Active Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2021
Messages
597
a few extra radio shack telescoping antennas with the coil, as featured on the TRC-216. Killer antennas for handheld application. They could be adapted for BNC.
 
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