Tram Browning 1180

[wesm1957]

Has anyone had any experience with this antenna? I am thinking about getting one for my car when I get my call sign after the government gets back to business. It uses the NMO mount. I have 3 options to use the antenna, a mag mount, trunk lip mount and I have an NMO mount that will require drilling a hole in the trunk lid. I got the hole mount for 10 bucks because the antenna was missing. It is an Antenna Specialist mount with 17 feet of coax. I will have to change the connector from TNC to a 259. I will be using the antenna with a Baofeng UV-5R until I get the money for a dual band mobile. Any advice will behelpful

Thanks
Wes

 

[Jimru]

TRAM BROWNING 1180

Hi,

You can read some reviews here, at "eHam.net", lots of reviews and other info on all aspects of hamming:

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1920

73,
Jim

 

[wesm1957]

Thanks!!!! I just read the reviews and think that is the antenna I am going to get.

Thanks again!!

Wes

 

[AK9R]

You might want to consider a Larsen NMO 2/70 or NMO 2/70 B. Larsen antennas are commonly used in mobile installations because they are well made and reliable. I've have Larsens that have had the stink beat out of them and they still work fine. Yes, other brands may be less expensive, but I think this is one area where you get what you pay for.

You can find these models of Larsen at just about any amateur radio dealer. I usually order mine from R&L Electronics in HAMilton, Ohio. They ship mobile antenna in mailing tubes so they don't get bent or damaged in shipment.

 

[wesm1957]

I ordered the Tram 1180 from the Antenna Farm. I am not planning on running full power once I get a mobile. If it doesn't work well I will get a different antenna. I have an Antenex 11 meter antenna that I got a few years ago and love that antenna.

Wes

 

[KB5TAC]

Although I have looked at the Tram 1180 I decided against it. I have spent more money purchasing inexpensive antennas and then replacing them than I would have spent if I had just saved my nickels and bought a good antenna from the get go.

This same rule applies to everything you're gonna do with ham radio. While the Baofeng is ok (I have one myself) I would stick with quality over price any day and I wouldn't rely on the cheap stuff in an emergency.

Just my .02

 

[Jimru]

TRAM BROWNING 1180

Let us know how it works out!

 

[wesm1957]

I had a chance to try out the antenna. It is working great. Right now I am using a mag mount on the roof of the car. I may move it to a trunk lip mount and see how it works. Wednesday I had it on one of the trunk lip mounts and I was able to pick up a 2 meter repeater that was almost 50 miles away. Before I had a quarter wave 2 meter antenna on the roof and did not start picking up the same repeater until I was 15 to 20 miles away.

Wes

 

[N4KVE]

They are a lower cost alternative antenna relying on the names Tram & Browning which years ago were top of the line CB radios. I too would recommend the Larsen dual band mobile. I've had one since 1991, & it works great. A few times over the years, friends convinced me to buy a certain Diamond, & while it did work great, it didn't work better than the Larsen. The Larsen also gives a wider spread for SWR on UHF. My Larsen has the closed coil on the whip. I'm not sure if they still make it, but I would get that one. The Diamond NR770NMO has also served me well. Just remember the Larsen, & import antennas use different measurements for gain. The 5.5 dbi of the imports is the same as the 3.5 dbd for the Larsen, so don't be fooled by the numbers.

 

[AK9R]

My Larsen has the closed coil on the whip. I'm not sure if they still make it, but I would get that one.

The Larsen NMO 270C has bright plated elements and a closed coil. The NMO 270B has black elements with an open coil and that's the one I typically use. The specifications are the same for both antennas.

 

[KD0PEZ]

The Tram 1180 was my first antenna right after I passed my technician test. That's been over 2 years ago and the antenna still works great. With 50 watts of power, I can work most 2 meter repeaters that are a good 50 miles away. On the 440 side with 40 watts of power, I can work UHF repeaters at around 30 miles.

I've also banged the antenna up on some low hanging tree branches. While the loading coil emerged unscathed, the lower end of the whip did get bent back a little. Nothing a few minutes in a vise couldn't fix.

IMO the Tram 1180 is a good starter antenna.

 

[rfradioconsult]

I have a collection of Larsen antennas going back to the early 70's, a couple of years ago I changed vehicles and decided to give the 1180 a try. I found the quality and performance to be top notch, my Larsen collection remains in the garage.