UHF Antenna Question

Status
Not open for further replies.

Bayonne-Bob

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
32
is decent for scanning or using for GMRS
I still prefer a higher gain antenna
but then are a lot taller and many dislike the size
 

baddandy23

Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2004
Messages
142
Location
Ohio
antennas are not my specialty and i was looking to improve performance in the UHF range. so a 1/4 wave antenna is not as good as say a larger one?
 

n5usr

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Aug 10, 2007
Messages
596
Location
Bethany, OK
Except that isn't really a 1/4 wave antenna. They took a 1/4 wave element, and twisted it into a spiral. A proper 1/4 wave antenna for 450-470 MHz would be around 6 1/2 inches tall. This antenna - while electrically the right length - won't have as much capture area.

Now, as to whether that means it won't do as well? Depends what you are trying to do. I have a Larsen Kulduckie that I used to use with my handhelds for UHF amateur repeaters and listening to my local (UHF) PD. It worked very well, and was considerably shorter than the stock antennas at around 2" tall. But that's only because the repeaters I was monitoring were doing all the "work" by having plenty of transmit power and high-gain receiving antennas way up in the air. It doesn't do nearly as well as a taller antenna would for long-range reception or simplex work.

No, a quarter-wave antenna won't necessarily be as good as taller antennas - but then in many cases you may not *need* (or even want, if in a high-rf environment with an easily-overloaded scanner) that better reception. You have to decide whether the tradeoff of less signal strength is worth not having a tall antenna poking you in the side or making you look silly as you walk along... ;)

Also keep in mind if you use a band-specific antenna on a scanner, you may suffer reduced performance (sometimes MUCH reduced) on other bands. This is usually more of a problem for base/mobile and higher-gain antennas, but some rubber ducks have the same issue. Some antennas will have impedance-matching or phasing components built into them which can render the antenna completely deaf to anything even just a few MHz outside their designed passband.
 

N1BHH

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2007
Messages
1,845
Location
Jackson Square, East Weymouth, MA.
baddandy23 said:
antennas are not my specialty and i was looking to improve performance in the UHF range. so a 1/4 wave antenna is not as good as say a larger one?

What? You haven't heard that bigger is better? Yeah, go with something bigger for performance.

Overload? That only occurs when you are directly under a populated cell or TV tower. Most modern scanners will not be overloaded as long as a proper antenna is used.

A number of gain type antennas exist. I have one of these: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantht/3937.html
And one of these: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantht/2368.html is similar in performance. And read the first 3 or 4 reviews on the Pryme RD-98 which I also have. They all say what I've been saying since I also use one: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1268 They all work well.
 

N1BHH

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2007
Messages
1,845
Location
Jackson Square, East Weymouth, MA.
Gain? Increase in receive ability, transmit ability; To progress, advance, or increase; To manage to achieve an increase; To become better; improve; An increase in signal power, voltage, or current.
 

thewenk

Idaho DB Admin
Database Admin
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
715
Location
Eastern Idaho
I have one and its OK, but nothing really great. I think it is actually an Antenex made antenna.
 
Last edited:

blueangel-eric

Member
Feed Provider
Joined
Dec 24, 2004
Messages
824
Location
Emporia, KS
N1BHH said:
What? You haven't heard that bigger is better? Yeah, go with something bigger for performance.

Overload? That only occurs when you are directly under a populated cell or TV tower. Most modern scanners will not be overloaded as long as a proper antenna is used.

A number of gain type antennas exist. I have one of these: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantht/3937.html
And one of these: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantht/2368.html is similar in performance. And read the first 3 or 4 reviews on the Pryme RD-98 which I also have. They all say what I've been saying since I also use one: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1268 They all work well.


Well a Pro97 is a modern scanner right? I live about 3/4 a mile from an FM station and it desenses real bad on VHF-hi with real antennas. The signals were broke up bad. I finally gave up and went with a ham radio FT60R from Yeasu, a real radio with real antennas. No problems now. except static from neighbors electronics all over the VHF-hi.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top