yeah don't use a Motorola antenna, very very bad, the pin can be fixed but you have to be really careful
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Unication G5 Antenna For 800 Mhz Band
- Thread starter JASII
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Has anyone tried one of these yet?
UNICATION G4 G5 ULTIMATE 700 / 800 MHz P25 HD DIGITAL STUBBY ANTENNA PAGER BEST | eBay
We modified by trimming the bottom of these antennas so they fit properly on the Unication G4/G5 Pagers. Base of Antenna has been modified by trimming to allow proper fit on pager. PAGER IS NOT INCLUDED - MODIFIED ANTENNA ONLY!!
www.ebay.com
That appears to be a Motorola stubby antenna, so refer to post #41. The problem is not with the rubber skirt that has been trimmed (others have done the same). The problem is with the design of the SMA connector itself. (Look at photos of the actual SMA connection on both the OEM and Motorola antennas to see the difference.) There's anecdotal evidence that the Motorola antennas can pull the pin out of the Unication antenna connection. Others report that their OEM Unication stubby no longer works after using the Motorola antenna. I'd steer clear! If you want to experiment with other antennas, I'd opt for an SMA to BNC adapter designed for the Baofeng radios. The SMA connection has the required recess as does the Unication stubby does. Using the BNC adapter allows you to try any BNC-based antenna you wish without potentially damaging the Uncation antenna connection.
Looks like a knockoff of the Motorola stubby.Has anyone tried one of these yet?
UNICATION G4 G5 ULTIMATE 700 / 800 MHz P25 HD DIGITAL STUBBY ANTENNA PAGER BEST | eBay
We modified by trimming the bottom of these antennas so they fit properly on the Unication G4/G5 Pagers. Base of Antenna has been modified by trimming to allow proper fit on pager. PAGER IS NOT INCLUDED - MODIFIED ANTENNA ONLY!!www.ebay.com
N6ML
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If you read the description, you'll see that it's a E/M Wave antenna intended for Motorola use, with the rubber manually trimmed to "fit" a Gx Pager. I'd still be skeptical around risk of connector damage.
Your comment doesn't change what it looks like.
Okay, I am just throwing this out here. I am absolutely not looking for an argument. I am just wondering if there is any information out there, especially from Motorola or Unication, that verifies that either one of them is using a non-standard SMA connector.
Shooting from the hip, l doubt that the Unication SMA connector is non-standard, but perhaps the Motorola SMA is. However, if that is the case, wouldn't/shouldn't they have some sort of disclaimer saying something along the lines of "...this antenna is ONLY for Motorola radios"?
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not doubting that some people may have had problems with their Unications and antennas. What I am wondering, though, is could it be that it was caused by something else? For example, a defective connector or someone tightening it down too much?
Shooting from the hip, l doubt that the Unication SMA connector is non-standard, but perhaps the Motorola SMA is. However, if that is the case, wouldn't/shouldn't they have some sort of disclaimer saying something along the lines of "...this antenna is ONLY for Motorola radios"?
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not doubting that some people may have had problems with their Unications and antennas. What I am wondering, though, is could it be that it was caused by something else? For example, a defective connector or someone tightening it down too much?
N6ML
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I've looked around a bit (Google), but haven't been able to find a good SMA specification.
My belief (not proven) is that the connectors on these antennas are not actually SMA, but just share some (most?) of the dimensions. I believe that a true SMA connector uses a free-spinning nut, which these antennas obviously don't have/
IMO there is no standard for this - SMA was not designed for directly-attached antennas - but again, I don't really know (can't find any spec).
If you compare the two connectors, it's very obvious that they are significantly different in the area the mates with the pin. I've posted a side-by-side photo before. I can probably dig it up if you haven't seen it.
Manufacturers of many products, not just Motorola or Unication, recommend the use of their own branded accessories and parts. Sure, there's a profit motive at work here, but there may also be a legitimate technical reason why they do this. If you look under magnification at the Unication antenna pin, you'll see that the pin actually sits in what I would describe as a cuff that's wider than the pin itself. The top of the pin is tapered. The Motorola antennas may place undue pressure on certain parts of the Unication pin such that when the Motorola antenna is removed, it removes the pin from the cuff it's seated in. Full disclosure: I'm not an engineer and so what I'm saying is only an semi-educated guess. That said, I'm sure both companies source parts from established suppliers and design their radios with whatever parts they can get off the shelf, so neither antenna is one-off design.
In the end, what you do is your call.
In the end, what you do is your call.
Just looking at the Unication SMA vs a Motorola SMA the major difference that I see is that the Unication SMA has more threads which is why the center portion of the SMA is recessed back farther than on a Motorola SMA. Other than that difference they appear nearly identical.
Honestly, I don't see how this would a problem unless you were constantly swapping out the antenna. I have the short 1/4 wave 800/900 Motorola antenna on my G4 and have not had any issues with the pin or had any difficulty threading in the antenna.
For those interested, there are two mil-specs that address SMA connectors as well as other coaxial connectors. They are MIL-PRF-39012 and MIL-STD-348. Of course, I have no idea if either Unication or Motorola sources their connectors to these standards. The specs do define dimensional and material specifications.
eorange
♦RF Enabled Member♦
The great thing about standards is there's so many to choose from!
normally it shouldn't be a problem but I had an 800mhz Motorola antenna and tried it, not a good idea, but I was able to get the pin seated back correctly without a repair trip thank god
Well, funny you should mention that. Could it be that the people that have had issues are constantly swapping out antennas? Now, we are talking receivers right now, but I do know some amateur radio operators that use a portable transceiver as a so-called "poor man's mobile." By that, I mean they are connecting and disconnecting an antenna every day to their portable transceiver! Could some enthusiastic amateurs or scanner users complete a few hundred interconnect cycles over the life of a radio? In fact, I do know some that can and do!
From what I am seeing, there is a standard. There are both SMA and RP-SMA, which refers to Reverse Polarity SMA. Could someone have used a SMA with a RP-SMA? We will probably never know, but it does make me wonder.
However, I certainly have ran into non-standard/proprietary connectors. When I still had my 1995 Chevrolet 1500, I learned about the Motorola to GM Antenna Adaptor!
"...A few hundred interconnect cycles are possible if performed carefully. Care should be taken to join connectors straight-on. Prior to making a connection it is wise to inspect the female end to assure that the center socket is in good condition (fingers not bent or missing)..."
RF Connectors / test equipment connectors from WA1MBA
Small RF connectors for upper frequencies
www.wa1mba.org
SMA connector - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
N6ML
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No. That wouldn't work at all. In the RP variant, the female connector has the nut(!)
This would lead me to believe that Motorola is "non-standard".
ed3750
Member
Although it seems counter-intuitive, I have not found a Motorola stubby antenna (tried several) that can beat the OEM antenna receiving ability. To get better reception, I have had to use a gain antenna. The ones I have found that don't damage or push in the pin are certain model Kenwood gain antennas. They have the same recess as the OEM antenna, however, they do need the rubber skirt trimmed like the Moto antennas. I use the Kenwood KRA-32K (700-800mhz) on my G5. And the Kenwood KRA-27 (440-490mhz) on my G3 UHF. If you decide to purchase a Kenwood, do so from a reputable dealer, there are a lot of knock offs out there.
I have found all the Moto antennas will push the pin lower, and even had one take out the pin when removed. If you put a Moto antenna on and leave it on, it is not a problem. But if you regularly change antennas, the pin will be lowered to a point that the OEM antenna will not make a good connection.
I have found all the Moto antennas will push the pin lower, and even had one take out the pin when removed. If you put a Moto antenna on and leave it on, it is not a problem. But if you regularly change antennas, the pin will be lowered to a point that the OEM antenna will not make a good connection.
How much performance gain over the OEM stubby did you achieve? How much trimming is necessary and how did you perform this "operation"? (Sorry for all the questions!
) Thanks.GTO_04
Member
Do you find better reception with the Kenwoood KRA-32K on 800 compared to the G5 Replacement Antenna (with the blue band)?
GTO_04
ed3750
Member
The KRA-32K gets me one or two additional bars over the blue band OEM. There is a city about 30 miles away whose system I cannot receive inside my house with the blue OEM, but Kenwood gives me a consistent 1 or 2 bars. Just requires trimming about 1/4 inch with an exacto knife or razor blade, so the rubber is flush with the metal. I found it to be a fairly easy task.How much performance gain over the OEM stubby did you achieve? How much trimming is necessary and how did you perform this "operation"? (Sorry for all the questions!
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