Which Antenna Brands Are Considered Good Or Bad?

[CanesFan95]

I see a lot of different brands on Antenna Farm and am wondering, which ones are good?

TerraWave
Laird
Browning
Comet
Tram
Diamond
Wilson
EM Wave
PCTEL
Westell
Larsen
Sinclair
CommScope
TeleWave

 

[mmckenna]

Really depends on your application. Most of them are good enough for hobby/amateur use. If you are looking at professional/public safety stuff, well…..

TerraWave - I think we have a few of these at work for WiFi outdoor installs.
Laird - Good stuff. I have a few of these on UTV's and get beat to crap off road. No failures.
Browning <<<<<< Cheap Chinese junk. Same company as Tram.
Comet <<<<< HamTastic! OK for hobby use, but not a professional grade antenna.
Tram— <<<<< Cheap Chinese junk. Same company as Browning.
Diamond <<<<< Meh. OK for hobby use.
Wilson <<<<< Oh hell no. When cheap Chinese antennas are not crappy enough for you, you buy Wilson.
EM Wave - I'm trying some of these out right now on my person truck. So far, I like them.
PCTEL - Good commercial antenna.
Westell - I don't think I've ever used their stuff, but it's a well known brand.
Larsen - I've been running Larsen antennas for 30 years. I still have 30 year old antennas that work like new.
Sinclair - Really good base antennas. Expensive, but worth it.
CommScope - Good stuff.
TeleWave - Good stuff. I've installed a few of their folded dipole UHF antennas at some very remote sites with high winds. I have one of their discone antennas at one of my sites. Reputable company.

A lot of it depends on the specific antenna and the application. Just looking at the brand names, that's my own personal opinion.

 

[nd5y]

Best:
Laird
PCTEL
Larsen
Sinclair
CommScope
TeleWave

Good (Japanese companies):
Comet
Diamond

Chinese junk:
Browning
Tram

?:
Wilson (used to be good CB products in the past, don't know about now)

Never heard of them or haven't heard anything about them:
TerraWave
EM Wave
Westell

 

[CanesFan95]

I'm shopping for an 800 MHz yagi, 2-3 feet in length max.

 

[CanesFan95]

Is PCTEL the same brand as "MAXRAD"?

 

[mmckenna]

I'm shopping for an 800 MHz yagi, 2-3 feet in length max.

Well, that's going to rule out the ham radio brands.

So, depends on your budget and how much you want in the way of bragging rights.
Personally, I'd go used, since there's not really a lot of ways to screw up a Yagi antenna without it being obvious.

If I recall your earlier post, we've already ruled out Wilson as being junk.


Budget friendly but still a good antenna? Laird is a good choice.
So far I'm impressed with the EM Wave mobile antennas I have. Never tried their base antennas.
PCTel has been a good company, and they've been around for a while.
Larsen has always made good stuff. Usually can't go wrong with them.
RFS is a really good company, but starting to climb out of the hobbyist price range.
Sinclair, Telewave, Comscope, you're really climbing the ladder on the budget there. Not sure I'd spend that sort of money on a residential install. For a commercial site, sure.

 

[mmckenna]

Is PCTEL the same brand as "MAXRAD"?

I think the merged at some point.

 

[mmckenna]

Looking back at my notes, I've got 6 of the Larsen YA6800W yagi's at work. They link our dispatch center to the trunked system. They've been up there since 2011 without issue.

https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191_193_258_977_979&products_id=9160

 

[CanesFan95]

Thinking about one of these:

https://www.theantennafarm.com/cata...fo&cPath=191_193_258_977_979&products_id=9174

Amazon.com: PCTEL Maxrad 806-896 MHz 10 dBd Gain Antenna (BGYD806K)

https://www.theantennafarm.com/cata...fo&cPath=191_193_258_977_979&products_id=9299

https://www.theantennafarm.com/cata...fo&cPath=191_193_258_977_979&products_id=9169

 

[mmckenna]

Personally, I always liked the back end feed on these:

https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191_193_258_977_979&products_id=9169

Makes it easier to route the cable correctly, and makes it easier to properly waterproof the connection.

 

[N4KVE]

Browning, & Tram are absolute TRASH. Diamond, & Comet are OK for ham radio use. The others are proven antennas for use in the commercial world where they MUST work. Most of my antennas are Laird.

 

[toolman60]

homeboys-scanna,

Do it 1 time and be done. Follow what some are saying. Go with Laird or Larsen.

I did not think twice when I ordered my 440 yagi. I ordered the Laird YF450112-61NF . I do not want to have to worry about water in the gamma match causing hi swr down the road like on some of the other antennas out there .