Yaesu VX-8 Antenna Upgrade

[payj]

I just got this radio and was wondering if there is better all around antenna for this radio. I just ordered a bnc adapter so it needs to work with that.

I realize that there is no one antenna that will do everything the best, but just want to improve on the stock antenna in general.

THX

 

[Rt169Radio]

Well the Diamond RH77CA would be a good choice,execpt it will put stress on the SMA with a BNC to SMA connection.

 

[railroadertwo]

Yeasu VX 8 Upgrade

Diamond SRH77CA, I had one of those for a spell in my VX7R, in my humble opinion, they are not very rugged for use on a hand held, mine broke off at the top of the large part that screws on to the radio, is is just plastic. I have not replaced it yet, don't know if there are any that are similar that are more rugged. KCØWNY

 

[n5ims]

Well the Diamond RH77CA would be a good choice,execpt it will put stress on the SMA with a BNC to SMA connection.

You could get the SMA version (SRH77CA) and not worry about the adapter and extra stress that would create. Diamond RH77CA Amateur HT Antenna

 

[LtDoc]

Most supplied antennas with an HT are of the rubberduck variety, short, more convenient to carry, they 'work'. I wouldn't say that they work 'well', but they serve their purpose for short range use. To have an antenna that works 'better' you loose part of the convenience of those rubberducks, they aren't as 'handy', are going to be longer. So, the use of them means changing how you use/carry/handle that HT. It's going to be a bit more awkward, sort of. Keep that in mind.
I've found that a typical 1/4 wave length antenna tends to make an HT more 'usable' as far as range is concerned. A 1/4 wave is one of those 'sizes' of antennas that produce a predictable and usable radiation pattern. At 2 meters a 1/4 wave is something like 19" long which isn't out of reason for carrying around. I think most manufacturers make a 1/4 wave antenna for HTs so which one you 'like' is up to you.
It's all about where the antenna 'puts' a signal, the pattern of radiation. The shape of the radiation pattern is due to an antenna's length, not it's resonance (loaded antennas). So, if starting from a typical rubberduck antenna, longer is better. There are all kinds of 'qualifications' to that, but length really is the key.
Another aspect with almost all HTs is that the radio's chassis and the user's hand/body become a 'part' of the antenna. That's what is the 'other half' of the antenna. One 'trick' to making that 'other half' better is to furnish something 'better' than the user's body. The common name for that sort of thingy is a 'rat's tail', typically about a 1/4 wave length long. Doesn't have to be anything special, a simple length of flexible wire works. Attach it to the base of the antenna (ground) or to the chassis of the HT. Give it a try, see what happens. Don't expect miracles, but they can improve things.
There are limits to that "longer is better" thingy, I figure you can determine what YOUR limit is much better than I can.
Have fun.
- 'Doc

 

[fabvir]

I made some interesting APRS experiences with different antennas transmitting and receiving my GPS position (144,800 Mhz): I am located at the moment in Palinuro (see IZ0JFI-7 and IZ0JFI-9), near the sea and about 90mt. high, and connecting with a digipeater near Messina, 130 nautical miles distance at full 5W power I could receive back my callsign from Palermo, 145 nautical miles. I tried different antennas, and the signal strength measured with the s-meter, starting from 7 out of 9, was as follows, in decreasing signal strength order:
1. Watson WSMA 881 Super Gainer (7)
2. Watson WSMA 801 Tele Gainer (7)
3. Diamond SRH771 (6)
4. Comet SMA3 (5)
5. Diamond SRH320A (4)
6. Diamond HC100S
The last one didn't pass through the digipeater.

***** Moderator edit: The IZ0JFI-7 beacons were with a VX-8DE and the IZ0JFI-9 beacons were with a VX-8GE. *****

 

[CommLt]

You did not specify which VX-8 you have (R, DR, GR). Not knowing better, I was sold the Diamond SRH77CA to go with my VX-8R and I love it. Works great and is pretty good as a scanner antenna as well. To this day I am mad that I didn't get the Diamond SRH320A. It is basically a tri-band version of the SRH77CA. Friends of mine loved it with their VX-8DR. So I would recommend that if you have the R or DR version you might consider the 220 capability. I know it's low power but it works great if you have 220 within a reasonable distance.

I would also highly recommend going with the SMA connector.

Timothy
AF6GL

 

[fabvir]

I have both the VX-8DE and VX-8GE, and from my experience the Diamond SRH771 (european version of the SRH77CA) works better than the SRH320CA, which is in any case a good antenna. I was very surprised of the even better performance of both the Watson antennas, that are supposed to be scanner-only antennas, but work very well also for transmitting with both my HTs. Please note that I made a comparison only for the 144MHz band, I didn't have time to compare on the other bands.

 

[LtDoc]

Try looking at it like this. The only reason for a rubberduck antenna is convenience. So, the more inconvenient an antenna is, the more 'costly' it is, and the 'bigger' it is, the better it will be in relations to a rubberduck. Oh man, there's a LOT of 'catches' in that, but it's basically a fact. When it comes down to needing a pack horse to haul the thing around, or cutting grooves in ceilings, that's too much antenna...
- 'Doc

 

[kc0kp]

Try looking at it like this. The only reason for a rubberduck antenna is convenience. So, the more inconvenient an antenna is, the more 'costly' it is, and the 'bigger' it is, the better it will be in relations to a rubberduck. Oh man, there's a LOT of 'catches' in that, but it's basically a fact. When it comes down to needing a pack horse to haul the thing around, or cutting grooves in ceilings, that's too much antenna...
- 'Doc

Amen to that. My VX-8 uses the factory antenna 99% of the time. I use chest packs for wild land firefighting and the longer antennas that work better poke bystanders in the eye. They also unscrew themselves while walking falling into black ashes hiding so very well.
I do carry an ANLI 400 that is not a rubber duck or flexible antenna. It is 5db gain stacked colinear on 70cm and a 3db gain center loaded 5/8 antenna on 2 meters. It is a telescoping metal antenna. With an ERP of 10 watts on 2 meters and 18 watts on 440, it gives you the best odds of hitting something somewhere.
To sum up this thread, the stock antenna is the ONLY one that will cover all bands the radio works on, is easy to carry without scratching your armpits on a belt mount or poking someones eye out in a chest mount and works in 99% of the situations you are working or playing in. A true gain antenna in your pocket is a good insurance plan.

Craig