G5 Antenna Comparison

[Uni1]

With all the talk about the G5 stubby antenna and its performance I wanted to do a comparison.

I compared the G5 stock antenna with a Unication U3 and a Motorola APX. Both the Motorola and the Unication U3 are 7/800 MHz antennas. I am not saying either are the best, they are just what I have at my desk to test.

Diagnostics can be enabled from the PPS in D 6. You will get a screen with similar info.

Here is what I got.

G5 with stock antenna -108
G5 without any antenna -131
G5 with Unication U3 antenna -98
G5 with Motorola APX antenna - 102

 

[ResQguy]

How did you change the font size?

 

[radio3353]

On the radio or while looking at it on your monitor?

On the radio, you can't.
On your monitor, Crtl +

 

[N6ML]

The diagnostic display looks quite different on my Phase-II G5 - it has four pages. Also, the RSSI doesn't seem to be real-time (it doesn't vary).

 

[Uni1]

That is an engineering mode. Your option for RSSI is the one you are seeing on the menu.

 

[BigWonton]

That is an engineering mode. Your option for RSSI is the one you are seeing on the menu.

The RSSI meter pegs out at "> -100" so it becomes hard to quantify antenna performance at my location. Is there any way to change that to get the actual values?

 

[Uni1]

The diagnostics screen is designed to aid in trouble shooting RF. At signal strength over -100 there is no need. Unfortunately that is how it was designed.

 

[tunnelmot]

Unication U3 antenna? I don't see it listed anywhere for sale. What does it look like top to bottom?

 

[Uni1]

Unication U3 antenna? I don't see it listed anywhere for sale. What does it look like top to bottom?

You can see the antenna here. U3

 

[tunnelmot]

Damn. The more I look at Unication, the more I like. I remember the Motorola Flex and Alpha pagers years ago that were actually Unication built with Moto badging.

That being said...after following your link I discovered the U3. I have a few questions.

1. How does one get a U3?
2. How much?
3. Only for non-North America markets?
4. How have we not heard about this?
5. Jeezus, this thing appears to be a game changer. Is non-affilate rx only scan a thing on this unit? (The Relm/BK units possess this, but pricing is just above most hobbiests' budget)
6. Why the heck are we fooling around with consumer-grade stuff when this thing exists?

The issue is see with most P25 equipment is pricing geared toward agencies who qualify for grant $. Does this unit follow this trend? (don't blame Unication if it does, who would leave cash on the table?)