New Antenna for the BAOFENG RADIOS

[christopher]

Amazon product ASIN B07TYBX86D



Bingfu Dual Band VHF UHF 136-520MHz 18.8 inch Foldable CS Tactical SMA Female Ham Radio Antenna for Kenwood Baofeng BF-F8HP UV-5R UV-82 BF-888S Handheld CB Ham Radio Two Way Radio Walkie Talkie



by Bingfu

• Frequency Range: VHF UHF 136-520MHz; Gain: 3.5dBi; Direction: Omni-directional; Max Input Power: 8W; Package List: 1 x Antenna (As the Picture Shown);

• Compatible with: BAOFENG BF-666S BF-777S BF-888S BF-320 BF-480 BF-490 BF-V6 BF-V8 UV-82 UV-5R BF-F8HP GT-3 BF-F8+ BF-388A BF-UV5R BF-UV5RA BF-UV5RB BF-UV5RC BF-UV5RD BF-UV5RE BF-UV5REPlus BF-UV82 BF-UVB5 B6 Ham Radio;

• Compatible with: WOUXUN KG-689 KG-689 PLUS KG-669 KG-669 PLUS KG-659 KG-699E KG-UVD1 Ham Radio; WEIERWEI VEV-3288S VEV-6288 VEV-3288 Ham Radio; QUANSHENG TG-K4AT TG-2AT TG-45AT TG-42AT TG-22AT TG-25AT TG-UV Ham Radio;

 

[Timbre]

VERY interesting!

Might be able to use this to fit inside the pack with a little coax cable extension like this (link below) between the radio and antenna.

Then the antenna would not need to stick out through the zipper like the whip antenna i use does now.

What are your thoughts on the other lengths of antenna shown on this amazon link?Amazon product ASIN B07R7Q3PTX

 

[Scott]

Following....

 

[christopher]

VERY interesting!

Might be able to use this to fit inside the pack with a little coax cable extension like this (link below) between the radio and antenna.

Then the antenna would not need to stick out through the zipper like the whip antenna i use does now.

What are your thoughts on the other lengths of antenna shown on this amazon link?Amazon product ASIN B07R7Q3PTX

Couple things going on here.

#1. I have not tested this anddon't know what the real world results are.

#2. Most short antennas are "cut" to a specific frequency range where there is a good harmonic, which generates Gain and makes the antenna more efficient. Those different sizes reflect the different frequencies. Ideally you need to pick a freq and then pick your antenna length.

#3. In general terms, LONGER antennas tend to have better propagation.
At my house I have 3 antennas up in the air.
40 Meters long
80 Meters long
160 meters long
MORE is generally better, but for sledding there is no possibility of a 2 meter long antenna. so we have to use 1/4 or 1/8th or 1/16 or even 1/32nd of a wavelength.

#4.
The 42.5" Antenna claims a +5dB Gain
The 28.3" Antenna claims +3.5dB Gain
The 18.8" Antenna claims a 2.15dB Gain
The 13" Antenna also claims a +2.15dB Gain.

For "ME" I would be trying the 42.5" and folding that antenna around my Avy Bag.
+5Db Gain for a Handi-Talkie radio antenna ain't bad.

 

[blastco2]

The 7 inch rubber duck that comes on the baofengs is a really good antenna. There is a test comparison article on miklor.com. the only antennas tested better would not be good for sledding. If you feel that you must upgrade....
I like the signal stick from signal stuff in SLC.

Super-elastic Signal Stick: SMA female — Signal Stuff

Now offering quantity discounts! See below for table. Please select the frequencies and color that you want below -- the "classic" signal stick is "Dual Band" and "Black". All signal sticks come with a Glow in the Dark tip. Please look at the images to make sure you have the correct...

signalstuff.com

 

[Fosgate]

Here's an Army Tactical field manual on tactical communications techniques and explaining antenna setups and gain. It's updated quite a bit more than the 1990 edition I used in the Army in Germany as a Tactical Communications Specialist.

Army ARN20819 ATP Field Manual

It's always wise to have a decent amount of length of an antenna, especially in the mountains. When I was in Germany I was stationed near the Ardens/Black Forest for our area of operation. It was bad enough using old Korean & Vietnam era radios RT-524 and PRC 77, MSRT and a few other communications equipment but we were prohibited from using the Army Syncgars because of conflict between the frequency hopping and the German Rail system that they were not going to give us the frequency bands to avoid switching the tracks. Anyway, My time in that area taught me a lot of communications in that region in particular. It was hell trying to establish and maintain as the radios were old for one but the geography and atmospheric conditions there was always made radios seem like voodoo magic when they worked and made me look a fool when they didn't.

Little things like storm clouds, overcast fog and stormy conditions wouldn't let you communicate to the other side of the hill, an hour later fog rolls out and you can talk for miles. Any edge you can give yourself can make all the difference if you find yourself in a situation. While in military operations the heavier antennas for vehicles allow more power to be used to overcome jamming, on the civilian side it can be similar to overcome signal barriers and interference.

In that manual there is also good stuff about making different antennas to overcome tracking but also for long range direct signal which can be beneficial in trying to get a signal through. I still keep a spool of military phone wiring and trimmed a length off and have a laminated card that I have emergency frequencies written down on for the length and height I need of my antenna. The extra length and additional power capabilities you can push through a tactical antenna has a lot of benefits. However, some times no mater how much juice you push through, environmental situation may force you to move around the interference or wait for clearing of weather.