UHF Antenna. What have you got and why's it good?

[growler2058]

Ive got a Motorola MCS 2000 80ch to put in my Troll. Came with everything except an antenna and cable. So whats good, whats not, why? Thanks.

[macca]

http://www.gadgetcity.com.au/gme-ae4705-grey-6.6dbi-uhf-1.20m-antenna-p-443.html?cPath=92_23_119&zenid=6ff140b31beb6c6e8d9061296b5a6920

GME4705 solid as and built to take the hiding the bush and outback roads throw at it.

Used two since 2005, recently tested the 1st one at the local comms place and it was down a bit but still serviceable.

[04OFF]

I use a Benelec UHF Antenna , I bought a kit with a 3dB & a 6.5dB antenna......


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Benelec-UHF-Antenna-3dB-6-5dB-Dual-Elevated-Feed-All-Terrain-/201074110790



After only initially fitting the tiny (6 inch long) 3db antenna for a one off trip to a hilly 4x4 park ,I found the range I still get on the open road was so good, I ended up just leaving it on 24/7 and never bother with the longer 6.5db antenna anymore.

As I don't need to compensate , it does not bother me the tiny antenna does not look very impressive, it does not obstruct your view, plus it never catches on "anything" because it is so short , and nobody ever tries to steal it either :hpfredgeorge1:

[the evil twin]

Head and shoulders above all the rest in all but the most specialised applications and perfectly suited for probably 95% of all 4WD owners is......

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/RFI-Explorist-3-6-5dbi-UHF-CB-Antenna-Package

Costs less than $100
Elevated feed for excellent radiation pattern
Ground independant
Radiating elements as tough as nails
Feed choke is mounted on a spring base in case of low flying trees
Aussies manuf that is a recognised world leader in communications

[Drewboyaus]

Head and shoulders above all the rest in all but the most specialised applications and perfectly suited for probably 95% of all 4WD owners is...... http://www.prestigecom.net.au/RFI-Explorist-3-6-5dbi-UHF-CB-Antenna-Package

I work quite a lot with RFI and they pretty much make the best antennas available on the general market. The bonus is that they are made right here in Australia (Adelaide).

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[MudRunnerTD]

The RFI is a great product. I would also recommend it. For an all round unit I would recommend a 4.5db or 6db aerial. I have the twin unit on the GQ like in ETs link but in a GME and it came with a 3db and 6db but i have the 3db permanently fitted as its perfect for very hilly country. The 6db is perfect for midrange and touring. And also works quite well around town.

[04OFF]

Ive thrown a few (more than 2) of those 6.5db RFI antennas in the bin off the work cars, the rubber seems to go quite hard and brittle and cracks then flakes off when you touch or flex it, in particular where the lower section of the antenna gets thin they seem to fracture worst, does not seem to effect operation, but looks ugly as sin, im guessing its from the QLD sun, as it can be pretty hard on rubber and plastics n stuff.

[MudRunnerTD]

Ive thrown a few (more than 2) of those 6.5db RFI antennas in the bin off the work cars, the rubber seems to go quite hard and brittle and cracks then flakes off when you touch or flex it, in particular where the lower section of the antenna gets thin they seem to fracture worst, does not seem to effect operation, but looks ugly as sin, im guessing its from the QLD sun, as it can be pretty hard on rubber and plastics n stuff.

Interesting, the guys from 4WDTV use and recommend RFI.

I actually have an Australian Made ZCG 6db antenna and have been very pleased with it for the last 7 years. I have an Icom440 in the GUIV and its a great package for touring and the Highcountry.

http://zcg.com.au/mobile/

[Family4x4]

Head and shoulders above all the rest in all but the most specialised applications and perfectly suited for probably 95% of all 4WD owners is......

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/RFI-Explorist-3-6-5dbi-UHF-CB-Antenna-Package

Costs less than $100
Elevated feed for excellent radiation pattern
Ground independant
Radiating elements as tough as nails
Feed choke is mounted on a spring base in case of low flying trees
Aussies manuf that is a recognised world leader in communications

I have this as reccomended by Evil Twin works a treat!

[04OFF]

MR, Yeh look ,ET knows this stuff way better than I, and in all fairness ,I don't know how they got treated (company supplied work utes), so may have been exposed to harsher conditions than normal perhaps ?

Just my personal observation about them, but I was a little shocked at the recommendation, as I had em down in my head as a POS id never want on my car, but.... ive seen factory rubber roof antennas do the same and go crusty or fall apart exposing the core, my MB Sprinter factory antenna did this at less than 5 years old, but ive seen other brand cars do the same.


Maybe they got hit by some alien cricket with acid blood or something ? (lol) I don't really have any answers, like I said, I always thought it was because the rubber went hard as is often caused by the sun.




Id suspect 4WD TV may recommend anything they are paid too, or is that 4WD Action ? (lol)


If I ever get another cracking one come in, ill take some pics and then see if it has any numbers to allow for dating etc.

[Winnie]

Head and shoulders above all the rest in all but the most specialised applications and perfectly suited for probably 95% of all 4WD owners is......

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/RFI-Explorist-3-6-5dbi-UHF-CB-Antenna-Package

Costs less than $100
Elevated feed for excellent radiation pattern
Ground independant
Radiating elements as tough as nails
Feed choke is mounted on a spring base in case of low flying trees
Aussies manuf that is a recognised world leader in communications

I bought this a couple of months ago, recommended by ET, it's still sitting in the back of my car though... It's going on this weekend, haha.

[Hodge]

Head and shoulders above all the rest in all but the most specialised applications and perfectly suited for probably 95% of all 4WD owners is......

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/RFI-Explorist-3-6-5dbi-UHF-CB-Antenna-Package

Costs less than $100
Elevated feed for excellent radiation pattern
Ground independant
Radiating elements as tough as nails
Feed choke is mounted on a spring base in case of low flying trees
Aussies manuf that is a recognised world leader in communications

Evil you have my attention...
I never really paid attention to comms, as I don't really understand the whole "gain and decibels" thing when it comes to antennas. I just slapped on the antenna that came with my GME 3520 80 chan, the antenna is the GME AE4703.

One of these units:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400352172359

These are it's specs:
Ground Plane independent
4.5m (14.8') of low loss coaxial cable.
Length is 1100mm (3.6') including the spring.
6.6 dbi of gain.

So how wouild the above RFI package benefit me? And also, being 2 antennas how is it wired into a single antenna socket at the unit end, are the 2 antennas just somehow spliced together in parallel before entering the UHF unit?

[Winnie]

Hodge you get one antenna base and two tips for it, they are interchangeable, you only have one on at a time but takes 30 seconds to change it.

[Hodge]

Hodge you get one antenna base and two tips for it, they are interchangeable, you only have one on at a time but takes 30 seconds to change it.

Ah cheers. Udnerstood now. I just assumed it's 2 perma-mounted as I quiet often see 2 of them mounted on the bull bars.

[threedogs]

Interesting, the guys from 4WDTV use and recommend RFI.

I actually have an Australian Made ZCG 6db antenna and have been very pleased with it for the last 7 years. I have an Icom440 in the GUIV and its a great package for touring and the Highcountry.

http://zcg.com.au/mobile/

I would recommend stuff too if I got it for free.
But agree with the smaller antenna for hilly work and a longer 900mm plus for hwy work 4Db-6Db.
The less connections the better.
I have heard that the small 100mm one in the centre of your roof is the best set up.
Antenna on the front right will radiate to the back left and vice versa

[macca]

I have heard that the small 100mm one in the centre of your roof is the best set up.


It does, pity I have the roof covered with rack and RTT.

Those skinny bar mounted antenna get a wobble going in the bad corrugations and snap, seen it quite a few times. Not saying the RFI does.

That one I use doesn't, and takes hits from low branches very well. If you are not doing Anne Beadell type tracks then I suppose it doesn't matter what you use.

Went the way I did from advice from a seller who had all types, he pointed me toward the GME HD stuff as he said it would last. He was right.

It does annoy some a fat ass thing in the line of vision though.

[threedogs]

Cant see myself drilling a hole in the middle of the roof,
but reception on the 4x4's I know is great

[Wizard52]

Head and shoulders above all the rest in all but the most specialised applications and perfectly suited for probably 95% of all 4WD owners is......

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/RFI-Explorist-3-6-5dbi-UHF-CB-Antenna-Package

Costs less than $100
Elevated feed for excellent radiation pattern
Ground independant
Radiating elements as tough as nails
Feed choke is mounted on a spring base in case of low flying trees
Aussies manuf that is a recognised world leader in communications

I followed ET's advice and bought my GME radio and RFI antenna from above company for my recent trip to the north. Excellent service.
All worked perfectly and seems to get good long range reception with longer one. Next time out of town will try and get a better idea of range with a couple of radio checks.

[mudski]

This diagram may help you on what gain to get...
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49822&stc=1
Having said that my Antenna is 6DB gain. Probably an over kill for the hilly tracks we have and do down here but it seems to pickup more than what other cars pickup. As when we do go out, other vehicles often don't hear what I can hear. Its an old GME aerial I have, but it seems to work good...

[MudRunnerTD]

Hey Growler there is a guy on MudRhino selling second hand Icom440 with hand set but no aerial. He takes them out of mining service units and then tests and cleans them out. I have this military spec radio in both my cars and they are top notch. He has $275 on them and has 3

[MudRunnerTD]

This diagram may help you on what gain to get...
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49822&stc=1
Having said that my Antenna is 6DB gain. Probably an over kill for the hilly tracks we have and do down here but it seems to pickup more than what other cars pickup. As when we do go out, other vehicles often don't hear what I can hear. Its an old GME aerial I have, but it seems to work good...

Good post Mark, I have this pic somewhere but not sure where. Bear in mind that a 9db is even longer and flatter. Great for desert but basically useless everywhere else.

A 6db is perfect for touring. I have a stubble 3db mounted on the snorkel head of my GQ and it works great.

[Clunk]

Like 04OFF, I have a benelec with interchangeable 6db and 3db whips, have had mine for 4 years now with no issues at all.

[katwoman]

Mine's black, and it's good cos it works.

[growler2058]

Mine's black, and it's good cos it works.

That's the one I'm getting then, thanks

[GQ TANK]

The GPI antennas are ideal for installation on bars roof racks etc. If you are mounting a antenna on the front bar - you will have a reduction in coms to the rear of the vehcile. A few years back we done some testing looking at the received signal level of a 4 wd drivng to and away from a base site - there was around 10 db difference in signal level.s

Personally i have been using the RFI MOPOLE 3db antennas for years (also used use them on couriers at work. see http://www.rfiwireless.com.au/mobile-products/uhf-mobile/uhf-ground-independent-mopoletm-cd50-68-50.html#.VEEpSWeSzTo The only issue is that they need to be tunned to the correct frequency (im a radio tech so its not an issue for me) . The big advantage is that thay are not affected by corrigation, if you hit them with a branch they bend over and pop back up

We also use the elevated feed RFI GPI antennas at work - they are a good cheap antenna