UHF antenna - which kind?

Submitted: Friday, Jul 16, 2004 at 09:46

ThreadID: 14703 Views:8666 Replies:7 FollowUps:2

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CruiserHead

I am in the morket for a new antenna. My trips take me mainly to the Flinders Ranges and the flat country around Lake Eyre, so I am thinking 6db or 9db gain. To be mounted on the bullbar, so ground independent. I use the UHF mainly for repeater access and emergency contact, not so much for talking to other vehicles. How would a 9db function in the Flinders? What is the difference between those fat, long fiberglass rods and the thinner, shorter, often metal rods? What should I be looking for?

Thanks in advance to the experienced crowd, here!

Cruiserhead.

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Reply By: Utemad - Friday, Jul 16, 2004 at 09:59

Friday, Jul 16, 2004 at 09:59

Hi,

For big open areas you can't beat the GME AE4706. Although it leans a bit at 100km/h. The benefit of this series is that they are interchangeable so long as you fit the larger spring base. Means you can fit a variety of antennas to suit the landscape.

I have the AE4706 and AE4705 as well as my old AE409L stainless 6/9db antenna. It will still fit on the new spring base but I don't use it off road as the grub screws fall out and with the 9db attachment it bends right over at 100km/h. This series is ground independent.

I think most of the stainless antennas are lower gain ones except for the AE409L. Fibreglass rod type antennas will stay upright better at speed thus giving you better range/reception while driving. Don't hit anything with them though! They tend to bleep ter if you hit solid things like concrete car park entrances.

Choosing antenna

AE4700 series

When it comes to antennas there are heaps to choose from.

Utemad

AnswerID: 68023

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Friday, Jul 16, 2004 at 15:10

Friday, Jul 16, 2004 at 15:10

The Larger fatter antennas are Dipoles which are different to your standard "peice of wire" or "whip" antenna.
Dipoles offer your a more stable signal. They are more delicate and heavier. Dipoles are very often used as base antennas. Some people who must be making up for some other kind of inadequncy use them on their bullbars, but personally for offroad use the smaller the better!
I have a dipole, but it's a miniture one only about 30 cm tall and low gain. Approx 3db.
6/9db atennas will work gret in the hills, as long as your right on the top! As soon as you get somthing in the way, it will block your signal.
If you are tryingto acces repeaters, a lower DB arial is the best option as the repeater's have very expensive high gain (generally 24db etc) on them and are situated on top of large hills or towers. They are getting the distance for you, you just need to be able to reach up with your lower db arial and grab hold of the signal. If you are "beaming" straight out ahead, you likely to miss the repeaters signal all together as it's much higher above you.
Hope it makes sense!