UHF AERIALS

chris,
the simple lowdown..3db - hilly, higher waveshape, more likely to traverse slopes and ravines. 9db - long waveshape, more likely to recieve remote area contact in FLAT country.
Personally, I'd throw the 6db section away...

cheers Rich

Chris, Rich hit the nail on the head. The 6db is a step in between the 3 & 9db gain antenna's. I use a GME AE409L which is 6db/9db. The 6db is fine around town and most rural area's in Tasmania, in fact it is far better a lot of the time than the 9db. When I tour the outback though, there is no comparison, the 9db is the way to go. This is through an old Electrophone TX4000. If I can find a better setup I will buy it, but as yet this is it. Hope this helps. Cheers

Chris,

Of course you need the 6db bit, sorry. Not thinking....

Try this: http://www.roity.com/rc/cbradio/uhfcb.html

It should explain everything.
cheers
rich

The GME site (www.gme.net.au) has some good info on the antennas page. I have the 6/9 electrophone unit too - my research suggests that the 9 configuration is really good for long distances, but only when the car is stationary - when it flops around while mobile, the signal often goes UP instead of along!. In the (undulating) desert awhile back, the best performance for UHF in our group was a stumpy little 150mm unit. Taught me a lot - have made some of my own quarter/half/5/8 wave UHF antennas now, out of staineless wire - seem to work really well - they are all shorter than the 6db set up. Seems tall antennas have a long skinny pattern (like a pancake) and short antennas have a fat local pattern (like a donut) as explained to me by an expert). I made a page about my project - could be of use (http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/darian/uhf.html).
Cheers /
Darian