[klutched]

Hey guys,

What sort or aerial should I get for my UHF? I'll mainly be using it for highway driving and when I go 4wding. The guy at the shops said 6.6db would be the best as it gives a bit of distance and ability to go over hill and things.

I'm tossing up between 2 aerials atm, a GME AE4702 $79 and a UNIDEN AT870 $55.

What would be the best choice?

Cheers,

Gideon

[Gwagensteve]

I reckon the #1 consideration is how easily it's going to get broken, and what setup the other people you have with you run.

In our club, lots of people run handhelds. We're not much into radio chatter, and we frequently have phone reception for emergency use. It's pretty pointless having a really great UHF setup if none of the people who can hear you can reply.

However, I've broken $$$$ worth of aerials in the bush, so I run a basic stainless whip on a spring base. I'm sure it has terrible SWR and offers little or no gain, but it's much better than a handheld.

Here's my rubbish setup.

[klutched]

I have one of those aerial on atm but it's nearly dead. I also have 4 Uniden hand helds. I want a bigger better one purely because when I go camping and go for a drive I can keep in contact with the people back at camp. Most places I got camping have little to no reception.

[Gwagensteve]

How is a stainless whip "nearly dead"? Mines impossible to damage other than having a small arc in it ? (although mine is on a spring base, which I considered a must to prevent it breaking.

If you're worried it's going to break, throw a spring base on it and it will last forever.

Steve.

[Gwagensteve]

Just checked your build thread - you have one of those nasty plastic base thingies. They're not suitable for off road use because you can't use a spring base. I've broken a couple of those.

The AE4702 isn't an off-road worthy antenna IMHO. They're not flexible enough. they're for trucks IMHO. Hit them at speed 1/2 way up and it will break before the spring mount can work. This is also why I don't like fibreglass "whip" antennas unless they are very long (5'+) even with a spring base.

The uniden option is better because it's just a ground independant base so you can put a tiny 1/4 wave stainless whip on it when you break the supplied fibreglass whip. Had one of those too and broke it.

My antenna uses a conventional UHF base like this:



A spring base:



and a 4.5dB or something stainless whip like this one for $18 from supercrap



The cheapest reliable solution is far better than a 6db setup that breaks and leaves you with nothing.

[BlueSuzy]

Another option is

http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/online-s ... escription



I had one on my sierra using a gme remote face. Worked good enough for me. I made a bracket for the window hole up the top

[bigdogdazza]

I have a little rubber type aerial mounted to my bullbar. It only reaches a couple of kms at best and suffers greatly from little aerial syndrome, but it works for me....so far. If I break it I will definitely get a stainless springy whippy aerial as I reckon it will even survive a rollover! Got one on my pajero and it's great!

[Scrawny]

BlueSuzy wrote:

Another option is

http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/online-s ... escription

These are great, and cheap! I'm using one guard mounted on my ute ATM.

Best aerial I've had was a RFI CD63. It was gutter mounted on my work van. Brilliant for getting under low trees, carparks, drive thrus etc.

http://www.cbradioaustralia.com.au/rfi-cd63-uhf-antenna

[klutched]

Scrawn wrote:

Best aerial I've had was a RFI CD63. It was gutter mounted on my work van. Brilliant for getting under low trees, carparks, drive thrus etc.

Not sure if serious

[Scrawny]

klutched wrote:

Scrawn wrote:

Best aerial I've had was a RFI CD63. It was gutter mounted on my work van. Brilliant for getting under low trees, carparks, drive thrus etc.

Not sure if serious

Anything above the roofline on a van is a pita! This aerial worked well due to its flexibility, it'd work just as well in the bush

[klutched]

Does anyone know how to run the wire from the spare tyre carrier back to the uhf? I know you have to drill a hole but there's the plug on the end of the wire that will not fit through the hole :/

[Scrawny]

It's a pain trying to run the cable with the plug on. I usually run the cable first then solder plug on. Is the plug crimped on?

[klutched]

Yeah it is... I can't cut it can I? because it just looks like silver wire or something.

[Scrawny]

I would cut that plug off and solder on another but a bit tricky if you haven't done one before. You could always cut the plug off, run your cable then head into a radio shop and get them to solder or crimp another plug on. It should only cost $20-30.

[Scrawny]

Of course the cable may disconnect easily from the base.... What aerial are you using?

[31zook]

I bought a GME Thingo and ran the cable to the rear end of my jimny with it mounted on my spare wheel mount. Can be done without crimping/cutting but defs not easy...

[klutched]

Idk I'm using some crappy aerial that I don't think works anymore D: But I'm after a 6.6db aerial.

[MacDaddy]

I cant see the point of buying a full powered UHF, then stickin a crap short range antenna on it, you may as well just use a hand held... buy the best antenna you can afford... a 6.6dbi, is good for distance and over small hills... this is the antenna i have, its mounted on my nudge bar -
http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index.php ... ts_id=2222
It comes with a 6.5dbi for distance, and a 3dbi for very hilly short range, yes its fibre glass with a spring, but i have smashed it on heaps of stuff, with no damage... it really shouldnt have the plug on the cable, the kit above comes with a solder on plug, but you have to be careful when soldering it, as you dont want to short the fine sheilding wires, onto the main wire, as it will kill your UHF rig, i found a multimeter helps with doing this, or if you are not confident, best to get someone who does know, to do it for you...

[klutched]

Cheers, I was looking at a similar kit except Uniden.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/UNIDEN-AT870 ... 837wt_1139

I think the antenna I have on atm came with the uhf that the previous owners put in, but time for a new and better one

[MacDaddy]

klutched wrote:

Cheers, I was looking at a similar kit except Uniden.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/UNIDEN-AT870 ... 837wt_1139

I think the antenna I have on atm came with the uhf that the previous owners put in, but time for a new and better one

Yep, looks good, get it !