Using a vhf antenna on a low band portable
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- Posts: 12
- Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:04 pm
Using a vhf antenna on a low band portable
Hello,I'm looking to settle a debate between myself and 2 friends.We run on low band(46...mhz)and they are saying you can use a vhf portable antenna(150 mhz) on the low band portables.I'm no radio guru,but I dont think that is possible.If someone could help me settle this,I would appreciate it.
Re: Using a vhf antenna on a low band portable
Can you? Sure! SHOULD you? Probably not. Your antenna will not match the transmitting frequency of your radio, resulting in an impedance mis-match.
Best case scenario: It works great
Worst case scenario: It damages the radio
Most likely scenario: It works ... sort of ... but not very well
Best case scenario: It works great
Worst case scenario: It damages the radio
Most likely scenario: It works ... sort of ... but not very well
I don't know much about 2-way radios but I'm over 50 and can't remember not having one around. Everything from Buddy and Citi-fone to Icom and Kenwood.
Re: Using a vhf antenna on a low band portable
I didn't look at the date on this thread and I don't check this group that much so if I revived an old thread I'm sorry but before someone ruins a good Low band hand held I had to say something.
It will work like crap. Been there tried it.
The result is an antenna with about 30 dB lower gain than a true tuned low band duck antenna would provide.
I'd bet your friends are refering to the recent topic on another radio users group about using a VHF high band 5/8 wave antenna for 50 MHz mobile work.
This works just fine as some mfg's 2 meter, 146 MHz, 5/8th wave mobile antennas are also electrical 1/4 waves on 50 MHz.
In fact the above method comes from an old antenna MFG's application note from the early 70's about using a 2meter 5/8th wave mobile antenna as a 1/4 wave 6 meter mobile antenna, a very early simple dual band antenna system.
As for the above 5/8th wave antennas use on a handheld, hey if you can get a decent ground plane or a wire counterpoise and can put up with a 50 inch long antenna then go for it but personally I find a 10 inch or longer top slug tuned low band antenna to work great.
Mike
WB8VLC/7
It will work like crap. Been there tried it.
The result is an antenna with about 30 dB lower gain than a true tuned low band duck antenna would provide.
I'd bet your friends are refering to the recent topic on another radio users group about using a VHF high band 5/8 wave antenna for 50 MHz mobile work.
This works just fine as some mfg's 2 meter, 146 MHz, 5/8th wave mobile antennas are also electrical 1/4 waves on 50 MHz.
In fact the above method comes from an old antenna MFG's application note from the early 70's about using a 2meter 5/8th wave mobile antenna as a 1/4 wave 6 meter mobile antenna, a very early simple dual band antenna system.
As for the above 5/8th wave antennas use on a handheld, hey if you can get a decent ground plane or a wire counterpoise and can put up with a 50 inch long antenna then go for it but personally I find a 10 inch or longer top slug tuned low band antenna to work great.
Mike
WB8VLC/7