Using a vhf antenna on a low band portable

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tylercnty316
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:04 pm

Using a vhf antenna on a low band portable

Post by tylercnty316 »

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.
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n9gik
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Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2004 12:41 am
Location: SE IL

Re: Using a vhf antenna on a low band portable

Post by n9gik »

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
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.
mike m
Posts: 74
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2002 8:00 pm

Re: Using a vhf antenna on a low band portable

Post by mike m »

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
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