Antennas GPS Radio 1 GPS Antennas

Antennas GPS & Radio 1

GPS Antennas • Types – Patch (less multi-path interference) – Helix 2

GPS Antenna for units without connector • http: //pc-mobile. net/gpsant. htm • Active Antenna – BNC #GAST 3 B – MCX #GAST 3 X $25. 00 $19. 90 • Re-Radiating Antenna uses 3 -AA – BNC #GARTB – MCX #GARTX • S&H $19. 90 $25. 00 $5. 00 3

Antennas for Handheld Radio • • • Antenna furnished with radio - inefficient It is a poor attempt at a 1/4 -wave antenna requires a ground plane The case of radio is not a good ground plane Radio carried against body is attenuated 4

Improving Performance • Take radio out of chest harness • Hold is so antenna is away from body • Add a Ground Plane wire “Tiger Tail” – An 18” wire attached to the outside of the antenna connector, or – Attache wire to radio case (induction)G 5

Get a Better Antenna need an adapter • Need to be able to use a BNC antenna connector • Buy an Adapter from Radio’s connector to BNC(female) • Ham Radio: BNC and SMA – From Vetco, Bellevue, WA • Land Mobile Radio (LMR): many versions – Icom LMR: MX (1/4”-32 x 3/16”) • RFI #RFB 1145 $5. 12 www. Radio. Outfitters. com – Motorola: MX – Kenwood: SMA 6

Better Antennas • Larsen Kulduckie $22 -25 – KD 4 -146 -HQ 144 -148 MHz Ham – KD 4 -155 -HQ 155 MHz SAR & Ski Patrol • These antennas can be ordered with many different connectors • Better than antenna that came with radios • Ham Dual Band 2 m/70 cm long antenna 7

Better Antennas • Larsen KD-14 -2 M-HW Telescopic 1/2 -wave Antenna – 1/2 -wave antenna does not require a ground plane – This antenna can be lengthen or shortened to be tuned for frequencies from 144 -177 MHz – Con: do not leave permanently attached to radio • Inflexible • Can damage connector in radio – MSRP $39, $29. 95 @ Universal-Radio. com – Do not get 5/8 -wave telescopic antenna • Require a ground plane 8

Best Antenna • MFJ Enterprises – #1730 Pocket Roll-up 2 meter (145 MHz) 1/2 -wave J-antenna BNC $2 9

Vehicle Antenna • Need a Magnetic Mount Antenna – MFJ-1721 Ultra. Lite 2 Meter Magnetic Mount Antenna, w/ 9 -ft RG-174 U, BNC $15 10

Sources • • www. mfj. Enterprises. com www. Radio. Outfitters. com www. Universal-Radio. com www. Ham. Radio. com www. AESham. com www. tessco. com Vetco Electronics, 12718 Northrup Way NE, Bellevue, WA www. vetcosurplus. com 11