This is a pretty simple question, but my internet searches have been unfruitful so far.
I want to make a simple replacement antenna for my HT, what would be required for this?
I know that without a good ground(plane) it is hard to get the impedance down to 50 ohms, so what is the solution? My gut tells me that I need to make a coil to match it, is this right?
Cut a piece of stranded "hook up wire" about 20 inches long. Then strip one end and solder it to the appropriate connector to fit the antenna jack on the portable. This will result in a piece of wire about 19.5 inches long which will be a full quarter-wave on 2-meters and a 3/4 wavelength antenna on the 70 cm band.
This antenna will have at least 10 dB "gain" over the normal "rubber ducky" antenna that most portable units are equipped from the factory on 2 meters and about 13 dB gain over the "rubber ducky" antenna on the 70 cm band.
Motorola used to sell these "dangle" antennas for use with their commercial two-way portable radios and they worked very well.
By the way, unless you actually have a Motorola product you don't have an "HT" but have a "portable" or "hand held" radio. Remember, "HT" is a registered trademark of Motorola as is "handy-talkie" and "Handi-talkie".
Cut a piece of stranded "hook up wire" about 20 inches long. Then strip one end and solder it to the appropriate connector to fit the antenna jack on the portable. This will result in a piece of wire about 19.5 inches long which will be a full quarter-wave on 2-meters and a 3/4 wavelength antenna on the 70 cm band.
This antenna will have at least 10 dB "gain" over the normal "rubber ducky" antenna that most portable units are equipped from the factory on 2 meters and about 13 dB gain over the "rubber ducky" antenna on the 70 cm band.
Motorola used to sell these "dangle" antennas for use with their commercial two-way portable radios and they worked very well.
By the way, unless you actually have a Motorola product you don't have an "HT" but have a "portable" or "hand held" radio. Remember, "HT" is a registered trademark of Motorola as is "handy-talkie" and "Handi-talkie".
Glen, K9STH
Glen, I just wanted to chime in and say that after seeing you post this in another thread I made one for my HTX-202 that serves as my "base" here at home and it works great. Since it never actually goes anywhere, I actually cut a length of metal coathanger to size and soldered it into an SO-239 to BNC adapter to use on the '202. MUCH better than the rubber dummy load.
So I just wanted to offer my thanks for the suggestion and to reinforce that it works great.
Like INF has said, anything is better than the dummy load that comes from the factory. All my HT's (sorry Glen) have an aftermarket antenna. They average around 15 inches or so, turn heads often, but they work like 10 times better.
OK, in this crowd, I should be more accurate, about 10 or so db gain better...
Jonathan
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By the way, unless you actually have a Motorola product you don't have an "HT" but have a "portable" or "hand held" radio. Remember, "HT" is a registered trademark of Motorola as is "handy-talkie" and "Handi-talkie".Glen, K9STH
Hmmm, sort of like placing a TM on "PL" For my thinking, the translation is "Handheld Transceiver." Try getting a TM or copyright on that!
Another material that works well for homebrew HT whips is stainless steel wire in small gauge--14 or 16. I use this for my 1/4 wave 6M whip. Be sure to twist a little loop on the end though.
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Back in the early 1970s several Japanese radio manufacturers started advertising in the U.S. amateur radio magazines their products as "HT", "Handi-Talkie", "Handy Talky", and so forth. Within less than 48 hours all of those magazines got "cease and desist" orders from the Motorola legal department, backed up by the United States government, for trademark violations. Those Japanese manufacturers had to immediately revise all of their advertisements.
It is the same thing for "PL" and "Private Line" (which are Motorola's trademarks for CTCSS). General Electric did the same thing for "CG" and "Channel Guard" (which were their trademarks for CTCSS).
Now it doesn't really "bother me" to see "HT", "PL", and other Motorola trademarks used generically. However, every once-in-a-while Motorola does "flex its muscles" and people do get a "nasty-gram" from their legal department for using the trademarks for products other than those manufactured by Motorola. Also, Motorola is VERY protective of their programming software and if someone obtains a copy without paying a transfer fee to them that person WILL get a VERY "nasty" letter demanding payment of the fee and, unfortunate to the person who got the letter, Motorola's claim will hold up in court.
It is like Xerox. That company will defend its trademarks very actively to keep the name from becoming a "generic" term for copying.
Homebrew HT Antenna?
For my thinking, the translation is "Handheld Transceiver." Try getting a TM or copyright on that!
Linear Mode
