UHF Antenna

There is very little difference between the different brands of antenna of similar style and size, electrically. There may be some lasting qualities in rough conditions but I am not prepared to comment there. When it comes to rugged style broomstick styles, I think they are a bit of a wank, particularly in the smaller gain sizes.

G'day William.
I am not a retired radio technician. but have an RFI normal whip with a loaded base. Sold to me by Radio BUG owner in Torrens Rd Adelaide. He said the long poles are rubbish. His recommendation was NOT to fit to bullbar, but have it up high on a roof bar bracket. Centre roof if possible.
That has performed well. Once south of Oodnadatta here the late Adam Plate arrived and said UHF don't work here. He couldn't believe I was talking to his wife and hearing her voice about 60KM away.
Another time I was high up on a range in QLD at a truck accident. Contacted Undara Lava tube reception over 70km away for emergency services. QuIte happy with RFI. AS mentioned, other may be similar.

If your only using for communicating with trucks then just about anything will do.

Off road I have found a good quailty broom sticks give superior peformance and is more robust. I found a couple of quailty small units just couldn't handle the vibration on my Prado, after a couple of yers the stainless steel section just fatigued and broke off. Haven't found any issues with the broom stick and it has always out performed antennas on other vehicles in the convoys we have been on giving clear communications with when others couldn't hear other vehicles comong our way.

I have also found quailty of some units could be better even in the dearer brands, I have had what are supposed to be stainless steel springs rust on a couple of units. If you find a good brand stick to it.

Personnaly I like the RFI units.

Thank you every one for their input.

Another question if I may, before I rush out and spend any money I have located in the garage a GME elevated feed mount with spring and a RFI elevated feed mount with spring.

I have had them for so long I can't remember what they where for.

I there any difference between a 27mhz CB elevated feed and a UHF one. (Did cb radio have these?)

Thanks in advance.
William

I think there is a difference in quality of standard "whip" type ones. We had a GME 6.6dB / 640mm long one that broke after thousands of kilometers of corrugations. The replacement, a cheap one from Repco (all we could find on a Saturday in Alice Springs), lasted about 15kms of corrugations before it broke.

Some years back, William, a group of us were heading east on the French Line, towards Knolls turnoff, and we made a position report: “4 vehicles, heading East…..etc” and received a reply from a couple who had not long left Poeppel Corner. Their signal just boomed in, almost as if they were only 1-2kms away, instead of maybe 40kms.
When we finally met them, they had an extended gain whip aerial, about 900mm long. This is the type I would recommend for general use for town & country.

As for broomstick units, we’ve used numerous brands, and they do work. RFI make a good range of aerials. GME broomsticks didn’t last, we found, on continual dirt road use.

Bob

Hi William,

Let me state that I am not an expert in these matters, but I have been using CB & now UHF radios in vehicles for nearly 45 years. One thing is certain, the very best quality UHF Radio will not perform well without a decent quality antenna. Of course, the problem is finding a good quality antenna. GME are good quality, and from all accounts, so is RFI. I have a GME that has seen the Telegraph Road including The Old Telegraph Track, The GCR, The Tanami Track, The Oodnadatta track, the Simpson Desert, crossing a couple of times in both directions.

The 2 or 3 metre long “broomsticks” that can be found on some vehicles, particularly Utes with massive bullbars, are a complete waste of time and money, and do very little in the way of reception. The length of the “mast” is not as important as the actual length of wire that is the actual antenna, and the quality of the construction.

As for positioning the antenna, the middle of the roof is considered to be the ideal location, however this is not always possible owing to Roof Racks etc. Also being in the centre of the roof, it is more likely to be struck by low hanging branches etc, or in underground carparks. You can get mounting brackets that attach to the side of a roof rack (or the bullbar) that are able to be folded down when low lying obstacles are present.

As has been pointed out, the bullbar can be subjected to a lot of vibration, particularly the outer edges. If the bullbar is the only place you can mount the antenna, I would suggest the centre of the bullbar would be a better choice than the outer edges. There is likely to be less side to side “rocking” in the centre.

Regards, Macca.

All waffle aside, UHF is line of sight only

Thank you every one for their input.

I decided to go with what I all ready had on hand.

In the end I fitted the RFI unit, reasons being that the RFI had a black spring (that parts is purely looks) and it has a smaller connector on the end which will make it easier to feed through the firewall grommet.

William