Tri-Band Antenna ?

[11C1P]

I'd like to streamline my antennas for my HT's down to 1 or 2 styles.  Besides being simpler, I can save a few $$$ by buying multiples of the same kind.  I can get tri band antennas for not much more than a similar style dual band, so while I'm not expecting that I'll get another band out of a dual-band radio, I'm wondering if it will negatively affect the dual band reception in anyway if I outfit it with a tri-band antenna.  If I get all tri-band antennas then I don't have to worry about accidentally putting a dual band antenna on a tri-band radio & I wouldn't have to carry multiple antennas either.  I did a little searching & can't seem to see anything about it, so I'm hoping someone with a lot more knowledge about comms might now. 

[bennington.camper]

Any multi-band portable antenna is a compromise on all bands.
The fewer compromises in an antenna, the more efficient it will be.
I would recommend against multi-band portable antennas in general - I have a couple and they are much bigger and bulkier than a couple of single band antennas.
This is my experience and it would seem to be backed up by theory.

[pkveazey]

I'd like to streamline my antennas for my HT's down to 1 or 2 styles.  Besides being simpler, I can save a few $$$ by buying multiples of the same kind.  I can get tri band antennas for not much more than a similar style dual band, so while I'm not expecting that I'll get another band out of a dual-band radio, I'm wondering if it will negatively affect the dual band reception in anyway if I outfit it with a tri-band antenna.  If I get all tri-band antennas then I don't have to worry about accidentally putting a dual band antenna on a tri-band radio & I wouldn't have to carry multiple antennas either.  I did a little searching & can't seem to see anything about it, so I'm hoping someone with a lot more knowledge about comms might now. 

You didn't mention what 3 bands you wanted to work. I'm going to guess that you are talking about 2 meters, 220, and 440. I've only seen 2 tri-band mobile antennas and I suspect they are OK. However, I run a Tri-band radio in each of my cars and in the house. On the cars, I run a dual band (2 meter/440) antenna and a separate 220 antenna and I use a high quality antenna switch when I need to use 220. For the House, I run exactly the same thing off the side of the tower. I also have a 440 Cubical Quad beam pointed toward the nearest 440 repeaters(no rotator).

[bennington.camper]

[quote/]

You didn't mention what 3 bands you wanted to work. I'm going to guess that you are talking about 2 meters, 220, and 440. I've only seen 2 tri-band mobile antennas and I suspect they are OK.
[/quote]
He said it would be for a handle-talkie, so I doubt mobile or base antennas would be useful...

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

[11C1P]

`

Yeah all handie-talkie's at least so far.  I definitely would like to get a nice home base set up & then maybe after that look at something for a dedicated vehicle setup.  I had one BaoFeng UV-5R that I got several years ago & in the last 3-4 months have been adding to them.  The first one I got doesn't even show up on amazon anymore but it's a dual band 1w/5w with a 136-174 & 400-480.  Then I decided to try a few different ones, this is what I've added.

One more dual band 5/1w

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YMN0SCG/

A few dual band tri-power

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074Z63YFM/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VJ38MTW/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J4K2WYD/


Then I also added a few Tri-bands.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FLH4R3Y/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VD7P3X5/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J2W4JUI/

I also have some of the FRS/GMRS radios, Midland GXT-1000's & even a few old Motorola TalkAbout 250's.  I've got an old CB my dad used to have tucked away somewhere & that's it other than receive only type emergency radios, a couple Eton's.  I am guessing they will probably still be available after Sept. 30th, but its one of the things I was sorely lacking on so I figured I'd grab some just in case they became harder to find or the price went up a bunch.  Now I'll have something to do this winter when it's too cold out to play, I can sit & program radios. 

.

[pkveazey]

Go to Amazon and look up the QYT KT8900R. Be careful to make sure its the one with the proper 220 to 240 Mhz band. They have another version of it that has something like 230 270 Mhz. You don't want that one. The QYT KT8900R is small but has 25 watts output on 2 meters and 220 but only about 13 watts on 440. I bought four of them and programmed them with CHIRP. I think I paid about $75 each for them. I keep one programmed and ready to go and its still in the box and wrapped in Aluminum foil just in case we get an EMP. Also, they don't scramble their brains if the power drops out while they are turned on. I have a whole stack of TYT 9000D's that went nuts when there was a power fluctuation and the lights blinked in the house. You are going to have to search a lot because the KT8900 series comes in about 4 versions. You want the proper tri-band version.

[11C1P]

`

When I looked for "QYT KT8900R" in amazon all I got was vehicle radios, nothing about HT antennas.  I also added "antenna" to the first part & still no antennas.  Am I missing something? 

.

[Jackalope]

   No, PK is suggesting a radio, rather than an antenna.  I'm curious as to what you're going to do with so many radios.  Do you have a comm plan?  There's nothing wrong with having a bunch of radios, as the Chinese brands aren't noted for their durability, so it's good to have spares.  I've always considered the Baofengs to be disposable radios.

[11C1P]

   No, PK is suggesting a radio, rather than an antenna.  I'm curious as to what you're going to do with so many radios.  Do you have a comm plan?  There's nothing wrong with having a bunch of radios, as the Chinese brands aren't noted for their durability, so it's good to have spares.  I've always considered the Baofengs to be disposable radios.

Well, I was asking about antennas, not radio's, in fact in my 2nd post I said a dedicated vehicle rig would be last on my list of radios &I want to get.  What I have so many radios for is none of your fucking business & I sure as hell don't need YOUR permission to own however many I want.  I've had a UV-5R for 6 or 7 years now & it's held up fine, but I don't misuse & abuse it either.  Not that it can't take it, but why abuse it for no reason.  You shouldn't just regurgitate stuff you've read about them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug111D1xx0U&t=6s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZCDBsBuhmg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3_cAdnAiIU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqVq2G9dY5Q&t=62s

[Jackalope]

Wow, nice reply.  I was inquiring out of curiosity, sorry that my simple inquiry upset you.  I happen to own many Baofengs, and have worked with them on a professional basis, both repairing them and programming them... in fact I've worked with literally hundreds of them.  I wouldn't use one in a situation where lives are dependent upon them.  I'm not regurgitating anything, I'm basing my comments on real world experience under difficult conditions. 

[bennington.camper]

Wow that reply was uncalled for!
I am not sure why so many folks jumped in to change the direction of the conversation from antennas to radios. Maybe too much skimming and missed the intent?

However, while on the topic, you get what you pay for, and supporting as few Chinese imports as possible is my goal, not to mention the Baofung issues with the FCC, and sure if you make a million of something and flood the market with product, you are bound to have some good ones out there. Not for me. I got into the hobby many years ago and plan to continue to support the manufacturers that have been here at least that long, producing bomb proof products.

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

[pkveazey]

Well, since everybody is getting snippy, I'll add my snippiness. I've had 3 of the top brand handi-talkies and I don't have any of them anymore because they all broke. I've bought more than 20 Baofengs and not one of them has quit yet. If I were going into the bush and needed HT's, I carry 4 of them 2 for me and 2 for the person with me. Depending on one radio out in the wild is just nuts. Oh, and I'd carry about a dozen extra batteries also. In todays world, repairing radios is no longer a matter of replacing the defective component, its about replacing a whole board full of components because they are microscopic. I buy the best, cheap radio equipment and plenty of spares because if it breaks, I just trash it and grab another one just like it.

[JohnyMac]

Gentlemen, this forum is successful because we are all civil, not snippy to each other, and refrain from vulgar language especially spoken with a nasty tone.

I use to tell my employees to not write down and send emails that you would be hesitant to read to your mother or reread out loud while in the witness chair of a court of law.