hello /hamradio/I just bought one of these and I am new to hamradio.Can someone recommend an antenna for it? as the stock one can only pick up local farm chatterAre these any good? http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?initiative_id=SB_2015

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Anonymous 09/30/15 (Wed) 18:35:43 No.485

hello /hamradio/

I just bought one of these and I am new to hamradio.

Can someone recommend an antenna for it? as the stock one can only pick up local farm chatter

Are these any good?

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?initiative_id=SB_20150930044951&site=glo&shipCountry=uk&SearchText=((Baofeng(Please see sticky for more information on this radio))(Please see sticky for more information on this radio))+antenna&page=2

Anonymous 10/01/15 (Thu) 01:45:17 No.486

Your aliexpress link is broken. But I have had good experiences with Nagoya NA-771 with my boofengs and wouxun. Also got one on my IC-32E.

You can also build a simple J-pole or slimjim antenna to use with it.

Anonymous 10/01/15 (Thu) 21:54:51 No.488

I would have gone for the BF-F8+ if I were you.

Three more watts, and can use all the same accessories.

Anonymous 10/01/15 (Thu) 23:35:09 No.489

>>486

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=AS_20151001153206&SearchText=((Baofeng(Please see sticky for more information on this radio))(Please see sticky for more information on this radio))+antenna

>>488

Damn wish I bought the BF-F8+

Anonymous 10/05/15 (Mon) 05:49:07 No.494

8W versus 5W is not that much. And from what I have read, so far none of the "8W" chinese handhelds have had 8W output.

It will just drain the battery a little bit faster. You win much more by using a proper antenna instead of the piece of shit stock antenna.

Way more difference than the 3watts.

Anonymous 10/05/15 (Mon) 16:51:23 No.495

File: 1444063883893.jpg (45.5 KB, 640x480, 4:3, 1436400077795.jpg)

I ordered this:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371300030018?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

which seems to have made a slight increase in signal but I get a lot of beeping and mechanical sounding noises when it scans for something.

I scan on the VHF band would it make a difference If I tried UHF?

I haven't changed any settings from factory stock apart from the broadcast power which I doubt makes a difference when receiving.

Is there something I need to set or do on it to pick up more stuff?

Thanks for your help

. .

Anonymous 10/06/15 (Tue) 21:50:01 No.499

>>495

You could lower the squelch. The scanning on these handheld radios is really slow, so you just might be missing conversations.

If you live in the UK you could check transmission1.co.uk for info on local frequencies for monitoring. If nothing else there should be PMR446 stuff on UHF and possibly some stores and such. IF you want more range I'd suggest an out door antenna. even a simple half wave dipole will help and is easy to build.

Anonymous 10/09/15 (Fri) 23:59:31 No.506

>>488

It has more frequencies too

Anonymous 10/11/15 (Sun) 22:49:50 No.514

>>506

Don't most ((Baofeng(Please see sticky for more information on this radio))(Please see sticky for more information on this radio))s do the typical 136-174MHz & 400-480MHz bands?

Most can be extended to 130-180MHz 400-520Mhz in software. CHIRP does it.

Anonymous 10/11/15 (Sun) 23:23:28 No.515

>>514

They probably do.

If >>495 is just scanning, a scanner might be a better choice.

Anonymous 10/22/15 (Thu) 18:56:58 No.531

>>515

I would do more than scan but the state requires i get a licence from offcom

Anonymous 10/29/15 (Thu) 17:11:29 No.540

Build a 2m quarter wave ground plane out of some #8 copper wire. Super simple, almost nothing can be made better for cheaper. Put that shit on your roof and you're golden.

Anonymous 11/23/15 (Mon) 13:43:58 No.559

The problem is with making your own antenna is that you _need_ a SWR meter or else it destroys your radio or it just doesn't work

I made a coax dipole antenna for PMR446. Works okay for listening but I haven't transmitted with it yet.

Anonymous 01/13/16 (Wed) 07:00:24 No.606

Someone from a ham club would probably let you use their SWR meter. Maybe not on the first day (they are expensive).