VHF antennas

[targa2]

How much more range can I expect to get with an 8' antenna than a 3' one?

[mike]

bump

[Reels]

Alot, your antena works on line of sight, so, if your in two foot waves, your not going far.

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[Water Dog]

Many people have logged in on this subject before .
Some boats for what ever reason do not want an 8 ft antenna .
They swear on a stack of bibles that 3ft loaded or what ever antennas work as well as 8 footers .
This is the classic theory vs actual field reseach .
To reach out get high and match your antenna to your radio .
Enough said !

[Airwave(OH)]

Do you really want to question yourself if you end up in a situation where it really matters. Go with the tallest you can. I have talked 35 miles on my 8'r.

[Heavy Duty]

Targa,

The shakespear 4' Galaxy antenna is the best antenna on the market fot being a short one they do caost around $90.00 but it is strong and very stiff dont have to mount any antenna holder for the end. I have used one the lasr two years and seems the range is just as good.

[Kaz]

Hey Waterlogged: It was not a stack of bibles. I did the test under "compartive controled conditions" using signal strength meters and other test equipment to measure the relative signals both transmitted and recived. The test was conducted at LOTW from my place at Wheelers Point to Garden Island. The 5/8 wave base loaded, tuned antenna (cut to a flat SWR on Channel 68) performed as well as the 8' Shakephere did. For the doubters, come on up and we can do it again. Trying TO GIVE AN ALTERNITIVE.....Kaz

[Kaz]

Reels: This is VHF on UHF so it's not exactly "line of sight" It does pass over hills, just not as good as HF. Try IT SOMETIME....Kaz

[steve dover]

I bought an 8foot antenna and a shorter one that came with the radio, and installed the shorter one for space consideration but will be using the 8 foot one this year as there were times when I wished I had the bigger one on last fall when trying to hear fish location info from a friend who was so busy catching fish it was hard to endure my message cutting out all the time...like most equip. it's when you REALLY need it that you wish you had the best possible option. I'm not sure technically what is better but will feel better with longer ant. maybe size does mattter?

[Reels]

To say an eight footer is the same is a four is crazy. Now if your only transimtting two miles, fine. Take your test out 6 or eight miles. You'll see a difference. If that was the case, we would all use fours instead of the pain in the butt eight. I much rather use a four, it just dosent get the job done.


Here is a line of sight program to help figure it out. You be the judge.


http://www.vwlowen.demon.co.uk/java/horizon.htm


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[jeff e]

good question I kept forgetting to ask it myself good luck.

[Water Dog]

Ha Ha Zak ,

My money sez compare a 8 ft PREMIUM antenna to shorty antennas.

Match the antenna to the radio .

No contest over time , differant locations , and weather conditions .

Nuf said .

[Den]

The real question here is what distance are you comparing the 2 antennas at? i dont have to test comparison on them, i do it most days of the summer, and fall. i have talked to Brion(airwave) while he was ath the islands fishing, and the same day, in a matter of minutes, the person that was only 5 miles from me couldnt hear me, and airwave was listening to all of it, but he was only 30 miles away, we did communicate a few more times that day too. there is no way the 4 foot antenna will reach, and work as good as an 8 footer on erie,another comparison is just ask bigfoot(rick lacourse) about the difference, we talk a lot on the radio, but when he gets over 6 miles from me , i can hear him, but he cant hear me, and the guys with the 8 foot antennas 6 miles past him can hear me. no comparison. if you really want to reach out get the shakespeare super antenna, it is pricy, but it will even reach and hear farther than the regular 8 footer. it is also an 8 foot antenna. maybe on a smaller body of water the 4 footer is good, but dont trust it on erie, or any of the great lakes . the time you need it may be the time it doesnt do what it has to do. on these lakes 12 miles isnt nothing, unless you need help fast. just my opinion from everyday experience. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[ted ed]

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