RADIO FACTS

A. Connecticut terrain is a challenge to Line of Sight (VHF/UHF) communications - especially West to East (and the reverse)..

B. Experience shows that an HT with its stock O.E.M. Rubber Duck antenna (AKA: Attenuator or Spirally Wound Dummy Load) is not sufficient for use in “the field”.

C. Rubber Ducky... You're the One...BIG LOSER!
- The National Bureau of Standards tests of Public Safety high band and amateur 2-meter antennas indicate that a "rubber duck" has -5db, "negative gain" compared to a quarter-wave held at face level.

- In terms of effective radiated power (ERP), this means that a 5 watt HT with rubber duck, radiates only 1 watt.

- Operating an HT on your belt results in another -20db attenuation, reducing ERP to 50 milliwatts! That's 1/20 of one watt!

- And, UHF results are no better...


What can you do?
- Bring a better ( usually “bigger”) antenna set up.

Options to consider...
- Add a Counterpoise (“tiger tail”) to your bigger HT antenna
See: www.hamuniverse.com/htantennamod.html

- Replace that Rubber Duck with a 19” (telescopic or fixed length) antenna.

- Use a 2m/440 Amplifier to boost your signal with one of the two following antenna suggestions.

- Put a Mag Mount Antenna on car (or mast with ground plane + radials),

- Use a Gain vertical antenna on a mast for more height.
See:
www.ctaresregion2.org/forum/vhf-uhf-144-...st-tripod-antenna#78