[Icom] Dual-Band HH antennas

Fri, 13 Sep 2002 22:12:45 -0000

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
> Behalf Of Dan R
> Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 9:11 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Icom] Dual-Band HH antennas
> 
> 
> Not on a W32A. At least not in my experience. There is 
> something about that radio that want's the STOCK antenna. 

I have one.  It is a fine handheld.  It is not a substitute for a
mobile radio.

On larger antennas, it seems that the noise floor raises and
the radio doesn't "HEAR" as well as it does on the rubber
duck.  I found this to be so even where I normally would
expect a quiet area, like crossing the desert 20 miles away
from El Paso.  I have successfully worked repeaters over
100 miles away with a Larson 5/8 2m antenna and the W32,
but the RX sounded better, if weaker, on the rubber duck.

I found the best way to use it mobile was to use a magnetic
BNC mount on the roof of the vehicle, but to use the stock
antenna.

JMHO... YMMV.

Mike.  KD9KC
El Paso, TX.