Handheld Antenna Tests results

[Se7en]

Did some HT testing simplex tonight on 2 metres.
The antennas:
Diamond SRH320A
Diamond SRH940
Yaesu VX7 duck
Kenwood THF6 duck

Kenwood's audio sounds much cleaner over the air vs the Yaesu ( because of the water resistance gaskets). Once i get my External speaker for the Yae more tests will be conducted on audio basis only.

Result's with antennas:

8Km from Receiver:
Diamond SRH320A = 7 S unit
Diamond SRH940 = 2 s unit
Rubber duck = 5 S unit

Rat tail installed:
Diamond SRH320A = 9 + s unit
Diamond SRH940 = 5 s unit
Rubber duck = 7 s unit

All tested with 5 watts. I am aware that with an HT close to your Dome "head", There is a substantial amount of loss what 19- DB?.. that's probably incorrect but there is a big loss in gain with an HT and no external microphone or counterpoise.

All antenna's in this test were fairly new with no known problems.

Off the record tests shown with HT not in hand when PTT is pressed SWR is 2.X and above, with HT in hand keyed SWR is 1.X above never passed 2.0 except on the band edges (real world we don't talk there so it is not necessary to test).

Please take this info into small bits, i am no professional just personal test with a few hams with proven results.

73

 

[W5LZ]

I think your tests are about average. It more or less follows the old adage, 'bigger is better'. The thing to keep in mind is to compare 'convenience' since that's one of the reasons for an HT to start with. Just how bad does that 'bigger' antenna get in the way?
Any HT is a short range radio, it'll never replace a 'full sized', 'real' radio in performance, knocks them dead with convenience though. Antennas are one of those things where size does make a difference... the trick with that is to quit before it get's too big.
- 'Doc

 

[Se7en]

I think your tests are about average. It more or less follows the old adage, 'bigger is better'. The thing to keep in mind is to compare 'convenience' since that's one of the reasons for an HT to start with. Just how bad does that 'bigger' antenna get in the way?
Any HT is a short range radio, it'll never replace a 'full sized', 'real' radio in performance, knocks them dead with convenience though. Antennas are one of those things where size does make a difference... the trick with that is to quit before it get's too big.
- 'Doc

Bigger is better? I don't really believe that theory. P

The SRH940 is a mere 18" tall & it's the worst antenna. I did hook an analyzer to it this weekend and everything seems to be fine. So... Here's what i do know the SMA24 by comet by far is the best "Wide band receive" antenna iv used so far, besides a Telescoping metal antenna. The SRH320A is tiny and it smokes the 940 and duck.

 

[Moleculo]

I take it all of these tests were done within a few minutes of each other? Also, how long did you transmit on each antenna? Was it long enough to get the HT hot? Were there any noticeable battery voltage differences during your test?

 

[Robb]

How did you get signal reports?

When I did my antenna tests, I used a repeater that had an automated S reading function. I would punch in '*699' on the dtmf pad, and the repeater would give me a signal report. No human interaction or interpretation involved whatsoever. Except for me copying down the recorded responses.

One of your repeaters in your area may well have this function. But you will need to find out which repeater does and what code it requires to get it to give you an automated S reading report. I did my test late at night (standing on my front lawn - out in the open) when the repeater didn't have any activity, so I wouldn't interfere. I talked to some that were listening and told them what I was about to do; and asked them to be patient until I was done. It took less than five minutes to do. Afterwards, we all had a great QSO about this test and some told me that even the stock 'duck' antenna was far better off with the tiger tail than without. As well as the other antennas I tested too.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Really unless you are testing an HT antenna with a local field strength meter of some sort there are just too many variables to make a qualitative test. Even moving your body slightly around the HT can and will affect the signal quite a bit at times. It is not unusual to have 10-20 dB of fading with very small changes in position or orientation when using a long path for testing to say nothing of what multipath does.

Also if this what you were using:

Diamond SRH320A
Diamond SRH940
Yaesu VX7 duck
Kenwood THF6 duck

Then I assume you were using just one HT and if so I don't see what you mean by this:
Kenwood's audio sounds much cleaner over the air vs the Yaesu ( because of the water resistance gaskets). Once i get my External speaker for the Yae more tests will be conducted on audio basis only.


The audio should not be affected by the antenna in use except for signal to noise ratio and most certainly any water resistant seals would have absolutely nothing to do with a change in quality or signal.

 

[Se7en]

I take it all of these tests were done within a few minutes of each other? Also, how long did you transmit on each antenna? Was it long enough to get the HT hot? Were there any noticeable battery voltage differences during your test?

each with in a munte of each other correct. NO HT didn't get noticeably hotter. (side: i have noticed it does get hot with long QSO's)

How did you get signal reports?

When I did my antenna tests, I used a repeater that had an automated S reading function. I would punch in '*699' on the dtmf pad, and the repeater would give me a signal report. No human interaction or interpretation involved whatsoever. Except for me copying down the recorded responses.

One of your repeaters in your area may well have this function. But you will need to find out which repeater does and what code it requires to get it to give you an automated S reading report. I did my test late at night (standing on my front lawn - out in the open) when the repeater didn't have any activity, so I wouldn't interfere. I talked to some that were listening and told them what I was about to do; and asked them to be patient until I was done. It took less than five minutes to do. Afterwards, we all had a great QSO about this test and some told me that even the stock 'duck' antenna was far better off with the tiger tail than without. As well as the other antennas I tested too.

Before i can get access to the DTMF tone's for the repeater locally that does S reports i have to meet the owner in person which i plan to do so soon

Really unless you are testing an HT antenna with a local field strength meter of some sort there are just too many variables to make a qualitative test. Even moving your body slightly around the HT can and will affect the signal quite a bit at times. It is not unusual to have 10-20 dB of fading with very small changes in position or orientation when using a long path for testing to say nothing of what multipath does.

Also if this what you were using:

Diamond SRH320A
Diamond SRH940
Yaesu VX7 duck
Kenwood THF6 duck

Then I assume you were using just one HT and if so I don't see what you mean by this:
Kenwood's audio sounds much cleaner over the air vs the Yaesu ( because of the water resistance gaskets). Once i get my External speaker for the Yae more tests will be conducted on audio basis only.


The audio should not be affected by the antenna in use except for signal to noise ratio and most certainly any water resistant seals would have absolutely nothing to do with a change in quality or signal.

I was saying the kenwoods audio OUTPUT sounds cleaner than the Yaesu my guess is the water proofing is causing the audio output on the yaesu to sound "MUFFLED"
I own a field strength meter but didn't think it was necessary to try it. AS i wanted "Environment" effects from outside elements etc

People on the listening end said the SRH940 is a piece of crap, and i had barley any noticeable Signal strength. Give me a list of variable's to keep in mind next time i do External mic testing with different antennas.

 

[Moleculo]

Then I assume you were using just one HT and if so I don't see what you mean by this:
Kenwood's audio sounds much cleaner over the air vs the Yaesu ( because of the water resistance gaskets). Once i get my External speaker for the Yae more tests will be conducted on audio basis only.


The audio should not be affected by the antenna in use except for signal to noise ratio and most certainly any water resistant seals would have absolutely nothing to do with a change in quality or signal.

I understand what he meant by that - he mixed audio quality reports with antenna results and it confused things a bit.

The waterproof Yaesu's have a reputation for sounding a little funky to some because there is cover of the microphone (under the case). A lot of people who don't care about the waterproof feature remove that to make it sound better.

 

[KE5MC]

One source of 'MUFFLED' can be internal pressure in the Yaesu especially as it warms up during QSO. Try 'burping' the radio by opening the DC input rubber plug and see if the radio sounds better after that. I usually use mine with the speaker mic or secret agent earpiece during public service events so I have not encountered that problem, but other have reported success with 'burping'.

Mike

snip...

I was saying the kenwoods audio OUTPUT sounds cleaner than the Yaesu my guess is the water proofing is causing the audio output on the yaesu to sound "MUFFLED"

snip...

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I thought V/S was saying the kenwood antenna sounded better than the yaesu antenna because of the gaskets on the antenna base. That is where the misunderstanding was.

 

[Se7en]

I thought V/S was saying the kenwood antenna sounded better than the yaesu antenna because of the gaskets on the antenna base. That is where the misunderstanding was.

I am sorry.
Lol
Well I did some service menu adjustments on the vx7r and the audio dev sounds much better now.
Yes I was mixing audio between the radios but didnt mean to post that because it confuzzled everyone hihi sorry