Feb 24, 2026 – Getting the Best Performance from a Handheld Radio Part 2

Good evening. This is W1UT and tonight’s training is about improving the performance of your Handheld Radio. This continues last week’s training.

Let’s begin with your handheld antenna. First remember that no antenna is perfect. All antennas have some compromises. This is true for handheld radios as well as mobiles and base stations.

The antenna that came with your handheld could benefit from a better antenna. Usually the OEM antenna is rather short especially on 2 meters. A quarter wave on 2m is around 19 inches in length so an antenna on the 2m VHF band that approaches the length of 19” will perform better. On the 70 cm UHF band a quarter wave is around 6 inches in length, so an antenna close to that length will radiate better at lengths close to 6 inches. These days most handheld radios are designed to operate on 2m and 70 cm. This means a dual band antenna will be needed. Pick something that is comfortable to use and somewhat longer than the rubber duck that came with your radio.

When using your handheld at home consider purchasing a suitable external antenna and good feedline. Suitable means an antenna that will do the job based on your location and needs. Some of you may live in the Salt Lake area where line-of-sight access to the Farnsworth repeater is possible with a simple rubber duck antenna. Others may live a significant distance from a repeater or in a mountainous area where a handheld antenna and 5 watts power is just not enough. For most people an external antenna dual band vertically polarized antenna will provide gain and should be mounted high enough to clear your roof. There are many types and lengths of external antennas that can be mounted to a mast of some sort. Just try to mount it as high as possible away from power lines and ground the mast. You will also need a length of coaxial cable between the antenna and your handheld operating position.

If you are inclined to build your own external antenna for home use this can be done quite easily. Check with members of your local club or on-line for assistance. One example is the J pole antenna. Some of you may live in HOA areas or in an apartment where an external antenna is not allowed. There are creative ways to improve your antenna situation. Putting your indoor antenna by a window that points toward the repeater can be very effective especially if you live on the top floor.

For mobile use, consider getting a mag mount dual band or trunk lip mount dual band antenna. Most come with a length of coaxial feedline. These are low cost and will work much better than a rubber duck in the car. If your car has a fiberglass or aluminum body there are other options available. Fiberglass or aluminum vehicles will need a ½ wave antenna and a suitable mount. These types of antennas do not require a conductive ground acting as the other half of the antenna.

Finally if you need more power and do not want to buy a mobile radio, you can purchase an amplifier that can increase your power level up to ~50 watts. This could be solution for getting a better signal to the repeater from your car. This type of setup will require an external antenna and the means to obtain DC power from the vehicle. Please do not power an amp off the cigarette lighter jack.

That is all for this week. Next week’s training will be provided by Doug Pelley WB7TUJ as I will be out of town. I will turn the time back to the net control station from W1UT.