I am buying a Yaesu 8800 and dont know what antenna to buy. This is going on a trail rig so it needs to be durable. I am very new to Ham so any help would be great. I have read through the stickies and there is a lot.of info. Looking for people that have experience with this ham. Thanks
What antenna for yaesu 8800
- Thread starter megolfer
- Start date
CTD-WAGGY
New member
I have only had mine for about a month. I had bought a mag mount to use with my handheld so I'm using that for now. It is a Diamond MR77SMA. The SMA part is the connector that screws into the handheld. I bought an adapter to go from sma to pl259 on ebay for 5 or 6 bucks. That's just until I can afford a better/bigger one. I must say though it works pretty good. I can send/receive to stronger repeaters on 2m from at least 30 miles.
the antenna is well made and has a strong magnet.
I got mine here: http://www.hamcity.com/Store/pc/MR77SMA-p235.htm
they make it with the correct PL259 so you don't need an adapter. http://www.hamcity.com/store/pc/MR77-p233.htm
Good luck!
the antenna is well made and has a strong magnet.
I got mine here: http://www.hamcity.com/Store/pc/MR77SMA-p235.htm
they make it with the correct PL259 so you don't need an adapter. http://www.hamcity.com/store/pc/MR77-p233.htm
Good luck!
1911
Expedition Leader
It depends somewhat on where you're going to mount the antenna, and how much ground plane you have at that chosen location. Regardless, I'm a fan of the NMO mount because it is so quick and easy to change antennas.
The most flexible, durable trail antenna I have is a Sti-co Flexi-whip: http://www.sti-co.com/antenna-products/public-safety-antennas/flexi-whip Warranted forever not to break. But it is a 1/4-wave on 2M only, so you can't transmit on 70cm with this antenna, and since it is a 1/4-wave it needs a good ground plane like the top of a metal roof. You'll also have to cut it to tune it for 2M. The one I use (on the roof of one of my trucks) performs very well and the range is barely less than a much taller 5/8-wave antenna on the same NMO mount. The Flexi-whip is short and will bend under any garage or overhang.
If you have to have a dual-band antenna, then look at the open-coil offerings from Comet or Larsen, but be careful with the wavelength on both bands to make sure you can get acceptable SWR on both bands at your chosen mounting location. They will be a lot taller than the 1/4-wave flexi-whip too.
The most flexible, durable trail antenna I have is a Sti-co Flexi-whip: http://www.sti-co.com/antenna-products/public-safety-antennas/flexi-whip Warranted forever not to break. But it is a 1/4-wave on 2M only, so you can't transmit on 70cm with this antenna, and since it is a 1/4-wave it needs a good ground plane like the top of a metal roof. You'll also have to cut it to tune it for 2M. The one I use (on the roof of one of my trucks) performs very well and the range is barely less than a much taller 5/8-wave antenna on the same NMO mount. The Flexi-whip is short and will bend under any garage or overhang.
If you have to have a dual-band antenna, then look at the open-coil offerings from Comet or Larsen, but be careful with the wavelength on both bands to make sure you can get acceptable SWR on both bands at your chosen mounting location. They will be a lot taller than the 1/4-wave flexi-whip too.
I have the same radio, 8800 and own two antennas. One is a Comet short rubber ducky for overgrown trails and the other is a simple stainless steel whip. MY mount is for the upper rear hatch and it's a Diamond 400S and both antennas are for 2M only and work very well for my needs. I have a Comet dual band antenna but don't seem to use it a whole bunch as most of my homies are on 2M primarily, even though some of us have dual band radios!
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
Lee turned me on to the Flexi-whip antennas. I run one on my truck all the time. I have a MFJ-916 duplexer off the radio that feeds two NMO mounts on the roof. One is the Flexi-whip cut for 2m. The other is a stubby 70cm Larsen, generic 1/4 whip, that's not flexible but it's super short. The two are barely noticeable and work well. I do carry a 5/8 Laren NMO150 but have only rarely bothered to put it on. It's good for about an S-unit increase in range, not a major deal but I'll sometimes put it on for highway drives.
I've been using Diamond NR-770HA antennas on all my vehicles for years. It is a 2m/70cm dual band antenna. It's a 1/2 wave on 2m which I feel is important. You have some gain over a 1/4 wave but you keep the more upward pattern that is important for getting out of mountain hollows and up to mountain top repeaters. If you need more height you can remove the ant, connect it to a piece of coax, tie a string to the end of the antenna, and hoist it into a tree. Since it is a 1/2 wave it doesn't really need a ground plane.
I prefer the UHF mount to the NMO. The UHF style is the same as a PL-259, SO-239. You can make your own mounts out of threaded barrel connectors and nuts. You can attach coax to your mount and run it elsewhere when stationary.
Also, this particular Diamond doesn't have a plastic loading coil in the middle like many antennas do. The coil is simply some turns in the steel whip. This is much more durable. Also, it folds over quickly to go under low branches or into garages.
I prefer the UHF mount to the NMO. The UHF style is the same as a PL-259, SO-239. You can make your own mounts out of threaded barrel connectors and nuts. You can attach coax to your mount and run it elsewhere when stationary.
Also, this particular Diamond doesn't have a plastic loading coil in the middle like many antennas do. The coil is simply some turns in the steel whip. This is much more durable. Also, it folds over quickly to go under low branches or into garages.
mikelite80
Adventurer
I'll second the 770. I also have a comet B-10 for in the city or if in lots of low brush. It's plenty if just simplexing a short distance between vehicles. I made a mount for the roof rack with PL-259 parts and have a easy screw on/off to change or just remove. I have also bet the crap out of that 770 and it just springs back.
Charlie56
Adventurer
For an opposing viewpoint of the 770 with an NMO mount. I had one for four years and never thought I had a problem with it. ( I also have a Diamond base antenna as well). When I switched expo vehicles, I brought the 770 along as well. This was the first time in years that I checked the SWR. Nothing I could do would get the SWR below 4. Then I checked the base if the antenna and found the center pin was just flopping around. The spring up inside the base had broken. I called Diamond knowing it was out of warranty, but really, this is a part that should (in my opinion) last forever. They said I could send it in but the fix would cost more than a new one. At that point I bought a new Comet from HRO. The specs were the same and it looks identical to the Diamond. The Salesman said that they get far less complaints and returns with Comet than Diamond. The mount looks identical so maybe it will also fail someday as well but I thought better against buying another 770 after this failure.
Checking SWR on a 2m mobile is not something I regularly do. The problem may have been there for years. Maybe now I will check it more often.
FYI, I tried taking it apart after purchasing the new antenna. Don't do it, as unscrewing the base shears off the feedline. I am guessing that the last assembly step must press the base together. Also note that there is a coil on this antenna in the base.
Checking SWR on a 2m mobile is not something I regularly do. The problem may have been there for years. Maybe now I will check it more often.
FYI, I tried taking it apart after purchasing the new antenna. Don't do it, as unscrewing the base shears off the feedline. I am guessing that the last assembly step must press the base together. Also note that there is a coil on this antenna in the base.