KN4YZY

If you’re trying to check into a net this week and the repeater sounds scratchy from your house, don’t buy a new radio yet. The short rubber antenna that comes with most handhelds is built to be small, not efficient. Swapping it for a longer, better dual-band antenna is one of the cheapest upgrades in ham radio, and you’ll often hear and be heard noticeably better.

Level: Beginner  |  Time: About 5 minutes  |  Note: The only tricky part is getting the right connector for your radio. Check it before you order.

What You’ll Need

• For Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood handhelds: a dual-band handheld antenna with an SMA-male connector
• For Baofeng and most other Chinese handhelds: a dual-band handheld antenna with an SMA-female connector
• Optional: an SMA-to-BNC handheld adapter made for your radio’s connector, if you want to use BNC antennas

Step 1: Figure Out Your Radio’s Connector

Unscrew your stock antenna and look at the radio. Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood handhelds use an SMA-female jack on the radio, so you need an antenna with an SMA-male connector. Baofeng and most other Chinese brands do the opposite: the radio has an SMA-male stud, so the antenna needs to be SMA-female. Get this backwards and the antenna simply won’t screw on.

Step 2: Pick the Right Antenna

• Dual band. Make sure it covers both 2 meters (144-148 MHz) and 70 cm (420-450 MHz) if your radio does.
• Longer is usually better. A longer whip is generally more efficient than a stubby, especially on 2 meters. Pick a length you can live with on your belt.
• Buy from a seller you trust. Popular antennas get copied a lot, and knock-offs don’t always perform like the real thing. Read the reviews from other hams.

Step 3: Install It

With the radio off, screw the new antenna on by hand until it’s snug. No tools. Over-tightening can damage the connector on the radio, and that’s a much more expensive fix than an antenna.

Step 4: Test It

Stand in the same spot in your house and kerchunk your usual repeater with the old antenna, then with the new one. Better yet, ask a friend on the repeater for a signal report with each. Hold the radio upright and away from your body for the best results.

Gotchas

• Wrong connector gender. This is the number one mistake. Double-check SMA-male vs. SMA-female before you click Buy.
• Using the wrong adapter. A generic SMA-to-BNC cable adapter can be weak when a long antenna is hanging on it. Get one made to sit on top of a handheld.
• Expecting miracles indoors. A better antenna helps a lot, but walls and metal roofs still block signals. Stepping outside or near a window can matter as much as the antenna.

Your Turn

What antenna are you running on your handheld, and did it make a difference? Share it in the comments, and ask any gear questions there too. And if you checked into a net this week for the challenge, post your call sign for next Wednesday’s shout-out. More guides are on the How-To page.

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