Batboard

I've got an ASTRO Saber with a stubby UHF antenna. (Red base -- I think that denotes the split it's cut for, but I don't know which.) I'm on the fringe of a couple repeaters.

How much of a difference would I see if I got a full (rubber ducky) whip for this radio? I know that longer is probably better (no jokes there!), and I know you can't comment on this case in particular... But I'm just wondering if it's worth the $20 or so to pick one up.

If you're on the repeaters' fringes it's worth the money for a full size
(six inch or so) flexible antenna. On UHF that gives you approximately
a quarter-wave vertical. The stubby antenna is helically wound, which
means that it's coiled, and
while the coil may be six inches long when stretched out it does not
operate as efficiently as the longer, straight antenna. Remember, too,
that we're talking about UHF here, not VHF. On VHF with rubber
antennas they're all usually helically wound and therefore less efficient
than a straight antenna but the straight antenna has to be something
between 17 and 19 inches long, which is an eye-poker.

Red base indicates band split of 403-435 MHz

Yup, what Tom said. The red coded antenna is low split, from memory it's about 403-435 so unless you're application is in the US Gov/Military band this could be your down side. The green code covers around 435-470 and black is 470+. The whip (rat tail) if I remember is in 2 splits 403-470 and 470+ and I recall Will had some aftermarkets that he reported better performance on then OEM.

Oops, looks like I cross posted with Radio99 kinda making my post moot but at least we're on the same page with your red coded antenna.

It's a stubby antenna that's not even for the right bandsplit, it seems. (I'm after 440-460ish.) Thanks for the help, I think I'm after a better antenna. (Because obviously, this radio isn't big enough yet... )

Yes, you would want the stubby antenna with a green marking on it. Also, I believe there was a thread in the past regarding performence between a Stubby UHF antenna, and a Whip UHF antenna. The whip antenna won hands down in the performence category. Most officers have the whip antennas on their radios, while one or two (out of the 150) have the stubby's.

I've played between Stubby, Full Length, and Aftermarket on my 5ks and Jedis. There's little difference between the stubby and the full length if the system/other station is in the area, but as Tom said, if it's real "fringy", then you'll notice a little bit.

One note about the aftermarkets is that if you bend them real good once, they're usually done as the soldering on the loading coil on the bottom breaks or starts to get real loose.

Rayjk110 wrote:One note about the aftermarkets is that if you bend them real good once, they're usually done as the soldering on the loading coil on the bottom breaks or starts to get real loose.

Yep, even just during normal use, after time many aftermarket antennas break. Is it really worth it to save a few bucks?

Here's a photo of those cheap eBay aftermatket counterfeit Motorola antennas.