(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best radio antennas

We found 389 Reddit comments discussing the best radio antennas. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 128 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.

23. Tram WSP1100 Tunable Land Mobile Magnet Antenna

Model Number - 1100Depth - 23.50Height - 1.75Width - 4.75Weight - 1.1500
Tram WSP1100 Tunable Land Mobile Magnet Antenna
Specs:
Height1.75 Inches
Length23.5 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateSeptember 2018
Size20.90in. x 5.50in. x 1.70in.
Weight1.15 pounds
Width4.75 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

39. Channel Master 3079 Antenna Mount Kit - 2 Pack

    Features:
  • Mounting hardware included
  • Warranty: 90 days
  • Install any masted antenna to any wall.
  • Standoff from wall: 4 inches
Channel Master 3079 Antenna Mount Kit - 2 Pack
Specs:
ColorGOLD
Height5.25 Inches
Length1.75 Inches
Number of items1
Size1.8 x 7 x 5.2 inches
Weight0.55 Pounds
Width7 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

🎓 Reddit experts on radio antennas

The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where radio antennas are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
Total score: 59
Number of comments: 11
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 41
Number of comments: 4
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 23
Number of comments: 8
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 22
Number of comments: 6
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 10
Number of comments: 4
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 6
Number of comments: 4
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 4
Number of comments: 4
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 4
Number of comments: 4
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 4
Number of comments: 4
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 4
Number of comments: 4
Relevant subreddits: 2

idea-bulb Interested in what Redditors like? Check out our Shuffle feature

Shuffle: random products popular on Reddit

Top Reddit comments about Radio Antennas:

u/soawesomejohn · 1 pointr/amateurradio

The HH-9900 was pretty much made to complement this radio.

http://www.amazon.com/HH-9900-Antenna-TH-9800-Mobile-Transceiver/dp/B00IZZFH5U/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y

You'll need a mount for this - standard SO-239 type connector. In other words, the antenna is like a PL-259. You could screw it onto the back of the radio. Depending on what how you want to proceed, you could just get the cable and make your own mount. You could combine that cable with a lip mount, or a ready mag-mount.

I haven't tried any of the mounts I linked. In fact, I haven't even tried the radio or antenna myself. I have the antenna and radio ordered, they should be here by the end of august. I'm probably going to do something like the lip mount (the first two links) but I already have parts to make my mount. For a more powerful mag mount (though for more $$$), I like the tri-magnet mount. That won't go anywhere.

I would strongly recommend hooking up with your local club and going to a hamfest or two. You'll probably find better prices on coax, connectors, and mounts at a hamfest than you will online. Also, at a hamfest, I like walking around the parking lot and looking at all the mobile setups. I may look like a creeper peering into car after car, but the owner is more likely to show me their setup than anything else.

If you let your local club know you're looking to setup your first mobile station, you'll probably have several volunteers to offer help/advice/parts. There'll probably be a few people in the club with an antenna analyzer. They would be able to make sure your antenna is tuned properly for your vehicle.


u/piggybankcowboy · 3 pointsr/shortwave

Couple things that other comments seem to miss:

  • The capacitors are probably fine, but if you really wanted to change them out, it's usually not that much of a process, but will be intimidating if you're not used to working with electronics.

  • The MB (see /u/Australiapithecus comment) was intended to for police/fire/aircraft marine use, but you're not likely going to hear anything there in the US, these days, outside of pager systems. I haven't had much success with it myself, even being surrounded by the Great Lakes.

  • Your physical location is going to dictate what you can hear far more than the radio ever will. If you are not in an area where propagation is reasonable, or you are far from broadcasters in general, a radio with access to all the bands isn't going to mean spit. In the US, especially in the Northeast, we're a tough audience for shortwave, and not much reaches us these days with any real clarity save for Radio Havanna and a few other stations that rebroadcast from within the US, and even they tend to get buried under the fire-and-brimstone preachers who take to the airwaves.

  • Despite all that, you might still do well with a wire antenna and a clip adapter, sold fairly cheaply on Amazon. The clip will clasp on the end of your telescopic antenna, and you can unwind the wire and string it up as best you can to try and grab a bit more.

  • I am not super familiar with that model radio, but the big inner knob (VFO, or variable frequency oscillator) is your main tuning knob, and the outer ring on the knob will be for fine tuning. You're going to want to get used to how both of those feel, especially the teeny tiny corrections the outer ring will allow.

    None of this, of course, is meant to be discouraging, but as a radio fan located in the Midwest US, it's a definite challenge and a test of patience to really get anything worth listening to. I just want you to have a realistic expectation, instead of another "listen to my favorite frequency!" reply, since i find those to be the least helpful thing here on /r/shortwave . Location is always most important, with the radio being a very close second, when it comes to what you can actually do with the shortwave hobby.
u/tacticaltaco · 1 pointr/RTLSDR

A cellular antenna is what I would've recommended. Checking out the datasheet it doesn't look perfect but it should be good enough. I've had luck with this antenna listening to things at 850MHz (with the pizza pan ground plane). I don't think it's any better than what you have.

Try setting things up outside on a ladder (or the end of a piece of pipe) and see if you get a noticeable improvement in the signals. A little altitude can go a long way, especially in line-of-sight dependant bands. I've got a 30' fiberglass mast I throw things on top of all the time and it is the difference between things working or having no signal at all.

How do you like the HackRF? Have you done any transmitting tests?

u/BendoverOR · 9 pointsr/Baofeng

I haven't TXed with it because I dont have my license yet, but the RX is pretty good. I've been listening to my local nets every night and seem to have decent pickup.

Based on the reviews it's a pretty good antenna. A few minor things, but for $20...

ABBREE 42.5" Dual Band 144/430Mhz Foldable CS Tactical Antenna

The handset is working out so far as well. Good build quality.

WishRing Z117 H-250 PTT Handset Handheld Microphone

I used this file for the PTT/Volume cover

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2172755

I made a few modifications to fit my usage. M3 screws because I couldn't find m2.5, had to drill out the belt clip ever so slightly, and I wound up cutting off the mic wing because it interferes with my particular mic plug and it mostly blocks the charge port kn the extended battery.

I'm gonna tool around with this a bit and remix it to eliminate the wing and enlarge the screw holes.

Edit: biggest issue I'm having is that the connector between the whip and the induction coil tends to work itself loose. It's the work of a moment to fix it, but it keeps doing it. I hit it with some electrical tape to prevent that.

u/the_azure_sky · 1 pointr/audio

I’m pretty sure it’s a signal problem. The mic is too far from the receiver. I’ve worked with that mic before.
If you shut off the lav transmitter while the channel is unmuted you sometimes get steady white noise just like the interference in your recording my guess is that your transmitter is to far from your receiver. You can change the frequency as much as you want it will never fix the problem. Larger antenna or move the receiver closer to the transmitter line of sight is always best. The receiver should have a meter showing how strong the RF signal is. I use paddle antenna they fit on a mic stand placed next to the stage.

u/niandra3 · 5 pointsr/OP1users

I just got a generic 3.5mm antenna from Amazon for $5 which works great. Although from what I can tell, just having headphones plugged in works just as well.

I also invested in the T.E. screen protector.. $15 to help protect the screen of a $900 instrument seems like a no-brainer. I've heard the screen can scratch easily, though that may have just been older models, I'm not sure.

u/raindog151 · 3 pointsr/shortwave

concur with above. hanging a wire out the window will give you better results than some miracle promising tabletop antenna.

i have very limited outdoor space in my townhouse, so i just put one of these freestanding on my deck:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0065KNFLK

and pull the cable out when i want to play radio and i've had vastly improved results.

u/KD0TLS · 1 pointr/amateurradio

There are a few Chinese products that are basically a box with a display and have a keyboard jack. You don't really need a computer for keyboard CW.

For example, there's this. Add a mini keyboard, and you have a pretty portable backpack option. I use this for PSK31/RTTY, but it works for CW.

I also have one of these. They aren't sold any more, but there are similar things out there.

Both these read, but I end up using my Android phone with the Morse Decoder app instead.

I've got a pretty good fist (87% machine-readable), but only up to 10 wpm. This isn't fast enough to make any QSOs, so I have to rely on the keyboard.

And, to pre-empt any "expert" commentary:

I know that "a considerate operator" should QRS. I've never found one of those "considerate operators", though. And I also know about the 40M QRS frequencies. I seldom have an opportunity to work that band, though -- and I dislike HF.

u/Draskuul · 2 pointsr/amateurradio

Great info, thank you very much!

I've looked at this antenna, seeing it is a brand I've seen recommended (Nagoya) and being collapsible will make this easier to carry day-to-day for emergencies as well as backpack with. Does this one seem reasonable?

Most of our usage as a group will be in California, in Los Angeles County (Santa Clarita area), Ventura County (Frazier Park region) and Inyo County (Tom's place / Rock Creek / Mammoth). Thanks!

Is there such a thing, at least in USFS areas such as some of these, as an 'emergency' frequency meant for public use that USFS or LE monitor for people looking for emergency assistance?

Thanks again for everything!

u/BeesAndChickens · 2 pointsr/amateurradio

Trunked systems let a large number of users (say, police, fire and other city services) share a small set of frequencies rather than each entity requiring its own. Trunking-capable scanners let you follow/scan particular users of the trunked system rather than monitoring the individual frequencies. Since the frequencies are shared among all users, parking yourself on a single one would give you bits and pieces of lots of different conversations. Trunk-capable scanners came out, oh, about 10 years ago maybe. The systems themselves (and radios for listening) were all still analog.

A few years ago, many areas began using digitally trunked systems (most supporting a system called P25), which required another generation of scanners. Now, many localities are beginning to encrypt some public service communications (mostly law enforcement), and scanner-owners are going to generally be out of luck.

If you couldn't care less about those sorts of communications, then any analog scanner with Mil-air coverage (225-400) will suit your needs. If you are interested in the law enforcement stuff, you'll probably want to hang out in the RR forums for your area to see if encryption is coming for the stuff you want to hear.

To answer your question above regarding antennas: it depends on how far away you are from the stuff you want to hear. I'm close enough to what I want to hear, so the stock rubber duck antenna suffices. I installed a fairly inexpensive through-glass antenna for my truck, and use that with the handheld sometimes. A good antenna in the attic (or better still, outside) will make a world of difference if you're trying to pull in distant signals. Discones are good for this sort of thing - I had one years ago but somehow managed to lose it in a move. Do you need one? The radio will work without one, but you'll certainly hear more with a good one.

u/amd_kenobi · 1 pointr/cbradio

A hood channel mount like this firestik or this procomm with an antenna like this Tram or this firestik should work well and not look terribly out of place on a small car. A small mag mount like a K30 or lil will would be another good, non-permanent option.

u/kbergstr · 1 pointr/Cubs

Have you thought about an aftermarket AM Antenna-- I don't know how it would work in your environment, but a good antenna can sometimes make a remarkable difference-- I haven't had to do that in a long time, but something like this might make it work

u/CampBenCh · 1 pointr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

Morthy demands:

u/WorldwideBrandt · 1 pointr/battlewagon

Radio Coaxial Mount Antenna Spring
The mounting location is actually really nice, and it was very easy to set up. If you want a more detailed explanation, I'd be happy to give one.

u/tvtoo · 1 pointr/cordcutters

You're welcome.

If removing the amplifier doesn't fix it, then consider a roof placement.

It's easy if there's an old DirecTV or Dish Network mount already in place.

But it's also easy to place an antenna onto an antenna mount/pole and strap the pole to the chimney.

Or you can attach it into the wall facing 63 degrees.

If your antenna is still within the return period, you could even save some money by returning it and buying a cheaper outdoor antenna.

u/xj4me · 1 pointr/CherokeeXJ

Yeah, my roof has got a few of those as well. I'll look for the pics when you finish! Good luck!

In case the inerior antenna doesnt work out, you can use a CB antenna as an FM radio antenna using one of these. You just can't use both at the same time (I think). I've heard it works okay.

u/kawfey · 3 pointsr/amateurradio

Longer is not always better. Or legal in this case. You (probably) need a license first. FRS are certainly not legally modifiable, but GMRS antennas are but it's not usable without a GMRS license.

That didn't stop me as a kid. I thought longer was better. Turns out that broke the RF power amp.

What you want is something that is designed for the frequency, usually a quarter wave (or about 16 cm). You can cheaply buy such antennas. Use search terms like "UHF antenna" "Land mobile" "450 470 MHz". For example. Trim that, stick it on a cookie sheet, and toss it on the roof.

You'll need a proper adapter as well.

But it's probably not legal. I'm not a lawyer though.

u/texasyojimbo · 2 pointsr/RTLSDR

I know there are some pre-built QFHs but i am pretty sure they are more than $100.

There are also some commercial turnstiles for VHF that you might be able to cut down. For example:

https://www.amazon.com/Winegard-HD-6010-HD-Radio-Antenna/dp/B001HKM1HM

You could trim down the elements and replace the phasing harness with something a little shorter.

u/J0k350nm3 · 1 pointr/amateurradio

[New Tram Browning] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NP7D1BA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1) off of Amazon. It's a pretty simple NMO mount, but it works well.

u/triffski · 2 pointsr/OP1users

I picked up another identical looking aerial to the TE one and it didn't work, then I grabbed a couple of these and they're perfect:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00W8Z38WM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can also use a minijack cable, but it's nice to have the aerial.

I got the TE case, it's expensive but worth it to protect the OP-1 - unlike the PO cases which utterly f%£@!d my PO-12.

u/BongRipsMcGee420 · 1 pointr/OP1users

Oh, and I grabbed this antenna from Amazon because 20 bucks is ridiculous. ENUODA 3.5mm FM Radio Antenna for Mobile Cell Phone 8.5cm/21cm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0185KMVOO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qC6BybBASNDN0

It works great and it was 5 bucks and some change

u/LocalAmazonBot · 0 pointsr/amateurradio

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: For example.


|Country|Link|
|:-----------|:------------|
|UK|amazon.co.uk|
|Spain|amazon.es|
|Canada|amazon.ca|
|Italy|amazon.it|




This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting). The thread for feature requests can be found here.

u/jhguth · 1 pointr/amateurradio

You can just cut a small square of vinyl to put under a mag mount to prevent scratches, or you could put a lip mount on your hood.

I use this mount on the edge of the hood against the windshield and have great results with it.
New Tram Browning Black 1246-B Trunk Antenna Mount NMO With PL-259 connector and 17Ft of RG-58 Coax Cable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NP7D1BA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_t5M7CbSKYPSXW

u/Chiba211 · 3 pointsr/GalaxyS8

Yes. Been using mine with this antenna so I don't have to have earphones in.

uxcell Telescopic 4 Section 3.5mm Male Stereo Connector FM Radio Antenna 25cm 2pcs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W8Z38WM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_7ceYzbVJ5NBFB

u/dcjt · 3 pointsr/cordcutters

I live in the Philly area as well, you need a very big antenna for VHF-low. I had to put one of these in my attic along with my other antenna.

Winegard HD-6010 HD FM Radio Antenna https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HKM1HM/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_awd_Y8AAwbHM1H483

u/Tymanthius · 2 pointsr/amateurradio

An RF tunnel using these might work. I've never tested it.

2 of these:

http://smile.amazon.com/Wilson-Electronics-Dual-Band-Connector/dp/B0018PS4O0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1405949100&sr=1-1&keywords=cell+phone+mag+mount+antenna

and one of these:

http://smile.amazon.com/SMA-Female-Coupler-Joiner/dp/B0025W3Q84/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1405950251&sr=1-1&keywords=sma+female+to+female+coupler


Basically you put one on the outside of the house in a decent reception spot, and one on the inside in a fairly central spot (attic would probably work fine. At least I've been told this works. I haven't tested it. Don't buy anything until others ring in w/ more exp.

EDIT: Adding an aplifier would be preferred, but also considerably more expensive.

u/mel2000 · 7 pointsr/Android

> You actually don't need headphones, just a cut off jack will work...

I use a cheap 3.5mm FM antenna. Works fine and no headphone needed.