HOW TO INCREASE THE RANGE OF A HANDHELD RADIO WITH AN EXTERNAL ANTENNA!!!

In this video I test out an interesting Halo loop antenna from Moonraker.
Using external antennas is a sure fire way to increase the range of your radio comms but make sure you are licensed to do it!

It's easy to get a HAM license in the UK

The antenna I used in this video

[donbunson]

My partner uses the smallest radio with the smallest antenna so she can just tuck it in a pocket and use a headset. She's on 5w with less than a inch antenna. She can range a mile or two in a built up area and even go into the supermarket and I can still chat to her from home on my diamond x50. I am using 5w also. The Diamond x50 makes so much difference.

[Superfandangoo]

Andy mate toss that coax out, 10 meters of that rg58 you've over a 3.5 db loss on vhf & uhf.
Its ok for hf and very short runs vhf.
if your ht tx is pushing 4.5w your tx is less than 2w at the antenna, rg8x isn't much better.
Throw some LMR400 up it will noticeably increase tx & rx

[PEMFron]

Hi Andy. I'm have been subscribed to your channel for a while. I'm a Radio Ameture from South Derbyshire. I like your channel because you enjoy ebikes. I moved to a hilly place. I ordered an Eskuta sx250 series iii. I have been driving around my new area for three weeks. I'm 71 and look like I'm 51. Have been here for 2 years. But because every time you go down hill you have to go uphill. My mountain bike is not good enough for uphill. So I feel like it's Christmas when I go out on it. I have done about 80 miles in three weeks. Its great fun. I have kept my mountain bike because I want to turn it into a ebike to play about with. Thanks for your channel, always interesting, fun and informative . All the best Ron

[pauldutchamateurradio]

Another great video Andy. Saturday I had a QSO on 70cm with my Baofeng UV5R with a portable Diamond RH771 antenna with a guy with a vertical home-base antenna quite high-up 12km (7.5 miles) away. The signal was good. He was in one town and I was in the middle of a small town.

[Dusty_Ham]

That antenna worked quite well! Great video Andy, It's always great to see real world tests. 73

[bulldogbrower]

Good testing, can’t wait till you test again at more distant locations. There wasn’t even a hiss in your transmissions, I’m sure you could go further. Thanks from across the pond.

[Davetrack]

Great video quite surprising what a difference that loop antenna makes even in the loft. 👍

[stevenyemc]

Great vidjao dude! I made a leftover plumbing pipe J-pole and stuck it in the loft. Get the blowtorch out as it seems to work great!

[volkerking]

Thank you Andy for this nice Video we're doing the range test with a Motorola MT5400 (Tetra) on the 33 Floor to a 25km hand held MT850 and it worked. The Slot range is there for the Tetra on the end! 73

[jiriwichern]

As you seem to be using DMR in this example, it is an all or nothing proposition. If the signal reception is good enough, you'll get full modulation through and there is a bit of error correction in the protocol so a few missing bits isn't a real problem... but the drop off point is very sudden. One bit too much not being discerned means unable to decode means lost signal. It would be interesting how analog holds up at that distance, as noise taking over, over distance, on analog usually is a gradual process. Such a small loop antenna is also interesting. Currently I'm experimenting with a ~15cm diameter circular bent piece of aluminum layered plastic water pipe and a small variable capacitor to see if I can make a proper 2 meter antenna out of that. If I can tin the clean filed aluminum spots where the pipe ends meet, that is (I should have some caustic soda soon to make a solution that can break the oxide layer, hopefully that will make the tin stick). Anyway, greetings from the Netherlands, PG8W, 73.

[toby]

Great test, worth noting the loop will be bi-directional when vertical. The signal will be firing through the loop opening (if that makes sense). There will be very little signal radiated off the ends

[juliodefreitas]

10 /4 big buddy, modulation is wall to wall, copy ..Absolutely awesome ❤❤❤❤

[MrLasersound]

Love the presentation and impressed with that music track, just Brilliant 😁😁🎶🎶🎹🎹

[adamgrundy]

Spot on Andy as always. I’ve actually just got a diamond x50 in the loft which isn’t configured ideally. This little thing tweaks my interest a bit for accessing local repeaters if it’s any good!

[markwilliams]

Can't use encryption if you have a ham licence

[new_fone_who_dis]

I think we had the same power cut over here in Hatfield!

[hamshackleton]

The other way is to stand on the top of a nearby hill, etc. (and I am licensed M0- - ) VHF/UHF is line of sight, so the higher either end of the link is, the further away it can be 'seen', domestic and industrial noise permitting. So VHF can talk to the moon, but not Australia, while HF is reflected by the Van Allen belts, so can talk to Australia, but not the moon.

[redeyegooner]

Have you seen the ERMAK sdr transceiver kit? Would love to know your thoughts on that 🧠

[stevenyemc]

Could ya do a vidjao on how to get the foundation online? Cant seem to get myself organized.

[MJKW]

Great vid Andy and thanks for the link 👍