Calling Jon Brooks - interchangeable VHF antennae

[Rob_Webb]

I want a 2nd handheld VHF - love my ICOM but antenna is too big for some uses e.g. chuck into pocket and jump in dinghy or climb mast for rock spotting etc. Would love to find another one with shorter stub-type antenna - but none seem to exist. Presumably cos of impact on performance? Then thought struck me, why not offer 2 antennae - 1 full length for optimum range and another stub antenna to screw in place when you want a smaller, handier unit (more mobile phone sized).

Seeing as I'm a bit of an ICOM-boat I thought I'd give them 1st chance to respond by launching this innovative new product idea in time for me to buy my next hand-held - say about a week?

Rob

 

[BrendanS]

If you want a short stubb to talk while rock spotting, what you really need is a walkie talkie, not a serious hand held vhf where the range is already impaired by the antennae size - cos some twat would use the smaller size and wonder why he couldn't contact Solent CG when doing his usual radio check.
This is a troll? yeah?

 

[JonBrooks]

Which Icom do you have?
We do a stubby marine antenna for some of the range.

Brendan is spot on though.

All rubber duck type antenna are poor by design.
You are effectivly taking a 1/4 wave whip and turning it into a spring.

Average is about 9db loss.
Some a re far worse.

By putting a stubby on you are making it even worse!
We can supply them but don't expect the range you get now!

Regards

 

[Rob_Webb]

This is a genuine question! Whilst a pair of walkie-talkies might do the trick some of the time I don't want another system but rather use a VHF. I know that in crowded areas like the UK it's not ideal - but out here where it's a lot quieter it is common practice for boats to communicate with their mobile tenders or masthead lookouts on one of the quiet S2S channels. Something like the ICOM M-88 (nice and small) with a stubby antenna would appear to be ideal. Even if I only get 1-2nm range that would be more than adequate for this application - if I wanted more then I'd reattach the original longer antenna or use my other handheld or my ship's base set.

I haven't bought one yet but if I did could I get a stubby ant for the M-88? And how (I'm in NZ)?

Cheers.

 

[JonBrooks]

I have both and use both.

I just felt it was important to point out the pit falls.

I am not sure if they Icom NZ do them.
You would have to ask them.
This was something we UK sorced.

M88 or M87 as it is here is a good set but I use and love my M1V.

Regadrs

Jon