Best Antennas for a TIDradio H3 GMRS!
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- Which antenna do you use on your H3? Let me know in the comments! Check out this new site I built to see what items I use on a daily basis! It's still under construction, but functional.
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Handheld Radios:
Wouxun GMRS KG-UV9GX bettersaferadi...
Wouxun HAM KG-UV9PX bettersaferadi...
TIDradio TD-H8 2nd Gen combo amzn.to/3HBY5wP
TIDradio TD-H3 GMRS amzn.to/3U8lJrS
Baofeng UV-5G Plus amzn.to/3WhXRmY
Baofeng GM-5RM amzn.to/3WijS55
Radioddity GM-30 amzn.to/3QnPpyP
Baofeng UV-5R 8 W 2 pack amzn.to/47YMpyN
Baofeng UV-5R 8W amzn.to/3UVhBfO
BTECH GMRS PRO RADIO amzn.to/3wUR341
WOUXUN KG-UV9D Plus amzn.to/3HzymoT
Surecom SW33 Plus amzn.to/3J94IaJ
Surecom Power Meter amzn.to/3Ud5PwQ
Surecom Simplex Repeater amzn.to/3WjAxFM
Dummy Load 100W amzn.to/47OxXcF
12” jumper amzn.to/3vVeutO
Handheld Radio Antennas:
Smiley 5/8 Slim Duck SMA Female amzn.to/454uEyB
Nagoya 701g antenna amzn.to/4bHHo0K
Smiley Super Stick 465 Mhz amzn.to/4bM5jv5
Nagoya NA 771G amzn.to/3UjymRw
Abbree 771 GMRS amzn.to/4aT22u9
Signal Stick 440 signalstuff.co...
ABBREE 18.8” antenna amzn.to/47Y3oRY
ABBREE 42.5” antenna amzn.to/49cECOS
ABBREE 28.3” antenna amzn.to/42eeIZ5
Mobile Radios:
BTECH 50v2 GMRS Mobile Radio amzn.to/3vVe2f6
BTECH 50v2 programming cable amzn.to/42hYez5
TYT-9800 Plus amzn.to/3Q4KAu2
Mobile Radio antennas and mounting:
32” 6db gain mobile radio antenna amzn.to/3JY1mYJ
Midland Ghost GMRS antenna amzn.to/3vWYXty
NMO coax amzn.to/3vTm2NL
NMO mount L bracket amzn.to/3HBXf39
NMO mount Hood Lip bracket amzn.to/3vUbqhu
NMO magnetic mount amzn.to/4bbwLTN
NMO base cover for car wash amzn.to/3Ogfuib
Base Station Equipment:
BTECH 50v2 GMRS Mobile Radio amzn.to/3vVe2f6
BTECH 50v2 programming cable amzn.to/42hYez5
TYT-9800 Plus amzn.to/3Q4KAu2
BTECH 30amp inverter amzn.to/3SgJmfF
TRAM 1486 GMRS base antenna amzn.to/3SBVlGe
KMR400 coax amzn.to/3UbrHbY
Road Pro external speaker amzn.to/48NkJOX
Lightning Arrestor amzn.to/3vVWb7J
Coax 259 to HT adapter amzn.to/3vTAa9E
30W Solar Panel amzn.to/3SyoNwI
Hey everyone! I just added a second channel for Firearms and Gear Tips and Reviews. Be sure to jump over there and subscribe to that one as well to get some good pointers on firearms, training and lots of EDC gear! www.youtube.com/@GunsandGearTipsandReviews-r6g
For those who don't know, there is no ham or GMRS version of this radio. It's the same radio. You can lock it to either ham, GMRS, or completely unlocked. You just press the main ptt button and the * buttons at the same time and turn the radio on. You will see the three options, ham, GMRS, and normal. Choose the one you want.
Yep!
Antenna theory 101: the length of the antenna including wrapped coils has to be close to the wavelength you want to work on. A GMRS antenna will work on 440 but it's not tuned there. The adjustable antenna would give you the ability to trim the antenna to the frequency range you want to work. Lots of times a MAG mount antenna will be more effective when in your vehicle. Radios have trouble transmitting from inside a car but connected to a MAG mount and it really improves because of the large ground plane of the car roof. I'm a ham extra that loves to experiment with antennas.
You should try a yagi antenna tuned for GMRS. It's amazing the difference in signal received strength.
@dronographyllc3549 Give me your advice on the "extendable" antennas. As you can see I have a Smiley Super Stick 465. In ALL of my videos, this antenna does horrible at fully extended.
Mark at BetterSafeRadio thinks I have a defective model. I have also reached back out to Smiley Antennas as well, and waiting for their response.
What would you tell me in regards to a terrible tranmission (or Rx) while gully extended on that 465 antenna, on GMRS only?
I’m the idiot that bought both the ham and gmrs. I thought they were different but I just received it and they are pretty much the same. The only difference is the antennas are slightly different. Also, my “gmrs version” came with an airband antenna. I’ll probably return on set since I don’t need 4 of the same radios.
@LetsGoHelio Well, they ultimately are the same. You know how to unlock to all channels right? The hairband antenna doesn't seem different to me on receive compared to the 771, but I don't listen to air much to really hear a difference.
Thank you for doing all this testing with different antennas!! It really helps to ”see” and hear the difference between them all.
I appreciate it! It's fun, and like I mentioned towards the end of this one, most of the time there are definite winners and definite losers. This one was tough....
Do not have h3s but have other budget radios. I appreciate you showing real life radio use. This is my goal to use them in real type environments. I have and know how to use simplex sr12 repeater. I have backups for backups and no need for all that expensive gear. Appreciate your video.
@garyday6681 I know what you mean. My best simple setup is an H3 unlocked with a Smiley 5/8 Slim Duck 465 and the Nagoya 771g for long-range reception. Those two combos are a win-win! As long as you have a solid UV that's unlocked and a trusted antenna, you're golden!
You do great work! Always appreciate what you do!
Thanks Alan! "Nice" comments are always welcome! I appreciate it bud!
I have a pair of H3’s and have to say the features alone make it my new first choice to travel with. As for antennas, I have many you tested. My favorite is my long signal stuff UHF/VHF pulls in a lot of distant signals. Its downfall is the length getting in the way and in cold weather it bends and droops, (weird) However, I tried a Motorola antenna off a XTS2500 radio and it does an incredible job on GMRS as well as pulling in Ham signals.
That's very nice to hear the long Signal Stuff works well with GMRS. It is an excellent antenna for HAM. The 440 I have is kinda stiff, so it's seems like it could get damaged, so I'm careful with it. I like how you can twist the long one also.
Oops, Part 2 of my reply.... that Motorola is a 700/800 Mhz. I'm sure the antenna receives, but you can also transmit on GMRS decently? That sounds like it would be way out there on SWR's! Let me know!
@@FirstUnitedTactical Our county VFD frequencies are more in the 150-450 MHZ range for our Motorola radios. I use an extra antenna from one of them. I think the city fire may use higher frequencies, digital, etc.
Thank you for taking the time to review the antennas for us. I have the Super stIck, smiley 5/8, and the Nagoya 771g. I have the Surecom Simplex repeater to test with. I could not understand why the Super Stick worked better collapsed. I feel it is to fragile in the field. So far for me, the Nagoya is the best, but the smiley 5/8 is really good and I plan to consider it to be my edc setup and keep the Nagoya for my Surecom. I just purchased the UV9GX (wish I could unlock it) and can’t wait for your upcoming test with that.
We are one in the same! I always keep a Nagoya 771g in my truck or bag just in case, but the 5/8 is the one that I use daily and it does just fine.
Oh man, the 9gx is going to blow your mind on the clarity and power! It is hard to see in the daytime, but as long as you are on the channel you need to be, there's no need to find some shade for the screen. It's a solid power animal and you will love it! I have done everything in my power to unlock it, including talk and "beg" Mark at BSR to unlock it, but he says it can't be done. If you find a way, which I am sure there is always a way, please let me know! In the meantime, check out the quick review I did on it awhile back. This will be a good teaser for you while it's being mailed out.... check out the video here:
czcams.com/video/84H0iwKGRUs/video.html
I still think you must have received a bogus or faulty Smiley Super Stick David. I recommend you exchange it with Smiley (or order a new one from me at a discount). Nearly every customer says that the Super Stick is the big winner compared to all of these other antennas due to the 9 dB gain, so I think you must have a bad one.
There's one gotcha when it comes to antenna testing in the UHF spectrum. Move the antenna a few inches and the signal can change significantly. There's NO guarantee the guy is standing in the same exact position. Put the radio on a stable tripod so each antenna is tested in the same exact position. The difference will be most apparent when the signal is marginal. Also the playback of the recording is comparing by audio and NO signal strength readings.
The best method is using an antenna test range.
Standing in a corn field, there's no way to stand in the same spot, just like controlling the wind. If major bad stuff happens, like it will, I don't think anyone will be carrying around Field Strength Meters to find out what's happening on the other side of town while cell towers are down. The audible sound is what actually counts. This is not a HAM channel, and I don't want it to ever be. Don't worry, my videos get better with each one because there are good folks out there that want to help others, including me. I take their "polite" advice and put it into action on each video. Have an awesome day.
Great Video! Thank you for these comparisons!
I now have:
BTECH GMRS-v2, & GMRS-Pro
Wouxun KG935g Plus
TID TD H3
&&
1x Nagoya 771g
1x Abbree AR-771 GMRS
1x Smiley 5/8 Slim Duck
1x Diamond SRJ77CA
The addiction is real… however I think I need to just buy 3x more Smileys and I’ll be good to go. The large antennas are great and all but for on the go, clipping on to your pocket or pack, it’s bulky, and it seems to only improve reception and not so much transmission as much. Especially with inner city repeater on the go useage. I’m thinking for sitting in your porch smoking a cigar the 771s have a good place!
You nailed it. The short antennas are for city with repeaters and the 771s are for out in the country to hear more.
Thanks for the awesome test, very helpful 👍🏻
I'm glad I could help! This type of video is always more fun to shoot also, compared to just talking into a camera about menu options on a radio!
I have the Tidradio H-3. I purchased the Nagoya long antenna, and still haven’t made a contact yet. It has pretty good “ears”. But doesn’t seem to get out.. Repeater or not…
@Mgoblu87 That is extremely odd. What kind of terrain are you in? City, thick woods? I can easily hit my repeater 29 miles away, inside my shop. There us about 10 miles of farm, and the rest is thick congested city with neighborhoods everywhere. I do most of these videos at 8 miles away from my house, going through primarily farm land, but also through trees and a small city with lots of power lines. How far are you trying to talk simplex, and how far is the repeater from you? If you are trying to hit the repeater, make sure you have the correct TX CTCSS tone, ot it will never work.
@@FirstUnitedTactical I’m ina town in Flushing, Michigan. There are trees, but, it’s a subdivision. The repeater, from what I’m told is about six/seven miles away, on top of a hospital in Flint, Michigan. So, I don’t know if I’m doing something wrong or what….
@@FirstUnitedTactical where would you find the tone for a GMRS repeater ?
@@Mgoblu87 mygmrs.com is the best place. Also, a local FB group could assist. Tell me what city and state you are in.
@@Mgoblu87 ok. (Look at the last reply I sent). Watch this video and let me see what I can find out. Standby
I think that you are missing an important point--most people who buy a dual-band radio, buy it in part for its dual-band RECEIVE capability. When you are testing the antennas strictly for GMRS, your results will be "biased" against good VHF reception. I use dual-band radios a lot, and I look for antennas that will perform decently on BOTH VHF and UHF. A dual-band-tuned antenna is a compromise that will not perform ideally on either VHF or UHF, but will do fairly well on both. That is why the telescoping antennas are also popular--adjusting the telescoping can improve the receive (and transmit) characteristics for either band.
Except for the fact that it receives more than one band. You can listen to aircraft, 10 meter ham bands.
I'm not missing anything. I only hold my GMRS license, therefore I cannot transmit on 2/70. I only am allowed to "video" myself transmitting on 462 and 467. I understand you thought I had a HAM license, and one day I will, but not on this video.
Nah. I want to see the gmrs testing, like many others.
Is the TD-771 factory antenna 15.12 inch for Airband or is it also tuned for GMRS frequencies? It’s indicated on the antenna 120/300 MHz. I’m confused. 771 is usually reserved for VHF/UHF but description in the kit states it’s an Airband antenna.
@nunosapunso6239 correct. It's an hairband antenna. It's longer than a typical 771 tuned for gmrs. It won't talk far on gmrs if you try it. The swr is through the roof...
just wanted to let you know youtube is killing your video with adds, I tried to watch a few times, but the number of ads is off the hook. refresh just restarts the video and the ads pop back up in the same spot.
No kidding? That sucks that there's so many. I was under the impression that it was one at the beginning like normal, and one in the middle. I appreciate you letting me know. Maybe I can control the amount or length of ads they throw in.... You are the first one to tell me. Maybe everyone else has premium and they just don't see the ads. I know I subscribed for premium over a year ago because we watch a lot of training videos at work and the ads were just pissing everyone off! Thanks again bud, I really appreciate it.
@@FirstUnitedTactical yeah I don't do the paid version, I hate giving money to google, they hate me and everything I believe in. freedom, liberty and privacy. it's not your fault at all, just google milking as much money out of their content creators as they can. they (google) do not respect the creators or compensate them for their efforts, without you, google has nothing to host and make money from, but they keep milking your hard work for every penny of profit while shitting on you and your subs. at least that's how I see it. thanks for the content and the reply. sorry if I seem down on your work, I'm not, it just may seem that way due to my distain for googles policies.
Adnausean
CZcams Premium. 👌🏼
Is the Tidradio extended antenna that you used just the regular tidradio td-771 gmrs (462-468 MHz) only antenna or the uhf and vhf tidradio td-771 (144/430) combination antenna?
It's that combo antenna. 136/430.
@@FirstUnitedTactical Ok, thanks
Can you go into more info about your base station antenna setup and what you have connected to it
I'm actually planning a full video on my setup, including emergency power shortly. For now, watch this video and go to 6:50 mark.
czcams.com/video/uasQPndSeyw/video.htmlsi=EqgG5Hnh7xT68Agw
How ya doin My BROTHER??? I just ordered my SECOND H3!!!👍👍
Look at you gettin' on whitcha bad self! I've been doing pretty good bud. Did you ever make a decision or a purchase on that other deal we were talking about?
@@FirstUnitedTactical Not yet my Friend... I'm not afraid to say I'm nervous... I did 5yrs during Vietnam and became a Medic and shot the M-16 only at Boot Camp. You are AWESOME and I wish you were my Neighbor!! The HOOD would be SAFE 👍👍
@tkflanagan4449 Well it's a little safer down here I think! Although, we do have some rough sides of town just like every city. Take care of yourself up there! I promise if my wife and I decide to take a trip, you will be the first one we call! (Well, mainly because you're the only one(s) we would know!
TK!!!!!!!! What's that blue masterpiece with white leather interior in your background pic on your CZcams profile, and is it yours?!?!?!
No sir, just a car I dream about....
great video on the gmrs antennas😅
Thanks. There's not as many GMRS as 2/70, so I gotta work with what's available!
These ae exciting times in GMRS radio and I find your video's facinating and to the point with an easy to pick up point of view keep up the good work for all of us
I appreciate it man! They are fun, and honestly I started doing videos when I found out an answer to my own question that no one ever answered. I thought, if I can't find "that specific" answer or video, I may as well make them for all of you who have the same questions!
One more random question... sorry to pester! I looked into the Signal Stuff 440, and one their website the antennas are much longer than the one you have, am I missing something?
They offer 2 antennas. The "normal" 2/70 which is over 15" long, and the short UHF 440. The 440 Mhz is the one I have, and it's close to 6".
I don't mind questions at all, so feel free to ask.
Found it for ya.... at Signal Stuff, scroll down to "Add to cart". Just a ove that yellow button are two drop down menus. The Frequency Range is where you select 2/70 and 440. (Again this is the 2nd reply so see both replies).
@@FirstUnitedTactical AHHH OK I get it now. The 440 is the shorty!
My experience with extendable antennas...
I have a Nagoya 771R and it works great, both closed and extended.
I have a handful of Abbree versions and they work well closed. But 3 of the 4 when extended are terrible.
Sure I am comparing a $20 antenna to "2 for $10" antennas. But one of them performs as good as the Nagoya.
I was thinking of the Signal Stick, but I may pass on it.
Honestly, all testing I have done with the Signal Stick show poor reception with the antenna fully extended. My favorite long is the Nagoya 771g.
@@FirstUnitedTactical I have had a regular 771 for many years and it is definitely the best antenna I own overall. I definitely need to get a 771G, I have never owned a matched GMRS antenna (despite being a licensee for 12 years at this point).
I know I can depend on it, and your review cemented that theory.
@@greyshadow9498 I have done a few field tests with various antennas, and the 771g has always blown me away. Even at 10 miles, where others were silent. They did something right when they designed it!
That sold me!
I'm returning this radio because when I transmit this thing gets hot real hot when I have a tidradio gm 5r that don't even change temperature and it has other problems also not what I expected in this radio
You definitely got a bad apple. They are nit supposed to heat up at all, so there's an issue with yours. They are really good radios (on the budget side) normally. Even I had issues with 2 when they first came out. 1 battery wouldn't hold charge and the other is locked on its old firmware unchangeable, and only pushing 3w. There's always test dummies when they are released, and then the firmware updates fix issues as needed. Except for your heat issue. The H8 model had the problem in the beginning also....
@@FirstUnitedTactical something told me to buy from tid and not Amazon
@rc4life315 oh well, send them an email through the "contact us" with your order number, and they will replace it with a good one. (That's if you want to give it another chance). They are very good about returns. I've had a few H8's and these older 2 H3's.
The tds 3 is junk.
To some, it is, but to some others, it might be all they can afford to get into GMRS. Can't really blame those folks. Out of my 5, since their release, only 1 has worked as it should. But just like everything, there's always a guinea pig and 1st edition. That was my issue in the beginning, just like the H8 Gen 1's. But I will say this about TIDradio: they are constantly updating versions to correct the problems that people are reporting. Gotta give them that....
Like Wouxun? This video I blow all the cheap budget radios away..... czcams.com/video/84H0iwKGRUs/video.htmlsi=9-HzuM-tRuvm1UMQ
@mjex1965: Without providing any specifics, saying an item is junk does not help your credibility. My TD-H3 two pack was delivered in the middle of June 2024. Then I updated its firmware to GMRS 240606, it has flawlessly performed.
Worst radio of all time.
My 1st H3 went out in flames while charging, replacement radio doesn't transmit at all. TID refusing to send the replacement, advising me to put the battery of replacement radio to 1st radio (one that burned out in flames). Tragi-Comedy...
@grandic2 You have the winner bad experience! There were some bad ones in their first runs, but they are all better now. I got two bad ones in the beginning as well, but I understand it was a 1st generation just like their H8 models. After the bugs are worked out (and all fires extinguished!) They work great.... I haven't had anyone comment on H3's like that tho! Try a Wouxun KG-UV9Gx or PX. Those rock....., but $200....
@grandic2 czcams.com/video/84H0iwKGRUs/video.htmlsi=mOh4K1oooqAylWFZ
@@FirstUnitedTactical Yes, I guess I was unlucky, though TIDRADIO goes great lengths to hush the negative comments, and they are getting deleted quickly because most of the "honest reviewers" are their affiliates.
No need for $200 radio, I owned 5 different Baofengs, never had any issues with any of them, now I use 4 Quanshegs UV k5 (8), none of the issues ever, and cheaper than H3. Nothing to do with the price.
I was able to use H3 for one day on first charge, and second charge, battery charging controller circuit was a culprit of fire. Started to feel burning plastic smell after 20 minutes charging, I didn't know what is it, came back from outside, was walking my dog, started looking in the kitchen, around the stove, finally, I literally saw the radio burning. If I wasn't working from home that day, my house would be gone now. Insane.