CB Antenna TX Shootout!

Video:YouTube/104's Outdoors

Gary, 26CT104, is back with another CB antenna shootout....

Opek HCS-100 10/11m Antenna

Video:YouTube/CB Todde Live

Another look an the new 10/11m antenna from OPEK and even if you don't understand the language you should be able to get the gist of what is being said. The antenna certainly look to be well made.....

OPEK HCS-100 First Look by Dr Awesome

Video:YouTube/DrAwesome

Here we have a first look at the new OPEK HCS-100 10/11m antenna. There's been a lot of interest in this antenna due to the claims about its build quality which is said to be very good.

I am certainly looking forward to seeing if it out-performs the Antron 99.....

NEW 10/11m Antenna - OPEK HCS-100

 

Look out folks, there's a new 10/11m home base antenna on the block - The OPEK HCS-100

Described as being like the Antron 99 but with better build quality this is certainly an antenna which could prove popular.

FEATURES:

• Durable fiberglass rods offer:
  - Water and weather proof; a must in saltwater areas
  - Durable construction withstands 90MPH(40M/SEC.) wind speed
  - Significantly reduced precipitate static and lower background noise
  - Excellent insulation; less interference from rain; sleet and snow
• Insulation voltage: 14;500 Volts Max.
• 3-section 5.72-meter(18.8FT) overall length; for easy installation
• Mast diameter accepted: 30~62φmm (1-3/16"~ 2-7/16")
• No ground plane design
• Retractable adjusting of the whip length for working between 26-31MHz (Without cutting the whip)
• Easy fine tuning with 2 built-in tuning rings
• Built-in SUPER DURABLE ALUMINUM EXTRUSION MOUNTING BRACKET

Electrical Specifications

• Gain .................................DC Ground 5.75 dB
• VSWR ..............................Less than 1.15 for CB Band
• ..............................Less than 1.5 throughout the entire bandwidth(after tuned)
• Frequency ........................26~31 MHz
• Polarization ......................Vertical
• Impedance ...................... 50 Ohm
• Power Capacity ...............2000 Watts
• Configuration ....................Half Wave Over a Quarter Wave; Mutual Variable Transductance Tuning
• Connector ....................SO-239 UHF JACK

Priced around £99 and now available here in the UK:

Knights CB: LINK
Moonraker: LINK


If you have one of these let me know how it performs... 

Is it an Antron Killer????

Southern SSB Net - Winter Hill

Video:YouTube/26CTX2500

An interesting video from Paul, 26CTX2500 talking to the guys of the Southern Net on 20th August 2020.

2m Activity Weekend

 

Self explanatory notice about an upcoming activity weekend here in the UK.

The event takes place on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August on the 2m band.

PMR446 What's Legal? - OFFICIAL ANSWER!!!!

Further to my previous article on 29th June (LINK) we now have an OFFICIAL answer to the question.... Is it legal to use removable/external antennas on PMR446 radios?

Reply received today (04/08/2020) from OFCOM:

Firstly, please accept my apologies for the delay in your receiving a reply from Ofcom on this matter.

With regards to your query regarding use of antennas in PMR446 equipment, advice is to follow the text used in Interface Requirement 2030, we have noted your comment re the PMR446 Information Sheet and a revision will be issued to avoid confusion on this matter.

IR2030 https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/84970/ir-2030.pdf

IR2030/34 PMR446 equipment is hand portable (no base station or repeater use) and uses integral antennas only in order to maximise sharing and minimise interference. PMR 446 equipment operates in short range peer-to-peer mode and shall be used neither as a part of infrastructure network nor as a repeater.

So that's it folks, the legal position is that PMR446 radios must have integral (Non-Removable) antennas. Great news also is that they will review and amend the PMR446 Information Sheet which caused some of the confusion.

The reply from OFCOM didn't go into the situation regarding non-standard radios but the above answer does mean that any radios used must meet the PMR446 specifications. In particular, radios must have FIXED antennas and must not have a power output greater than 500mw.