Which OEM antenna to use on the Baofeng UV-9G

[WSID730]

I recently purchased the UV-9G which came with two antennas (short and long). Does anyone have any experience with these, and which is the preferred one? I can receive repeaters clearly that are about 15 miles away with the longer one.

[Socalgmrs]

I’d bet you can also receive repeaters from 15miles away with the smaller one to.   RX is mostly from the tx station.   But can you hit and talk clearly to the repeater with either antenna?   Use the one that meets your needs.  Are you talking simplex less than a mile on the clear wide open?   Are you trying to get the most distance to a far off repeater?   I use 771 antennas on all my radios. Most of them are the uv9 and I get 60plus miles simplex But thats what I need for my use.  You may not need 60 or even 20miles.  But you may have trees or buildings in your way.  You do you based on your requirements. 

[SteveShannon]

5 hours ago, WSID730 said:

I recently purchased the UV-9G which came with two antennas (short and long). Does anyone have any experience with these, and which is the preferred one? I can receive repeaters clearly that are about 15 miles away with the longer one.

Can you receive those same repeaters as well with the shorter antenna?

You answered your own question.

[WRTC928]

IME, the general rule is that assuming both antennas are appropriate to the band I want to use, I'll get a bit more distance and clarity both rx and tx with the longer antenna. Often it isn't enough to matter, buy sometimes it's pretty noticeable. Individual radios may sometimes prefer one antenna over another for reasons I don't understand. That's kind of a long way around to say try them both under the same conditions and see what you get.