"Tiger tails?" Do they really make a difference on HT's?

[Northcutt114]

I've only recently been introduced to them. For those that don't know, the idea is that you ground a piece of wire to the HT, either on the antenna post or maybe the buckle screw (if it's groundable). This creates the other half of the dipole and supposedly helps you get out a little further. Is it a gimmick or  does it work?

 

https://signalstuff.com/products/strand-smaf-bncf/

I'm currently looking at this ^ little set up. And while I know that I could easily do it myself, I want to show some love to the group that supports the website that just helped me punch my ham ticket. I currently and routinely speak on two GMRS repeaters that are on the same tower, approximately 40 miles from me with a 3,000ft delta in elevation and clear line of site. Recently, I've tried hitting a HAM repeater on that very same tower and the reports that I get back are that I am coming through, but it's choppy and I'm not holding the repeater open. Would a "tiger tail" help?

Thoughts from the hivemind, please. 

[HHD1]

Only a theory here... But I feel that a tiger tail would be more beneficial for when the HT is being used with a speaker mic and not in hand.  I have read somewhere that your hand and body acts as a counterpoise when held correctly.  I have noticed at times, a better transmission if my hand is touching a beltclip screw. But, I have never done any purposeful experiments on this.  Just my thoughts.

[Northcutt114]

9 minutes ago, HHD1 said:

Only a theory here... But I feel that a tiger tail would be more beneficial for when the HT is being used with a speaker mic and not in hand.  I have read somewhere that your hand and body acts as a counterpoise when held correctly.  I have noticed at times, a better transmission if my hand is touching a beltclip screw. But, I have never done any purposeful experiments on this.  Just my thoughts.

I've had the same thoughts. I'm currently leaning toward it being snake oil myself, but then I saw K8MRD do a video on them and he seemed to think that they worked, soooo....now I'm re-examining.

 

[HHD1]

1 minute ago, Northcutt114 said:

I've had the same thoughts. I'm currently leaning toward it being snake oil myself, but then I saw K8MRD do a video on them and he seemed to think that they worked, soooo....now I'm re-examining.

 

There probably is some truth to it.  The reasoning seems to make sense. Plus, I've heard many thoughts about how inaccurate SWR measurements can be for HT's. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.  I'm curious to see what others have to say about the subject as well.

Good post!

[WRTC928]

I tried a "home brew" one a few times and couldn't tell that it made any difference. Of course, It's possible I didn't make/install it correctly.

[SteveShannon]

5 hours ago, HHD1 said:

There probably is some truth to it.  The reasoning seems to make sense. Plus, I've heard many thoughts about how inaccurate SWR measurements can be for HT's. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.  I'm curious to see what others have to say about the subject as well.

Good post!

The thing about measuring SWR in a handheld antenna is that it’s not very meaningful unless it’s very high. High SWR leads to reflected power. Reflected power leads to resistive losses in the transmission line that carries RF between the output and the antenna. 
Because a handheld radio has nearly zero length of transmission line the reflected power results in almost no loss. 

[Northcutt114]

1 hour ago, SteveShannon said:

The thing about measuring SWR in a handheld antenna is that it’s not very meaningful unless it’s very high. High SWR leads to reflected power. Reflected power leads to resistive losses in the transmission line that carries RF between the output and the antenna. 
Because a handheld radio has nearly zero length of transmission line the reflected power results in almost no loss. 

But as you said, if the SWR is high enough, it could cook the radio, no?

I get paid tomorrow. I'm going to pull the trigger on it and report back. 

[OffRoaderX]

9 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

if the SWR is high enough, it could cook the radio, no?

No..

Even a CCR like the UV-5R can transmit for a 5+ minutes with 20:1 SWR (no antenna) with no damage.

[Northcutt114]

31 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

No..

Even a CCR like the UV-5R can transmit for a 5+ minutes with 20:1 SWR (no antenna) with no damage.

Really? Interesting.

As someone who just recently - and inadvertently - cooked his base station due to high SWR, I'm a little gun shy. Why is it that the HT is bulletproof in that regard? No distance between the transceiver and the antenna? In other words, does the RF feedback from the coax into the transceiver and since an HT doesn't have that, it's somewhat immune?

That being said, there are two ABREE stubby antennas that I really want to order but haven't because some of the reviews said they had high SWR. I guess I'll get them now anyways. Orange stubby antennas on my lime green UV5R Mini's is going to be the bee's knees. 

[OffRoaderX]

17 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

Really?

I saw it on Youtube so it must be true!

 

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, Northcutt114 said:

But as you said, if the SWR is high enough, it could cook the radio, no?

I get paid tomorrow. I'm going to pull the trigger on it and report back. 

It depends on several factors, but if the reflected power plus the RF output combined don’t exceed the power handling ability of the output transistor of the radio, I don’t see how it would. So for a low power radio like a handheld I don’t think it would. For a linear amp that’s water cooled it’s definitely more likely. 

[Northcutt114]

10 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

I saw it on Youtube so it must be true!

 

Interesting. I watched your other one, too...with the BTech 50w. I had/have the 50v2 model of the same radio. I had an -unbeknownst to me - mismatched antenna and it cooked it after a few months. I didn't have a Surecomm at the time to measure power output but I suspect that mine wasn't reducing power as it heated up. It died mid-conversation. Fan spun up super high and it just KB'ed. 

 

[WSGL775]

So, I'm confused (imagine that!) From what's being said here about SWR, trying to measure SWR on a HT is useless and a waste of time because it's just not accurate because of too many varibles. Am i reading this correctly?

[SteveShannon]

5 minutes ago, WSGL775 said:

So, I'm confused (imagine that!) From what's being said here about SWR, trying to measure SWR on a HT is useless and a waste of time because it's just not accurate because of too many varibles. Am i reading this correctly?

Yes, and because it really doesn’t matter.  Just test it to see if you can receive and transmit.  Don’t get lost in testing SWR on a handheld.

By the way, in one of my engineering periodicals I remember reading that the SWR for your cell phone’s built in antenna is often between 4:1 and 6:1.

[AdmiralCochrane]

Back to the tiger tail, yes I have used them and proven that they can make a difference.  You will not notice any improvement unless you are at the very fringe of reception, as you are. What I made was almost exactly as shown in the link. 

 

I was actually shocked that the greatest improvement was observed when the ground plane was held horizontal and inline with the other station.  Did not matter if it was pointed toward or away from the other station. 

 

From my experience I think you would notice a difference in your case.

[Northcutt114]

1 hour ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

Back to the tiger tail, yes I have used them and proven that they can make a difference.  You will not notice any improvement unless you are at the very fringe of reception, as you are. What I made was almost exactly as shown in the link. 

 

I was actually shocked that the greatest improvement was observed when the ground plane was held horizontal and inline with the other station.  Did not matter if it was pointed toward or away from the other station. 

 

From my experience I think you would notice a difference in your case.

Outstanding. Thanks for the input. I just ordered a Signal Stick (glow in the dark...ooooooo), the tiger tail adapter and counterpoise wire. Will report back and see if it makes any difference.

[HHD1]

1 hour ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

I have used them and proven that they can make a difference

How long should it be?  The same length as the antenna? Or, 1/4 wave of the frequency used? Or, in GMRS, the radius of a common pizza pan?   

[WRYZ926]

The standard for radials is usually a 1/4 wave length for a 1/4 wave antenna. Most HT antennas are a 1/4 wavelength.

[WRUE951]

We all know the human body acts as a capacitance ground for hand held transceivers. In other words your body is part of the antenna systems.  The tiger tail thingy may work  as stated providing enough of a ground plane but I have no idea.   I don't think the tiger tail would be an improvement..  Playing with different HT antennas would probably get better results.  

[WSGL775]

On 12/12/2025 at 10:32 AM, SteveShannon said:

Yes, and because it really doesn’t matter.  Just test it to see if you can receive and transmit.  Don’t get lost in testing SWR on a handheld.

By the way, in one of my engineering periodicals I remember reading that the SWR for your cell phone’s built in antenna is often between 4:1 and 6:1.

Thanks Steve! I find your input to always be the voice of logic and reason! No sense chasing phantoms that don't exist!

[AdmiralCochrane]

On 12/13/2025 at 12:07 PM, WRUE951 said:

We all know the human body acts as a capacitance ground for hand held transceivers. In other words your body is part of the antenna systems.  The tiger tail thingy may work  as stated providing enough of a ground plane but I have no idea.   I don't think the tiger tail would be an improvement..  Playing with different HT antennas would probably get better results.  

Try it before you say it won't work.

I tried it with several antennas and it made a difference on all of them including the antenna that was better than the rest.  I would say that it made the worst antenna work as well as the best did without it.

[WSGL775]

As far as a counterpoise or what you're calling a "Tiger Tail" goes, in theoretical instances, it seems to make sense. However, what I haven't seen is absolute proof that it indeed works. With that being said, whatever works for you, keep using it. All I know, or perhaps even care about, is that when I push the PTT button, I'm able to establish communications with people and I'm able to understand them in return. All the rest I could give a rats ass about. But that's just me!

[LegitByDefault]

I cut one for my HT and tested it.

Imo it's a final touch sort of thing. VERY small improvement in clarity. If you're already setup and twiddling your thumbs, give it a try.

 

Not worth the effort imo.

[Northcutt114]

Two weeks later...still don't have it in hand. My goodness can the USPS muck stuff up! 

[WRUE951]

this thread inspired me to Google Buck Owens song...  I Got A Tiber by The Tail.           

 

[Northcutt114]

OK, well, if anyone is interested...

 

It made absolutely no difference for me.