Would a Retevis Two Way Radio Antenna SMA-M Antenna 144/430MHz a good fit for a Baofeng UV-5G?

[WRVE426]

Hi

I have a Baofeng UV-5G and I want to try out a longer, hopefully better, antenna.

I found this one Amazon: Retevis Two Way Radio Antenna SMA-M Antenna 144/430MHz (https://smile.amazon.com/Retevis-Two-way-Antenna-Whip-Antenna-UV8000D/dp/B01AD2RZXO/)

Would that be a decent choice for a GMRS radio, or is that only for 2m?

thank you!

[73blazer]

It'll work. If you want the best GMRS only HT antenna though, in my book, it's tough to beat the Nagoya 771G antenna. I can personally say it increases our range in full 100%  heavy dense woods from 1-1.25mi to 1.5-1.75mi and increases clarity alot on the edges.

[WRVE426]

I got a Nagoya 771G antenna for my UV-9G and I like it a lot.

I will get the SMA-male for the UV-5G

thanks for the reply!!

[Sshannon]

1 hour ago, WRVE426 said:

I got a Nagoya 771G antenna for my UV-9G and I like it a lot.

I will get the SMA-male for the UV-5G

thanks for the reply!!

Wait a second.  Double check that connector.  The connector on the Baofeng is a hybrid with a female threaded portion and a male center pin, so the antenna must have a male threaded portion and a female inner socket.

[UncleYoda]

7 hours ago, Sshannon said:

Wait a second.  Double check that connector.  The connector on the Baofeng is a hybrid with a female threaded portion and a male center pin, so the antenna must have a male threaded portion and a female inner socket.

No, he's right, he needs SMA Male on the antenna for UV-5G.  The connections are the opposite of UV-5R (they did that just to make us buy more I guess).  The one you show in the picture is the standard UV-5R SMA Male connector (threads inside just like PL-259).  Neither the UV-5G nor UV-5R radios I have have Reversed SMA.  But if you think that is confusing, I just had to order an N-type connector and it was really hard to figure out male vs female [female has a center pin but it's hollow and very hard to see that].

[Sshannon]

2 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

No, he's right, he needs SMA Male on the antenna for UV-5G.  The connections are the opposite of UV-5R (they did that just to make us buy more I guess).  The one you show in the picture is the standard UV-5R SMA Male connector (threads inside just like PL-259).  Neither the UV-5G nor UV-5R radios I have have Reversed SMA.  But if you think that is confusing, I just had to order an N-type connector and it was really hard to figure out male vs female [female has a center pin but it's hollow and very hard to see that].

Thanks for checking.  Standards are great, aren’t they?  My UV5R, GT5R, one Alinco MD5, plus two Yaesu handhelds (FT-65 and FT-4)all have the connector I show in that photo.  But I have another Yaesu digital (FT5DR - also 2m/70cm) that has the opposite.gender. I think you’re right; they just want us to buy more. 

[wayoverthere]

5 hours ago, Sshannon said:

Thanks for checking.  Standards are great, aren’t they?  My UV5R, GT5R, one Alinco MD5, plus two Yaesu handhelds (FT-65 and FT-4)all have the connector I show in that photo.  But I have another Yaesu digital (FT5DR - also 2m/70cm) that has the opposite.gender. I think you’re right; they just want us to buy more. 

Mine are a mix as well...the yaesu and vertex vx, and the wouxun uv7d are sma-f on the radio; the ft4x, wouxun kg805g, and the baofengs are sma-m.

The vertex evx and the moto xpr's are similar to a sma-m, but don't have the channel around the edge for the "lip" on the standard sma-f comnector...their version of sma-f has the inner part flat with the end of the threads.

BTech stock antenna (sma-f) on the left, vertex evx stock on the right

https://i.imgur.com/q1X5Bqg.png

[MichaelLAX]

Baofeng went against the grain with the UV-5R.

The "correct" way to use the SMA is with the male on the antenna and the female on the radio, so that if and when the "male" pin breaks off, you only have to replace the antenna and not the radio.

[KAF6045]

17 hours ago, WRVE426 said:

Hi

I have a Baofeng UV-5G and I want to try out a longer, hopefully better, antenna.

I found this one Amazon: Retevis Two Way Radio Antenna SMA-M Antenna 144/430MHz (https://smile.amazon.com/Retevis-Two-way-Antenna-Whip-Antenna-UV8000D/dp/B01AD2RZXO/)

Would that be a decent choice for a GMRS radio, or is that only for 2m?

thank you!

I wouldn't consider it -- that's tuned for Amateur 2m/70cm... SWR may be lousy on 462MHz (may be good for receive only as that is more affected by capture area -- how much antenna actually intercepts the signal).

Better to look for a "commercial" tuned antenna -- something around 160MHz/450MHz (careful -- Nagoya makes multiple variants of the 771; 771 Amateur and 771C commercial)

 

[Sshannon]

15 minutes ago, MichaelLAX said:

Baofeng went against the grain with the UV-5R.

The "correct" way to use the SMA is with the male on the antenna and the female on the radio, so that if and when the "male" pin breaks off, you only have to replace the antenna and not the radio.

I don’t know who chose that configuration first, but Yaesu does the same thing on the FT-65 and FT-4X, and Alinco on the DJ-MD5.

The way it’s recessed, it would be very difficult to break that pin.

 

[MichaelLAX]

36 minutes ago, Sshannon said:

The way it’s recessed, it would be very difficult to break that pin.

Not by those who chose to use an adapter to place one of their "conventional" SMA male antennas on to a SMA male radio, thereby increasing the torque and risk of breaking the male pin (or even the whole SMA connector) on the radio.

[wrci350]

15 minutes ago, Sshannon said:

I don’t know who chose that configuration first, but Yaesu does the same thing on the FT-65 and FT-4X, and Alinco on the DJ-MD5.

The FT-65 and FT-4X are much newer than the UV5R.

At one point "Japanese" HTs used the standard SMA connector, and "Chinese" HTs used the reverse SMA.  (The FT-65, FT-4X, and DJ-MD5 are all made in China for Japanese companies.)  But now it's a bit muddier, since some of the Chinese HTs come with standard SMA connectors.

[Sshannon]

15 minutes ago, wrci350 said:

The FT-65 and FT-4X are much newer than the UV5R.

At one point "Japanese" HTs used the standard SMA connector, and "Chinese" HTs used the reverse SMA.  (The FT-65, FT-4X, and DJ-MD5 are all made in China for Japanese companies.)  But now it's a bit muddier, since some of the Chinese HTs come with standard SMA connectors.

Although there was at least one run of Ft-65 and Ft-4x radios made in China, both of mine were made in Japan. I do understand that the UV5R predates both of these Yaesu handhelds by many years.

[wrci350]

Just now, Sshannon said:

Although there was at least one run of Ft-65 and Ft-4x radios made in China, both of mine were made in Japan. I do understand that the UV5R predates both of these Yaesu handhelds by many years.

Yes, I've heard that before.  I'm guessing it's a Chinese design, built in both China and Japan.  But your question was, "who did it first" and I think we know the answer.  

[Sshannon]

16 minutes ago, wrci350 said:

Yes, I've heard that before.  I'm guessing it's a Chinese design, built in both China and Japan.  But your question was, "who did it first" and I think we know the answer.  

I really didn’t ask a question, but I’ll file it away for the next MyGMRS trivia night. I’ll buy you a cold refreshment!

[Lscott]

1 hour ago, wrci350 said:

At one point "Japanese" HTs used the standard SMA connector, and "Chinese" HTs used the reverse SMA.

Many, if not most, use the Kenwood "K" type side connector for programming and other accessories.  My guess is when the Chinese needed to "copy" something and wanted a standard to follow they picked Kenwood, which BTW also used the reverse SMA antenna connectors, long before the CCR's did. I'm guessing that's how it all got started. The number of Kenwood radios for commercial use far outstrips their Ham portfolio. I guess if you're going to copy something as a standard pick one with a large market presence.

For me it's really convenient since I can pickup the cheap accessories used for the CCR's and use those on most of my Kenwood radios. If you leave the port cover off they can get water and dirt/dust inside of the radio. That's the main disadvantage.

Not all of the Kenwood radios use that "K" type side port. A surprising number use a multi-pin side port like you see on Motorola radios, but of course they won't use the same accessories. These ports are more environment proof since there are no openings into the radio. Unfortunately one of those pins has a live +5VDC supply on it, used by some of the GPS and noise canceling microphones. Shorting that pin out isn't healthy for the radio. If the port is not being use the cover should be installed.

Now about the reverse SMA connector. Some of the older Motorola radios use them. However they are not "exactly" standard. If you look at a real Motorola antenna verses the one used on the CCR's and Kenwoods you'll notice the tip of the screw connector for the center pin is flush with the end. On the other antennas it's typically recessed a tiny bit. If you try to screw it into the Motorola radio the center pin in the socket won't slip into the connector on the antenna because the threaded barrel section bottoms out too soon. I'm sure that was done to get the aftermarket parts business for antennas.

The four areas on a radio that frequently seems to get broken, or lost, are belt clips, antennas, the knobs and side port covers. People like to use the antenna or top side knobs to yank the radio out of the pocket or off the belt, particularly the antenna. The belt clips break when twisting the radio while trying to take it off the belt, or the radio will catch on something, cloths etc. and rip the radio off. Side port covers, well I guess that's the first thing that's lost after programming the radio, or attaching that external speaker mic.

[Sshannon]

Give that man a cigar!

[wayoverthere]

44 minutes ago, Lscott said:

. Side port covers, well I guess that's the first thing that's lost after programming the radio, or attaching that external speaker mic.

That's one nice thing ill mention for the xpr6500's I have...the port cover is one screw, but it has a loop around the antenna on the other end, to keep it from getting lost (hopefully)

[Lscott]

5 hours ago, wayoverthere said:

That's one nice thing ill mention for the xpr6500's I have...the port cover is one screw, but it has a loop around the antenna on the other end, to keep it from getting lost (hopefully)

The few XPR6550’s I got used were missing the side port covers. I was at a Ham radio flea market a while back and spotted a bag with 4 or 5 of them inside on a table. The guy was selling mostly Motorola gear. Unbelievable he just gave me the bag for free after I inquired about what he wanted for them. He said he had no use for them. Who says there aren’t any nice people around anymore, there are!

[Sshannon]

28 minutes ago, Lscott said:

The few XPR6550’s I got used were missing the side port covers. I was at a Ham radio flea market a while back and spotted a bag with 4 or 5 of them inside on a table. The guy was selling mostly Motorola gear. Unbelievable he just gave me the bag for free after I inquired about what he wanted for them. He said he had no use for them. Who says there aren’t any nice people around anymore, there are!

Obviously he wasn’t a sad ham.

[wayoverthere]

2 hours ago, Lscott said:

 Unbelievable he just gave me the bag for free after I inquired about what he wanted for them. He said he had no use for them. Who says there aren’t any nice people around anymore, there are!

Nice!

[WRVE426]

First, thank you all for all your inputs and advice!

I did get the correct Nagoya antenna and it works superbly, thank you!