Better or external aerial

[ratboy]

Hi

Having been very pleased with my Kenwood being placed in my topbox I'm now not so sure the range is what is was before. My question for you experts, and maybe Rich, is can I replace the existing aerial with a better one of maybe fit an external one. A better one on the radio would be preferable as an obvious external one would be advertising the radio to tea leaves.

Thanks

 

[GSrich]

Unfortunately not mate, the aerials are actually a part of the Kenwood main body. So if the aerial was to removed in theory you are scrapping a Kenwood

Rich

 

[ratboy]

Unfortunately not mate, the aerials are actually a part of the Kenwood main body. So if the aerial was to removed in theory you are scrapping a Kenwood

Rich

OK Thanks does the position of the radio ie laying flat or standing up make any difference or does the direction the aerial is pointing make any differnce ie upwards or sidewards.

 

[ebbo]

Ideally, it wants to be upright but by some miracle they also seem to work laid down (but probably not as well)

 

[scots_jon]

OK Thanks does the position of the radio ie laying flat or standing up make any difference or does the direction the aerial is pointing make any differnce ie upwards or sidewards.

The direction will make a big difference. In ideal conditions the antenna on your radio will radiate power outwards in a doughnut shape perpendicular to it's axis. In theory there would be no power at all radiated in the direction of it's length (i.e. straight up from the radio). In practice things around the radio will alter and distort this patern, however you will still always get best results having the antenna pointing straight up.

J.

 

[GSrich]

I think you know the answer now

Rich

 

[ratboy]

The direction will make a big difference. In ideal conditions the antenna on your radio will radiate power outwards in a doughnut shape perpendicular to it's axis. In theory there would be no power at all radiated in the direction of it's length (i.e. straight up from the radio). In practice things around the radio will alter and distort this patern, however you will still always get best results having the antenna pointing straight up.

J.

Thanks, better get the tools out then as Mine's laying across ways. Maybe I can try bending the Antenna so it's pointing up. Thanks for the replies.

 

[scots_jon]

Thanks, better get the tools out then as Mine's laying across ways. Maybe I can try bending the Antenna so it's pointing up. Thanks for the replies.

Bending it isn't a good idea. The antenna is a tuned element and its effective length is different from it's physical length and mechanics. If you bend it you'll bugger up the tuning.

If you can, try and get the whole radio as close to vertical as possible.

 

[ratboy]

Bending it isn't a good idea. The antenna is a tuned element and its effective length is different from it's physical length and mechanics. If you bend it you'll bugger up the tuning.

If you can, try and get the whole radio as close to vertical as possible.

Ta - will give it a go