Justin:
I don't quite understand your question about the THF6A picket fencing in the
receive condition. The rubber duck that comes with it isn't very good, so
that may explain it. But be careful: if you get a bigger duck antenna, it
may put too much strain on the SMA connection.
When I use mine as a base station, I connect it to an outside ant using an
SMA/BNC adapter, and it does just fine.
Hope this helps.
Tom Behler: KB8TYJ