Scott.

You are correct that you do not want the 47 inch long antenna as your 
primary HT antenna. They have their place in the world, which is 
primarily when you are sitting or standing still outdoors.

MFJ, Diamond, Comet, and several other companies all make duo band 
flexible "rubber duck" type antennas that are from 6 inches long to 
nearly a full quarter wave size on 2 meters. That is about 19 inches.

Note that most of these companies also make very short models. But 
stay away from the really short ones.

Excluding the really short models, my experience is that just about 
anything you buy will give the stock antenna supplied with the Wouxun 
a total thrashing on 2 meters. You won't notice much difference on 
440.

That said, and for full disclosure purposes, I have owned my Wouxun 
since June of 2010, so they may have improved their stock antenna 
performance for 2 meters since then. I certainly hope so.

One more word of caution:

Especially when you are looking at rubber duck type antennas, don't 
take the term "gain" too seriously. Remember that nobody's 
advertisement is going to say anything that resembles, "Our antenna 
doesn't really work any better than anybody else's." The truth is that 
for the most part, you won't notice much difference among antennas of 
the same length and diameter.

Above all, remember that if the claims made for any antenna, not just 
those for hand helds, sound too good to be true, they probably are 
exactly that.

I replaced my Wouxun antenna with one made by MFJ. It is about an inch 
longer than the Wouxun antenna. I notice very little difference 
between it and the longer model that is a full size quarter wave on 2 
meters.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Van Gorp" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2012 7:30 PM
Subject: What's the best high gain antenna for the Wouxun handhelds?


Good evening list:

The subject says it all.  I've got a Wouxun KGUVD-1p ht here (2m 70cm 
model)
and I'm looking for a high gain antenna for it.  D&L antenna has a 
boomer
model, but I'm thinking 47 inches is a little much for ARES events and
mobile use.  Besides, Can you just imagine sitting on a bus with 
something
like that?  Anyway, any suggestions for a good high gain antenna for 
that
radio would be most welcome!  Also, if you've got a good dealer, let 
me
know.  I've taken a look at Radio City and Import Communications and I 
get
lost trying to decide!  I'd just like to go with something with a bit 
more
mustard than the supplied rubber duck!  Thanks for any help!



73:



Scott Van Gorp KD0ODU