What antenna do I need for 450MHz?

[Autonomy_Lost]

I'm looking to install a functional antenna on my M998. I will be connecting it to a commercial radio at around 445-450MHz. I'm not too concerned with the amount of gain, but I want something in the proper frequency range. I'm looking for a military-style antenna with spring base so that it looks correct on the vehicle. I see lots of options on eBay for antennas, bases, and mounts, but I need a complete unit and I'm not sure which whips work with which bases.

Here is what I'm currently eyeing up:

US Army Military Harris Antenna Base 30-512 Mhz RF-3183-AT013 UHF VHF HMMWV LMTV | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for US Army Military Harris Antenna Base 30-512 Mhz RF-3183-AT013 UHF VHF HMMWV LMTV at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

ANTENNA MOUNTING BRACKET FOR MILITARY RADIO MP-50 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for ANTENNA MOUNTING BRACKET FOR MILITARY RADIO MP-50 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Will that base work with that mount? And where can I find a whip that will work with that base?

 

[Mullaney]

I'm looking to install a functional antenna on my M998. I will be connecting it to a commercial radio at around 445-450MHz. I'm not too concerned with the amount of gain, but I want something in the proper frequency range. I'm looking for a military-style antenna with spring base so that it looks correct on the vehicle. I see lots of options on eBay for antennas, bases, and mounts, but I need a complete unit and I'm not sure which whips work with which bases.

Here is what I'm currently eyeing up:

US Army Military Harris Antenna Base 30-512 Mhz RF-3183-AT013 UHF VHF HMMWV LMTV | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for US Army Military Harris Antenna Base 30-512 Mhz RF-3183-AT013 UHF VHF HMMWV LMTV at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

ANTENNA MOUNTING BRACKET FOR MILITARY RADIO MP-50 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for ANTENNA MOUNTING BRACKET FOR MILITARY RADIO MP-50 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Will that base work with that mount? And where can I find a whip that will work with that base?

.
I don't have one - but are you looking at a HAM set for your truck?
If so, do you mind asking what kind of radio you might be installing?

 

[Autonomy_Lost]

.
I don't have one - but are you looking at a HAM set for your truck?
If so, do you mind asking what kind of radio you might be installing?

The radio is a Motorola XPR4550. It will do both HAM frequencies as well as commercial frequencies. I am licensed for both.

 

[frank8003]

RMH0213B - Dual-Band and L-Band Antenna -RAMI

The RMH0213B is a UHF military antenna with Dual-Band and L-Band capabilities. RAMI is a leading supplier of antennas for the US military.

www.rami.com

LOS VHF/UHF Antenna

LOS VHF/UHF Antenna covering the frequency range from 250-450 MHz

www.antennas.us

 

[papakb]

SF-3512 antenna by Shakespeare goes from 30 - 512 mhz.

also known as the Harris RF-390.

You can find the 3183 bases but the masts are just not out there.

 

[TechnoWeenie]

The military wide band antennas are junk. SWR is usually 3:1 or more and 'gain' is usually measured in the negative...

Almost better off with a 1/4 wave or 1/2 wave on an NMO mount.. but you lose that military look.

Just about any military UHF antenna you find is gonna be for satellite work.

 

[TechnoWeenie]

RMH0213B - Dual-Band and L-Band Antenna -RAMI

The RMH0213B is a UHF military antenna with Dual-Band and L-Band capabilities. RAMI is a leading supplier of antennas for the US military.

www.rami.com

LOS VHF/UHF Antenna

LOS VHF/UHF Antenna covering the frequency range from 250-450 MHz

www.antennas.us

That's for portables, not mobiles. Only 8w power handling with TNC connector.

 

[TechnoWeenie]

BPV-220-520 is probably what you're looking for, but good luck finding one at a reasonable price.

 

[frank8003]

BPV-220-520 is probably what you're looking for, but good luck finding one at a reasonable price.

only thing I found

BPV-220-520 UHF Military Vehicle Antenna

This vehicle mount antenna manufactured in Australia by Broadband Propagation covers military and civilian frequencies between 220 to 520 MHz with a power rating of 100 watts continuous. This heavy duty ground independent antenna is mounted on a rugged base unit with heavy duty stainless steel...

halberdbastion.com

 

[sigo]

An AS-3449 PLRS/EPLRS antenna is designed for 420-450MHz. I don’t know how it would perform for your application, but it’s built for the right freq range.

 

[TechnoWeenie]

only thing I found

BPV-220-520 UHF Military Vehicle Antenna

This vehicle mount antenna manufactured in Australia by Broadband Propagation covers military and civilian frequencies between 220 to 520 MHz with a power rating of 100 watts continuous. This heavy duty ground independent antenna is mounted on a rugged base unit with heavy duty stainless steel...

halberdbastion.com

That would be it

 

[TechnoWeenie]

An AS-3449 PLRS/EPLRS antenna is designed for 420-450MHz. I don’t know how it would perform for your application, but it’s built for the right freq range.

Low power handling capacity could be an issue. Most mobiles are around 40-50W.

 

[Autonomy_Lost]

The military wide band antennas are junk. SWR is usually 3:1 or more and 'gain' is usually measured in the negative...

Almost better off with a 1/4 wave or 1/2 wave on an NMO mount.. but you lose that military look.

Just about any military UHF antenna you find is gonna be for satellite work.

Hmm, okay well thanks for the honest answer. I currently have a 1/4 wave whip antenna which works fine, but I was hoping for something that looks more correct on the vehicle. It doesn't necessarily need to be the exact correct antenna, I'm just going for aesthetics. I'm thinking about rigging up some sort of commercial antenna that I can spray paint OD green, but even with that I'm having a hard time finding something with the right look.

 

[Autonomy_Lost]

Low power handling capacity could be an issue. Most mobiles are around 40-50W.

My mobile does have a max power of 40W for the record.

 

[86humv]

I might have one of those AS-3449 available

 

[Autonomy_Lost]

I might have one of those AS-3449 available

If you do, let me know how much you want for it. I'm not sure if it will work for my application or not. The spec sheet says 10W continuous or 200W peak at 2% duty cycle. I'm thinking it will handle 40W transmissions fine but probably worth calling the manufacturer for some clarification.

 

[sigo]

Low power handling capacity could be an issue. Most mobiles are around 40-50W.

An AS-3449 antenna is standard for a VSQ-2 EPLRS which transmits 100W on high power. Duty cycle might be a factor since it’s a TDMA FH data radio. Again, I don’t know how the antenna specs would work out for non-standard use. I’m probably overlooking aspects of your application, just offering observations.

 

[Milcommoguy]

I'm looking to install a functional antenna on my M998. I will be connecting it to a commercial radio at around 445-450MHz. I'm not too concerned with the amount of gain, but I want something in the proper frequency range. I'm looking for a military-style antenna with spring base so that it looks correct on the vehicle. I see lots of options on eBay for antennas, bases, and mounts, but I need a complete unit and I'm not sure which whips work with which bases.

Here is what I'm currently eyeing up:

US Army Military Harris Antenna Base 30-512 Mhz RF-3183-AT013 UHF VHF HMMWV LMTV | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for US Army Military Harris Antenna Base 30-512 Mhz RF-3183-AT013 UHF VHF HMMWV LMTV at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

ANTENNA MOUNTING BRACKET FOR MILITARY RADIO MP-50 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for ANTENNA MOUNTING BRACKET FOR MILITARY RADIO MP-50 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Will that base work with that mount? And where can I find a whip that will work with that base?

Wayback machine... 20 years ago when Murphy Surplus was selling them "cheap" picked up three of them. Coupled up to Motorola MCS2000, 420 to 450, 40 watt rigs. Uses a male "N" connector. VSWR flat across the band and exhibits 4-5 dB gain as published.

AS-3449/VSQ-1 Darn near unbreakable. Works like a million buck for HAM 440 band and the military HD use. Never an issue. Two are still in service.

WA6CAM - WA6VVC, CAMO

 

[TechnoWeenie]

Wayback machine... 20 years ago when Murphy Surplus was selling them "cheap" picked up three of them. Coupled up to Motorola MCS2000, 420 to 450, 40 watt rigs. Uses a male "N" connector. VSWR flat across the band and exhibits 4-5 dB gain as published.

Darn near unbreakable. Works like a million buck for HAM 440 band and the military HD use. Never an issue. Two are still in service.

WA6CAM - WA6VVC, CAMO

View attachment 844044View attachment 844045

Off topic, but my M1031 had antennas for 2m, 440, general coverage RX (no HF), CB, 2.4 Ghz, 700/800 Mhz, and another VHF 1/4 wave used for a TV antenna, in addition to the reinforced 3/4 pipe flange that I could screw a 10' pipe into, and guy down, if I needed a long wire for HF or the extra elevation, since the top of the pole had a waterproof junction box I mounted an NMO on top of, with RG8 running down the pipe... slipped right through the flange and was watertight when connected, or when not in use it was plugged...


I will be redoing something similar on my deuce, just gotta factor in height this time, heh.

 

[86humv]

Wayback machine... 20 years ago when Murphy Surplus was selling them "cheap" picked up three of them. Coupled up to Motorola MCS2000, 420 to 450, 40 watt rigs. Uses a male "N" connector. VSWR flat across the band and exhibits 4-5 dB gain as published.

Darn near unbreakable. Works like a million buck for HAM 440 band and the military HD use. Never an issue. Two are still in service.

WA6CAM - WA6VVC, CAMO

View attachment 844044View attachment 844045

You hanging from a tree on that shot ?.....oh...thats right ...no trees out there.