For the Smiley tri-band - 2m - 1/4 wave - all sections extended 1.3 SWR 440 - 5/8 wave - 2 sections down - 1.3 SWR 440 1/4 wave - all sections down - 1.3 SWR 220 - 1/4 wave - 4 sections down - 1.3 SWR I have two of them, they are excellent
I've used the adjustable length Smiley antennas for years, and have two at the present, one for my D74 and one for my Baofeng. I use BNC mounts on the Smiley antenna, and then put adapters on the HTs, such as Diamond Antenna BNCJ-SMAP for the D74. Doug - I think you meant to write, "220 - 5/8 wave - two sections down ..."
@@Hoop6102 Nope, that's what I meant to write. It's also what they recommend in the instructions that come with the antenna. What you posted may also work.
I'm surprised someone hasn't created an adjustable length HT antenna with preset markings on it (or even detents) for common wavelengths. Say you wanted 2m, you can quickly expand it to there and then manually micro-adjust the length to dial it in perfectly for your location. Or maybe there is such a thing?
I was thinking about that. Sort of like how my walking stick works. It has presets, but you can also micro adjust it to your liking. I'm sure there is probably a tech or regulatory reason why nobody makes one, or someone would have by now.
The telescoping one he shows here is the Smiley 27000, and it fits this description. Perhaps he lost the instructions or forgot them, but it is supposed to be tuned for various frequencies. At full length it's 1/2 wave 2m. With two sections down it's 5/8 wave 70cm. Four sections down is 1/2 wave 1.25m. Completely collapsed is 1/4 wave 70cm. I've been using one for years.
Based on your very solid rec, I just ordered a KG-UV9PX and Smiley tri-band from BetterSafe yesterday. Got my license last September (Tech and General same day), but am just now getting myself together to get on the air. I've got the GigaParts QRZ-1 Explorer, too, thanks to the promo. Next stop, CW! Cheers, thanks, and 73! -Greg K8LAM
I have a Smiley 2M antenna on my Kenwood NX-210, I really like it. The Kenwood is an old railroad radio my wife found for me at Goodwill so I had to get something to replace the 160MHz stock antenna.
I love the form factor of the Smiley for GMRS 5/8. I did an SWR comparison with the Nagoya NA771G. The nagoya was consistent at 1.1 The Smiley was going from 1.3 to over 2. Not sure that is happening there. Same radio, same meter, held it the same way as SureCom suggested.
@@benjosevilla ~ I wondered about that myself. I've considered buying Smiley antennas, but my Nagoya771G antennas are a near-perfect 1.1 / 1 Match on any GMRS frequency. Thanks for the tip. 😎
I have the 2m and the GMRS antennas and they are amazing! I just ordered the Tri-Band because I really want to play with "tuning" it. I'm still waiting on my BNC connectors but other than that I love these things!
Think I may pick myself up the 440 and GMRS ones. I am finally moving on from CCR's. I hope to eventually end up with an XTS2500 or 5000 but my wife won't let me right now. Cruising around Fleabay I found a nice Kenwood TK-380 and snatched it up for a song. I paid $60 for it and it blows away all of my Baofeng/Retevis/Radioddity radios. Next time will probably be an XTS, or maybe even a Kenwood NX series as I like what I have seen. Maybe in a few months when the holidays are paid off. But I am definitely going to look into the antennas
Their Triband antenna adjustment, all the way extended (2 meter 1/4 wave), (2 top sections down 5/8 wave 440), (3 sections down 1/4 wave 220). Should be a note on package to appropriate lengths. Their good because they have long whips and small coils. The more Whip and less Coils make for more RF getting out over the air.
Smiley is a OG staple of ham radio. Been around a long time. Quality, Not Amazon junk. Been using since early 90’s. Thanks for covering them on the channel.
I just ordered several different styles for a pair of MURS radios. With GMRS continuing in popularity I've decided to sometimes alternate to MURS since it's more discreet. 🤷
At 5:40 you said "There are a lot of people using Motorola's, which are Part 90, on GMRS. Technically speaking they're not certified for Part 95E" Part 95E? No, but not necessarily illegal either. It depends on when they were made. Prior to 2017 the FCC regularly issued grants for both Part 90 and Part 95A(original GMRS rules) to the same radio. There are a ton of surplus business radios that are 100% legal, by the absolute letter of the law, for use on GMRS. I've own many Kenwood HT's and mobiles, including a few NX-300G's made in 2015, that carry Part 95A grants which are still valid for GMRS. There are a large number of Motorola, Vertex, Icom and other brand LMR radios that fall in the same category. By the time the FCC stopped issuing dual grants though, they had already passed a narrow band mandate for the majority of LMR frequencies. Most of the newer Part 90 radios that will cover GMRS can not be programmed operate wide band at all.
Love the video. I've heard of the Smiley, but never knew about the interchangable bases. Really neat feature. Like you, I love the Signal Stick. I'm somewhat of an antenna hoe, so I'll have to try the Smiley antenna. And now for the Sad Ham....How dare you suggest using a ham radio for GMRS....LMAO. Everyone does, oh except me FCC, I would never......
Making a radio that follows 90 and 95 is easy. Who's job is it to convince the FCC to allow it? Limit the power where it needs to be limited and block the FRS frequencies in their entirety. Done! All of the manufactures already have a built in method. Is it them though that are blocking the movement so they can sell more radios? Hmmm Can we as licensed Hams and\or GMRSers petition the FCC and if so where do we submit such a petition?
@hamradio2.0 There is a TH-cam site called Best Pick that is using a picture of you in their thumbnail for their video called The 7 best handheld ham radios in 2023 Ps I use a smiley antenna on my kenwood th-d74
For the Smiley tri-band -
2m - 1/4 wave - all sections extended 1.3 SWR
440 - 5/8 wave - 2 sections down - 1.3 SWR
440 1/4 wave - all sections down - 1.3 SWR
220 - 1/4 wave - 4 sections down - 1.3 SWR
I have two of them, they are excellent
This may be the antenna for me. I can live with a 1.3 SWR 😎
I've used the adjustable length Smiley antennas for years, and have two at the present, one for my D74 and one for my Baofeng. I use BNC mounts on the Smiley antenna, and then put adapters on the HTs, such as Diamond Antenna BNCJ-SMAP for the D74. Doug - I think you meant to write, "220 - 5/8 wave - two sections down ..."
@@Hoop6102 Nope, that's what I meant to write. It's also what they recommend in the instructions that come with the antenna. What you posted may also work.
I use their triband on my D74. Outperforms all my other HT antennas.
I have at least 5 of their antennas and they’re really good. I like the option of changing between connector types with each one.
I use one on my work radio. So far so good.
I'm surprised someone hasn't created an adjustable length HT antenna with preset markings on it (or even detents) for common wavelengths. Say you wanted 2m, you can quickly expand it to there and then manually micro-adjust the length to dial it in perfectly for your location. Or maybe there is such a thing?
I was thinking about that. Sort of like how my walking stick works. It has presets, but you can also micro adjust it to your liking.
I'm sure there is probably a tech or regulatory reason why nobody makes one, or someone would have by now.
The telescoping one he shows here is the Smiley 27000, and it fits this description. Perhaps he lost the instructions or forgot them, but it is supposed to be tuned for various frequencies. At full length it's 1/2 wave 2m. With two sections down it's 5/8 wave 70cm. Four sections down is 1/2 wave 1.25m. Completely collapsed is 1/4 wave 70cm. I've been using one for years.
@@JaronActual Cool, thanks!
Based on your very solid rec, I just ordered a KG-UV9PX and Smiley tri-band from BetterSafe yesterday. Got my license last September (Tech and General same day), but am just now getting myself together to get on the air. I've got the GigaParts QRZ-1 Explorer, too, thanks to the promo. Next stop, CW! Cheers, thanks, and 73! -Greg K8LAM
Grats!
I've been using Smiley brand for years. They have a ton of single band antennas. The universal connector comes in 8 versions.
I have a Smiley 2M antenna on my Kenwood NX-210, I really like it. The Kenwood is an old railroad radio my wife found for me at Goodwill so I had to get something to replace the 160MHz stock antenna.
Yes! I've heard good things about *Smiley Antennas like they perform as well as a whip antenna but are less likely to poke your eyes out. 👀
The Smiley lineup is top quality and at a good price.
I have the 5/8 GMRS smiley, I hope you can compare it with the Nagoya Na-771G both with SWR and distance. Thanks!
I love the form factor of the Smiley for GMRS 5/8. I did an SWR comparison with the Nagoya NA771G. The nagoya was consistent at 1.1 The Smiley was going from 1.3 to over 2. Not sure that is happening there. Same radio, same meter, held it the same way as SureCom suggested.
@@benjosevilla ~ I wondered about that myself. I've considered buying Smiley antennas, but my Nagoya771G antennas are a near-perfect 1.1 / 1 Match on any GMRS frequency. Thanks for the tip. 😎
I have the 2m and the GMRS antennas and they are amazing! I just ordered the Tri-Band because I really want to play with "tuning" it. I'm still waiting on my BNC connectors but other than that I love these things!
Think I may pick myself up the 440 and GMRS ones.
I am finally moving on from CCR's. I hope to eventually end up with an XTS2500 or 5000 but my wife won't let me right now.
Cruising around Fleabay I found a nice Kenwood TK-380 and snatched it up for a song.
I paid $60 for it and it blows away all of my Baofeng/Retevis/Radioddity radios.
Next time will probably be an XTS, or maybe even a Kenwood NX series as I like what I have seen. Maybe in a few months when the holidays are paid off.
But I am definitely going to look into the antennas
Their Triband antenna adjustment, all the way extended (2 meter 1/4 wave), (2 top sections down 5/8 wave 440), (3 sections down 1/4 wave 220). Should be a note on package to appropriate lengths. Their good because they have long whips and small coils. The more Whip and less Coils make for more RF getting out over the air.
All of that is on their website.
Smiley is a OG staple of ham radio. Been around a long time. Quality, Not Amazon junk. Been using since early 90’s.
Thanks for covering them on the channel.
Thanks for watching!
You're the man! Love your vids! No b.s.
I appreciate that!
I just ordered several different styles for a pair of MURS radios. With GMRS continuing in popularity I've decided to sometimes alternate to MURS since it's more discreet. 🤷
The website tells you which sections to use for it to be "tuned"
So...would it also be possible to adjust a the triband (shorten it slightly) for gmrs...?
Yes, just 1 cm shorter than 440 should do it
It may just be a paperwork exercise to get it done. They would have to submit the testing and paper work to the FCC to get the correct certification.
Would these work on a Motorola business radio UHF frequency
Likely
Albree has multiple bases. But they are just "measuring tape" antennae.
At 5:40 you said "There are a lot of people using Motorola's, which are Part 90, on GMRS. Technically speaking they're not certified for Part 95E"
Part 95E? No, but not necessarily illegal either. It depends on when they were made. Prior to 2017 the FCC regularly issued grants for both Part 90 and Part 95A(original GMRS rules) to the same radio. There are a ton of surplus business radios that are 100% legal, by the absolute letter of the law, for use on GMRS. I've own many Kenwood HT's and mobiles, including a few NX-300G's made in 2015, that carry Part 95A grants which are still valid for GMRS.
There are a large number of Motorola, Vertex, Icom and other brand LMR radios that fall in the same category. By the time the FCC stopped issuing dual grants though, they had already passed a narrow band mandate for the majority of LMR frequencies. Most of the newer Part 90 radios that will cover GMRS can not be programmed operate wide band at all.
Love the video. I've heard of the Smiley, but never knew about the interchangable bases. Really neat feature. Like you, I love the Signal Stick. I'm somewhat of an antenna hoe, so I'll have to try the Smiley antenna. And now for the Sad Ham....How dare you suggest using a ham radio for GMRS....LMAO. Everyone does, oh except me FCC, I would never......
Ham Radio 2.0 . I need a real good 468mhz transmit, 463mhz receive SMA FEMALE HT Antenna.
Icom for the win, again
Haha
I have the AT 878, 578 and the ID52a. I get more 👍 for the AT audio quality 🤷
Making a radio that follows 90 and 95 is easy. Who's job is it to convince the FCC to allow it?
Limit the power where it needs to be limited and block the FRS frequencies in their entirety. Done!
All of the manufactures already have a built in method. Is it them though that are blocking the movement so they can sell more radios? Hmmm
Can we as licensed Hams and\or GMRSers petition the FCC and if so where do we submit such a petition?
Code only works for over $100.
Good info
Min $100.00 spend for the coupon to work... Boo...
Yes, it's mostly for the radios
So you "review" antennas and have no idea where it's resonant? So in other words your video wasted many people's time.
A triband antennas for 2 meters, 70 cm, plus 1.25 meters all suck because 220 is not harmonically related look at the Diamond triband.
@hamradio2.0
There is a TH-cam site called Best Pick that is using a picture of you in their thumbnail for their video called The 7 best handheld ham radios in 2023
Ps I use a smiley antenna on my kenwood th-d74