NEW folding antena for garmin astro

[houndcrazy93]

Hey everyone. I saw the add on this fourm the that new antena by dubble u graphics. And it looks really nice. And is at a good price. But need some more info one it. Does anyone no how much it will actrually increase the range of the garmin. Beacuse right now the most I have track was just under 2miles with the regular antena. But that was just once. I normally get 300- 900 yds in the mountains. So I was wondering how much you guys think it will increase my single already. Thanks everyone for the help

[bayupcrazy]

I dont know about the antenas that they make or sell for them but i have found that your truck antena for your radio works unreal i just got the guys down at the radio place to put a end on that fits the gps and ive the furthest ive had it was damn near 8 miles but would loose it the closer i got to the mountains but would pick back up full at about 2 to 3 miles away and not loose them and i hunt in some pretty rugged country

[houndcrazy93]

So just. Regular radio antenus for a truck?

[ferjr]

thats good to know.

[Steve White]

This is just my opinion. Just wanted to say that up front!!!

The garmin antenna connection is a very fragile thing!!!!!!! Many have been broken and will be broken yet. By just changing antennas!!! The connection is not designed to take the weight of a telescopic antenna. That is why there is a cable for the one they sell. So the weight of the antenna is not carried by the connector. Hear me now, and believe me later. YOU WILL BREAK THE CONNECTOR LIKE THIS. Is the range going to be better than the stock antenna. Yes, of course. So is the portable long range antenna that garmin provide. Exactly the same thing(but tuned), but with a cable connector. So be warned, and don't complain they are junk when they break as a result. Heck, maybe that is why the ebay sales of these antennas fell to almost nothing??


The antenna for the truck he is talking about. Would be best as a 2m tunable antenna. Yes these will out perform the Garmin antennas. They are longer, and some have more gain. The key for best performance is to tune them for the channels being used. A lot of manufaturers provide a cut chart. About 153 would put it in the middle of all the channels. Heck, if you got the room for it, and woods clearance. Diamond makes a 8ft whip with I think 7db of gain. That would be the best option. Although not practical in most hunting scenarios. When I hunt alone I use my diamond m285 that is for my radio. Since unless talking to myself I don't use the radio. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I USE A TRUCK MOUNTED ANTENNA!!! Otherwise I do not take the chance, and well have not burned one up yet. My antenna is tuned for 158 so a bit high for most of the channels, but fine for 30 and above which is where most of mine are.

[houndcrazy93]

Steve. That was some good info. I was wondering if you looked at the antenna I was talking about. And what you think would be better. That antenna or the garmin long range one. Thanks for the help

[bayupcrazy]

I was talking about your cb radio antenna i just leave her pluged into my garmin and put the antena in my day pack and go when i get back to the truck i just put it back up on the truck with the magnit sorry if anyone thought i was talking about just the truck antena but im just a redneck from B.C haha my way would probably blow up the damn thing and it would be nice to what would be the best antena to use to get the maximum range but is sounds like steve knows what he is talking about so listen to him but if your in a pinch your cb radio antena will work even if you have to just hold it there so it stays conected

[jcalder]

dont use a cb antenna on your garmin.it will kill it . you need to use a marine raidio antenna(vhf). cant really go wrong with garmins longe range antenna. I made a holder out of pvc pipe for walking it the bush. only problem I have had is closing the window of the truck on it, my bad .

[Steve White]

OUCH, I hope that you are only using CB as a general or slang term. I suppose ti would work in a pinch. Heck, I used a rool of 12ga trapping wire the other night on the truck radio to listen to the packer game. Really should not kill it since it is not really transmitting most of the time. Still not the best of ideas. CB is 27MHZ AM Band. Marine/Ham/MURS(garmin) is VHF FM band. A coat hanger may work for your tv, but not as good.

Marine antennas will work fine. If it is a non tunable marine antenna it will not perform as well though. They are normally tuned by the factory to the middle of the marine band. Around 157. Still works well in the upper channels 30+, but like my own antenna not as well under that. Reason is they are 151 VS 154. Normally a 5 MHZ swing is best for optimal performance. Withe the center being best. Nice thing about using a marine antenna is they do not require a ground plane. Most other antennas do. Yes they will work without one. Just not as well. A good ground is critical to getting a good SWR. WHcih is more important on the transmit side. If your SWR is high. Then you are getting more power reflected back into the radio than going out. Tearing up the finals in the radio. although this aspect really has little to do with the garmins.

[bayupcrazy]

So what would you reccomend then a marine antena or just buy the one garmin sells. alot of numbers and words i dont undestand hahahaha and it sound like you know your stuff so what would you do thanks

[Steve White]

Bayup, Let me first say I never suggest to any one using a truck mounted antenna of any kind. If you are going to be using a truck radio as well. Since the increased gain,(reception) has been the cause of burning many many units up!!! So with that in mind.

The type of antenna will depend on your application, and room you got for use, and mounting. I mentioned the 8ft whip diamond makes. That would be a great option, but since height is a big factor. Mounting of it may not give you the most height. You get to high and brush becomes a problem. Around here I could not use that whip mounted off the cab of my truck. Which would give it the most height. The ground plane has to be taken into account as well. The best spot for any antenna is in the middle of a vehicle. So everything is balanced. Your best siganl is going to be from the longest part of the ground plane. So mounted off the rear bumper. To the rear will not be as good as to the the front. This is more important again in transmitting, but does have some affect with receive.

I would suggest using a 2M antenna. For several reasons. 1st most are tuneable with a cut chart. A meter is better, but not everyone has one. Next overall they are cheaper. So that when one is broken. A part could be replaced. Most are going to be 3 parts. The antenna. Which could be 2 parts, the base and whip. The mount whcih normally does not break. and the cable which breaks the most! There are many manufacturers out there. Marine antennas which are mostly shakesphere. Are built all together. So when they break they break. There are many manufacturers out there. Larsen, Comet, and Diamond to name a few. I prefer the Diamond M285 antenna which I think has a 5db gain. I use this in the nmo mount style. is you can use a variety of mounts. I prefer to use a right angle mount and bolt it right to my truck next to the exterior cab light. Yes you have to drill a few holes, but it is not going anywhere! You could use a magnet mount as well. I hate them since they are always getting knocked off.

The garmin mag mount is tuned and easy to use without doing any work. There are similar options though with a 2m antenna. Some are tuneable some are not, but they are about half the price. If they can be tuned they are just fine, but need work. If they cannot be tuned then the Gamrin antenna will perform better!

What you use will depend on your application. I can tell you this. When I need range I use the portable long range antenna. Yea, I may have to open a window, or get out of the truck. Really not that big of a deal. Heck once in awhile I may even stand on top of the dog box. Not very often though.

[cat and bear]

Steve some great information. As for my truck, i run a maxrad, in front of the drivers mirror, an L bracket which is a non grounding antenna, you dont need a plane, I never noticed any difference in distance from roof mounts, except i can pull in my garage without bending the dang thing all the time. LOL, so my question would be this, in theory, the non plane antenna will work with the garmin, like theirs except it wouldnt telescope correct? Any antenna I owned which telescoped I usually had bent in a few weeks So this would be one piece, of course cut the the frequency of garmin. Would you happen to know the DB gain of the garmin telescoping?
Ron

[Steve White]

Ron, although you are comparing 2 different antennas there. The answer would still be yes. The telescopic garmin antenna is handheld. The mount you are using is the same as what I use. Just different location. Mine actually came with u bolts to mount to a mirror. There are a lot of Maxrad antennas in our area for some reason, and actually by mounting it to the mirror you are grounding it.

As for the gain on the garmin antennas I have no idea. Have asked them several times and nobody seems to know. Antennas of that type are normally 2.5-3.5 though.