GME FIBERGLASS ANTENNA bad range.

[buster0z Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close buster0z]

Hi,

just installed gme tx3500 with AE4702 antenna and i cant seem to get any range that is not line of sight any ideas?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Did you solder the connections on both ends of the arial cable?

Cheers Andrew

[Fabes Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fabes]

Ensure you have installed as per attached. I didn't do step 5, once I did it was fine.

http://www.gme.net.au/public/pdf/bro...structions.pdf

[jss Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close jss]

If you have removed too much insulation from the outside braid (at antenna end) this will interfere with transmitting and can/will blow the module in the unit with repeated use. This module isn't covered by warranty either because they're so easy to kill by hooking up the antanna incorrectly. If you've already killed the module they're about $160 to fix.
If it's not that then i've got no idea what else it could be as i'm only repeating some info i was given in a conversation 2 days ago by a uhf installer/repairer i know.

Cheers
James

[buster0z Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close buster0z]

Did you solder the connections on both ends of the arial cable?

Cheers Andrew

I only soldered the end at the unit as when i bought the antenna the antenna end was already joined

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

I have had one of these antennas for 5 years.
Range is pretty ordinary in my opinion.
Just ok for comms between vehicles in a convoy, but thats all I use it for, so it does.

[buster0z Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close buster0z]

I have had one of these antennas for 5 years.
Range is pretty ordinary in my opinion.
Just ok for comms between vehicles in a convoy, but thats all I use it for, so it does.

Im not worried about range over long distance, on the weekend my mate was bogged behind me and i couldnt hear him as i was over a crest

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

UHF really only good for line of sight. Hills, crests will ruin reception, as you have discovered.
My antenna is on the bullbar, and if I have stuff on the roofrack or the caravan behind then lose a lot of reception behind.
Might be better if you put the antenna as high as possible eg on roof rack?

[Yoda Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Yoda]

GME FIBERGLASS ANTENNA bad range

Hi,

just installed gme tx3500 with AE4702 antenna and i cant seem to get any range that is not line of sight any ideas?

Hi,
Such a wonderful thing is radio communications. Where most sellers will use higher gain figurers as a selling point for their antennas there are other factors to consider when buying an antenna. The radiation patten of an antenna is directly related to the gain, although there are other factors such as placement and height above ground etc. But the higher the gain of the antenna, the higher the angle of radiation.
This type of antenna you have looks good mounted on the bull bar, but in reality a small whip antenna of unity up to 3db gain will work better in most cases in the sort of terrain that a lot of 4wding is done.
There are some diagrams that may explain it better on this website. http://www.olbis.com.au/ap_template/subcat_antennas.asp

Hope this helps
Yoda

[buster0z Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close buster0z]

Hi,
Such a wonderful thing is radio communications. Where most sellers will use higher gain figurers as a selling point for their antennas there are other factors to consider when buying an antenna. The radiation patten of an antenna is directly related to the gain, although there are other factors such as placement and height above ground etc. But the higher the gain of the antenna, the higher the angle of radiation.
This type of antenna you have looks good mounted on the bull bar, but in reality a small whip antenna of unity up to 3db gain will work better in most cases in the sort of terrain that a lot of 4wding is done.
There are some diagrams that may explain it better on this website. http://www.olbis.com.au/ap_template/subcat_antennas.asp

Hope this helps
Yoda

Thats interesting, although my mate has one of those small whip antennas 3db gain, and the signal is knowhere near as clear as with my one.

on another note i soldered both ends and works find for what i use it for.