Antennas

Our range of UHF radio antennas ensure clear communication in any environment

Equip yourself with the right UHF antenna at Repco and know that you can be heard no matter how far off the beaten track. Designed and constructed to be durable and functional, a good UHF antenna will stand up to the harsh environments of snow, outback and tropics to give peace of mind to explore the outer limits. Whether a whip antenna, a short stubby unit or a heavy duty radome antenna, know you are choosing from the best when selecting a UHF antenna at Repco. Repco stock only premium UHF antennas and antenna accessories from GME, Uniden, Oricom and more to ensure you get an antenna that gives you the range and clear communication you need.

Every ultra high frequency (UHF) radio needs an antenna and even the smallest handheld unit will have a stumpy UHF antenna to transmit and receive signals. In-car UHF radios will have their antenna mounted to the outside of the vehicle and can be mounted on the body, front bumper or bull bar. Antennas come in different lengths and are rated in dBi (Decibel relative to isotropic) or commonly called the gain of the antenna. The gain is the amount of power an antenna transmits in one direction compared to an isotropic radiator. Isotropic radiators broadcast signals in all directions at once.

UHF radio antennas that mount externally have mounts that make it easy to change from one antenna to another. The reason for this is UHF is a line of site communication medium. Some antennas work better in built up areas and hilly terrain, others work better on flat terrain. For instance, a 3dBi antenna is shorter and works better in built up and hilly terrain. A 6dBi antenna is a lot longer in length and being taller works well across open flat terrain. It has a greater range than a 3dBi antenna. To better explain there is a diagram below.

In the diagram Vehicle A & B have the shorter 3dBi antennas fitted and vehicles C & D have the taller 6dBi antennas fitted. Vehicles A & B can communicate as their antennas work best in a built-up environment. Same goes for vehicles C and D as it is open terrain and their bigger antennas have a greater range and there are very few obstacles. Vehicle communications between B & C may have been one sided. While B could transmit to C, C's transmissions will be blocked by the hills.

In the diagram Vehicle A & B have the shorter 3dBi antennas fitted and vehicles C & D have the taller 6dBi antennas fitted. Vehicles A & B can communicate as their antennas work best in a built-up environment. Same goes for vehicles C and D as it is open terrain and their bigger antennas have a greater range and there are very few obstacles. Vehicle communications between B & C may have been one sided. While B could transmit to C, C's transmissions will be blocked by the hills.

To effectively communicate C needed to have the right antenna. If they changed to a 3dBi then that would fix it. They could still talk to D provided D was within the shorter range of the 3dBi. This diagram helps explain where to use different UHF antennas though it is not always that cut and dried. Atmospherics where the signal can bounce off clouds, there may be gaps in built up areas or hills, how close you are to the people you are trying to contact can all make a difference.

Whether clocking up the kilometres or just camping off grid, UHF radios are the most convenient way to communicate. The same can be said on work sites or even a day out on the water. Rely on Repco's range of aerials and antennas to complement our quality handheld and in-car UHF units and know you have the safety and security of clear communication.