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Justin
2025-08-21 13:18:58
Fits my Bao-feng radio superbly, haven't tried it out yet for reception quality.
Jeffh
2025-08-09 12:07:00
These are one long antenna. I got the two pack. Tested the antenna on a UV-5R and UV-5G Plus. These antennas are almost too much antenna to be placed on the UV-5R when compared to the size of the UV-5R. I am undecided on whether this antenna improved the transmit performance but I do believe the antenna improved the reception performance a little. I can hardly imagine using these antennas in a heavy wind.These antennas are well built and easy to fold. Velcro is included to hold the folded antenna in place. A washer is included to fill the gap between the radio and the base of the antenna.Honestly, I really need more time to test the performance of these antennas. I will update my review after further testing and use.At the time of this review, this 2-pack of Tickboat Radio Antenna 42.5-Inch Foldable antennas were selling for $16.99 making the price per antenna $8.50. These are for sure well built antennas. And with the 42.5-inch length, they should provide plenty of reception and transmit performance.
Starthru
2025-06-16 19:58:53
When using an HT, the longer the antenna, the better the reception in most cases. We have several Baofeng HTs and use them in support of local sporting events like triathalons and half marathons. Often, we are stationed in a location where signal is less than optimal, and adding on these LONG (really are as long as advertized!) antenna instead of the "duck" they come with greatly improves both what we can hear from "net control" it sems to improve the signal output as well.
Debra Brinkman
2025-05-23 18:28:21
The antennas came shipped in vinyl sleeves with clear fronts. Included were a screw on balun and a teflon (at least I think it’s teflon) washer that fits around the SMA connector. The washer fills the gap left on a Baofeng or similar radio when the threads bottom out. The balun has a female SMA connection on one end and a 1/4†threaded brass hole in the other. The threaded hole mates up to a stainless steel stud on the antenna proper.The antenna itself is about 39.37 inches from the top of the balun to the tip. This is what makes it useful for the 2 meter band (1/2 wavelength), but I also found it to be effective on the 70cm band as well. On both bands I was able to trip the repeaters which are part of the statewide repeater network and are nearly 40 miles away.The general design of the antenna is nearly identical to the old “bush-whip†antennas we used in the Army for the old PRC77 radios. The metal core is like two tape measures stuck together top to top, which is what allows it to be folded and spring back into shape for use. The antenna included a velcro strap for holding it in its folded state, ready for deployment in seconds. This core has a rubberized coating which does a great job at both insulating and protection, as does the thick rubber tip.All-in-all, I really like this antenna and look forward to using it on the next field day.
OtakuN3rd
2025-04-04 09:11:28
I got the 2-pack of 42" antennas and tested them with my Quansheng UV-K5.On that radio, I was rather disappointed. These antennas were outperformed by a NA-771 antenna on my Retevis RA-89 radio, at least on receive.There is a noticeable improvement over the stock rubber duck, some stations that could not be heard came in with a lot of static - but a killer antenna on a cheap HT does not make a better HT with a mid-tier antenna.Checking the SWR with the antenna attached to a mag mount shows a nice dip on the bottom end of the 2-meter ham radio band, but under 2:1 for the whole band. These antennas don't claim to be for UHF so I did not test that. Of course, with an HT this can vary widely.Overall, I find these to be fun "meme" antennas. They will not take your $20 Chinese HT and make it perform like a $60 one, but do offer an improvement over the stock antenna - albeit at an unwieldy length. My better HTs have different antenna connectors than these, so I did not test with them.If you are on a tight budget and buying for the first time, I would suggest purchasing a better radio and using its stock antenna over buying a cheaper radio and adding one of these to it. If you already have a cheap radio and want these to play around with, by all means, they are hilarious to whip out at club events to get people's attention.
Aaron
2025-03-28 16:27:35
This antenna does not disappoint, when it tells you that it is a 3 and a half foot they mean it. The antenna installed easily and quickly on to my Baofeng M-5r and seems to work quite well, I did not get to do any extreme range testing, but I am sure it will perform quite well, this is eons better than the stock unit and I am glad I purchased it. Antenna is exactly as described and installs to radios with the correct input.
David
2025-01-29 13:07:05
This two-pack of 42-inch antennas really improved reception on my handheld radio. Quality is adequate, though they are slightly under the apparent quality of one of the major brands of antenna. No branding is stamped on the barrel, although it does display "135 MHz-520MHz 12011-2710-01 8W". You can use the antenna folded, but fully extended to its 42.5 inches gives the best performance. I was able to clearly hear transmissions that were extremely "static-y" while using the stock antenna or an 18-inch antenna. Each antenna comes with a hard washer to use if there is a gap after screwing it onto the radio. This is a good product and a good value.
Cashmj
2025-01-12 10:39:21
I was truly shocked what a difference this made on my HT. I have tried it on all of my HT's with an amazing difference. I now keep in on my Anytone 878uvii plus and I hit repeaters that I could not before with the original antenna
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