CB handhelds, why so expensive.

[lambrettadave]

If you bought it from a shop why not drop them a email stating the facts.
I doubt they will exchange it but at least you whether it's right or wrong

[scanhermit]

I got it from Thunderpole over a year ago. I may email them - I'm not bothered about a refund but they might want to know for their own good.

It's possible that the wrong tactical got slipped in the wrong packaging at the factory and it's just me that's ended up with it, or it may have been, and may still be, a problem.

Mind, I did submit a review that, using actual test results to other breakers and my scanner at home, described it as inferior to the stock antenna. They never published it so I don't know if they welcome any constructive criticism.

[scanhermit]

Before I shot my mouth off, I decided to retest. This time I tied a counterpoise to the BNC connector and held the antenna by the connector. I did it outside to lessen the chance of anything electronic skewing the result. I tested the other antennas too. Results:

Antenna. Freq. SWR. Ohms
Stock antenna: 26.9 1.15 54
Abree rub duck: 27.7 1.23 40
Telescopic: 27.0 1.23 40
Tactical: 32.5. 1.03 51

The tactical was 8.5:1 SWR on 27.7mhz. It's not as drastic as I thought yesterday but still way outside 11m usage, with the caveat that the test was not on even a makeshift handheld substitute. However, I think the results for the other antennas suggest that it's a reasonably accurate test.

[lambrettadave]

If you are getting right results with other twigs then I would be only using the tactical one for decoration or selling it

[scanhermit]

I've cut it open to see how it's made

I also sent an email to Thunderpole sales. I was even-handed, saying that there are those who do report an improvement over the stock antenna but there are enough reports to the contrary to question the manufacturing consistency. One chap who Nano'd it also reported resonance in the 30mhz range.

We'll see if they respond.

[lambrettadave]

Good, it's pointless selling the wrong antenna especially if it's been made for some other set

[scanhermit]

I would hope that they'd batch test the tacticals. Anyway, I'll see if I hear from them.

[lambrettadave]

To think I nearly bought one.
Have to be truthful I have bought very little from thunderpole, year's ago I bought a skiptech hs2000 handheld that had legally been changed to a 40 FM cept handheld and recently I got a case for the intek H520 handheld but that is it

[scanhermit]

Their radios appear to be decent. Possibly best to buy through Knights cos they check and tune stuff that leaves the shop.

[lambrettadave]

There's plenty of folks who are buying the thunderpole TX which is keeping used prices firm and giving the old midland 42 a run for it's money.
Just before the millennium the maycom ah27 was one of the best sets to get and now rarely turns up for sale

[scanhermit]

I thinking I just need to find a way to fix the TX to the dashboard and find a good speaker mic (others say the Thunderpole one degrades my audio) and get another battery and/or the car kit. It's a perfectly good radio.