Amateur radio
18-inch Dual-Band Magnetic Mobile Antenna (VHF/UHF, SMA-F)
Product description
What you get: one 18-inch dual-band VHF/UHF mobile antenna, a 10 ft RG58 coaxial cable finished with an SMA-female connector, and a magnetic mount base.
Mount and size details: the magnetic base measures 2.95 inches and uses a strong rare-earth magnet for quick placement on a vehicle roof or other ferrous surface. The whip is approximately 18 inches long, designed as a mag-mount quarter-wave on VHF and a half/quarter configuration on UHF for dual-band operation.
Electrical performance: covers 137–149 MHz and 437–480 MHz. Typical VSWR figures are below 1.4 at 145 MHz and below 1.2 at 455 MHz. Reported gain is around 2 dBi on VHF and 3 dBi on UHF; the pattern is omni-directional for general mobile coverage.
Construction and durability: the radiator is stainless steel with weatherproof sealing, and the supplied RG58 cable is a heavy-duty type intended for mobile use. Materials are chosen to resist freezing and moisture. The product comes with a two-year replacement warranty against manufacturing defects.
Usage: intended for temporary or mobile mounting on vehicles or other metal surfaces. Installation is tool-free—set the magnet base, run the coax, and connect the SMA-female to a handheld or mobile transceiver. Some users adjust the whip length for best match on specific frequencies.
Pros
- Strong rare-earth magnetic base for quick mounting
- Covers both VHF and UHF amateur ranges with low VSWR
- Stainless, weather-resistant construction and heavy-duty RG58
Cons
- Fixed 10 ft cable may be short for some installs
- Magnet hold can be marginal on very rough roads
- Occasional reports of early failure and warranty contact difficulty
VerdictA straightforward, ready-to-fit mag-mount whip for vehicle or temporary mobile use. The 18" stainless steel radiator, robust rare-earth magnetic base and 10 ft RG58 lead make it convenient to mount and connect directly to handhelds or mobile rigs. Performance is reasonable for a whip: low VSWR around the ham and UHF bands listed, modest gain, and omni-directional coverage. Build quality and weathe
Reviews
-
Tom Horton 4/5
Does the job
Simple and effective. Works great for my needs.
-
Ryan Adkins 5/5
Handy in a pinch
Would prefer a longer cable and a slightly bigger magnet for rough roads, but it installs fast and gives excellent signal for the price.
-
J. Hawaii 5/5
Perfect as a parking locator ornament
I used it as a decorative globe on the car to spot the vehicle in parking lots. The magnet is very strong; I threaded the cable through a trunk hinge and it clears when closing.
-
Jeremy wagner 5/5
Reliable on the highway
Solid antenna that stays mounted at highway speeds and provides good reception while driving.
-
Gary DeBro 1/5
Failed after a few months
Stopped working completely after limited use. No receive or transmit; it was stored indoors between uses. Frustratingly, warranty contact was unclear and not helpful.
-
Bill D. 5/5
Solid performance across town
Arrived intact with a stiff, durable coax. Measured a bit longer than listed which was fine. Mounting to the roof and plugging an SMA to my HT let me reach the local repeater across the metro with clear 5-9 reports.
-
Glen Howard 5/5
Well built and strong magnet
Impressed with the manufacturing quality. It performed well through freezing conditions and the magnet grip is excellent. Very satisfied.
-
paulSWIdaho 5/5
Good 2m performance; needed a tweak for GMRS
This mag-mount acts as a 1/4-wave on 2m with a center coil to shorten the whip; it performs well on the 2m ham band. As shipped it sat a bit low for GMRS/upper-UHF so I made a minor adjustment and it tuned up. Expect modest gain—whips don’t give big increases without tradeoffs in bandwidth.
-
Jon Preston 5/5
Sturdy and roadworthy
After road testing it holds at over 70 mph and works well with my handheld to reach repeaters up to ~40 miles. Magnet stronger than expected and the removable radial is handy.
Comments
No comments yet.
Sign in or sign up to comment.