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Reviews For: Decibel (CommScope) DB-411

Category: Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Omnidirectional: verticals, mobile, etc

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Review Summary For : Decibel (CommScope) DB-411
Reviews: 1MSRP: $400 as of January, 2021
Description:
Commercial/industrial UHF 450-470 MHz four-bay folded dipole vertical base station/repeater antenna. Aluminum, 9 1/2 feet tall, 25 pounds (with clamps). Broadband, works well in the 440-450 MHz range with no degradation in performance. Offset pattern, giving 9 dBd of gain in the forward direction, 6 dBd off the sides, 3 dBd off the back "45" and 0 dBd out the back. Highly suitable for high power duplex use (repeater operation).
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.commscope.com/product-type/antennas/base-station-antennas-equipment/base-station-antennas/itemdb411-b/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0015
N4DBM Rating: 2021-02-20
Excellent durability Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I added this product in order to promote commercial/industrial quality antennas for high performance repeater use. CommScope, formerly known as Andrew and Decibel Products, continues to make the folded dipole array antennas for VHF and UHF just as they were designed decades ago. The time-proven construction is well known among commercial operators all over the U.S.

The DB-411 antenna consists of four folded dipoles all in a line which gives an offset pattern. Unlike a yagi, which has a narrow directional pattern with sharp nulls on each side, the offset pattern of the DB-411 gives good performance all-around with with extra gain in the intended direction. 9 dBd of gain is achieved out the front, 6 dBd off the sides, 3 dBd on the "back 45" and 0 dBd (equivalent to a dipole) out the back.

The antenna is suited for high power repeater use under full duplex conditions. It is made of 1.75" hardened aluminum with a static cap on the top. It is virtually immune to lightning, and all elements operate at a DC ground. Although it is made for 450-470 MHz, it works perfectly with no modifications in the 440-450 MHz range (I am actually using the same antenna at 438 MHz with no degradation in signal quality). The antenna can be mounted at the top or side of a tower. When side mounted, radiation patterns will differ. See the web site for details.

Decibel products used to make a DB-413, which is twice a DB-411 with 12 dBd gain. That's been discontinued. The 3 dB reduction in gain by using the DB-411 instead is well worth losing all the extra weight and wind load of the DB-413.

Overall, I give this antenna a 5 star rating and the list price is fair considering what you're getting.