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Reviews For: Opek HR-16 VHF HT Antenna (BNC)

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

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Review Summary For : Opek HR-16 VHF HT Antenna (BNC)
Reviews: 2MSRP: $16
Description:
VHF Antenna for Handheld radios with a BNC Connector. Measures 12" Reportedly 5/8 Wave electrically.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.opektech.com/RubberDuckAntennas.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0024
W4MPT Rating: 2011-08-23
Good enough Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Picked up on Ebay very inexpensively as the Workman W-144-12. Not a bad antenna. Very flexible. It is a very loaded whip, the wire coiling is very tight. Being a 5/8 wave (supposedly) I'm sure a TigerTail would greatly improve the performance of this antenna.

There is also a Workman W-220-10, which is for the 220 band. It is very similar in construction and performance. I have not seen an Opek equivalent.
KD8DVR Rating: 2009-01-16
Decent antenns for the price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this antenna on Ebay for $14. I wanted performance to exceed the stock antenna on my new Icom IC-V82. It is advertised as a 5/8 wave. Being 12 inches, it must be loaded as a 5/8 wave.

Based on experience with a telescoping 5/8 wave I can say the performance is NOT comparable.

This antenna *does* outperform a stock "rubber duck". It will get you where you couldn't go with the stock antenna, and moderately improve "iffy" communications.

I have not seen this product available in stores, so the Ebay route is all there is now. You cannot buy from the manufacturer, unless you buy in quantity.

This not the best handheld antenna on the market.

It is however the best antenna for its size and cost. It is relatively short, yet, still preforms.

I recommend it for someone who wants performance over a stock "duck" but does not want the excessive length of a full performance antenna.