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Reviews For: Decibel Products DB-408 8 bay

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

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Review Summary For : Decibel Products DB-408 8 bay
Reviews: 2MSRP: $500 new used $200
Description:
Folded dipole 8 bay Repeater Antenna
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.wiscointl.com/decibel/dipoles/db408.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0025
N4DBM Rating: 2010-01-31
Excellent Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Decibel is a commercial antenna manufacturer for land/mobile communications. The DB-408 gives 6.6 dBd (true dB over a dipole antenna) omni coverage. It is 10 feet tall and constructed of heavy wall 1.5" tubing. The elements are constructed of aluminum and stainless steel as well. Use this antenna for serious, long-term repeater or base operation. As mentioned in the previous review, the 450-470 model is most common and works very well in the ham band down to 442 MHz, with slightly higher reflected power down below 442 (no worse than about 1.7:1 down to 440).. Decibel custom makes a ham modem (440-450) or at least did several years ago, but the performance is very little in difference than the 450-470. Decibel also makes a 16 element antenna (DB-420) with 9.2 dB but is much heavier and over 18 feet tall. I have used the DB-408 8-bay antenna on several repeaters, and have had great, long-lasting success. Being that many commercial/public safety repeaters have been switched out to 800 MHz, you can probably find used DB-408 and DB-420 antennas on towers that aren't being used anymore.
KC9GMH Rating: 2009-11-24
Great antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use this antenna for my 440 repeater on 442.375 and i put 40 watts to it and get a swr of 1.3 not bad for a antenna that is made for 450-470. I get great range (20 mile) for only being up 57 feet.
kc9gmh15@yahoo.com