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Dodgy knock off 2m / 70 cm / PMR 446 antenna for Baofeng

So It looks like I too have been caught out with the wave of dodgy knock off Antennas for my Baofeng UV5 RC antenna. On YT and only the respected Miklor site that are numerous articles and videos of people trying to distinguish between the Genuine stuff and the fakes.

Often its the ubiquitous Nagoya NA-771 Antenna that is the commonest dodgy twig, but after searching for hours and not find any definitive way of spotting the knock offs I’m taking the advice from the various radio forums and not buying any more antenna off eBay, and even some Amazon suppliers have been of concern.

Its almost impossible to check out good from bad because for example even Nagoya keeps changing its packaging. Even the odd dealer has been caught out with knock offs from the Chinese suppliers.

One Nagoya “tell” for the NA-771 SMA Female antenna is the genuine stuff is supplied with a spare spacer, neither of mine had spacers. Genuine antenna produce an VSWR of 1.5 to 2 on these multi band antenna, but many of the knocks offs VSWR is 10 and looking around I see similar concerns over knock off Watsons and Diamond Antenna as well as Nagoya which raises the issue of not wrecking our radios and getting the best possible efficiency from our limited comms.

One possible option has been suggested on the Charlie Tango site, It is to buy British, A company in Wales (I think) manufacturers antenna they even offer a bespoke service for specific bands and frequencies. They are called Sandpiper and as far as I can tell they produce good quality antenna in the UK and there are no knock offs. Looking at their website they list this antenna which should be an ideal upgrade for our UV5s. Its £14.95 inc VAT.

Unless you lot know better???

2 comments to Dodgy knock off 2m / 70 cm / PMR 446 antenna for Baofeng

  • Ysbryd

    I think the guy who builds antennas is based just outside Builth wells in Powys, he does mail order.
    I’ll try to find out a little more if I can.

  • Ysbryd

    Different firm to the link in your post, I’ll look into it.