Nagoya UT-72 dual-band mobile antenna SWR test

[@SK-rj1ti]

I have the GMRS/MURS version of this antenna. The way I understand it, it is not intended to compete with well-tuned big antennas. I think of it as a reasonably good antenna that you can quickly mount on the roof of your car, connect it to your HT, and it will improve your HT's performance relative to a rubber duck inside the car. For example, when talking to your friends while caravanning. The antenna is pretty stylish and unnoticeable, especially when people walk around with their eyes glued to their phones.

[@Soladaddy]

Rather spot on. It's a HT antenna upgrade that has a wide frequency footprint.

[@photolabguy]

I have this same antenna. I absolutely love it. I don't have a SWR meter, so it's nice to see those results.

[@Soladaddy]

It's a nice little SUV of mobile antennas.

[@Jimbo_Conn]

i just got one. what does 1:5:1 ratio mean and how do i find that out without a meter. is it safe for my HT? im brand new btw, you can probably tell. any input is appreciated thank you .

[@David-bg3ct]

@@Jimbo_Conn It's safe but you want a low SWR reading. The lower the better because it sends more signal to the Antenna.

[@TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

One of the best Antennas I've ever owned. Got the same numbers with mine

[@kingduckford]

I would be highly suspicious of these numbers. Flat 1:1 SWR throughout the band is usually indicative of meter fault or other trouble, not of a "perfect" antenna. Notice how the "power out" numbers change in the band, yet the reflected power always reads zero? Something might not be adding up.

[@Soladaddy]

It matches the numbers Nagoya claims, but yeah, I wonder how they make it that broad. I suspect performance took a hit. The Comet CA-2x4SR is another broad-band dual-band, but it performs rather well.

[@SlyGuy2000]

I love that antenna, use it for gmrs on the trunklid of my 2011 Corolla S. Works nicely, extremely better than the quarter wave rubber ducky on the HT

[@Soladaddy]

Definitely an upgrade over a stock HT antenna.

[@SumOneSomewhere]

Bought this antenna with an anytone mobile radio so I can start weather spotting with some of the guys at the radio club. I went with this combo because this is probably the only times I’d ever use it. Hopefully it does ok

[@HIBAW]

I literally ordered this about twenty minutes ago. Then found your video. Nice timing :) It was helpful.

[@colecole3352]

I did also. Except when I got it. It worked no better than the antenna I already had.

[@Maverick-g7o]

I ordered this today and just found this video tonight so I’m happy and I can’t wait until Wednesday when it arrives. I’m so excited.

[@ken-NC]

I ordered one also. Should be here today. My F150 has an aluminum body so I had to order an adhesive metal pad for the magnetic mount to attach :-) Good video! Thanks.

[@Soladaddy]

The new Ford truck bodies are creating a hurdle for radio. Thanks for watching.

[@adlucem9845]

Have UT-72 for 6 months. Picked up used Diamond MR-77 for $12. Diamond blows it away.

[@Soladaddy]

I bet. Nagoya started off by making clones of Diamond antennas. They copied the model numbers, packaging, font, colors and style. Have a 20+ year old Diamond X-200A still in operation.

[@v0n1b0]

Link to "$12" MR-77?

[@NaturesChild]

I just returned one today. 70 cm was just ok with SWR ranging from 1.36 to 1.41 and 42.7 ohms to 49.5 ohms. 2 meters was crap with SWR ranging from 3.2 to 2.67 and 35.4 ohms to 21.3 ohms, geez. I used a NanoVNA. Do not believe your SWR readings. It makes a good antenna for listening to trains though haha, I saw 161MHz with SWR 1.13 at 56.7 ohms to 167.9MHz with SWR 1.12 at 54.4 ohms. But I don't listen to trains!

[@Soladaddy]

I ended up giving it to a new ham who ran it through a car wash so it's no longer in operation.

[@mararevalo9491]

Its hard to find that kind here in the Philippines, hoping to have one. Thanks for the review

[@Soladaddy]

There's other options like the Tram 1181, needs an NMO mount. amzn.to/3EmnSs3. There are many antennas that can cover 450-470Mhz.

[@donnakano282]

Interesting about the SWR, but a 50 Ohm resistor also has a wideband flat SWR. The SWR did not appear to follow a typical curve.

[@Soladaddy]

lol, this is true. I may need to try a performance test at some point

[@donnakano282]

The best would be a hemispherical field strength measurement, but even when I had access to a service monitor I couldn’t make that measurement.

[@Soladaddy]

Not that kind of test. I only have a couple of power/SWR meters. It would be a generic comparison using the ear meter.

[@martyisabeliever]

Thanks man!

[@AncestorTheUnstoppable]

I've bought the same antenna to pair with Baofeng UV5R, but the radio stays silent. What could be the issue? Any solution will be appreciated.

[@Soladaddy]

Do the radios work with the stock antennas?

[@SecretMan299]

good day,... most of my family i let them used WLAN which most of the freq. is 450.000,... my concern in my bravo mobile is it ok to used a nagoya UT-72 or should i get the nagoya UT-72G, aslo in my country the nagoya UT-72 is available and the UT72G is not... what would be your advise. thanks

[@Soladaddy]

If using 450 MHz the UT-72 might be better suited over the UT-72G. If its only using 450 MHz, there are better antennas like the Browning BR-450. Its taller and needs a cable/mount, but will have better transmit and receive. amzn.to/3OM2eCk

[@jamescopeland5358]

Great information

[@ivanmendoza2704]

can it be hooked up to a Baofeng BF-F8HP directly?

[@Soladaddy]

Mine came with an adaptor that allows HTs with a male SMA jack (what Baofeng uses) to connect.

[@jerrymoutelik619]

I suggest you try a different SWR Meter. This one is showing total impossibility!

[@Soladaddy]

I sold this antenna so can no longer test, but the meter can show a high SWR when present like 50:1 here kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWrOfal-n6xoqc0

[@eijentwun5509]

@@Soladaddy Why did you sell it?

[@eijentwun5509]

User: Notarubicon here on KZbin compared it in a real world test to other GMRS antenna's and it performed the Best.... so I dunno.

[@FoxtrotGear]

Can you use this antenna without the magnetic mount? I have a CB radio antenna on my truck mirror. I like to reuse the truck mount with this antenna but wasn't sure what it can screw to.

[@Soladaddy]

It has a non-standard threaded base and from what I recall it was smaller than what CB normally uses, the 3/8" x 24. For GMRS I'd use a NMO mount because there's many antenna and mount options.

[@eijentwun5509]

Don't You Mean the Nagoya UT-72-G

[@Soladaddy]

This one is a plain UT-72.

[@2023Red]

Will this antenna provide acceptable transmit and receive inside the van itelf? Or inside the garage? I am thinking about getting one for my GRMS. Thanks.

[@Soladaddy]

In short, no. This antenna needs to be connected to metal to complete the antenna system. Ideally, flat metal with 7 or more inches of metal in all directions. Also, a vehicle's metal will block RF so having it inside will hinder the performance. Outside would be much better. If the antenna is too tall, I'd opt for a small antenna outside vs larger inside. For GMRS antennas can get small. I just finished trimming a 5/8 (video coming soon) and its 14" tall. A 1/4 wave can be 6-7" tall.

[@sumbigch]

This antenna has a tiny wire running through the "spring". That tiny wire is all that connects the threaded part to the straight antenna at the top. If you take a multimeter and test the continuity between the top and the female threads while wiggling/bending that spring you will see it's junk. The wire I'm talking about is shrouded by that "loading coil" lmao. When the spring bends it loses connection as it's not actually connected. That little wire makes contact and as we all know brass oxidizes... Worthless antenna in my opinion. I own one and don't trust 5w on this let alone 50. *This has nothing to do with the base or the 90 it screws onto. I am referring to the actual antenna here. To test this I removed the cap, scratched of a little paint since it's under cap and put one lead on that bare metal, one lead in the threads. Got the continuity tone without flexing or bending, as soon as I started to flex... No bueno. You really have to look to see but inside that spring is a tiny tiny wire with a flat loop shape that makes contact with the antenna. No solder just loose wire that jams against the antenna. It makes no sense that the bare clean threads aren't actually attached to the spring which would then be connected to the straight antenna via some weld or braze...

[@Soladaddy]

Interesting find. Almost wish I still had it to inspect. Ended up giving it to a new ham who ran it through a car wash a week later, so it had a short life.

[@akblair3862]

Nice test. We’re the upper numbers on your meter the watts out ?

[@Soladaddy]

Yes, the top is power out, lower right SWR and lower left is reflected power.

[@teo2975]

Not bad on basic tests for $23, flimsy. Dont forget to put it on camelcamelcamel so you can get it on decreases in price. as it has a "superloading coil" (lol) Id like to see it without ground plane

[@Soladaddy]

Thanks for the tip. Since its a 1/4 and 5/8 wave element, it will need a ground plane.

[@benwright7337]

I bought this Nagoya UT-72 a few days ago. My Nagoya 771 seems to have better performance with my BF-F8HP. Not sure what the problem is. Any suggestions? I mounted dead center on top of my vehicle.

[@Soladaddy]

Make sure the cables connections are tight. The SO to SMA adapter that comes with it could be of better quality so double check it's connectors. Performance wise it's not much more than the 771 if its outside and at the same height. It should be much better compared to the 771 inside the vehicle. Which frequencies?

[@benwright7337]

@@Soladaddy The adapter it came with might be trash. Ive tried FRS, 2M, 70CM. Performance is lacking compared to the 771. Im going to put an SWR meter on it and see what it reads.'

[@benwright7337]

@@Soladaddy I bought it for the purpose of using in the vehicle. But, Ive noticed that the baofeng doesnt TX/RX well when in motion. Might be a waste of money.

[@Soladaddy]

@@benwright7337 They do not have the best receivers, guess that helps explain the low prices. I use adaptors with RG-58 because the RG-316, 174 and other small stuff seem too fragile.

[@benwright7337]

@@Soladaddy I ordered a non pigtail SMA adapter. Will see if it makes a difference.

[@SuAmigoElilegal]

Hey have u heard about rt97 portable repeater or have any advice on making a home portable repeater

[@Soladaddy]

I have seen the RT97 and it looks nice. I made a simplex repeater and its fun to use and can be a testing assistant. I chose the Argent Data Systems ADS-SR1 because it has some nice features. It does need another radio with a DTMF keypad (like the Btech V-1) to access those features. I may post something soon about the setup.

[@SuAmigoElilegal]

@@Soladaddy one fina question Witch antenna needs to be the highest when u don't have the douplxer . The Rx or Tx antenna

[@Soladaddy]

@@SuAmigoElilegal I have not used such a setup, but from what I have seen, the receive is usually placed higher. Will help the transmitter have a cleaner signal to send back out.

[@nypigskin]

Does it have to be attached to metal?

[@Soladaddy]

To work well, yes, it needs to be connected to metal. This type of antenna is only half of the antenna and needs some metal attached to complete the antenna. For UHF it needs a good 6" of metal in all directions from the magnet. For VHF it needs 19" to complete the antenna as designed.

[@ferny107fg]

Swr to perfect, Dummy load?

[@Soladaddy]

Well being broadband has a price.

[@tomstrum6259]

Something bad with your SWR meter.....This antenna is < 2 : 1 SWR but Not 1.1 : 1 as you measured.....Try another meter or use a VNA & report follow up measurements..

[@Soladaddy]

I sold the antenna to a new ham who ran it through a car wash so there won't be any re-measurements.

[@marvinhanson6942]

Magnetic mount dummy load.

[@Soladaddy]

LOL.