GRA-YG1443 2M/70CM 800W Square Horizontal Directional Loop Base Antenna, 140~150/400~470MHz, SO239 GABIL

The GRA-YG1443 dual band horizontal antenna is a very simple antenna that, once aligned and properly installed, seems to work pretty damn well for what it is and how much it cost. However, it's important to remember that setting up an antenna requires the right alignment tools and a fair amount of antenna knowledgeAlignment is the one thing that will throw people off quick enough. If you're going to get this antenna, get a NanoVNA to go with it. And brush up on your antenna theory. Using a VNA allows you to see where the antenna is resonant out of the box and also gives you some idea of how to adjust the 2m gamma match. (The 70cm gamma appears to be set pretty much square on out of the box.) I was able to get 2m SWR down to 1.2 @ ~50Ω Z. SWR/Z at 70cm was about 1.5/~52Ω.Once you get the physical dimensions of the 2m element balanced and the gamma slider adjusted to the band space you want, this antenna will serve very nicely for general 2m and 70cm SSB contacts. I have mine set up in the attic -- of all improper places -- and have had FT8 QSOs from Ohio to the Caribbean, Pennsylvania and western Canada running 10W on an IC-705. Once I figure out how to hoist is a bit higher in the air and into some free space, I'm sure it will perform better.In all this is a very simple, easy to set up, perfectly functional antenna. It might even make a decent 2m/70cm SSB antenna for POTA or SOTA operations, given its small size and easy assembly. In fact, I might just get another one to try that out. -- 73 de W8IJN

The SWR on 2 meters and 70cm did not go below 2.0. very border line.

This is an unusual looking antenna, but it worked marvelously right 'out of the box.' I had a quarter wave vertical on 2 metre's that I used to access a weak repeater. I thought I try this instead. The horizonal polarization didn't seem to matter, and the SWR of 1.2 to 1 at 146MHz was great....now the repeater signal is much better than on my Micky Mouse vertical despite that possible polarization differences

Have already returned the antenna because:1.)Poor quality construction, mainly on the shorting bars. The holes are about 1/16" to 1/8" larger than the tubing it goes over. There is no support except the small screw, makes it difficult to keep the shorting bar square, when tightening the screw the bar can shift off by around 1/4" from the phase tube and the radiating element making it hard to tune.2.)The instructions that came with antenna are poor and as I found out on the manufacture web site missing vary important setup/tuning information. The PDF file on the web site for the antenna shows the measurement for the shorting bars during setup (this was not on the enclosed copy), this shown on the antenna diagram (even this PDF has errors, it shows the frequencies this antenna is for as 220MHZ-440MHZ).3.)If you are having trouble getting the 2M down to at least 1.5:1 then look at the phasing tube with the white plastic tip. On the antenna I received, the aluminum tube would not go all the way across the inner radiating coax. The problem was the coax hit the white plastic so it could not go any further--pull the white plastic tip out until until you can slide the aluminum tube completely over the inner coax.4.)For antenna experts--look at the U-bolt for the support pole. To me it should be reversed because it leaves the threaded metal within two inches of the 440MHZ radiator, seems like there could be a coupling effect.5.)This antenna is deaf. I compared it to a Hustler mag-mount 2M mobile antenna (sitting on a metal book shelf) about 5' apart. Listing to a 2M SSB NET the Hustler would give S5 signals on the radio while there was nothing heard on the GRA-YG1443.

This antenna is nice but following the instructions, I found that it was tuned for the FM portion of both bands. I bought it to use on the sideband portions. The SWR was sky high on each, so after 2 days of adjusting and teaking, I finally got the SWR down to a suitable level.

So far so good! Easy to set up and tune!

Very solid construction, but no instructions for tuning. Good luck with that!

The gain figure is not referenced to either a dipole or an isotropic radiator. This means that the gain figurecannot be relied upon.This antenna appears to be a DIPOLE folded around so its ends come close to each other. The feed point appears to be a Gamma match. Gammas are not broad-banded and must be tuned to the frequency of operation.A directional antenna would have more than one element.The antenna appears to be solidly built.Since the 440MHz Amateur Band is the third harmonic of the 144MHz amateur Band the antenna may operate on both using just the 144MHz element. If this is done the 144MHz element should be tuneda little lower in frequency than actually desired. This would make the VSWR a little high on 144 but theVSWR on 440 would be much more acceptable.

Der dipol ist zu lang und daher schwing die antenne bei 135MHz. Anhand dem Verschieben von dem Kurtzsschluss ist es naeher zu dem 144-146MHz zu schieben wird aber nicht besser wie 1:2Ob wirklich die 800W gehlaten werden konnte nicht ueberprueft werden da die antenne wieder zuruck geht. Leider mangelnde fertigung toleranz.