Types Of 2 way Radio Antennas

An antenna is essentially the most crucial element of a two way radio and other transmitting application such as cell phones, television, radar, or satellite communication. It is responsible for performing the most important task - converting electric power to transmittable radio waves and the other way round.

How an Antenna Works

To transmit a signal, the transmitter provides an electric charge that oscillates at a specific radio frequency to the terminals of the antenna. Consequently, the antenna sends out corresponding electromagnetic waves. During reception, the antenna takes some of the power of the transmitted electromagnetic waves to generate an extremely small voltage for the terminals, which is then redirected to a receiver that amplifies the signals. This is basically how an antenna works.

Extensive Applications

The applications supported by an antenna go beyond communication. The same concept powers today's high tech wireless applications that run computer networks; Bluetooth enabled systems, garage door openers, and baby monitors. It's important to know that a perfectly functioning antenna is not only critical to the functioning of your two way radio; it also helps maintain the life or longevity of your equipment.



The Bigger, The Better

The first and most important rule of thumb about an antenna to keep in mind is that the taller it is, the higher your db gain. A high volume of db gain is critical to achieving a stronger reach and better performance of your two way radio equipment. This basically translates to, "the bigger, the better." However, in order to achieve results in practical situations, the antenna can have only so much height. In essence you have to sacrifice convenience for performance or vice versa. You can't walk around or even install a gigantic antenna for all your needs, say for example your car radio.

Positioning of Antenna

The second rule of thumb pertains to the positioning of your antenna. The most optimal position for then antenna would be the centre of your metal car roof. In situations where this is not possible, you would need a "no ground plane" antenna. A no ground plane is basically just a metal surface that goes around the base of your antenna so that you have something for the radiating signal to react with. The next aspect you need to consider for your antenna is the frequencies at which you would be transmitting on. A VHF radio transmits and receives in a range from 136 to 174 MHz.

Chubby and Long Antennas

There are different kinds of two radio antennas available depending on how you want to use it. The large stock antenna is powerful and can be replaced or upgraded as you require. The shorter or stubby antenna provides a great deal of convenience. You can add a longer whip antenna to enhance your range. When it comes to two way radios, you stand to gain a great deal of advantages by having a business radio that comes with a removable antenna. The one problem is that removable antennas may not necessarily be compatible with all kinds of radios.

Benefits of Using Two Way Radios for the ski slopes

Skiing is a very interesting outdoor activity that individuals or groups of people such as family members or friends can engage in, either for fun or sporting purposes. However, it is quite easy to be separated from a skiing crew, especially if you are skiing in a large area with people of varying skiing abilities. Moreover, cell phones tend to be quite unreliable in mountainous areas due to low network coverage. It can therefore become difficult to locate the members of your crew once you separate. To overcome this challenge, you can use two way radios for easier communication. Below are some of the benefits of using the two way radio for skiing

Ease of Use

Unlike in the case of mobile phones where you need to search for people’s contacts or key in the numbers before calling them, the two way radio communication system is more simplified. It is specially designed to enable you to conveniently communicate with other members by a simple touch of the button. This means that you can easily communicate with them in case of an emergency.

Wide-Range Coverage

Instead of gesturing wildly or allowing your voice to become hoarse due to shouting as you try to communicate with your team members, you can opt for this type of radio communication. It is typically designed to cover a large area, which will help to keep your conversations active as well as organized. For instance an effective two way radio system can cover up to 25 miles under optimal conditions.

Better Accountability

While you are out there in a vast and rugged terrain, it can be quite difficult to know where every team member is at any particular time. The two way radio system will however enable parents, team leaders as well as companies that run skiing slopes to know where each person is at any time, which is extremely important for accountability purposes.

Power Efficiency

Most of these gadgets are power efficient and can operate on standard AAA or AA batteries as well as rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. This means that you will not need to worry about power depletion. You just need to carry enough batteries to replace those that get depleted. Alternatively, you can recharge your Lithium ion battery using the charging system in your car. This will help to ensure that there is no communication breakdown.

Hands-Free Communication

The best way to remain comfortable while using the two way radio for skiing is by using earpieces or headsets. These accessories allow you to have hands-free communication. This will enable you to concentrate on skiing, instead of having to pick and put back the radio all the time. Moreover, most of them are compact and lightweight gadgets which will not weigh you down as you glide down the slope.

Water Resistance

While skiing, your communication device may sometimes fall in snow or water. In extreme cases, a storm can find you while you are busy enjoying the activity. In such a case, you need a waterproof gadget that will not spoil when it soaks in water. And that is why a two way radio is important as it is designed with such factors in mind, hence it is water resistant.

GPS Integration

For enhanced safety and easier location while engaging in your outdoor skiing activities, the two way radios can be integrated with the Global Positioning System (GPS). This allows different users to easily broadcast their GPS location coordinates. This feature can be life-saving, for instance in case of an avalanche fall, or if one member gets trapped while skiing.

NOAA Weather Information

Knowing that you might be faced with severe weather is extremely important especially when you are skiing in remote areas. Most of these radio communication gadgets have support for the NOAA weather channels. They have built-in alerts to let you know when extreme weather is approaching. This aspect can enable you to take cover and avoid any form of disaster.

Wild gesturing and shouting may not work as a means of communication when skiing in a vast area with a large team skiers. To overcome such a challenge, you can use the two way radio communication system. The unit is convenient, easy to use, power efficient and quite cost effective. Moreover, it promotes accountability as it is easier to know where each team member is at any single time.

China Have Its Personal Floating City, Or Maybe Not?

A mixture of panic, fear and awe gripped the residents of the Chinese cities of Jiangxi and Foshan earlier this month, when an ethereal floating city appeared to be hovering amongst the clouds.

It’s the sort of thing you’d usually expect to find in video games, fantasy literature and the deranged ranting of conspiracy nuts (more on them later) â€" and that’s probably where the rest of the world would have consigned it if the beguiling phenomena hadn’t been captured on video and disseminated to the world via YouTube.



The footage is certainly eerie and doesn’t appear to have been tampered with in any way. In fact, it appears to depict an actual floating city hovering in thin air. Now, there is a perfectly scientific explanation for this unusual sight, but before we get to that, I just had to see what the David Icke crowd were saying about it.

So, after getting my (virtual) jabs, I headed off to YouTube in search of comedy. Here are a few of the best explanations for this event (spelling mistakes and grammatical catastrophes left in deliberately). Enjoy!

First, here’s an observation from a guy who took off his tin foil hat just long enough to share this little nugget with us.

“This is more than just clouds that assume shapes, these are holigraphic pictures, wonder what else they have in store for us, they probably have differant countries developing things in differant areas of technology to make all the tech, miricles start appearing around the world to make us think they are gods, when infact only saten needs technology, The real God allmighty dosnt, he created all and everything!”

...Including Saten and his evil tech? Or am I just being pedantic?

Next up, here’s someone who just went out there one day and never came back:

“I’ve explored about E.T’s and their history on planet Earth , this is true , this is what ancient people called home of the god’s , there are cities in the sky and under the ocean , many of truth is hidden from humans becouse humans like to panic. We are not alone , there are about 100 different alien species on planet Earth , co-existing with us , shapeshifters as well , with more advanced technology than ours”.

...If I were him, I would have explored about the rules of grammar before posting my comment.

Now, here’s an exercise is complete logical disconnect.

“A scientist named AL Bielek, who worked on the Montak Project and the Philadelphia Experiment and other Top Secret Fringe science programs, said that he was taken into the future by ET’s to live in floating cities in the sky around earth, for 2 years. I believed him because I have a close friend who knew him very well and she said that AL was an honest man, before his death in 2011. Or did he die? He maybe there right now in the year 2315”.

Uh huh. I believe in aliens, time travel and floating cities because my mate has a mate who swears it’s true! Your Doctorate is in the mail.

Oh here’s another prize winning pudding brain. Possibly the best of the bunch!

“The point is to make everyone believe there is no God and that aliens exist they’re trying to manipulate you into believe something just like they did with earth it’s flat not round there is Proof about it search it up find it yourselves cause who would believe someone that just says things without showing so please do your research”.

Yes, please do your research before you say crazy, unscientific nonsense such as “the earth is flat!” with a straight face.

Last one now, I promise!!

“It’s actually a breif invasion of parallel universes intervening with our own reality this was proven by scientists and is scientifically possible”

1) No it wasn’t.

2) No it isn’t.

The reality, of course, is far less exciting. The mysterious cloud city is actually an example of a naturally occurring phenomenon known as a Fata Morgana, which is a rarely seen (but very cool) mirage that occurs when a hot atmospheric layer converges with a cool one, creating a temperature gradient that reacts to light. This light then bends, creating the optical illusion that a distant object being witnessed at ground level is higher up than it actually is. This means that the floating city seen in the video clip is actually a projection of the Foshan city skyline itself and was, in reality, nowhere near the clouds.

A quick trip to Google images reveal’s Foshan’s skyline to be very much in keeping with the architectural style of the floating city...

A Fata Morgana is also mooted to be the origin of sailor’s tales about the famous ghost ship The Flying Dutchman. A similar phenomenon, known as a Brocken spectre is thought to be the cause of Scotland’s Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui as well.

It should be noted that a couple of YouTubers actually pointed this out â€" and were met with a shower of abuse for their troubles, including one user who typed, without a trace of irony “LOOKS LIKE A F*CKING CLOUD TO ME” and another who responded with “Ya, what you say is bullsh*t. The reflection has to look like what it was reflected from dumbass”. Which it does, so, in the immortal words of Captain Kirk, “double dumbass on you!”

Another user, rather more patiently, explained that “the media want you to believe its some bullsh*t scientific thing”. Damn media, wanting me to believe in science...

Well, I guess that settles it then. It’s obviously aliens. Or magic. Or magic aliens. FFS.