Railfan Technology > Help with Yaesu FT270R Antenna

I have a Yaesu FT270R as my railroad scanner. A couple of years ago I bought a longer mobile antenna for it and the new antenna was a great improvement. The antenna was flexible, about 10" long, not telescopic and was purchased from the Antenna Farm. Unfortunately, I've lost the antenna and need to replace it. I've gone on the Antenna Farm site but am still unsure which one it was. It might have been a Laird EXH-160-SMI.

Which antenna should I get? Which store should I order it from?

(I've been working back through previous posts on this forum using the search function. Finding some answers but getting more confused by the minute.)

Thanks.

Ken Goslett



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/18 04:40 by kgmontreal.

I use Diamond RH77s on both my ham, and RR scanners.
Seems to work great all the time.....Swede,,,,Albamy,OR..

I use the Comet SMA24 it is a 17" long thin whip antenna and it works great. There is also the MFJ 1717S which is pretty much the same thin whip antenna. Both antennas are about $20 + shipping. I looked on Amazon for "2 meter sma male handheld whip antenna" and I got many pages of thin whip antennas starting at $10 there were a lot of options there. I have been very happy with the Comet I use it on a VX-150 and FT-250.

I have the Diamond also but the Comet receives better and is flexible so it stays out of the way a bit better too. The Diamond is big and stiff and not as easy to have in a pocket. I have one of the Smiley small 5/8 wave rubber duck antennas and the Comet receives better.

Scott O'Dell

SRH77CA either BNC or SMA mounting. The Yaesu 270R as I recall requires an SMA (screw mount antenna).
Either Radio World in Toronto or Durham Radio in Whitby can supply. CAN$28.00 plus shipping.

I use the Diamond SRH77CA, tHe FT 270 is SMA mount.
$22.95 from Ham Radio Outlet (hamradio.com)

JW

Thanks all. I ordered a Diamond SRH77CA a few minutes ago.

Ken Goslett



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/18 09:10 by kgmontreal.

The Diamond SRH77CA is a common choice for railfan radios because it is widely available, but it is not the best because it is not tuned specifically for the railroad band. The Laird EXH-160 that you had is tuned for the 155-165 mHz band and will perform somewhat better. Smiley also makes a "slim duck" antenna tuned for the 155-165 mHz frequency that works fairly well. My only complaint about it is that it comes with a sort of universal mount, with an adapter supplied to connect it to the radio mount. I've used all three antennas extensively on portable radios. If one is going to use the radio for ham transmitting, then the Diamond is the better choice, but if one is concerned only with railroad radio reception, then the Laird EXH-160 or Smiley Slim Duck tuned to the 155-165 mHz frequency range is a much better choice. I currently manage over 30 portable radios operating under difficult reception conditions and almost every one of them has either a Laird or Smiley antenna. 'nuff said.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/18 12:50 by WW.

I've got a Yaesu FT-250 and got a MFJ-1717S antenna for it like someone further up the thread....works really well.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/18 14:49 by exhaustED.