OT: 3foot antenna for ICOM 402

[Whalen]

I found the sale price on the ICOM 402 at boaters world. $109 after rebate and free shipping. I need to use a three foot antenna if possible. Any recomendations?

[James Kiffer]

Boaters world will set you up with the proper antenna.....I bought the same radio, remember along with a good radio you need a good matched antenna........

[john pearce]

might want to go with a longer antenae unless you have a T-Top to put it on for greater line of sight

[Capt Skip]

Look for the 3' or 4" Digital VHF antenna I think Boaters World has too.

[Whalen]

I would love to fully utilize the power of the radio with the 8 footer. I am a part time flyfisher and on a seventeen foot boat that is a certain recipe for disaster. A three footer will minimize the danger to the rods and has to be better than the handheld I use now. I am trying to figure out how to match the antenna. I want to order over the internet. I am over 50 miles from the store.

[thinice]

Bought the same radio a couple yrs. ago...DAMN...wasn't that cheap back then...oh well...stay w/ the longer,as previously stated, the guys @ BW radio dept will set you up w/ the right one. Shakspeare attenae has worked REAL well for me.

[Lone Ranger]

What Skip said.If you can go 4 ft.,Get the Digital[Brand name]antenna.This is the set-up I have and it works GREAT.

[Megabyte]

If you need to use a 36" whip, the best gain (and quality) antenna is the GAM SS-2 all stainless steel antenna normally used on blowboat masts. It is a 6 db antenna and can be mounted to a fold-down mount attached to a center console railing.

Take a look at the photo below and you can see a GAM SS-2 in the 'travel' position of my previous boat.

[Half Past 3]

I'll second or third Capt Skip on the Digital Antenna; they are SO much better than the Shakepeare or Galaxy. Get the 528-VW if you can only go 4': http://www.digitalantenna.com/vhf500.html

[get the net]

As usual Megabyte is right on target. Get a 36" whip and make sure you get one that is designed for a power boat or 6dB. If you don't you will loose range because 3dB antenna's use a different arch to project signal do to the yaw on sailboats.