Mobile and handheld RF antennas
Whip Antennas for Mobile, Handheld and RF Equipment
Compare published VHF and UHF whip antennas by operating band, gain, length, connector and mounting method. RFTECH supports magnetic-mount vehicle installations and compact direct-connector handheld equipment.
Browse Whip Antennas by Installation
Choose the installation first. A vehicle roof, handheld radio and equipment enclosure provide different RF return paths, mounting limits and connector requirements.
Published 134–173 MHz options in 50, 96, 110 and 130 cm lengths, designed for use with M80 or M110 magnetic mounts.
Published 300–390 MHz options in 39, 62, 95 and 120 cm lengths, with listed gains from 3.5 to 5.5 dBi.
Compact 10–20 cm models with SMA Male or BNC/TNC Male connections, including a 156–162 MHz marine option.
Representative Published Models
Use these examples to narrow the mechanical format, then check the complete table for the exact published specifications.
134–173 MHz · 3.0 dBi · 96 cm · UHF Male · M110 magnetic mount
134–173 MHz · 3.65 dBi · 130 cm · bottom spring · M110 mount
330–390 MHz · 5.5 dBi · 120 cm · bottom spring · M110 mount
330–390 MHz · 3.5 dBi · 62 cm · UHF Male · M90 mount
134–173 MHz · 1.8 dBi · 12 cm · SMA Male · handheld radio
134–173 MHz · 2.0 dBi · 20 cm · BNC or TNC Male · handheld radio
Compare All Published Whip Antenna Models
The values below come from the current public product records. Confirm the final frequency, connector, mount and installed configuration before ordering.
| Model | Frequency | Gain | Length | Connector | Mount or use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL-DYC150S | 134–173 MHz | 2.15 dBi | 50 cm | Confirm before order | M80 magnetic mount |
| GL-DYC150I | 134–173 MHz | 3.0 dBi | 96 cm | UHF Male | M110 magnetic mount |
| GL-DYC150DII | 134–173 MHz | 3.65 dBi | 130 cm | UHF Male | M110 mount, bottom spring |
| GL-DYC150DI | 134–173 MHz | 3.65 dBi | 130 cm | UHF Male | M110 magnetic mount |
| GL-DYC150CII | 134–173 MHz | 3.5 dBi | 110 cm | UHF Male | M110 mount, bottom spring |
| GL-DYC150CI | 134–173 MHz | 3.5 dBi | 110 cm | UHF Male | M110 magnetic mount |
| GL-DYC150AII | 134–173 MHz | 2.15 dBi | 50 cm | UHF Male | M90 or M110 mount |
| GL350FC | 330–390 MHz | 3.5 dBi | 39 cm | UHF Male | M110 magnetic mount |
| GL-DYC350FC | 330–390 MHz | 3.5 dBi | 39 cm | UHF Male | M110 magnetic mount |
| GL-DYC350DII | 330–390 MHz | 5.5 dBi | 120 cm | UHF Male | M110 mount, bottom spring |
| GL-DYC350DI | 300–390 MHz | 5.5 dBi | 120 cm | UHF Male | M110 magnetic mount |
| GL-DYC350CII | 330–390 MHz | 5 dBi | 95 cm | UHF Male | M110 mount, bottom spring |
| GL-DYC350B | 330–390 MHz | 3.5 dBi | 62 cm | UHF Male | M90 magnetic mount |
| GL-DYX150SC | 156–162 MHz | 1.5 dBi | 15 cm | SMA Male | Marine handheld VHF |
| GL-DYX150S | 134–173 MHz | 1.8 dBi | 12 cm | SMA Male | Handheld VHF radio |
| GL-DYX150L | 134–173 MHz | 2.0 dBi | 20 cm | BNC or TNC Male | Handheld VHF radio |
| GL-DYX150F | 134–173 MHz | 1.8 dBi | 10 cm | BNC or TNC Male | Handheld VHF radio |
| GL-DYX150A | 134–173 MHz | 1.8 dBi | 13 cm | BNC or TNC Male | Handheld VHF radio |
How to Select a Whip Antenna
Lock the operating band
Provide the complete transmit and receive range. Broad labels such as VHF or UHF are not enough for a defined channel plan.
Define the ground plane
A vehicle roof, conductive enclosure or counterpoise affects impedance and pattern. State when the mounting surface is plastic or fiberglass.
Balance length and performance
A loaded or shortened whip saves height but can change efficiency, bandwidth or matching. Set both the RF target and the height limit.
Match connector and mount
Confirm connector family and gender, magnetic or direct mounting, cable route, surface area, vibration and clearance.
Validate the installed system
Ask for suitable VSWR or S11 data and test the final assembly. Cable loss, nearby metal and mounting position can shift the result.
Compare the antenna format
If a whip cannot meet the pattern, profile, MIMO or return-path requirement, compare a dipole, panel, Yagi, PCB or puck design.
Common Whip Antenna Formats
- Straight quarter-wave whip: simple and efficient when its natural length and ground plane are practical.
- Loaded whip: reduces physical height through electrical loading, with performance trade-offs to validate.
- Magnetic-mount whip: supports removable vehicle installation on a suitable conductive surface.
- Connector-mounted handheld whip: attaches directly through SMA, BNC or TNC hardware.
- Flexible or spring-based whip: tolerates movement and low-speed impact.
- Telescopic whip: provides adjustable physical length for receiving, testing or tunable use.
An ideal vertical whip is vertically polarized and broadly omnidirectional around the horizon. The real vehicle, enclosure and mounting position will modify that pattern. Read the whip antenna guide for the working principle, wavelength estimates and ground-plane details.
Send the Details Needed for Selection
Include frequency range, radio or equipment, mounting location, available ground plane, maximum height, connector, cable arrangement, power, environment and quantity. If a published model does not fit, the engineering team can review the requested configuration without assuming an unlisted option is already available.
