Radio antennas?

Question

Why are handheld radios(FRS, CB, Amateur) antennas just one wire? How can that work to receive and transmit if it’s just one wire? I mean the antenna should be TWO wires, just like the antennas on the big stations, or the TV antennas. It should be a closed circuit((- and +) OR (- and ground)?).

That brings me to my next question:
I have a FRS radio. I used a TV antenna cable, and connected the radio wire to the inside wire of the cable. The cable goes up to my roof, which is only about 40 feet high, but did not work at all. If I go to the top of the roof with the radio on my hand the reception/transmission is great, HOW CAN I EXTEND THE SHORT FRS ANTENNA TO THE ROOF IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY, JUST LIKE IF I WAS UP ON THE ROOF WITH THE RADIO ON MY HAND???

Answer 1

They do have 2 wires. Internally to the radio there is a ground.

Now for you next question:
buy your self a Discone antenna and a good quality 50ohm coax
You need to adjust you SWR . You also need to know what band you are on. You can find that out by going to the manufactures wed site
If your house is aluminan sided that will cut down on you reception/transmission. When your standing on the roof you are outside of the box (so to speak) so the siding isn't causing the problem.Mount the antenna on the chimney and set your SWR.
this should help.

Good luck

Answer 2

In order to properly answer your question, you first need to know some basic RF or Radio Frequency theory. A radio transmitter, transmits a radio wave. On paper an RF wave, looks like a wavy line.

So what dose this have to do with antennas. An antenna is a piece of wire (or something that conduct electricity.) that is tuned to a specific frequency, to transmit, or receive.

Your TV antenna is tuned to receive TV frequencies. These frequency's are in, and around the 6 meter band, or about 50 MHz. Your FRS radio transmits, and receives in the 70 centimeter band, or about 460 MHz. (You can look up the actual frequencies on-line.)

This is why when you attached your FRS radio, to your antenna, it didn't work.

What I would do, is go to google, or yahoo, and type in ham radio. You will find a lot of places that sell ham radio gear. Then I would see if I can find an antenna that is tuned to 440 MHz, or in the 70 centimeter band. Purchase some good quality coax, and the proper adapter. Out of the box, the antenna should be close enough to the FRS frequencies, to work right out of the box. However, there will most likely be antenna tuning instructions, as to how to tune it to your specific frequency.


Have fun.

Answer 3

do not waste your time fooling with that antenna...it will be like attempting to remodel an apple to an orange! yet another approved ham radio operator it somewhat is somewhat experienced over about 20 plus years.

Answer 4

oh