Antenna Questions - Baofeng UV-82 User Manual

Q: Why is the audio less sensitive than my Icom or Kenwood?
A: The UV-82L was designed as a commercial radio, not ham. It was designed to block out
background noise in an industrial environment. Talking right into the face of the radio cures
most audio weakness.
Q: Is the PTT switch disabled when a Spkr/Mic is plugged in?
A: When a Spkr/Mic plugged in, the [A] PTT button is disabled

ANTENNA QUESTIONS

Q: Which antenna is best?
A: It's all personal preference, but a good rule of thumb is:
The longer the radiator, the better the range, especially on transmit.
Short stubby antennas use a coil to match TX to 50 ohm, not radiate.
The closer to 1/4 or 3/4 wavelength in the air, the better the performance.
A very popular antenna for general use is the Nagoya NA-701, NA-771.
To mate with the UV-82L, the antenna's connector must be SMA Female.
Just remember, it's only 5 watts into a piece of wire.
There is no Magic Antenna out there.
Q: Can I use an antenna with an SMA RP connector?
A: No. The RP stands for Reverse Polarity. The outer shell looks the same
but the Male/Female pin sequence is reversed.
Q: My antenna doesn't screw in all the way.
A: This is not uncommon on some aftermarket antennas. Purchase a thin 5/8" OD
rubber O-Ring. Take your HT with you to the hardware store to assure the proper
fit. You may want to superglue it to the bottom of the antenna ONLY.
Q: Can I build my own antenna?
A: Absolutely. If you want to start small, try a simple ground plane.
Here are the instructions for a GP antenna with a radial length calculator.
The calculator covers all frequencies from DC to Light.