Product Description
LAIRD – 1/4-Wave NMO Mobile Radio Antenna
This Laird Antenna is a rugged, field-tunable 1/4-wave omnidirectional mobile radio antenna designed for vehicle-mounted two-way radio applications. Featuring a durable stainless-steel whip with a black finish and an industry-standard NMO mounting interface, this antenna provides dependable performance across a broad range of VHF and UHF frequencies.
It is field-tunable by cutting the whip to the desired frequency using the supplied trim/cutting chart. Its quarter-wave design provides unity gain and requires a suitable metallic ground plane, such as a vehicle roof or other properly grounded metal mounting surface.
Key Features
- 1/4-Wave Whip Design – Simple, efficient omnidirectional antenna design for mobile communications.
- Field Tunable – Whip can be trimmed to the desired operating frequency using the supplied cutting chart.
- Broad Frequency Coverage – Designed for applications spanning approximately 118–512 MHz, depending on final whip length and tuning.
- NMO Mount – Uses the popular industry-standard NMO mounting system.
- Rugged Stainless Steel – Durable whip construction provides excellent resistance to vehicle vibration, wind, and outdoor conditions.
- Black Finish – Professional black finish blends well with most vehicles and mobile installations.
- Unity Gain – Approximately 0 dBd, with performance dependent on frequency and ground-plane conditions.
- High Power Handling – Rated for applications up to 200 watts, subject to installation and frequency conditions.
- Omnidirectional Coverage – Provides 360° horizontal radiation pattern for general mobile communications.
- Metal Ground Plane Required – Designed to operate against a suitable metallic vehicle ground plane.
Specifications
| Model | QWFTB120 |
| Antenna Type | 1/4-Wave Whip |
| Frequency Range | 118–512 MHz* |
| Gain | Unity / 0 dBd |
| Maximum Power | 200 Watts |
| Overall Length | ~ 24 Inches |
| Mounting Interface | NMO |
| Whip Material | Stainless Steel |
| Finish | Black |
| Radiation Pattern | Omnidirectional |
| Ground Plane | Metallic ground plane required |
| Tuning | Field tunable by cutting |
| Connector | NMO interface |
*The antenna is field-tunable, and the final operating frequency is determined by the trimmed whip length. Always use the manufacturer's supplied cutting/trim chart when tuning.
Well suited for:
- Public safety and emergency communications
- Police, fire, and EMS mobile radio systems
- Commercial fleet vehicles
- Utility and service vehicles
- Transportation and municipal communications
- VHF/UHF two-way radio systems
- Field-service and industrial communications
- Custom-frequency mobile radio installations
Installation Requirements
The antenna requires a separate NMO mounting base for vehicle installation. A properly installed metallic ground plane is also required for correct quarter-wave operation. Vehicle roof mounting generally provides an effective ground-plane configuration when the NMO mount is properly installed.
The antenna combines a rugged stainless-steel whip, field-tunable quarter-wave design, NMO compatibility, and broad VHF/UHF coverage in a straightforward mobile antenna configuration. It is an excellent choice when a durable, economical, and easily tuned antenna is needed for professional mobile radio installations.
