Description
The ZBM2 Foul Weather Whip Antenna V2 is a hand-built upgrade antenna for handheld radios that gives you more reach than the stock rubber duck your radio came with. It's a true ~3 dBi gain whip, meaning better range on transmit and clearer copy on receive, and it's made in the USA, hand-tuned in San Diego, which is a real step up from the mass-produced whips most people are replacing. Every antenna is built and tuned in house.
What makes the ZBM2 different from a generic whip is the wire. It's built from a nickel-titanium (NiTinol) alloy, 1.6mm diameter, wrapped in a protective PET mesh, which is what lets it stay straight and keep working in cold and foul weather where cheaper whips go limp. It's submersible, too, so wet and marine use isn't a problem. The V2 adds a bigger, more robust clasp-style BNC quick-disconnect (easy to work even with gloves on) and a sturdy strain-relief back shell.
It comes in two tunings so you can match it to what you run. The ~20" version is tuned for 2M/70cm amateur (146 MHz and 446 MHz), and the ~18" version is tuned for GMRS/MURS (160 MHz and 460 MHz). Both use the male BNC quick-disconnect, a quarter-turn on and off for fast field swaps. It works with just about anything that has a UHF/VHF handheld module, Baofeng, Yaesu, Quansheng, Motorola, Hytera, and others, as long as you have the right adapter to go from BNC to your radio's antenna port. That adapter is the one thing people get wrong, so read the next section before you order.
Read This Before You Order: The Adapter
This antenna has a male BNC connector. Most handheld radios use an SMA antenna port, so you'll need an SMA-to-BNC adapter to connect it, and the part people miss is which SMA gender. Look at your radio's antenna port with the antenna removed:
- If you see a pin sticking up (like a Baofeng UV-5R), you need an SMA-Female to BNC adapter.
- If you see a hole (no center pin), you need an SMA-Male adapter, like the BNC to SMA-Male adapter.
Get the gender wrong and it won't connect, so check your port first. If you'd rather not guess, the ReadyRadio SignalCore RF Adapter Kit covers the common combinations so you're set no matter what you're running. Not sure what you're looking at? Reach out and we'll sort it out with you.
What It Pairs With
It's a great upgrade for the Baofeng UV-5R, UV-5RM, and BF-F8HP (with the SMA-Female adapter), and the BTECH UV-PRO or GMRS-PRO (with the correct adapter). For programming and field reference on your radio, our ReadyRadio Comms Cards are built for exactly that. Browse the full range of radios and comms gear here.
Key Features
- Made in the USA. Hand-built and tuned in house in San Diego.
- ~3 dBi gain. More reach on transmit, clearer copy on receive than a stock whip.
- NiTinol no-sag wire. Nickel-titanium alloy stays straight in cold and foul weather; submersible.
- Two tunings. ~20" for 2M/70cm amateur, ~18" for GMRS/MURS.
- BNC quick-disconnect. Bigger V2 clasp connector, quarter-turn, glove-friendly.
- Sturdy strain relief. Reinforced back shell for long-term durability.
- Wide compatibility. Works with most UHF/VHF handhelds, with the right adapter.
Specs
- Frequency: 2M/70cm (146/446 MHz) or GMRS/MURS (160/460 MHz)
- Gain: ~3 dBi
- Length: ~20" (2M/70cm) or ~18" (GMRS/MURS)
- Max power: 55–60 watts
- Wire: Nickel-titanium (NiTinol) alloy, 1.6mm, PET mesh covered
- Connector: Male BNC, quick-turn clasp with reinforced strain relief
- Adapter: SMA-to-BNC required for most handhelds (sold separately, check SMA gender)
- Compatibility: Baofeng, Yaesu, Quansheng, Motorola, Hytera, and other UHF/VHF handhelds
- Made in the USA
FAQ
Do I need an adapter to use this?
Most likely yes. The antenna has a male BNC connector, and most handheld radios use an SMA port, so you'll need an SMA-to-BNC adapter. Check whether your radio's port has a center pin (needs SMA-Female) or a hole (needs SMA-Male) before ordering.
Which version should I get, 2M/70cm or GMRS/MURS?
Match it to what you transmit on. Get the ~20" 2M/70cm version for amateur radio use, or the ~18" version if you run GMRS or MURS. The tuning is optimized for those bands.
What makes the ZBM2 different from a cheap whip?
It's hand-built and tuned in the USA from a nickel-titanium (NiTinol) alloy wire, which holds its shape in cold and foul weather instead of sagging, and it's submersible. Combined with the ~3 dBi gain, it's a real upgrade over the mass-produced rubber duck your radio shipped with.
How much does it improve my range?
The ~3 dBi gain gives you better reach on transmit and clearer reception than a stock antenna. Actual range still depends on terrain, power, and conditions, but it's a genuine improvement over a factory whip.
What radios does it work with?
Most UHF/VHF handhelds, Baofeng, Yaesu, Quansheng, Motorola, Hytera, and others, as long as you have the correct SMA-to-BNC adapter for your radio's port.
