Antennas are the most-ordered items we sell and the easiest to get wrong, because two antennas that look nearly identical can be built for completely different bands. This article tells you which one fits your device.
Two things have to match. Get either wrong and the antenna will not work:
- The band — the frequencies your radio actually uses.
- The connector — the physical fitting on your radio.
Start here: the device matrix
| Your device | Band you need | Antenna | Connector |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTECH UV-PRO / UV-50PRO | VHF/UHF (2m / 70cm) | Dual-Band Maximus or Tri-Band Stubby | BNC (SMA adapter for BTECH handhelds) |
| GoTAK RAVEN EUD, chest-mounted | VHF/UHF | Dual-Band Wearable | Right-angle BNC |
| Beartooth MKII | 902–928 MHz mesh | Mesh Wearable, Mesh Whip, or 900 MHz Mesh Gooseneck | BNC — conversion kit required, see below |
| Meshtastic / MeshCore / Reticulum / HaLow node | 902–928 MHz mesh | 900 MHz Mesh Gooseneck or Mesh Whip | BNC |
| Wi-Fi, telemetry, or 2.4/5.8 GHz link | 2.4 / 5.8 GHz | 2.4 / 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi Gooseneck | SMA |
| ADS-B receiver | 1090 MHz | ADS-B Gooseneck | BNC-Male |
| Running both a radio and a mesh node | VHF/UHF and mesh | Tri-Band Stubby | BNC |
The mistake we catch most often
The Dual-Band Wearable and the Mesh Wearable look almost the same. They are not interchangeable.
| Dual-Band Wearable | Mesh Wearable | |
|---|---|---|
| Band | VHF / UHF | 902–928 MHz |
| Connector | Right-angle BNC | Straight BNC |
| Use it with | GoTAK RAVEN EUD, BTECH radios | Beartooth MKII, Meshtastic radios |
If you run a BTECH radio and a Beartooth, you need one of each — not two of the same. We catch and correct these orders by hand when we spot them, but checking the band before you order is faster than waiting on us.
Beartooth MKII: you need the conversion kit first
The Beartooth MKII does not ship with a BNC connector, so no GoTAK antenna will fit it out of the box. The Beartooth Antenna Conversion Kit swaps the connector to BNC and is a prerequisite for every mesh antenna we sell.
Order the conversion kit alongside your first Beartooth antenna, not after.
Connector quick reference
Most GoTAK antennas are BNC — a quarter-turn bayonet fitting chosen so you can swap antennas fast with gloves on. Two exceptions:
- BTECH handhelds are SMA. The Dual-Band Maximus is sold with an optional SMA-male adapter for exactly this reason. Add it if you are fitting a BTECH.
- The 2.4 / 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi Gooseneck is SMA, matching the devices it is built for.
Antenna reference
| Antenna | Band | Gain | Connector | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-Band Maximus | 2m (144–148) / 70cm (420–450) | — | BNC (SMA adapter optional) | Nickel titanium, 19.25", 50 W, SWR <1.25:1 (2m) / <1.6:1 (70cm). Made in USA, lifetime warranty |
| Dual-Band Wearable | VHF / UHF | — | Right-angle BNC | Built for chest-mounted RAVEN on the MAAK system |
| Tri-Band Stubby | VHF / UHF + mesh | — | BNC | Concealable; covers radio and mesh in one |
| Mesh Wearable | 902–928 MHz | — | Straight BNC | Beartooth MKII / Meshtastic. Black only |
| Mesh Whip | 902–928 MHz | — | BNC | Base-loaded, maximum mesh range |
| 900 MHz Mesh Gooseneck | 902–928 MHz ISM | 3.7 dBi | BNC | Beartooth, Meshtastic, HaLow, MeshCore, Reticulum. NDAA compliant |
| 2.4 / 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi Gooseneck | 2.4 / 5.8 GHz | 5 dBi | SMA | Wi-Fi, mesh, telemetry. NDAA and TAA compliant |
| ADS-B Gooseneck | 1090 MHz | 3.5–5.5 dBi | BNC-Male | Omnidirectional, VSWR ≤1.5, 12.5", TPEE shell |
| Beartooth Conversion Kit | — | — | Converts to BNC | Prerequisite for fitting GoTAK antennas to a Beartooth MKII |
Form factors, and when each makes sense
- Wearable — right-angle or low-profile, built to sit against the body on a chest-mounted EUD without snagging. Choose it when the device is worn.
- Gooseneck — flexible, base-loaded, quick to attach and remove. Choose it for packs, vehicles, and equipment that gets handled.
- Whip — maximum range for mesh. Choose it when range beats profile.
- Stubby — shortest and most concealable, at some cost in range. Choose it when profile beats range.
What we don't sell
We do not stock mobile or base-station antennas with coax feedline for fixed installations — the kind you would mount on a mast or a vehicle roof and run twenty feet of cable to. If you are setting up a UV-50PRO at a fixed site, any reputable VHF/UHF mobile antenna rated for your power and cable run will work; our range is built for portable and worn use.
For a deployable 50-watt setup with the antenna already engineered in, look at the UVPRO-MANPACK instead.
Still need help?
- Civilian and commercial users — the GoTAK Discord is the fastest route to an answer.
- Not sure which antenna fits your kit — email sales@getgotak.com with the device and we will confirm before you order.
- Agency, defence, and procurement — book a call.
