Herdio Waterproof Marine Antenna Rubber Duck Dipole Flexible Mast

Curated from 63 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: March 10, 2025

Herdio Waterproof Marine Antenna Rubber Duck Dipole Flexible Mast

Brand: Herdio
Price: $15
Snoop Score:
6.5
Sentiment
5.0
Popularity
9.6
Technical
5.8

Snoop's Take

The Herdio Waterproof Marine Antenna Rubber Duck Dipole Flexible Mast is engineered for both marine and vehicular communications, offering a flexible and corrosion-resistant design for extended connectivity. It’s built to be a reliable workhorse with a 16.9-inch mast and a 55-inch cable, and it aims to cover a range of up to 10 miles across various frequencies. In essence, it promises robust performance in challenging environments. Consumer sentiment reveals a divided community. On one hand, users love the setup ease, as one noted, 'I purchased and installed the DIY kit without issue - literally plug and play and was tracking right away.' On the other, there’s a sardonic jab at its performance with remarks like 'it still hasn't gotten me anywhere near the original performance of the rubber ducky.' While its installation flexibility and build quality are lauded, the underwhelming signal gain leaves critics unimpressed. Overall, the product earns a cautious nod. For buyers seeking an affordable, durable marine antenna with simple installation, it delivers adequately. However, if you expect peak performance in signal gain, be prepared for a mixed experience as echoed by the community.

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I purchased and installed the DIY kit without issue - literally plug and play and was tracking right away.

Positive Feedback

it still hasn't gotten me anywhere near the original performance of the rubber ducky.

Negative Feedback
Product
6.5
Herdio Waterproof Marine Antenna Rubber Duck Dipole Flexible Mast
Maritime Communication
7 / 10
Emergency Preparedness
3 / 10
Navigation Support
7 / 10
Versatile Deployment
9 / 10
See how this compares to all Marine Antennas

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Easy DIY installation
I purchased and installed the DIY kit without issue - literally plug and play and was tracking right away.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Underwhelming performance compared to the default rubber ducky
it still hasn't gotten me anywhere near the original performance of the rubber ducky.

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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
HT antenna performance and testing nuances
Testing HT antennas is like herding cats: a hard and mostly useless effort because of the interaction of the antennas to more or less everything around them.
As you say, "testing HT antennas is like herding cats", but still interesting to see the different results.
you can have a low SWR but also very low efficiency (that's what a dummy load is).
I'd like to, but it's something that's too expensive, and probably I will find (as expected) that I can have a 10 dB difference based on the make of the HT I use.
Dedicated VHF antenna recommendations for specific frequency bands
could I just set my sights on a well rated marine VHF antenna instead of all these glorified dual band antennas?
In the simplest terms, yeah.
I wonder why more marine antenna companies don't advertise MURS, could bring them easy sales in a market without many options.
Get a dedicated VHF antenna that works with your model handheld, especially if it’s targeting the frequencies you want to use.
Impact of enclosure materials on antenna performance
I'd like to mount a waterproof case to a boat and then when I need a radio there, just put a node inside when I head out on the lake.
The case can hinder the signal.
It'll work perfectly fine.
It worked great through multiple storms and getting dug out of 6 inches of snow.
WiFi and motherboard antenna importance
What really threw me once was that Bluetooth is also reliant on that antenna.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Non-invasive antenna mounting preferences
I have a glass mount antenna and I love it.
It functioned well, but certainly was a compromise.
Glass mount antennas are easy and work good enough granted your vehicle doesn’t have defrosters in the glass.
I try to make it super boring.
Indoor antenna selection advice
The reviews are pretty meaningless. The antenna type/design is what's important.
Basically what these guys are asking is do you live in a big city with strong digital signals or do you live somewhere rural with a mountain between you and the signal source.
Amazon is full of garbage antennas with fake reviews. Don't be a fool who thinks there's some modern design that's better.
OTA reception is more sport than science, unfortunately.
GMRS antenna recommendations and discussions
Best cheap long antenna: “ABBREE AR-771 GMRS (155/462MHz) Antenna 15.3inch SMA-Female Whip Antenna” $8 on Amazon.
The 5/8 Slim Duck is consistently better at eekeing out that last little bit of range.
I was wondering if there would really be a big difference between using the extra antennas they include.
You don't want to use an Airband, 771 **AM** 120/300MHz, antenna for GMRS.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Skepticism towards exaggerated indoor antenna range claims
Long Range Indoor Antennas, are they real or Fantasy.
250 - 1000+ mile range indoor antennas are all out FRAUD claims.
The style of antenna needed for VHF is different than what is needed for UHF.
The milage claims on most antennas range from very optimistic to cray-cray fantasy.
Abbree antenna performance and durability concerns
It functions well as an antenna for radiating and receiving radio waves.
I bought one because it's 9 bucks, but don't use it anymore because it's too bulky and ultimately I don't like to put that much physical stress on the socket.
I seen a few comparisons on YouTube showing they are 'better' than a Nagoya 771.
In terms of performance, they are superior. In terms of lifespan, that are crap.

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