RadioRanked verdict
Bingfu
Bingfu 42.5-inch Foldable Tactical (SMA-Female)
The 2m performance and the honest gain claim are real positives, but the price is high and reviews trail the rest of the lineup. A cheaper 42-inch whip will get you the same 70cm shortfall for less money.
Proprietary RR score
How we scored it
Performance is derived from the antenna's length in wavelengths on each band it covers, not from the advertised gain. How we score →
Length versus wavelength
What 1080 mm Buys You
An antenna radiates according to its length measured in wavelengths, not according to the number on the packaging. Here is where this one lands on each band it covers.
| Band | Wavelength | This antenna | Works out as |
|---|---|---|---|
| VHF146 MHz | 2053 mm | 0.53 λ | half wave |
| UHF435 MHz | 689 mm | 1.57 λ | multi-wavelength |
Decision helper
Is this antenna right for you?
Yes, if you're…
- ✓2m-focused use where the extension cable is useful, such as base or mobile mounting
Skip it, if you're…
- ✕Balanced 2m/70cm use
- ✕Budget buyers; cheaper 42-inch options exist
Tradeoffs
The good and the bad
What we like
- Genuinely good electrical length on 2m
- Gain claim is close to physically credible
- Includes an SMA extension cable
- Folding hinge for durability
What we don't
- 70cm performance falls off badly at this length
- Lower review average than comparable antennas in this size class
- Pricier than similar-length alternatives
Ready to buy?
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Overview
The Bingfu 42.5-inch Foldable Tactical is a 1080mm dual-band whip with an SMA-Female connector and a 3.3-foot SMA extension cable included. It covers both 2m and 70cm, folds for storage, and costs around $19, more than most tactical whips this length.
At 1080mm, the electrical length is about 0.53 wavelengths on 2m, comfortably in the half-wave range that performs well without a ground plane, and the model predicts real gain there. The same 1080mm on 70cm works out to roughly 1.6 wavelengths, well past the point where a single element still helps, so gain there is essentially flat or worse than a stock antenna. The manufacturer's 3.5 dBi claim is close enough to what the 2m side can produce to be credible, more honest than most antennas at this length. Reviews run lower than the rest of this lineup at 4.1 stars, worth knowing before paying a premium for the included cable.
Specifications
| Frequency bands | VHF, UHF |
| Gain | 3.50 dBi |
| Connector | SMA-Female |
| Length | 1080 mm |
| Antenna type | folding |
| Flexible | Yes |
| color | 42.5 inches Antenna with 3 feet Cable |
| unitCount | 1 |
Fits These Radios
Radios we track that take a SMA-Female antenna and cover this antenna's bands. Top-scoring picks first.
Key Features
- Foldable CS Tactical Ham Radio Antenna; Frequency Range: VHF UHF 136-520MHz; Gain: 3.5dBi; Direction: Omni-directional; Impedance: 50 ohm; Max Input Power: 8W; Antenna Length: 42.5 inch / 108cm; Extension Cable: 3.3 feet / 1m SMA Female to SMA Male Right Angle RG58 Coaxial Cable; Package List: 1 x Foldable CS Tactical Antenna, 1 x Antenna Extension Cable (As the Picture Shown);
- Compatible with Ham Radio: BaoFeng UV-5R UV5RA UV-5RE BF-F8HP BF-F8 UV-82 UV-82HP BF-888S BF-88A UV-5X3 UV-5RM UV-9R BF-666S BF-777S BF-320 BF-1080 BF-490 BF-V6 BF-V8 BF-F9 BF-F8Plus BF-388A GT-3 UV-5RB UV-5RC UV-5RD UV-5REPlus UV-5RG UV-5RQ UV-5RT UV-5S UV-5U UV-B5 UV-B6 ect.
- Compatible with Ham Radio: TK-208 TK-240 TK-250 TK-255 TK-260 TK-260G TK-270 TK-270G TK-272G TK-278 TK-278G TK-340 TK-349 TK-350 TK-353 TK-360 TK-360G TK-370 TK-370G TK-390 TK-380 TK-373G TK-372G TK-385TK-430 TK-431 TK-715 TK-2100 TK-2102 TK-2107 TK-2118 TK-2160 TK-2200 TK-2300 TK-2400 TK-2406M TK-2407M TK-3100 TK-3101 TK-3102 TK-3140 TK-3160 TK-3170 TK-3173 TK-3180 TK-3200 TK-3200L TK-3202 TK-3202LU TK-3207 TK-3300 TK-3400U TK-3402U16P ect.
- Compatible with Ham Radio: Wouxun KG-659 KG-669 KG-679 KG-689 KG-699E KG-801 KG-816 KG-818 KG-819 KG-833 KG-889 KG-UVD1P; Linton LT-2288 LT-3288 LT-6288 LT-3188 LT-2188 LT-3260 LT-3268 LT6188 ect.
- Compatible with Ham Radio: HYT TC-268 TC-268S TC-368 TC-368S TC-370S TC-500 TC-500S; TYT TH-F1 TH-F2 TH-T2 TH-T3 TH-F6 TYT-300 TYT-500 TYT-600 TYT-800 TYT-888; Puxing PX-777 PX-777 PLUS PX-666 PX-888 ect.