ABBREE AR-805S Stubby (SMA-Female) vs ABBREE GMRS 42.5-inch Tactical (SMA-Female)

The GMRS 42.5-inch Tactical is the clear winner for any serious use case. While both antennas suffer from overstated gain claims typical of budget gear, the Tactical's electrical length of 1.68 wavelengths at 465 MHz means it can actually radiate efficiently, whereas the AR-805S is severely compromised at just 0.02 wavelengths on VHF.

The critical difference is electrical length. The stubby's 50 mm design makes it fundamentally unsuitable for handheld work on VHF or UHF. It's so electrically short that it becomes a lossy reactive element rather than an efficient radiator. The Tactical, though physically much longer, reaches multi-wavelength operation where radiation becomes viable, delivering realistic performance around -1.0 dBi versus the stubby's -4.9 dBi on UHF.

The AR-805S appeals only to users who need genuine portability over performance, such as emergency backup or travel. The GMRS Tactical suits anyone prioritizing actual communications range, whether for GMRS frequencies or general VHF/UHF work, despite its tactical branding.

Buy the GMRS 42.5-inch Tactical unless you absolutely cannot spare the extra 1030 mm of antenna. At nearly double the length but half the claimed (and false) gain, it delivers tangible performance gains worth the minimal cost difference.