Baofeng Dual-Band Whip (SMA-Female) vs Nagoya NA-701G (GMRS)

The Baofeng Dual-Band Whip is the clear winner for any handheld radio user comparing these two.

The decisive factor is dual-band coverage. The Baofeng works on both VHF and UHF, delivering realistic performance of -1.1 dBi on VHF (electrically short but acceptable on a handheld) and a respectable 2.9 dBi on UHF where it reaches 5/8 wave electrical length. The Nagoya NA-701G, despite costing nearly three times as much at $18.98, covers only GMRS and makes an exaggerated claim: it promises 2.15 dBi gain while its 140mm length supports only about -0.4 dBi. That's a 2.6 dB overstatement. At quarter-wave electrical length, it's electrically short with no practical advantage over the Baofeng on the bands where it operates.

The Baofeng Dual-Band Whip suits anyone with a multi-band radio who wants broad coverage at a bargain price. The Nagoya NA-701G makes sense only if you need a dedicated GMRS antenna and accept paying premium pricing for no performance benefit.

Buy the Baofeng. Its lower score reflects being compared against better performers in the broader antenna family, but against the Nagoya specifically, it wins decisively on capability and value.