HYS-771N Dual-Band Whip (SMA-Female) vs Nagoya NA-320A (Tri-Band)

The Nagoya NA-320A is the clear winner for most users seeking versatility without compromise.

The single most important difference is band coverage. The HYS-771N struggles on VHF at 146 MHz, electrically short at only 0.19 wavelengths and delivering a realistic -1.0 dBi. The Nagoya reaches 0.22 wavelengths on VHF, a quarter wave that performs substantially better at -0.4 dBi. More significantly, the Nagoya adds 1.25m band support, making it genuinely tri-band rather than effectively dual-band. Both antennas match on UHF at 0.65 wavelengths with identical 2.9 dBi performance. The Nagoya's claim of 3.5 dBi is overstated, though its physical length does justify stronger performance than the HYS-771N's realistic 2.5 dBi.

Buy the HYS-771N only if you operate primarily on UHF and want to minimize cost. Buy the Nagoya NA-320A if you work across bands or need reliable VHF performance on a handheld.

The Nagoya's $2 price premium is justified by measurably better electrical design, particularly its superior VHF efficiency and additional band coverage. It represents the better long-term investment.