Nagoya NA-701 (SMA-Male) vs Nagoya NA-771 (SMA-Male)

The NA-771 is the clear winner for handheld radio use. At 396 mm, it achieves near 5/8-wave electrical length on UHF, delivering realistic performance around 2.9 dBi. The shorter NA-701, by contrast, is only a quarter wave on UHF and electrically short on VHF, compounding its problem with overstated gain claims that contradict its actual 203 mm length.

The single most important differentiator is electrical length on VHF. The NA-701 falls badly short at 0.10 wavelengths, resulting in poor VHF performance despite any marketing claims. The NA-771's 0.19 wavelengths on VHF, while still compromised, is markedly better.

The NA-701 suits budget-conscious users who operate almost exclusively on UHF and can tolerate modest performance. The NA-771 is the practical choice for anyone who splits time between VHF and UHF or wants reliable all-around handheld performance without marketing distortion.

Choose the NA-771. The $2 price difference is negligible against the performance gap, and you avoid an antenna whose claimed specs are contradicted by its physical dimensions. For casual UHF-only work the NA-701 suffices, but the NA-771 offers better real-world engineering.