Developed in collaboration with Pollux Field Systems, this monoband whip antenna is designed to deliver the best possible results for Hytera HP series users, in the UHF business band, in a form factor that can be rapidly transferred from in hand, to covert, to overt on body applications.
With an overall length of 5.75", this antenna uses 460 MHz as the center frequency, rather than the 410-420 MHz center commonly seen on UHF antennae. And its connector is uniquely suited to fit the narrow wall of the Hytera HP's SMA female connector. No added length, no cheap BNC connectors, no nonsense.
In testing, the Hytera stock stubby antenna showed an SWR of 3.4/1 @ 460 MHz. By comparison, the CASTOR whip delivered an SWR @ 460 MHz: 1.19/1, a nearly 3x increase in efficiency at the frequency you're actually using.
If you need the best performance out of your legally encrypted Hytera comms net, these outstanding antennae are a no brainer.
This antenna is listed in black. For other colorways, please reach out for a custom order.
See Pollox Field Systems' full description of the CASTOR Whip Antenna below, as well as their website here, for more information.
Most handheld-radio antennas are treated as an afterthought. They come with the radio, they work well enough for basic use, and they are rarely reconsidered until they become damaged or fail to perform where they are needed.
For field communications, “good enough” is not always good enough.
The idea behind the Pollux Field Systems Whip Antenna was to create a durable, reasonably priced antenna that could withstand real use while being tuned for the frequencies and applications our customers actually operate on. Rather than offering another generic, mass-produced replacement antenna, the goal was to build something purpose-driven, serviceable and made with carefully selected materials.
Starting With the Weak Points:
A portable antenna gets bent, folded against equipment, caught on gear, packed into cases and repeatedly flexed during normal use. Traditional antenna elements can kink, take a permanent bend or eventually fail after being stressed in the same place.
To address that problem, the Pollux whip uses superelastic Nitinol wire as its radiating element. Nitinol can flex significantly and return toward its original shape, making it well suited for an antenna intended to move with the operator instead of becoming a rigid snag point.
The antenna is built around a 50-ohm BNC connector, providing a secure and familiar connection for compatible handheld radios, adapters and field communication equipment. Raychem fabric heat-shrink is used to protect the antenna element while adding abrasion resistance, flexibility and a clean finished appearance.
Each component was chosen to balance electrical performance, durability and practical field use.
Designed Around the Application:
There is no single antenna length or tuning profile that is ideal for every radio and every frequency range. A broad, one-size-fits-all antenna may be convenient, but convenience often comes with compromises.
The Pollux Field Systems Whip Antenna is handmade and can be produced around specific frequency ranges. That allows the antenna to be tuned for the customer’s actual operating requirements instead of simply being marketed as covering an extremely wide range.
Potential applications include business-band communications, preparedness networks, field teams, event operations and other users who rely on BNC-equipped portable radios. The objective is not to make unrealistic claims about an antenna solving every communications problem. It is to provide a rugged, properly tuned option that supports a well-designed communications system.
From Idea to Prototype:
Development began with material research, connector selection and early construction methods. The first prototypes helped establish the basic design, but they also revealed areas that needed improvement—including element diameter, connector fit, strain relief and the way repeated flexing affected the antenna assembly.
Each revision was measured, handled, bent and evaluated. Antenna performance was checked with test equipment, while mechanical testing focused on whether the design could tolerate the kind of abuse expected during regular field use.
Several samples were also sent to outside testers. That step was important because a product can behave perfectly on a workbench and still reveal weaknesses once it is attached to someone’s radio, packed with their equipment and used under conditions the builder cannot completely reproduce.
Feedback from those test samples led to further revisions in materials, assembly and overall construction.
Reaching the Final Revision:
The final revision is the result of that repeated cycle: build, measure, test, distribute, listen and improve.
The finished design combines a 50-ohm BNC connection, superelastic Nitinol wire and Raychem fabric heat-shrink in a flexible, field-oriented package. Every antenna is handmade, individually assembled and tuned for its intended frequency range.
The goal was never to create the cheapest antenna possible or to attach a premium price simply because it was labeled “tactical.” The goal was to offer a durable, purpose-built whip antenna at a reasonable price—one designed around real frequencies, real equipment and real-world use.
That is the idea behind the Pollux Field Systems Whip Antenna: practical materials, deliberate testing and dependable construction without unnecessary complexity.
