PMR range doubling tip for UV5R type HTs

[Paul]

Good reasons for extending aerial length but I always worry about bolt on telescopic goodies not specifically designed for that particular gear. Two reasons.

How can you tell it's providing a good SWR for the transmitter?
Handheld twigs are notoriously hard to tune effectively unless the rig has a built in SWR meter and the bigger the twig the more it's surroundings ( i.e. YOU) affect it's SWR.

Then, especially if there is exposed metal and you're transmitting, one flick against a metal fence, live wire, or something like that and the output transistor could go pop.

Now if your lucky the receiver still works, or not.