Most people when they think of installing a radio system are very careful to select the best, most powerful transceiver they can afford in the mistaken belief that this alone will give them the best results. Few seem to know that an expensive transceiver can only work as well as the antenna system they connect to it. If you invest in a good antenna, you may find that you don't need to spend as much on the transceiver - and, if you insist on quality, you won't have to replace the antenna as often.

that is: an antenna that radiates well, by transmitting the maximum amount of power from the transceiver into the environment; AND can withstand any extreme weather conditions that are likely to be encountered; this is really when you need to rely on it.

In addition to this, antennas are also DESIGNED, designed with different characteristics to suit different purposes. It is often beneficial to involve an antenna specialist company, like ourselves, when initiating a project, which we are always happy to do.

Moonraker Antenna Systems are quality engineered and manufactured, designed to meet the demands of the professional user yet also eminently suitable for the pleasure market. Antennas are available throughout the bands from MF receiving antennas to antennas for MF/HF and VHF transceivers, including hand held portable transceivers, and UHF.

Moonraker has pioneered the development of the super rugged HF automatic tuning (AT) series of antennas which is suitable for all vehicles and compatible with most transceivers. With Moonraker Auto Tune it is now possible to tune automatically by push button to any frequency in the HF range (2-30 MHz) typically within 1 to 2 seconds, without the use of an antenna tuning unit and without needing to stop the vehicle to change antenna taps.

A series of high power antennas has been developed to the exacting specifications of the Royal Australian Navy. These antennas will perform at 1kW continuous in salt laden atmospheres and cyclonic winds of 240 km/h (150 mph), and can be tilted through 90 degrees.

All antennas are designed in-house and customised development is available by negotiation. Specific products have been developed to withstand adverse environmental conditions, such as extremes of heat, cold, wind and humidity, as experienced in the tropics and Antarctica.

If you cannot find the antenna system you require or you require higher power or a different frequency, for example, it is often a simple matter for us to modify an existing design or we may even be able to create a new design. If you are unsure as to what you require, we can determine the most suitable antenna type and frequencies.

Whip antennas are constructed from high quality marine grade aluminium, protected by high durability epoxy based coating or PVC. Aluminium tubing, provides a large low loss surface area compared with fibreglass antennas which rely on a few small diameter wires embedded in the fibreglass and are known to deteriorate rapidly under UV radiation leading to water ingress, deterioration in quality of communications and eventual antenna failure.

Moonraker always chooses the best materials to suit requirements, especially when it comes to insulation. Insulators will absorb water if the material is not designed to be moisture resistant to the correct degree. This is critical in the case of high power installations, where water ingress from saltwater spray and the like can induce flashover and short circuits leading to severe damage.

The finished product is hardy, cosmetically non-obtrusive and lightweight, the latter characteristic permitting expedition by air to all parts of the globe. Large antennas are easily assembled on site from smaller sections, which are easier to transport. Packaging is resilient, being designed to withstand tropical humidity.

Moonraker works to Australian and International standards of Quality Assurance and a number of products have Nato stock numbers. Under the Moonraker system of quality assurance, all materials are inspected to ensure that they conform with required specifications. All antennas are backed by our full 12 month warranty.

An efficient antenna system will get the best performance from any transceiver. However, an expensive transceiver is only as good as the antenna system permits it to be, especially when receiving weak signals.

Moonraker antenna systems maximise communications in both the transmit and receive modes.