Blackheart International’s Limited Visibility & Concealable Antenna (LVCA) is a tactical antenna that is smaller, lighter and less obtrusive than conventional external combat radio antennas. And now, it’s offered in kit form, which adds a PALS-compliant, water-resistant pouch that holds the antenna and allows it to be secured conveniently and unobtrusively to the operator’s gear.
The LVCA’s patch-panel antenna configuration works in the 30-512 MHz frequency range. Additionally, it is self-tuning and requires no operator intervention and transmits via circular polarization to eliminate “dead zones” or the need for any directional alignments. This means you can mount it virtually anywhere from a placing it in a pocket to Velcroing it into place on equipment. It can even be used for clandestine emplacements.
Blackheart does a great job here of explaining the technology behind the LVCA’s patch panel antenna design: “The LVCA is comprised of an array of monopole antenna elements coupled in a dual-offset array that allows the antenna to receive and transmit on multiple frequency ranges. The cumulative effect of the individual antenna elements coupled together enable transceiver operations on multiple frequency ranges that monopole or dipole antennas cannot operate on because they are tuned to a single frequency range. Furthermore, traditional antennas are typically metal tubing or wire, whereas the LVCA is embedded in a Printed Circuit Board in a pattern that is impossible to create in free-standing metal or wire.”
The LVCA is 3.5″ x 2″ and comes with a 18-inch length RG58A/U cable. It is offered in Black (standard) or in Tan as an optional color. The cable delivers 10 Watts peak, 5 Watts continuous with no amp from the radio to antenna. TNC connectors fit Thales, Harris and SINCGARS units; SMA connectors fit Motorola units.
Granted, it won’t match the performance of a tuned antenna built specifically for a radio, but it’s very agile and can be used with a variety of radios. That specialty antenna becomes useless when you drastically change freqs or try to use with a new radio.
Throughout my military career, I spent quite a bit of time in the commo business and I am a big fan of this antenna. Low profile, broadband, and self-tuning. What’s not to love? Plus, it’s a low cost solution. In fact, the price is low enough that an individual could afford one.
Tags: Blackheart International
I have one, it works. It’s not as good as a tuned antenna, especially in the 30mhz to 88mhz range. I just put hook on one side and slapped it to my pile on my plate carrier. Working around a/c it is the heat and eliminates a ton of snag hazards. I am assuming it works on a fractal based design given bhi’s relationship with a fractal antenna manufacture. It’s extremely light and is covered in something like rhino lining. The rg58 pulled away from my bnc connector but it was easily fixed with some coax know how.
Jungle, would like to get some more feedback on your experience with the LVCA. Please email me at customerservice@bhigear.com.
Thanks
You think someone would have done this earlier. I remember our comm guys making us field expedient antennas to wear on our gear instead of having the whip stick up out of our pack.
So how much is this thing? The website doesn’t have any pricing on it.
The price for the kit is $185.
Thats not too steep of a price but seeing how the TCI MAST costs $53.50 and doesn’t have freq limitations, I’m not sure if this is really any better of a deal.I’d have to use one to determine if its worth the additional cost or not. Still , I like that their are other options like this out there to choose from.
Antenna was field tested by 2/75th. They bought 200.
Doesn’t specify signal gain/loss. Telling me a random number about line of sight coms doesn’t mean anything without also giving me the frequency and environment and power output…nor does appeal to authority info about who else ordered one.
I would appreciate the actual relevant technical specifics of the antenna performance. dBm gain, directional polarization, that sort of data. The stuff that actually matters. Without it, I fear this antenna might actually suck.
Did you bother to contact BHI or was your plan to come on here and make it sound like a bad antenna without finding out first?
Go to the website and pull the spec sheet – http://www.bhigear.com
Bhi contacted me about the problems I had with my antenna. Then they promptly sent me a replacement. The best customer service I have ever received. They actually sought me out I never emailed them. 30-512 5w 10w peak. It works as advertised. I just slap it on some hook on my lbt pc and roll out… On 20s with the top down.