HT come with some sort of antenna, usually a short, tough, but low-gain antenna called a "rubber-duck".
Adding a longer antenna will give you more gain, or transmitted power. Options include telescoping or flexible models. Flexible antennas may be more resilient to being dropped or snagging.
	You can attach a bigger antenna, or one on a tower, with an adapter to use standard antenna cable. Since the small connector (BNC or SMA) on an HT is a weak link, you should use a cable adapter to limit strain on the HT.
The SO-239 female connector show here is the standard for mobile and base station radio antenna connections. By using a cable adapter, you can set the HT down and not have the weight of a long cable pulling directly on the HT's antenna mount.
	An external antenna (outside a building) will give better reception than one inside a structure, especially when that structure has been reinforced to act as a shelter. During a storm, a larger antenna like a J-pole hung from a rafter will still improve your radio's performance.

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