My recollection, is that when DPMR446 was legalised in the UK, the
rules changed very covertly, and that "slightly" higher gain removable antennas were permissible on the digital service (i.e. 1/4 wave verticals) , and:
Since the only digital446 radio to gain type acceptance was an icom (which if memory serves had, or was later modified (?) to support a removable antenna ?)
Given that the aforementioned Icom could also operate on analogue 446 (?)
It was <implicitly> a type approved analogue 446 radio with detachable antenna.
Therefore again <implicitly> a removable antenna was no longer an obstacle to type approval.
Certainly in the VERY early days of 446 (when those of us here used to subscribe to Dean's site and before) The original Alinco 446 had an SMA socket underneath
the antenna which was super-glued on to obtain type approval. Now they have that appalling rotating lolly stick on the back!
I have a sense of deja vu, recalling a thread on here many moons ago
where Ian (SIBC) and another chap (whose 'nick' I have forgotten - sorry!) were giving their first hand DPMR446 experience the "thumbs up" and all this detachable antenna stuff was clarified in some detail ?? I remember a comment about receiving DPMR 446 traffic from a cellar or underground room some 2 miles away ? (or similar) where analogue couldn't get ? (was it Ducat ??)
Doubtless someone with more "forum time" than I can dig it up ?
Regards
BB