Leaderboard

I must tell you all that while you may get a tad more range (perhaps 5% or so in my case) when using the longer antenna, I have found the added length to be more of an annoyance than real benefit. So I have reverted back to use of the stock antenna and the shorter 701. In my everyday carry use of my radios I found that the extra inches if range distance mattered so little in practice that the hassle of the longer antenna was not warranted. I will certainly keep it in my tool box, and I will use it on special occasions, but its days of everyday carry use are over. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Yes, I forgot to mention, the BR-178-S ("S" is for spring at the base, there is a version without the spring too) has a cut table, and you are supposed to cut the whip according to the frequency to fine tune the antenna. I cut according to the table and have SWR 1.7, which I find acceptable. Perfect is the enemy of good. So, in the end, the antenna will have much narrower useful bandwidth than 380-520.

I use Browning BR-178-S. Works well. I did not compare it with 1/4 wave, but I did compare it with Browning BR-170-S, which is 5/8+1/2. The 170 (longer) is marginally better in flat lands. Both 178 and 170 require ground plane, but I see you have XJ, so you're good.

:lol: :lol:

It would also be a moot point if an asteroid blew the planet to smithereens, however power goes out 99.999% of the time for reasons other than emp's and extinction level asteroids.

As far as rules go, the license holder is responsible for how the radios are used. Lets say the family in NY program a part 90 radio to receive the local FD, however due to an error they transmit on the FD channel and give your callsign, you could be on the hook. Now this is a bit exaggerated but has happened from time to time. Another example is the family in NY using a radio that is not certified by the FCC and causes interference on another channel. Or, because they are in NY, using channels 19 and 21 north of line A (I think those were the channels) which is also an easy violation for someone to make if they haven't read or understood the rules. How I manage everything is, I program the radios under my callsign myself. By doing that I can assume all responsibility should something go wrong. My family knows and understands the rules of GMRS, and everyone has a 3 digit ID code, (First digit identifies the location and last 2 are unit numbers) So if a complaint comes in about WRAK968-103, I know its my brother, 202 is my step mother and so on. Some people use one digit ID, (WRAK968-1). The three digit system may work for you so that should there be a problem you will know where the problem is, and possibly who the problem was caused by.