WRYZ926

Thank you for the information @wayoverthere. And yes most things will be a compromise, especially since I do not want to drill any holes. The mount you linked looks like the best option as far as mounting on the lift gate. My Escape does have the factory roof rails but no cross bars.

That is the other main concern I have.

The roof is steel so a magnetic mount will work. And I like the idea of some 3M tape to protect the paint. I have also considered a roof rack mount too. I just wonder how the ground plane is with an antenna mounted a cross bar.

That is a bummer that you had a smoke leak in your radio. Did mice or them evil squirrels hell bent on world domination decide to chew on your cables?

I just purchased one for use as a base station. And if I find I need or want a 50 watt radio for a base station, then the XS20G will go in my Honda Pioneer 500.

@WRQC527 are you using that mount on the lift gate?

I'm not goin to say no to that. In fact I am looking at all of the options/suggestions given so far other than drilling holes. Though I don't know how that window mount would work with vent shades installed. It is still worth me considering. @WRYU400 the photo you posted will definitely benefit new people with no experiences with radios. While I am new to both GMRS and amateur radio, I use to run CB's on all of my vehicles I the past. Installing an antenna on the truck or side of a vehicle is always a compromise but those locations still work.

I'll have to look into that. The shark fin has the Sirius XM antenna along with the GPS antenna inside it. The FM antenna is inside the rear window.

Like I said, drilling a hole is out of the question so no need to discuss it.

I have had bad luck with magnet mounts in the past with CB antennas. They either don't stay put or scratch the paint. Regardless of the type of mount I go with, I have to be careful running the cable inside since there are too many pinch points at the rear lift gate. I'll figure something out. Plus I haven't decided if I am going to run a GMRS radio, 2m/70CM radio or both in the vehicle. I also have to keep in mind of overall height since my garage door opening is only 7 feet.

Glass mount antennas usually won't work on newer vehicles with factory tint due to the tint have metal in it. My Escape has factory tint. And a portable will still need an outside antenna. I'll probably end up going with an articulate mount like posted above. The next thing after that is running the cable inside. There really isn't a good place at the rear lift gate to get a coax cable through. If it was an older vehicle, I would have already drilled a hole for a NMO mount.

There is no third brake light mount for the Ford Escape.

I have a 2023 Ford Escape and any looking for different options for antennas and also running cables into the passenger compartment. The one thing I will NOT do is drill any holes for a NMO mount. Thanks

Well I found out that the UV-5R GMRS will indeed transmit on 2m VHF frequencies IF and only IF you save them to the radio and are in channel mode. The Baofeng GT-5R on the other hand will NOT transmit on any GMRS frequencies no matter if in VFO or channel mode.

I talked to my VEC and he snail mailed the paperwork. That is okay since that gives me time to install my bulkhead to get my cables inside the shack and get my antennas up. One of the old timers taught me how to build a 10m dipole today. So I will have 2m/70cm, 10m and GMRS going once everything is setup and I get my call sign.

I will try to call my VEC tomorrow.

I'e been checking several times a day. I'm beginning to think my VEC snail mailed my paperwork.

Thank you. I joined a local amateur radio club and those guys have been great. They have loaned me an Icom IC-208H mobile, a 10 meter radio and a power supply to use until I can get my own equipment. I will be working on installing a Comet GP-9 dual band and 10m wire antenna on one end of my house along with a Comet CA-712EFC on the other end of the house. There will be about 55 feet between each antenna mast so I should be good to go there. I did pick up a pair of Baofeng UV-5R GMRS radios and still have to decide what radio to use for a GMRS base station.

Hello from Missouri. I just received my GMRS license yesterday and passed my amateur technician license last Saturday. I'm still waiting on my amateur call sign. I stepped off into the rabbit hole with both feet since I am getting into amateur radio and GMRS. But it is like any other hobby that I am in. Model trains aren't much better. I look forward to learning as much as my coffee soaked brain can take in.

I just bought two UV-5R GMRS radios from the Baofeng Amazon store and they work on every channel. There isn’t any repeater close for me to try.