[4 SWR reading on my new TRAM 1486-Help]

On 12/17/2021 at 8:44 AM, Arawak said:

I purchased a RG-58 Coax Cable, 50ft long from the GMRS website. It was listed with the following description: "Retevis RG-58 Coax Cable 50-Ohm 50 Ft". On a separate note, I did find out that the Midland MXT 400 microphone cable is kind of weak in the connector when you pull and stretch the microphone cable. You need to make sure the cable connector is set in firmly or you will not be able to transmit. Since I'm using this radio at home I'm going to see if there is a desk top microphone that can be used with this radio and that probably will be a better solution. Midland probably should look at making the connector better. I have another MXT 400 radio on my wife's car and she told me had a similar issue if she handed the microphone to my son riding on the passenger seat.

One thing I quickly found out from experience is don't buy a great antenna setup and then go cheap on the coax. Spend the money and get 50ft of LMR-400 as your main feed line and then run a couple of feet of LMR-240 or similar to the radio. 

[What do you all use for antennas at home?]

Currently using an Ed Fong J-Pole painted and disguised to look like part of my roof vent due to HOA regulations. 

[Antenna height and length of coax hypothetical question.]

19 minutes ago, WRWE456 said:

Great! You will spend as much on the cable or more than the radio.

 

I'm quickly finding that out...which kind of led me to the question I posted. Quality cable ain't cheap.  but now I understand why.  

[Antenna height and length of coax hypothetical question.]

13 minutes ago, BoxCar said:

Go to https://timesmicrowave.com/documentation/lmr-guide/ for the Times Microwave guide to their coaxial cables.

Thanks for the link

[Antenna height and length of coax hypothetical question.]

3 minutes ago, WRWE456 said:

A short length of RG8 will work fine as a jumper. I use a BNC adapter on my radios then a 3 foot length of RG8 with a BNC on the radio end and Type N connector on the other end. The 400 has type -N connectors on both ends as do my antennas. Type N connectors are better for UHF (which is what GMRS is) and many antennas can be ordered with them installed. That is what I did.

By the way what radio are running?

I picked up a Radioddity DB20-G new for about $85. I figure it's just enough to send me down the "Rabbit Hole" 

[Antenna height and length of coax hypothetical question.]

1 minute ago, WRYZ926 said:

I have to agree with @kidphc on this one. You might not notice a difference in a 30 foot or shorter run but why hamper yourself.

With any antenna, height is king. Always use the best coax you can for the best performance. But height won't make up for the wrong type of coax.

I wouldn't be able to run the LMR400 straight to the back of my radio so what would be a suitable jumper coax to run and would the jumper have any negative affect? 

[Antenna height and length of coax hypothetical question.]

1 minute ago, kidphc said:

Don't go with a higher loss cable coax. Additional height or additional gain from a higher gain antenna will be negated in the losses of the coax.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
 

Thanks...that's pretty much what I expected. 

[Antenna height and length of coax hypothetical question.]

12 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

I would go with option 2 unless you can get your antenna higher. And you won't have any problems with LMR400 over a 20, 35 or even 50 foot run.

Thanks for the clarification. So in this case the height of the antenna outweighs the length of the coax. Would the opposite be true if you were to run a lower quality coax like RG8X? 

[Antenna height and length of coax hypothetical question.]

3 minutes ago, Sshannon said:

2

A man of few words...short and to the point. Thank you. 

[Antenna height and length of coax hypothetical question.]

Hello,

I'm relatively new to the GMRS world and I'm in the process of setting up a base station on the second floor of my house. I have two choices for antenna placement that would also affect the length of coax that I run. So here are the two options I have...which option would you choose and why. 

1) Antenna mounted 20' above the ground on the rear of the house with approximately 20' of lmr 400 coax to my radio. The top of the antenna will be approx 10' below the peak of the roof and partially obstructed by the house. 

2) Antenna mounted 30' above the ground on the peak of the roof with approx 35' of lmr 400 coax to my radio. The top of the antenna will be roughly 5' above the peak of the roof with no obstructions for 360

3) In this case just choose the easiest mounting method because the difference would be negligible. 

Thanks for all the input

Pete

WRZI712