WSAN206

Yeah one of these days I will get a nicer radio - but I’m having so much fun with these cheap ones.  Ended up buying a uv17 pro GPS (not here yet) gm-15, and most recently,  quansheng uvk6 which upgraded the firmware to egzumer.  Now that is a fun toy to play with!  
 
you are right though - I’m pretty sure all the sub-$80 radios are pretty much the same.  
 
thanks for the recommendations and I’ll check them out.  

Before I mounted it on my car - I put the magnet on a cookie sheet and put high in my loft in my house.  Wasn’t able to reach any further than I could with just the HT antenna.  Maybe even worse then too - just figured I wasn’t getting a good ground plane.  Maybe that was a sign something wasn’t right 

A standard mic will work but it will only transmit on one channel. (A, I think.) The dual-PTT mics that I found had poor reviews. 

Also, you mentioned usb-c, you can get batteries for the UV-82 that are usb-c and larger capacity of 2800 miliamp hours. I have 2 on order from Amazon that'll be here Saturday.  
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C3669GMD?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

Hmmm - that’s a valid point.  I forgot the btech was based off the UV-82.  
I’ll look into UV-82.  
 
appreciate the tip!

Installed the new antenna tonight.  I think it’s better - still the same swr reading (1.00 - 1.02).  I think I’m getting a lot of popping and scratching from all the overhead lines around here.   Seems to work well in the middle of my yard and I’m reaching repeaters 45 miles away.   I’m done with the antenn for now. 
 
really appreciate all the help guys!!  

My cousin has a nanoVNA.  I might see if he can help me - looks beyond my skills 

My cousin has a nanoVNA.  I might see if he can help me - looks beyond my skills 

A SWR meter will tell you if the antenna is resonant or not. And if it is not, then you will need to first check all connections and the coax cable. If all of that checks good, then you will probably need to tune the antenna.

Thanks guys - sounds like I need to eliminate some variables.   I think first I’ll take the rack off and move the antenna to the middle of the car.   I really appreciate the feedback.   
If it works at least as good with the mobile setup as it does standing outside the car, I’ll be happy.  

Is it the 72G/cable that is the problem, or is it the external mic/connection, or the "patch cord". That is what has to be determined by you.  Since the HT seems to work ok with the 771G, you have eliminated that as the source of the problem.