WSFA200

I’m considering putting an antenna outside my vehicle, to see how the range improves. My question is this: if the longer antenna on a handheld won’t get as good a signal on the midland ghost antenna (that’s only like 3.5 inches long, how is it better? Clearly, the question shows I’m ignorant of how all this works, so you guys with more experience, please share the way!!!

I’m also wondering, if I just got a mobile mount antenna, I assume that would improve my range greatly.

I’ve spent this afternoon listening and checking in, and today, on a baofeng GM15Pro, with the rubber ducky, getting on a repeater, about 25 miles away. I’m really impressed, but now that I know I have a repeater within range for a handheld, that runs 5w, is it possible for me to get a ham radio with the 8W power and transmit GMRS? I’m really new to this, but I’m really into this! Also, with a handheld getting spotty service in my area, would upgrading to a mobile rig get me better coverage? Thank you all in advance, yall been real kind to me! WSFA200

So, update. With the rubber duck, on a BAOFENG gm15Pro, I was able to reach the repeater 13 miles away, and speak to someone who was about 17 miles from that location

Hello everyone. I’m new to this, and I’m really looking forward to learning what I can about this hobby. Been watching for a while now, and decided to try this out after going to graves mountain outside Charlottesville, VA. No cell phones out there and our crowd got lost… so here I sit with these BAOFENG GM15Pro radios, and I get decent reception but I’m not sure I’m doing it right. In and around Stafford, I can hear people 30 miles away (around the Beltway in DC). My question is, how can I hear them, but not able to speak back. How do they have so much range, and I can not get out the driveway?