Extreme

Ya, kind of what I had planned. Thanks.

Looking online for the Rubber Duck in NMO... ??

A pal and I are going to join the Net tonight via a local repeater that I've recently been informed is linked. No problem hitting the repeater from my easy chain via HT. I think he's in the same range. Should be a hoot. Ground rules? Do we need to ID when we join? What are protocols? I don't want to be that guy and interrupt or break some rule first time actively in (I've listened in via laptop and the Tucson group in the past). We're with a bunch that use GMRS and local repeaters for our off-road gang trail runs. Getting more and more friends onboard with GMRS.

https://www.buytwowayradios.com/melowave-anm-133g.html Anyone? I have the phantom stubby antenna and it works ok but no 'testing'. I've reverted to 1/4 6" on a ground plane and it also works well but have torn one off in the trees in the past. Is the Melowave Shadow (specifically 'tuned to GMRS') really a step up from the Phantom? I get a lot of stuff from and refer a lot of folks to BTWR. Working on an install for a buddies Wrangler JK and considering his rear high mount cargo rack/basket as a place to put a ground plane plate.

Any issue installing a "No Ground Plane" antenna (1/2 or 5/8 wave) on a ground plane? Any benefit? Just brainstorming on a 2nd antenna with some gain to play around with where my 1/4 wave is mounted. Likely makes more sense to get a ground plane antenna in 1/2 or 5/8 wave, eh?

I have some lots in Walkerville if there's interest in putting a GMRS repeater up there. Not living there now but don't know why it couldn't be done. Should provide hella range from there, overlooking the valley toward the Highlands, Fleecer Mtn, Pintlar, I-15 corridor and toward I-90 West toward Deer Lodge.

Agreed. I've been trying to say just this to my off-road buddies who're getting their first mobiles. A lot of them are in Jeeps with fiberglass tops so that's an issue and they're leaning toward longer antennas to get them above the top. I was lucky enough to have a perfect spot for an 8 x 8" ground plane for my 1/4 high at the rear of the LJ. It is cool that they're getting away from CB and into GMRS. Better in every way on the trail or hunting in my experience. Guess I could take this to the Jeeps & Radios thread. Thanks for the feedback and reminding me of radio 101.

Thanks Marc. As soon as I read this I realized I'd been taught this here a few years ago when pondering antennas... sheesh. My 1/4 is great in the mountains but we do have some extremely long shots with potential for more reach. I've hit a repeater from 50 miles so don't know what better I could ask. I might consider a 5/8 to play with.

Will I gain any performance (distance and/or clarity) with one of the base loaded antennas over a 6" 1/4 wave? Both would be on the same 8" square ground plane on my Jeep. Wondering if the added height above the roof will be of much benefit. The 1/4 is working fine, just nit-picking. Spring loaded base would be a must if I go taller. The ground plane would remain the same. Assuming all will screw onto the existing NMO mount. If they need tuning, I'll likely opt out. Guess I could experiment and be careful to swap to the shorty in the overhead brush. UHF High Gain Antennas: Laird TE Connectivity B4503S (theantennafarm.com) 5/8 wave is 15" UHF High Gain Antennas: Laird TE Connectivity B4505CS (theantennafarm.com) 1/2 wave is 31" UHF Quarter Wave Antennas : Laird TE Connectivity AB450 (theantennafarm.com) 1/4 wave is 6"

Asking for a friend. Is your tailight mount GMRS antenna working ok? He has a '99 TJ that he runs topless, has a rack on the back and is asking me about which antenna and mount (hard or mag mount). Since I run only 1/4 wave on a ground plane I don't have a solid answer for which antenna type and mounting solution might work best for him. 1/2 wave, 5/8, etc., etc.. I'll continue through the thread from the end backward to see what I come up with. Kind of talking him out of the Midland and leaning him toward the Wouxux 20w.

What's the Map for Dummies on the new format? All I see are google style streets, etc.

Very near to my experience on/off road with one exception: a stuck hunter actually contacted us from about 10 miles when we were driving by his general area in route to another recovery. He scanned us chatting on 16 with his HT, shouted us down, and got himself 'scheduled' to be recovered. They had walked 7 miles out and had many more to go with zero cell coverage. We got him on our way back from recovery 1.

If the auto carwash is a concern they make a cap to install after unscrewing antenna base.

Bigger. Bracket mounted under sun visor clip with existing holes. Wrangler is a different ball of wax with removable fiberglass roof. Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

XJ remote 8180 Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

Should be posted somewhere under jeep & radios. Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

Not specifically, but mounted complete Kenwood TK-8180 on the aftermarket rollbar overhead 'plate' in my LJ and a Kenwood 8180 remote faceplate in an XJ. Both are apples and oranges for you so no real help. Just didn't want to leave you hanging.

Asking for a friend. (I run used Kenwoods). I'm too lazy to read the entire thread so looking for an 'in a nutshell' favorite GMRS only radio for my club's mobile needs. A few of the guys are running out and grabbing Midlands; if they asked me I'd steer them in another direction (we have repeaters available to us). One kid is asking now for his rig and with the good luck I've had with my Wouxun 805G HTs I'm leaning him toward the Wouxun brand. Right track. Sound like a good review here. I'll go over to BTWR and look around but would love some feedback.

Some debate on this one. I'm not smellin' what he's steppin' in. In a nutshell he says transmitting w/o Load will not damage a radio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3r2K96hsGc&t=297s&ab_channel=NotaRubiconProductions

Thank you! Apologies for barking.

What happened to the Inactive (and the other selection) on the MAP to find repeaters. My local repeaters and many I use in 3 states are no longer viewable from the map. I appreciate it costs money so get the Ad Blocker request but did we need to change the capabilities too. Thanks folks.

If I'm correct, 7 x 7" is minimum for 1/4 wave ground plane. I had the 8 x 8 x 1/4" aluminum plate laying around from another project so just primer/painted it. Also, the fiberglass top will not deter RF propagation and unless I run a branch along the top nothing should hit the antenna.

3rd try Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

More Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

FWIW Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk