racecargo

Just a follow-up for anyone searching forums with a similar issue........
 
After verifying my meter capability, and a lengthy discussion with Midland's product engineer, we decided to move the antenna around and test multiple locations with just a c-clamp & magnet.
 
Similar crappy readings almost anywhere on the headache rack or near the back glass, with slight improvements with elevation, but still not acceptable (still >3:1 swr, but down from 6:1).
Moving rearward, to the toolbox showed huge improvements and eventually got everything <1.4:1.
(still no idea why 462 & 467 would read so extremely different; I'd think they should have both been right or somewhat equally off)
 
So not discounting marcspaz's comments, as I still don't know how long the antenna will work; but for now "location, location" seems to be the key with the MXTA26.
 
-I'll try to edit this if/when marcspaz's prediction comes to fruition & it dies on me...and fyi: I already have a Tram on order.