LucidObscurity

Thanks! That's helpful. I think I'll email Dr. Fong and give one of those a try first as I'll want to get a roll-up for those same reasons at some point anyway. If that works then I might hold off on a base until we move from CA to TX next year as I don't know what my situation will be there in terms of repeaters. Anyone have any recommendations for a HAM HT which will be used primarily for GMRS? Preferably made somewhere other than china.

Thanks @mbrun! How would you compare your favorite "roll up" (and hang from a tree or pole) antenna vs your favorite base mount (with similar height) at similar/weighted price ranges? Thanks again for taking the time to help me!

Thanks, yeah...we've all got to ween ourselves off the CCP teat...it was a gift, but I am looking for suggestions on HTs. Please feel free to let me know your favorites! As for the repeater, it's 4K-ish ft. above me and is not some guy with an HT hanging off a pole over his house

That sounds promising. Is that on your vehicle or base mounted? Thanks @wayoverthere

My prepper brother in law sent me a cheap Chinese HT for emergency comms. While a few more of these would be OK for "walkie talkie" functionality, they're crap for reaching out to the local community, even with slightly upgraded "whip" antenna. I have applied and been granted access to a local repeater up on a mountain peak near my home and there are locations on my property with line of sight. Will a well tuned + placed antenna be enough to Tx to this repeater at this wattage? Also, I plan to get a better HT to hook up, but not sure I want to jump into a mobile with power supply just yet. I primarily want to make sure I have something which can be emergency powered and reach out to a repeater on UHF (GMRS) 20 miles away. Also I've seen some of these "slim jim" antenna which are rolled up and can be hung off trees. What real world performance is seen with these designs on low wattage? Thanks in advance for any advice!