[2m / 70cm Dual band antenna suggestions]

Thanks all.  I ended up with a Tram 1181 140mhz-170mhz + 430mhz-470mhz Dual Band Nmo Antenna.  Pretty happy so far.

I got this antenna about six months ago and have been VERY pleased with its performance. It works as well as much longer dual band antennas. The SWR is good in the ham bands all the way up into the GMRS frequencies. Truly a hidden gem of an antenna.

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[Wide Band or Narrow Band]

2 hours ago, WROZ250 said:

It is also interesting to note that some of the newer GMRS radios come with 'compander' technology which, if enabled, increases/improves the audio quality/readability when operating in narrow mode.  That said, if the receiving radio is not compatible/equipped with the said technology, the alleged performance improvement from compander technology, probably doesn't offer any improvement in reception/audio quality.

 

I was wondering about the compander technology myself because I saw it in the manual. I'm guessing this is comparable to a speech processor. Will the receiving radio be able to hear a radio with compander turned on if the receiving radio does not have it?

[Wide Band or Narrow Band]

6 hours ago, mbrun said:

The bubble wrap FRS are always narrow band per FCC requirements. Perhaps with a few rare exceptions, GMRS bubble wrap radios are exclusively narrow band as well. If your primary communications is with these radios, narrow is the way to go.

It seems that most GMRS repeater owners choose wide-band as do users of current crop of programmable GMRS HTs where improved audio performance is desired.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

That's what I was afraid of....I was hoping to be able to leave it on wide band but I guess narrow band it must be. Compatibility with some of the cheap GMRS radios is a requirement for this situation. The problem is none of these companies publish this information.

 

[Wide Band or Narrow Band]

I am installing a Midland MXT500 in my vehicle. I will primary be using the 50w GMRS simplex channels (15-22). My question has to do with wide or narrow band. I will at times be communicating with people that have "Big Box Store" GMRS radios.....i.e. Midland, Cobra, DeWalt, etc. Does anyone know if these walkie talkie types are generally wide or narrowband on channels 15-22? I can set my MXT500 either way but I want it to be compatible with what everyone else has.