WRQC527

I made many AMSAT contacts with this antenna and a UV5R. It cost me about nothing to build. I used scrap house wiring.

Each of these questions can be answered with an internet search using the search engine of your choice. Most of us could answer at least some or all of them, but it would take a pantload of time. Not to sound dismissive, but I would toss one into Google and see what comes up. You may be surprised.

Although I don't like mag mounts as a long-term solution, I have used them, and to prevent scratching I've placed a cheap plastic (not glass) tablet screen protector on the roof.

Yes. There's just enough of a gap. That is something to be wary of.

I've had good luck with my dual band amateur setup with my Comet RS-720 on my Sienna. The only caveat is that I need to run the coax in through the rear door past the weatherstripping. But I've had this setup for several years with no issues. https://www.gigaparts.com/comet-antennas-rs-720.html

I know you're going to say no because most every other suggestion anyone has made you don't like, but for the sake of throwing it out there, I'm going to throw something like this out there. https://www.gigaparts.com/mfj-310s.html?utm_term=sku-zmf-310s&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm66pBhDQARIsALIR2zBGnqEdeM1qaplmLAQzJ0WeocTGDgft9uHiVykAwzqMeQYPwteVTrYaArz2EALw_wcB

This was my McGyver setup. Here in Southern California we got about 70% coverage.

That right there is a red flag. I've heard reams of nonsense about the FCC being discussed by my ham contemporaries.

Define "serious". I don't want to make the mistake of having the wrong conversation on my repeater on my commute, which by the way starts in 7 minutes.

Make no mistake. I'm not confused. Not in the least.

You may already be familiar with yagi antennas, but if not, remember that they are directional, so if you know where the repeater is, aim the yagi at it and make sure the elements are oriented vertically. Good luck. Building gear is half the fun!

Might I suggest searching the interweb for "homebrew backpack yagi". There's a lot of plans, videos and tutorials online that describe how to build what you're looking for. Tape measure yagis work but it's probably cheaper, easier and lighter to build them out of stiff wire, arrow shafts, etc. I've built them this way and they do work, and they can be made to break down to fit in a tube for transporting. If you cut the elements for about 146 Mhz they cover the 2 meter band pretty well.

I do the same thing for trail runs. It's more rewarding and useful than amassing points. We had the California QSO Party last weekend. I gave away a couple dozen points to folks trying to get California, but some of those folks had amassed over a thousand contacts with California in one weekend. No thank you.

This is one of the problems with amateur radio. So many activities have devolved into contests and bogus 5-9 signal reports. I enjoy Field Day and Parks On The Air because they get everyone off the grid and outside, but the contest aspect does get old.

Also, don't forget about the ARRL Field Day, which is June 29-30, as well as Winter Field Day, which is January 27-28.

Indeed! Only three months away!

Actually, it's the ARRL that has a Field Day. It's the last full weekend in June. Next year it's June 29 and 30.

In case anyone is interested, there's a Prime Day sale on the Radioddity DB25-G. $86 at the time of this posting.

This entire thread is probably driving both potential GMRS and potential hams away from radio. Why would they want to partake when a bunch of guys from both services bicker all the time?

Those six words are the bane of amateur radio. Unfortunately, it's not just CW. A lot of the old farts who complain about the lack of CW testing also whine about internet linking and digital modes as not being real ham radio. The reality is there are more high-tech opportunities with amateur radio now than there ever were. That's what should be sold to young potential hams. Not talking to Santa on grandpa's HT. I know a kid who got his ham license a few years ago in high school and was working on a CubeSat that went into space. He's at Embry Riddle now. When I was in high school I was in auto shop learning to change the spark plugs.

It's valuable and it's on the road to a cell site. I'd leave it. It's pretty obvious that it belongs ro someone and they may be looking for it. I've been on the wrong end of dropping something valuable and going back for it only to find it gone. It's not a good feeling.

In this image from a recent amateur radio licensing class, we can see one of my fellow amateur radio volunteer examiners explaining the function of the PTT button.

In this screen grab from an FCC training film, we can see that an unlicensed radio operator is being cited by an FCC agent tasked with hunting down and prosecuting anyone caught pressing a PTT button on a radio without proper licensing.

Using any handheld from inside a car is an exercise in frustration, so if you can figure out a way to attach this thing outside to the roof then yes, it would improve the performance. It's hard to say if it would "greatly" improve, but by golly it won't be worse. I believe this answers the question you asked.

Just curious, how far away is this other receiver, and what is it? A handheld? Another mobile radio? A scanner?