back4more70

Thank you for the responses. The ground plane will not be an issue, since it would be on my vehicle roof. However, I am moving in about a month, which means I lose my enclosed garage, so I think I will wait since height will no longer be an issue at that point. I'll also decide if I prefer VHF or UHF to make things easier ?

I am looking a dual band (2m / 70cm) antenna, NMO mount, less than 18 inches or so, and under $30-$40 for use with my < 20 watt mobile radio. Does not need to be great for GMRS, but it would be nice to receive decently. Is there such a beast?

I have a Baofeng UV17 Pro GPS that I have been using for airband (awesome radio by the way) and decided to order the Mate since it also does airband, and is orange lol

Incorrect. He has stated that the wrist strap is the component that impresses the chicks ?

Also for my GMRS HTs I sometimes use a Nagoya NA-771G, or a Nagoya NA-701G when I get tired of poking myself in the eye. These both are optimized for GMRS, like the previous antennas I mentioned. Notarubicon has good videos on YouTube if you want to get ideas without breaking the bank, but @OffRoaderX will tell you that you are his favorite viewer. Don't fall for it ?

For GMRS, I have been pleased with my Nagoya UT-72G (mag mount), and Midland MXTA25 (NMO mount) when I wanted to save some height to stop running into my garage door. The Midland MXTA26 (NMO mount) seems to get terrific reviews for GMRS also, that may be my next GMRS antenna.

If it was one of my cousins, I would tell them to get their own license. Maybe I'm just bitter because none of them sent a wedding gift ?

I also have a Wouxun KG-935G+, but went with the Wouxun ANO-012G stubby antenna 4 5/8" (buytwowayradios). It is not as good as the stock antenna, but it is close enough for me, and pretty awesome for just under $10.

Not to mention that folks are paying handsomely for cell phone service, and I don't believe that cell infrastructure is government-sponsored. Encrypt away, customers!

I agree with the GMRS statement, but I see lots of 70cm repeaters in California in which the offset is positive or negative (but always 5MHz).

I learned a lot about GMRS via YouTube, specifically from the Queen himself NotaRubicon Productions. For amateur radio, I read through the ARRL Technician study guide/manual/whatever it's called.

GMRS repeater offsets are +5 MHz. For example, transmit on 467.55 and receive on 462.55.

Yep, they'll never take me alive! ?

I spend about 99% of my time listening instead of transmitting, so it should not be an issue. Plus, the wood base can take a lot of heat. The plastic around the enclosure might be another story ?

Sorry try this pic

Perhaps this?

Well I'm pretty sure it was over 15 years old haha

Stock vs new antenna

Gonna pat myself on the back here. I mounted my Retevis RA25 in my 2022 Chevy Trailblazer using a piece of wood reclaimed from a Staples book cabinet. I also had to search through my three toolboxes for screws and washers to mount the Retevis-included bracket, which made me realize why my father kept all his loose screws and other bits in his toolboxes for so many years ? Bonus #1: I thought I needed an external speaker, but the internal speaker bouncing off the wood mount actually sounds quite decent. Bonus #2: The whole contraption is easily removable, nothing is screwed in to the car. Bonus #3: I have set my cupholders free!

This is the route I am also taking. I just passed my Technician test, and am studying for my General and Amateur Extra tests. I favor GMRS, but I am moving to a state with a lot of land and not a lot of people, so I thought it would be fun (and perhaps useful) to get my amateur license as well.

If it helps, my plan is the same: buy an amp for my KG-935G Plus, and swap between the car and in my hand when on foot. You can get the radio and an amp for less than the KG-1000G (if my numbers are accurate).

I may be the only one excited about this, but buytwowayradios has the Wouxun ANO-012G GMRS Tuned Antenna (SMA Female) back in stock. I have been waiting for months for this for my Wouxun KG-935G Plus.

I mentioned in another post that I took my Technician test last Saturday. I got 100% (I studied the material, instead of just memorizing the questions), and was offered to try the General test for free. Why not? I took the General test, and missed passing by two questions. But it was interesting how much the General test seems to draw on the Technician material. Next time I test, I will try the General and Amateur Extra at the same session.

Yep, I would like to go all the way to Amateur Extra! I actually enjoy the reading and studying part of it.

Does anyone have experience with both the Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate and the KG-UV8H and is willing share your impression of them? I have a KG-935G Plus for GMRS, and I am wondering if I should lean towards the KG-UV8H, but I also like the feature set on the KG-UV9D Mate.