VETCOMMS

Thank you for your help.

Yeah.... can't get the com port to recognize the radio using the c port and USB port on the radio. I'm pretty sure they say you can program it using usb-c which makes the radio attractive. I'm hoping someone has successfully used Chirp via the USB to type c cable included with the radio but maybe I'm mistaken and need to buy a separate programming cable. Someone with this radio please straighten me out on the programming cable. Technology is not liking me today.

I'm not sure this cable can be used for programming but it's the only one that came in the box. I've used it to charge the radio so wonder if the cable can do both programming AND charging.

Thanks. It looks like I get the driver from the Tidradio website but need to log in to their website. Is it possible to get the driver without logging in?

I'm having issues with "USB device not recognized" when using the USB cable provided with the radio. I assume the cable used to charge the radio is the same cable I use to program the radio using the USB port on the side. I didn't see any other cables included in the radio package. Am I missing the correct cable for I programming?

How long is the Signal Stalk, 40"? Keep us posted on swr please. Thx for the pic, can you share one with most of the vehicle just to see how it looks?

Thank you for the explanation. I appreciate the sharing of knowledge.

Another cyclist, good to see. That mounting to the aluminum Thule roof rack or the black roof rails that runs down the length of my Subaru Outback was what I was curious about. I see a couple of mount ideas above but thought there was another mount that I've seen on an overlanding website that attached to the groove in the roof rack. I even thought there was a fold over model for fitting in garages. Thinking about that style of mount it wouldn't seem to be as sturdy as the two clamp models above. Dumb question. On the roof rack example some say to use a 1/4 wave antenna and others say 1/2 wave. Can someone please educate me on when to choose one over the other?

Thx for the education. I ask these questions because I have another supplication. It's an aluminum roof rack on an Outback. I took this picture for several reasons. 1. The rack is 5.5 inches above the vehicle roof. 2. You can see the low clearance under the garage door. 3. I've put a mag mount antenna just in front of the stock shark fin radio antenna with ok results but thought a rack mount antenna would work more effectively. So does one use a ground plane antenna on the rack because it's close enough to the roof of the vehicle?

Thx for the replies. I'm just curious what makes the two antenna styles different. Does a no ground plane antenna radiate less in a downward direction?

Am I correct in my thought process that ground plane antennas are ones mounted directly to a vehicle hood/ roof and said vehicle doesn't need to be metal but the plane refers to the horizontal surface the RF is designed to spread out horizontally along? Whereas a non ground plane antenna is one used on truck hood lip mounts or SUV cargo roof racks because the antenna is basically hovering above any horizontal surface of the vehicle. Is this thinking accurate? I ask because I have a Laird nmo ground plane antenna on my truck's hood lip mount and wonder if performance would be better if I changed to a non ground plane antenna.

The ring is snug around the threads. I only have the one o-ring as the other antenna is a Laird with an integrated o-ring. Maybe I can put the o-ring under under the other antenna and see what the swr does on the different antenna. Thx.

No. I only have the one mount though. Are certain models more consistent in performance? I tried the same thing on my fender mount with and without the gasket with similar results. I wonder if I need to tighten the antenna more to flatten the gasket more and that the contacts aren't quite touching between the antenna and the mag mount.

I recently installed a 6" tram uhf antenna on a mag mount on my vehicle. I noticed with the rubber gasket/O-ring installed around the threads of the NMO mount the SWR is 8. Without it, it's 1.01. I like the idea of that o-ring being there from a water/ weather intrusion point but I'm wondering if the o- ring is preventing a good ground?

https://www.amazon.com/Tram-410MHz-490MHz-Pre-Tuned-Antenna/dp/B00IDTJ2VS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=P77KMTA85PBH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P6hxMgh8Gk4o_5d7Bv3PSrxADrRdMWWXKpPlygv3tvYp8L7FFqIpkd-lRA2WsAyjKezn89K-3X1c1fbK1tuZIXLOWvJErjaHtXKSGF37h2HimAR2-i4MDZi6pP74yWHd2ICtoso_SThTdlDMarkDtPyHODLInEwrnnw1qLJlKiD3k8QKcYJVCb4aNKTvNwzXBpPEOBOsqkIQkMoghX9svQ.U_u3WeR_bclOmSE_vppdzdd2gqulUABGw2EyetGYqFE&dib_tag=se&keywords=1%2F4+wave.tram+uhf+antenna&qid=1714388200&sprefix=1%2F4+wave.tram+uhf+antenna%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1 Something like this then?