baofeng external antenna setup

[Guest Steve]

I have  a gm21 baofeng handheld that I am wandering if I could install an adapter to connect to  my cb antenna and cable installed in my jeep. I know the range will not be optimal but would it be better than the 8" whip that came with the radio?

[OffRoaderX]

Short answer: NO

Someone will come along shortly with the 10-paragraph longer answer but it will say basically the same thing.

[SteveShannon]

3 hours ago, Guest Steve said:

I have  a gm21 baofeng handheld that I am wandering if I could install an adapter to connect to  my cb antenna and cable installed in my jeep. I know the range will not be optimal but would it be better than the 8" whip that came with the radio?

 

2 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

Short answer: NO

Someone will come along shortly with the 10-paragraph longer answer but it will say basically the same thing.

And here it is.

Antennas are tuned to specific frequencies.  When they’re used at frequencies other than those they’re tuned for, the results are usually bad. Also, the cable used for a CB antenna is usually very lossy at GMRS frequencies.

So, as Randy said, no.

[OffRoaderX]

10 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

And here it is.

Antennas are tuned to specific frequencies.  When they’re used at frequencies other than those they’re tuned for, the results are usually bad. Also, the cable used for a CB antenna is usually very lossy at GMRS frequencies.

So, as Randy said, no.

That's only 3 paragraphs! Dont worry, the 10 paragraph answer will come.

[dosw]

An antenna not designed for the frequency you're transmitting on could reflect power back into your radio instead of radiating it out as radio waves. If the reflected power is too high (high SWR), the radio will either scale back its power to avoid harm, or become damaged. A CB antenna is made for 26MHz, and a GMRS antenna is made for 465MHz. The difference is great enough the reflected energy will probably be quite high.