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.

[WRTC928]

You can, however, get a magnet-mount antenna tuned for GMRS and put it on top of your vehicle, then use an adapter to attach the radio to the antenna. That will almost certainly give you a better signal, both transmitting and receiving.

Antenna

Adapter

There are other magnet-mount antennas that some people like better, but this one has worked well for me. Feel free to solicit opinions.

[GreggInFL]

2 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

You can, however, get a magnet-mount antenna tuned for GMRS and put it on top of your vehicle, then use an adapter to attach the radio to the antenna. That will almost certainly give you a better signal, both transmitting and receiving.

Antenna

Adapter

There are other magnet-mount antennas that some people like better, but this one has worked well for me. Feel free to solicit opinions.

I have that antenna and it comes with an adapter, so for $34.89 he's all-in.

[WRTC928]

3 hours ago, GreggInFL said:

I have that antenna and it comes with an adapter, so for $34.89 he's all-in.

Even better