Looking for antenna solution

[WSJP685]

I would like to buy a portable gmrs radio, but I would like to know if I can mount and antenna on my car and plug it into the radio while traveling.

[amaff]

When you say "portable" do you mean handheld?

That's definitely a thing. Usually you'll need something like this (just make sure it's the right connector for both your antenna and radio)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COWFD6I

[Destro]

The Nagoya UT-72G mag mount antenna comes with the adapter for a handheld. It's fairly cheap and works great.

[SteveShannon]

19 minutes ago, WSJP685 said:

I would like to buy a portable gmrs radio, but I would like to know if I can mount and antenna on my car and plug it into the radio while traveling.

Yes you can. Many people do that. The Radioddity db20g is great because it’s small and has a cigarette lighter plug. Add a magnetic NMO mount and a Midland MXTA26 antenna and you have a great inexpensive system. 

[WRUE951]

I've tried that route before, using an HT in a mobile with mobile antenna.   Although it works somewhat better, it's not the 'eye opener' one thinks they will get.  Couple years ago i did a experiment sitting at a Hanger at the Mojave Airport.  I was able to hit the El Paso Repeater,  about 40 miles out, equally well with my HT antenna and attached to my mobile antenna with no deviation of inbound/outbound signal reports.  

[WRYZ926]

I was not impressed with the Nagoya UT-72G. In fact the Melowave Shadow (clone of the Midland Ghost) performs better in my experiences. I can't recommend the UT-72G.

I am currently running a Tram 1174 on my Ford Escape. I did have to trim/tune it. I got the SWR down to 1.2 on 462 MHz and 1.4 on 467 MHz. I have used it with hand held radios and a Wouxun KG-100G mobile.

While a hand held attached to a mobile antenna will work better than using a rubber duck antenna inside the vehicle, an actual 25-50 watt mobile will do better.

[SteveShannon]

15 hours ago, amaff said:

When you say "portable" do you mean handheld?

That's definitely a thing. Usually you'll need something like this (just make sure it's the right connector for both your antenna and radio)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COWFD6I

Good question.  In the regulations the FCC distinguishes between portable and handheld portable radios, but maybe the OP meant a handheld.

[WRTC928]

On 10/18/2025 at 7:52 PM, WSJP685 said:

I would like to buy a portable gmrs radio, but I would like to know if I can mount and antenna on my car and plug it into the radio while traveling.

Yes, you can, and it works just fine. I recommend you also use a remote speaker/microphone, since it's a pain to pick up the HT when you're driving, and I think it's also illegal in some places.

23 hours ago, WRUE951 said:

I've tried that route before, using an HT in a mobile with mobile antenna.   Although it works somewhat better, it's not the 'eye opener' one thinks they will get.  Couple years ago i did a experiment sitting at a Hanger at the Mojave Airport.  I was able to hit the El Paso Repeater,  about 40 miles out, equally well with my HT antenna and attached to my mobile antenna with no deviation of inbound/outbound signal reports.  

I'm curious if you used the HT inside the vehicle for the experiment. My experience has been that an inexpensive mag mount antenna (the UT-72G specifically) worked about as well as a 771 attached directly to the HT EXCEPT that from inside the vehicle, the signal from the 771 degraded significantly compared to the 72G. Just getting the antenna outside of the vehicle (aka Faraday cage) can sometimes make quite a bit of difference. Going to a Comet 2x4SR with ~5 dBd gain made a very noticeable difference, in my experience.

[WRUE951]

17 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

Yes, you can, and it works just fine. I recommend you also use a remote speaker/microphone, since it's a pain to pick up the HT when you're driving, and I think it's also illegal in some places.

I'm curious if you used the HT inside the vehicle for the experiment. My experience has been that an inexpensive mag mount antenna (the UT-72G specifically) worked about as well as a 771 attached directly to the HT EXCEPT that from inside the vehicle, the signal from the 771 degraded significantly compared to the 72G. Just getting the antenna outside of the vehicle (aka Faraday cage) can sometimes make quite a bit of difference. Going to a Comet 2x4SR with ~5 dBd gain made a very noticeable difference, in my experience.

I wasn't sitting in the vehicle..  I was parked near a Hanger with my friends playing with aircraft stuff.  I was using the mounted antenna on my truck attached to my HT standing outside..   Thought using the Mobile antenna would help talking to a test piolet above but not needed, he was only a few mile away and the HT with the stubby was doing fine.  I did the test hitting the repeater 40+ miles out.   Yea, sitting in a vehicle with the mobile would be better but lazy me, i'll just roll down the window and stick my head and HT out in the blowing wind.  

[WRTC928]

1 minute ago, WRUE951 said:

I wasn't sitting in the vehicle..  I was parked near a Hanger with my friends playing with aircraft stuff.  I was using the mounted antenna on my truck attached to my HT standing outside..   Thought using the Mobile antenna would help talking to a test piolet above but not needed, he was only a few mile away and the HT with the stubby was doing fine.  I did the test hitting the repeater 40+ miles out.   Yea, sitting in a vehicle with the mobile would be better but lazy me, i'll just roll down the window and stick my head and HT out in the blowing wind.  

Yeah, under those circumstances, a vehicle-mounted antenna might not help, depending upon which antenna you have.

[Lscott]

2 hours ago, WRUE951 said:

I wasn't sitting in the vehicle..  I was parked near a Hanger with my friends playing with aircraft stuff. 

You have any air-band radios?

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/534-ic-a16-air-band-radiojpg/?context=new

I did some simulations to see what it takes to cover the 118 to 137 MHz range. Doesn't look possible without using a 3/8 inch diameter vertical element to get under a 2:1 SWR.

[HHD1]

On 10/18/2025 at 8:49 PM, amaff said:

When you say "portable" do you mean handheld?

That's definitely a thing. Usually you'll need something like this (just make sure it's the right connector for both your antenna and radio)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COWFD6I

 

On 10/18/2025 at 9:17 PM, Destro said:

The Nagoya UT-72G mag mount antenna comes with the adapter for a handheld. It's fairly cheap and works great.

This is the setup I currently run with my handhelds.  Plug in a hand mic and you're good to go.  Much better than any antenna inside the vehicle.  

[WRUE951]

1 hour ago, Lscott said:

You have any air-band radios?

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/534-ic-a16-air-band-radiojpg/?context=new

I did some simulations to see what it takes to cover the 118 to 137 MHz range. Doesn't look possible without using a 3/8 inch diameter vertical element to get under a 2:1 SWR.

we weren't using Airband..  We were on a UHF Ham frequency.   But to answer your question, i do have radios capable of Airband but never used them for that purpose.