Base Antenna

[mike50]

Hey, just wondering what base antennas are being used for your home for GMRS?

[kidphc]

I don't have one..If I were to put one up it would probably be something like a ed fong, jpole home brew or a dnd production.

 

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[PB30X]

That would depend on your location,price margin, placement and clearance, and what kind of range you are looking for(Height and terrain is everything) Too many to choose from, but naming a few for a Non-Flame War on what is better, and for worse pending the unique desires... Remember you are looking for UHF 450-470mhz or tighter frequency range.. Good Luck! I Do not have a base antenna, but have used mobile ground planes in my past. I’m sure someone with better knowledge and experience will come along.. I’m an Andrew/CommScope kind of guy

 

Browning

Comet

CommScope

Diamond

J-Pole

Laird

Larsen

PCTEL

SinClair

Slim Jim N9TAX

StationMaster

Telewave

TRAM

[Radioguy7268]

You didn't mention what you wanted to use your "base" antenna for, or how you wanted to mount it.

 

At my house, I've got an inexpensive Ed Fong antenna that costs around $40 off eBay. I've got it strapped to a chimney mount. It's reasonably small & lightweight, the white PVC doesn't stick out in the neighborhood, and it covers both VHF and UHF frequencies - so when I want to hook up a VHF scanner for local fire & township events, it does the job for that also. 

 

For GMRS, I'm only using it for a UHF control station at my house, so it doesn't need to be anything special. It just needs to hit my repeater that sits 14 miles away, and it does that reliably and cleanly. I've had it up for 6+ years now, no issues.

[mainehazmt]

One of the most important parts of a radio system is the antenna. Don’t cut corners then complain

[gortex2]

As other stated it depends on the use. For a antenna used as a control point i have had great luck with the PCTEL Fiberglass sticks. I run the MFB4600 on my motor home and also at home. If your talking to mobiles or another base only then i use my DB404.

[Jones]

I am currently running a Tram-Browning 1485. 5/8 over 1/2 wavelength with ground-planes. Cheap. Tune-able. DC Grounded element. Fiberglass radome.  5dBD gain.  Just under 4 feet tall.  Works well.

 

I still prefer quarter-wave antennas for mobile use.

[mainehazmt]

For mobile 5/8 every time every freq. makes a big difference in distance vhf and uhf

[axorlov]

Base antenna: Browning BR-6140
Mobile antennas: Browning BR-178, Browning BR-170. BR-170 hears a bit better.

[Jones]

For mobile 5/8 every time every freq. makes a big difference in distance vhf and uhf

 

If you're on flat land, such as near the ocean like you, then yes, a 5/8 wave antenna will give you a natural 3 dBD of gain over a quarter wave.  However, in hilly terrain, or in the mountains, particularly on UHF, this is NOT a benefit, and a quarter wave antenna will give you much better omni-directionality "on the tilt', which is preferred over forward gain in these areas.  There are discussions elsewhere on this site about this matter.

[motten1978]

My recommendation is a Tram 1450 5/8 over 5/8 ground plane antenna (50bucks), with some LMR 400 coax which runs about a dollar a foot. Very cost effective and very good performance. Maybe not the highest performance setup, but very good performance and cheap too. Good luck, WQXC747.

[gman1971]

Until it fills out with water and SWR goes up to 1:8, if you get this antenna make sure you add a PVC radome over it. I had two of these, both developed high SWR. I am using the Diamond X50C2 for GMRS now.

 

G.

 

My recommendation is a Tram 1450 5/8 over 5/8 ground plane antenna (50bucks), with some LMR 400 coax which runs about a dollar a foot. Very cost effective and very good performance. Maybe not the highest performance setup, but very good performance and cheap too. Good luck, WQXC747.

[shaine]

I have a slim Jim for GMRS/MURS in the attic.

 

 

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[WRXT271]

On 9/14/2019 at 12:40 PM, mike50 said:

Hey, just wondering what base antennas are being used for your home for GMRS?

I just ordered a Tram-Browning BR-6155 from Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/Browning-BR-6155-fiberglass-omnidirectional-450-470MHz/dp/B00S983H0K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JOHH7Q1W5XRZ&keywords=tram+br+6155&qid=1693318224&sprefix=tram+br+6155%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-1 I have had great luck with all my Tram-Browning antennas for Ham, CB and scanner. I have a lot of confidence that it will be the same for this antenna. Also use only LMR 400 Flex coax. The BR-6155 uses an N-Type connector. So order your cable with a N-type at one end an a PL-259 at the other end. Order the length you will need + 20 ft incase you need to move your radio around in your room.

For mobile antenna I have two. 

Midland – MXTA26 MicroMobile® 6DB Gain Whip Antenna – Quadruple Signal Output – 32” Antenna.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084BPXNC5?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details This NMO antenna requires no tuning. 1.05 SWR Ch 16 (462 MHz) and 1.77 SWR on 467 repeater input.

Tram 1241 5" NMO Magnet Mount , Black https://www.amazon.com/Tram-Magnet-Mount-5-25in-1-50in/dp/B07K8Q7PYD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1B4GNIG8Z8YLL&keywords=browning+mag+mount&qid=1693319912&sprefix=browning+mag+mount%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1 I use only mag mounts use this one for long antennas.

Browning 450MHz-470MHz UHF 3dBd Land Mobile NMO Antenna.  https://www.amazon.com/Browning-450MHz-470MHz-3dBd-Mobile-Antenna/dp/B00IDTJ2EA/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2WDL2ZYY7M3OJ&keywords=browning+gmrs+antenna&qid=1693319544&sprefix=browning+gmrs%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-1 This antenna requires trimming, however, I achieved 1.05 SWR Ch 16 (462 MHz) and 1.77 SWR on 467 repeater input on this antenna also.

1233-BNC Black 3 1/4" Magnet Mount NMO Mag Mount 17 foot Antenna Cable Roof or Trunk https://www.amazon.com/1233-BNC-Black-Magnet-Mount-Antenna/dp/B01AX1R1NY/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1B4GNIG8Z8YLL&keywords=browning+mag+mount&qid=1693319912&sprefix=browning+mag+mount%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-7 Use this smaller Mag Mount for smaller Tram 450-470 antenna.

 

Good luck

RJ

[nokones]

Laird FG4505 5 dB omni

[SpeedSpeak2Me]

5 hours ago, WRXT271 said:

I just ordered a Tram-Browning BR-6155 from Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/Browning-BR-6155-fiberglass-omnidirectional-450-470MHz/dp/B00S983H0K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JOHH7Q1W5XRZ&keywords=tram+br+6155&qid=1693318224&sprefix=tram+br+6155%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-1 I have had great luck with all my Tram-Browning antennas for Ham, CB and scanner. I have a lot of confidence that it will be the same for this antenna. Also use only LMR 400 Flex coax. The BR-6155 uses an N-Type connector. So order your cable with a N-type at one end an a PL-259 at the other end. Order the length you will need + 20 ft incase you need to move your radio around in your room.

For mobile antenna I have two. 

Midland – MXTA26 MicroMobile® 6DB Gain Whip Antenna – Quadruple Signal Output – 32” Antenna.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084BPXNC5?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details This NMO antenna requires no tuning. 1.05 SWR Ch 16 (462 MHz) and 1.77 SWR on 467 repeater input.

Tram 1241 5" NMO Magnet Mount , Black https://www.amazon.com/Tram-Magnet-Mount-5-25in-1-50in/dp/B07K8Q7PYD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1B4GNIG8Z8YLL&keywords=browning+mag+mount&qid=1693319912&sprefix=browning+mag+mount%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1 I use only mag mounts use this one for long antennas.

Browning 450MHz-470MHz UHF 3dBd Land Mobile NMO Antenna.  https://www.amazon.com/Browning-450MHz-470MHz-3dBd-Mobile-Antenna/dp/B00IDTJ2EA/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2WDL2ZYY7M3OJ&keywords=browning+gmrs+antenna&qid=1693319544&sprefix=browning+gmrs%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-1 This antenna requires trimming, however, I achieved 1.05 SWR Ch 16 (462 MHz) and 1.77 SWR on 467 repeater input on this antenna also.

1233-BNC Black 3 1/4" Magnet Mount NMO Mag Mount 17 foot Antenna Cable Roof or Trunk https://www.amazon.com/1233-BNC-Black-Magnet-Mount-Antenna/dp/B01AX1R1NY/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1B4GNIG8Z8YLL&keywords=browning+mag+mount&qid=1693319912&sprefix=browning+mag+mount%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-7 Use this smaller Mag Mount for smaller Tram 450-470 antenna.

 

Good luck

RJ

I am currently running the BR-6155, and it does an excellent job.  It replaced a temporary BR-6140, that even though it was a unity gain 1/4 wave, it too did a good job.  The BR-6155 is fed with 50' of LMR400UF, and the base is about 30' AGL.  No issues hitting repeaters at 20-30 miles, full quieting, on just 1w of power when I have the HT hooked up to it (low power).

I picked mine up from The Antenna Farm for less than Amazon's cost, however once you add in the cost of shipping they pretty much come out within a dollar or two of each other.  I just happened to use The Antenna Farm because at the time Amazon was out of stock.

SWR readings using RigExpert Stick Pro (450-480 MHz - 400pts of data):

[WRXT271]

On 8/29/2023 at 12:36 PM, SpeedSpeak2Me said:

I am currently running the BR-6155, and it does an excellent job.  It replaced a temporary BR-6140, that even though it was a unity gain 1/4 wave, it too did a good job.  The BR-6155 is fed with 50' of LMR400UF, and the base is about 30' AGL.  No issues hitting repeaters at 20-30 miles, full quieting, on just 1w of power when I have the HT hooked up to it (low power).

I picked mine up from The Antenna Farm for less than Amazon's cost, however once you add in the cost of shipping they pretty much come out within a dollar or two of each other.  I just happened to use The Antenna Farm because at the time Amazon was out of stock.

SWR readings using RigExpert Stick Pro (450-480 MHz - 400pts of data):

Good deal. I'm looking forward to setting BR-6155 up. I was on a REACT GMRS repeater in Park Ridge when I lived in Chicago.

[fremont]

I don't have a permanent installation, but, when camping, hunting, etc, I'll usually put up a Nagoya 200-C as we also like to tinker with MURS too.  Or, if I'm lazy, my Ed Fong DBJ-GMRS tuned to 465.