WQZQ295 Posted September 8, 2022 Report Share Posted September 8, 2022 Question; I have a Retevis RT97 and a copper J-pole antenna for GMRS. Can I use them together without any issues. If so, what are the advantages and disadvantages? Just looking for options! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRUC860 Posted September 8, 2022 Report Share Posted September 8, 2022 Provided the antenna is properly tuned to the GMRS frequencies AND your cable/connector losses are low, you should see a marked increase in Rx and Tx over "some" 1/4 and 1/2 wavelength antennas. There is a lot of math and physics that go into any perceptible difference in distance and quality of comms. Probably the most important element to consider is "line of sight" based on your height ASL. Good luck WQZQ295 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gortex2 Posted September 9, 2022 Report Share Posted September 9, 2022 I would not. Buy a real antenna and cable. The antenna is the most important part of a repeater. Manage expectations. You wont talk 50 miles with a JPole (well unless your at 5000'). Remember the RT is low power =/- 5 watts. Shorted antenna line and antenna they better. WQZQ295 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sshannon Posted September 9, 2022 Report Share Posted September 9, 2022 4 hours ago, gortex2 said: I would not. Buy a real antenna and cable. The antenna is the most important part of a repeater. Manage expectations. You wont talk 50 miles with a JPole (well unless your at 5000'). Remember the RT is low power =/- 5 watts. Shorted antenna line and antenna they better. So a j-pole isn’t a “real antenna?” What’re the deficiencies? (Genuine interest- I have a lot of copper pipe and thought I’d experiment) WQZQ295 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sshannon Posted September 9, 2022 Report Share Posted September 9, 2022 10 minutes ago, Sshannon said: So a j-pole isn’t a “real antenna?” What’re the deficiencies? (Genuine interest- I have a lot of copper pipe and thought I’d experiment) I probably answered this myself. “The efficiency of a j antenna falls off rapidly as the operating frequency is raised.” https://books.google.com/books?id=_lUrAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA141&lpg=PA141&dq=quarter+wave+whip+vs+zepp&source=bl&ots=NaZVS10MdL&sig=ACfU3U3ZksxDFNcMl90bI_yGzoXgOg_KHQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjg9-WLm4j6AhXMJDQIHW-5B4AQ6AF6BAg2EAI#v=onepage&q=quarter wave whip vs zepp&f=false WQZQ295 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRFP399 Posted September 9, 2022 Report Share Posted September 9, 2022 Eh, I had/have an RT97 that I use with a roll up J-Pole from N9TAX. Ideal? No, but it does work well with height. WQZQ295 and Sshannon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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