WRQW589 Posted Sunday at 11:18 PM Report Share Posted Sunday at 11:18 PM For a few years there were four options in the Midland antenna lineup: MXTA13 - 2.1dB, All-in-one magnetic mount, often bundled with MXT105, 115, and 275. $19.99 MXTA51 - 2.1dB, NMO with included NMO magnetic mount. Often bundled with MXT500 and 575. $44.99 MXTA25 - 3dB, NMO, "Ghost" antenna. $49 MXTA26 - 6dB, NMO, Whip antenna, $59. The one to beat, for mobile GMRS. I noticed this weekend they've added a few more to their lineup. (edit: I mean to say this weekend I noticed, not I noticed that this weekend they've added.) MXAT01VP - 7.5dB, Fiberglass at $159 MXAT03 - 3dB, Spring mount Bullbar, $179 MXAT04 - 6.6dB, Heavy Duty Bullbar, $189 MXAT04VP - 6.6dB, Heavy Duty Spring Bullbar with mount and coax, $259 MXAT05 - 3dB, Heavy Duty Bullbar, $159 MXAT05VP - 3dB, Heavy Duty spring mount with coax Bullbar, $229 The prices seem a little out there to me; none of my mobile antennas cost more than $80, and none of my mounts were over $30. Their new MXTA48 heavy duty spring base is listed at $99 (included with several of the antennas above). Seems like some hype. If I thought I might be trashing a whip antenna or its mount offroad, I'd buy a spare set of a more reasonably priced antenna and mount, and still be under $100. ...Ok, I'll admit it, I already have a few backup options in the garage. What's the appeal of bullbar antennas? I saw a Reddit thread where the consensus seemed to be putting the antenna on the bumper was a step backwards in performance: (https://www.reddit.com/r/gmrs/comments/1cbbi0u/finally_bullbar_antennas_in_us/) Is this fashion over function? https://midlandusa.com/blogs/blog/gmrs-antennas-and-understanding-db - The Midland lineup $159-259 seems a lot to spend on an antenna and mount. I see something from HYS listed as 6.5dBi for $120 that appears to be pretty sturdy, and with a spring mount and cable. I'm not in the market for *yet another* mobile antenna, but it's interesting to see what's out there and what drives the pricing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRQC527 Posted Sunday at 11:45 PM Report Share Posted Sunday at 11:45 PM 15 minutes ago, WRQW589 said: What's the appeal of bullbar antennas? *Disclaimer: The views expressed by WRQC527 do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire MyGMRS community. I don't get these antennas. I just watched a couple of videos about them. The reasons folks were running them had more to do with looks than function. They do work just fine, but it was more about wanting to look like their Australian counterparts. Personally, I don't want a four-foot baseball bat on the front or back of my vehicle. Also, I have in the past run one of them fat Firestik CB antennas, which at highway speeds generated a lot of wind noise, and in some cases a "whistle", which can be annoying inside a vehicle. No, for me I'm fine with my Jetstream JTM3B that I hardly know is there and covers GMRS and amateur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppyjr Posted Sunday at 11:50 PM Report Share Posted Sunday at 11:50 PM I’m pretty sure those ^ antennas have been out for months…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRQC527 Posted Sunday at 11:52 PM Report Share Posted Sunday at 11:52 PM 1 minute ago, Hoppyjr said: I’m pretty sure those ^ antennas have been out for months…. They have, and this subject has been brought up in the past as well. But it's sometimes refreshing to get new views on the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRQW589 Posted Sunday at 11:53 PM Author Report Share Posted Sunday at 11:53 PM 1 minute ago, Hoppyjr said: I’m pretty sure those ^ antennas have been out for months…. Entirely possible. I meant to say "this weekend I noticed..." Not "I noticed that this weekend they added..." Hoppyjr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRXP381 Posted Monday at 12:25 AM Report Share Posted Monday at 12:25 AM “Bull bar” antennas do not require a ground plane like many/most of the other antennas. Yes even the ones you see on the midland site mounted to the edge of a fender or roof rack need a ground plane to work right. So the “bill bar” antennas can be mounted on the edge of a roof rack or a tire carrier and they take more abuse than an mx26 or the like. For off roading that is happening in heavy woods, brush ect…. the “bull” bar type work great. I’d never put one on a front bumper but that’s just me. As for the noise I’ve never noticed any noise but then again big tires, big motor, flat bed with a chase rack spare tire carrier….. windows rolled up ac on and music playing I’ve never heard anything on my off road rigs that bothered me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRQC527 Posted Monday at 12:33 AM Report Share Posted Monday at 12:33 AM 5 minutes ago, WRXP381 said: “Bull bar” antennas do not require a ground plane My Jetstream doesn't either, but it will probably snap at the base if I hit something with it like the garage door. Those bull bar antennas can probably take quite a hit, what with those springs at the base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRQW589 Posted Monday at 02:52 AM Author Report Share Posted Monday at 02:52 AM I appreciate the ruggedness. For a NGP antenna I have a Laird TE B4505CN (N for no ground plane). It's on my window air conditioner right now but next time I get the RV out it's going on the RV's roof rack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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