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Recommendations for base antenna to be located in front of an Attic window


WRZH459

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Does anyone have any recommendation for a base antenna in attic with window view of the southwest. i have the lovely HOA issue in my life. Ideally I would like something that will work with GMRS and or a separate antenna to use for scanner. If I can use "one" that would be ideal. I think I need to have a gain of at least 5-10db with a 75’ run of cable. 

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You’re gonna need Atleast Lmr400 to minimize loss.  You also need to know you won’t have great 360deg tx/rx.   How tall can you go? Are you trying to hit just 1 repeater or multiple repeaters/simplex.  If just one a yagi directional antenna would work well.  If you need multiple repeaters or simplex the a 9db gain antenna is around 10’ tall and a 12db antenna is around 16’ tall.  More gain more radiated power leaves the station. What wattage base are you working with?  

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Agreed on the LMR400.  Its easy to lose 1-2db at 75ft if your not using a hi quality low loss cable.  Regarding antenna, whatever you pick, height/line of site to repeater is everything.  I can hit a repeater 50 miles away at 5 watts, and my antenna is only about 10ft off the ground (outside).  However the repeater is about 1500ft higher in elevation than where I am at.  Hindsite what it is, I would not go over 20 watts.   more is better if you trying to punch through trees etc, but line of site rules.  Interesting you mention a scanner also, I use a antenna that works very well with a sdr and my gmrs.  I use a antenna switch.   The antenna I use is compactenna, a little pricey but very flexible regarding frequency range.  Its only about 4-5 db gain, so there are probably better solutions for gmrs only, but if your after broad frequency coverage its worth looking at.  The first image is the antenna, there fairly small, so atic would work, but like I said a little pricey.   The 2nd picture is the antenna switch showing connection to sdr only.  Best of luck..    regards 

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Edited by WSAA254
Adding in swr for 462-467 using compactenna
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I am going to suggest using a satellite j mount and get the entire antenna above the roof if at all possible. J mounts can be found on Amazon pretty cheap. I use ones that are 44 inches tall for several antennas.

As others have said, use a good quality LMR400 or equivalent coax cable.

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