Rugged Radio GMR45

[Elmo777]

I have the chance to pick up a new in the box Rugged GMR45 radio with a mag mount antennae for around $225.  The only thing I know about this brand is what i've read.  Can this radio be programmed easily with my local repeaters and how is this done, CHIRP, their software or manually on the radio?  The mag mount antennae will be basically useless as my F150 is aluminum, YAE ME!!!  With that said, what antennae set up would you recommend with this radio.  The other radio I am considering is the Wouxun KG-1000K. 

 

[wayoverthere]

No experience with that radio, but on antennas...

If you're willing to drill a hole, doing a roof mounted nmo is optimal; if height/clearance is an issue, a 1/4 wave antenna is only 6ish inches tall, while a 1/2 or 5/8 wave will provide some gain without adding too much height (at around 12"). If clearance is no concern, Midland's mxta26 has lots of good reports but it's close to 3 ft tall.

Alternately, there are 3rd brake light mounts (spendy) and fender mounting brackets as options; these may work better with a 1/2 wave "no ground plane" antenna....I haven't tried the mxta26 to say how it would do in that configuration.

Truth be told, there's tons of antenna options out there, with gmrs sitting so close to some of the blocks of business and public safety

 

[Elmo777]

2 hours ago, wayoverthere said:

No experience with that radio, but on antennas...

If you're willing to drill a hole, doing a roof mounted nmo is optimal; if height/clearance is an issue, a 1/4 wave antenna is only 6ish inches tall, while a 1/2 or 5/8 wave will provide some gain without adding too much height (at around 12"). If clearance is no concern, Midland's mxta26 has lots of good reports.

Alternately, there are 3rd brake light mounts (spendy) and fender mounting brackets as options; these may work better with a 1/2 wave "no ground plane" antenna....I haven't tried the mxta26 to say how it would do in that configuration.

Truth be told, there's tons of antenna options out there, with gmrs sitting so close to some of the blocks of business and public safety

 

Thanks for the advice, i'm thinking of passing on the radio.   @socalgmrs had mentioned of installing an earth magnet under the roof liner and using the magnetic mount, i would have never even thought to do that so i may do that once i find the right set up.  Appreciate the feedback and advice.

[wayoverthere]

3 hours ago, Elmo777 said:

Thanks for the advice, i'm thinking of passing on the radio.   @socalgmrs had mentioned of installing an earth magnet under the roof liner and using the magnetic mount, i would have never even thought to do that so i may do that once i find the right set up.  Appreciate the feedback and advice.

Good luck on the radio search perhaps some can chime in with firsthand experiences with the kg-1000g.

For the magnet, that's a good (and creative) idea as well. The other consideration with a mag mount is cable routing. While I've absolutely done it (mostly ran 2 till I moved one antenna to a fender mount), it does eventually take a toll on the paint at both the mount and wherever the cable runs on the body. In my case that was mostly where the cable tucked under the edge of the door seal at the top.

On routing, I had a seal i could tuck under, follow the rear edge of the passenger door seal down, and loop up and in at the bottom (single cab compact truck, rarely had passengers). Current crew cab, the seals are tighter and don't hold the cable well, and all 4 doors get used regularly, so mag mounts are less optimal and mostly saved for when I'm running solo...have a comet 2x4sr on a fender mount for regular use.

 

[WRXB215]

I have no firsthand experience with the KG-1000G but I have heard nothing but good about it.

[WRYZ926]

The Wouxun KG-1000G Plus is an excellent radio. Yes they are more expensive but close to the same price as the Midland MXT500 and MXT575. The Wouxun KG-1000G is a better radio.

Another option for aluminum body panels is the Midland MXTA38 adhesive backed metal disk. I use on an aluminum tool box to hold a Comet 2x4SR antenna on my SxS. I cleaned the toolbox really well and applied the MXTA38 disk. I set a 25 pound weight on the disk for a couple of days to ensure the disk staid put. Of course the tool box is diamond plate. You probably won't have to use a weight with a perfectly lat and smooth surface. 

[nokones]

I believe Rugged Radios uses the RT Systems Software application. What I recall that application was somewhat cumbersome to use.

[Elmo777]

11 hours ago, wayoverthere said:

Good luck on the radio search perhaps some can chime in with firsthand experiences with the kg-1000g.

For the magnet, that's a good (and creative) idea as well. The other consideration with a mag mount is cable routing. While I've absolutely done it (mostly ran 2 till I moved one antenna to a fender mount), it does eventually take a toll on the paint at both the mount and wherever the cable runs on the body. In my case that was mostly where the cable tucked under the edge of the door seal at the top.

On routing, I had a seal i could tuck under, follow the rear edge of the passenger door seal down, and loop up and in at the bottom (single cab compact truck, rarely had passengers). Current crew cab, the seals are tighter and don't hold the cable well, and all 4 doors get used regularly, so mag mounts are less optimal and mostly saved for when I'm running solo...have a comet 2x4sr on a fender mount for regular use.

 

I have done the coax under the door edge seal in the past, not a huge fan of it running across the roof, it works but not ideal.  Leaning towards a solid mount somewhere on the truck, just need to find a spot that makes sense.

[SteveShannon]

21 minutes ago, Elmo777 said:

I have done the coax under the door edge seal in the past, not a huge fan of it running across the roof, it works but not ideal.  Leaning towards a solid mount somewhere on the truck, just need to find a spot that makes sense.

How about drilling and mounting an NMO mount in the center of the roof?

[Elmo777]

10 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

How about drilling and mounting an NMO mount in the center of the roof?

Ya, thats not an option for this truck.  If it were an older truck i would consider that.  I'll probably end u doing the magnet mount on the top by putting a large magnet under the interior roof liner and calling it good.  

[SteveShannon]

10 minutes ago, Elmo777 said:

Ya, thats not an option for this truck.  If it were an older truck i would consider that.  I'll probably end u doing the magnet mount on the top by putting a large magnet under the interior roof liner and calling it good.  

I understand the hesitance, but we’ve all seen hundreds of vehicles our entire lives that have permanent antenna mounts in their roofs. They look better than having a cable laying on the roof.
Why not get full enjoyment out of the truck for as long as you own it?  It’s like suffering with cheap cupboards, worn out flooring, and an inefficient furnace for 30 years and then fixing up your house to sell it.  None of the comments I’ve seen from people who sell or trade off vehicles with permanent NMO mounts make me think the value is affected.

I don’t know if you’ve looked into the Bulletproof Diesel third brake like mounts, but that might be another option. Finally, there’s a company that makes replacements for the factory GPS or satellite roof mount antenna that provide an additional two way radio mount. If you’re interested I’ll see if I can find them again.  I’m not certain what models they cover.

I would compare the strength of self adhesive steel disk trick on top of the roof to the large magnet under the roof liner.  I’m not certain that two magnets on either side of an aluminum roof will have as much attraction. Try both methods and let us know, please.

[Elmo777]

6 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

I understand the hesitance, but we’ve all seen hundreds of vehicles our entire lives that have permanent antenna mounts in their roofs. Why not get full enjoyment out of the truck for as long as you own it.

For me, as long as their are other options available with todays new products, i'll lean towards those first.  With that said, nothing wrong with doing what you suggested, just not their yet!!!  I am wondering if the mag mount would give the same type of performance of drilling a hole, don't know that answer to that yet.

[WRYZ926]

I have had my 2023 Ford Escape for a year now and still can't bring myself to drill the roof for NMO mounts. Part of that is due to all of the airbags under the headliner. 

[wayoverthere]

3 minutes ago, Elmo777 said:

For me, as long as their are other options available with todays new products, i'll lean towards those first.  With that said, nothing wrong with doing what you suggested, just not their yet!!!  I am wondering if the mag mount would give the same type of performance of drilling a hole, don't know that answer to that yet.

https://kv5r.com/ham-radio/mobile-antenna-placement/

I forget if I alluded to it in this thread or another (or started to mention it and then deleted), but this page has the graphic that shows the relative loss for different mounting types and placements. Mag mount in the center is very close to the ideal (permanent hole/mount) loss-wise, evidently.

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

I have had my 2023 Ford Escape for a year now and still can't bring myself to drill the roof for NMO mounts. Part of that is due to all of the airbags under the headliner. 

Does your Escape have a gps antenna on it?  Maybe you can use this and route the cable through the existing hole https://www.l-com.com/nmo-mount-combo-28-db-gps-glnss-vehicular-antenna-nmo-mount-sma-connectors-ll195-cable-hg-gpsglnmo195-sma?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ns-nsNx68a39JmpChg0pu-IwbE&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsoe5BhDiARIsAOXVoUsk2dsrso9-Jaurjo8QZROWHV8p4mL-ixUhIR51gPVsTpMz_sSN9MsaAprNEALw_wcB

[SteveShannon]

9 minutes ago, Elmo777 said:

For me, as long as their are other options available with todays new products, i'll lean towards those first.  With that said, nothing wrong with doing what you suggested, just not their yet!!!  I am wondering if the mag mount would give the same type of performance of drilling a hole, don't know that answer to that yet.

Here’s the gps antenna replacement I mentioned in my edited earlier post: https://www.l-com.com/nmo-mount-combo-28-db-gps-glnss-vehicular-antenna-nmo-mount-sma-connectors-ll195-cable-hg-gpsglnmo195-sma?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ns-nsNx68a39JmpChg0pu-IwbE&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsoe5BhDiARIsAOXVoUsk2dsrso9-Jaurjo8QZROWHV8p4mL-ixUhIR51gPVsTpMz_sSN9MsaAprNEALw_wcB

 

[WRUU653]

18 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Here’s the gps antenna replacement I mentioned in my edited earlier post: https://www.l-com.com/nmo-mount-combo-28-db-gps-glnss-vehicular-antenna-nmo-mount-sma-connectors-ll195-cable-hg-gpsglnmo195-sma?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ns-nsNx68a39JmpChg0pu-IwbE&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsoe5BhDiARIsAOXVoUsk2dsrso9-Jaurjo8QZROWHV8p4mL-ixUhIR51gPVsTpMz_sSN9MsaAprNEALw_wcB

 

This is great! I had no idea this existed.

[SteveShannon]

2 minutes ago, WRUU653 said:

This is great! I had no idea this existed.

It has been a while since I looked at them, but there’s also a way to use existing coax rather than dropping your headliner and pulling in another cable:

 

[SteveShannon]

And another video I enjoyed:

 

[Elmo777]

53 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

I have had my 2023 Ford Escape for a year now and still can't bring myself to drill the roof for NMO mounts. Part of that is due to all of the airbags under the headliner. 

it would be just my luck i'd hit something critical in my F150.

[Elmo777]

49 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Here’s the gps antenna replacement I mentioned in my edited earlier post: https://www.l-com.com/nmo-mount-combo-28-db-gps-glnss-vehicular-antenna-nmo-mount-sma-connectors-ll195-cable-hg-gpsglnmo195-sma?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ns-nsNx68a39JmpChg0pu-IwbE&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsoe5BhDiARIsAOXVoUsk2dsrso9-Jaurjo8QZROWHV8p4mL-ixUhIR51gPVsTpMz_sSN9MsaAprNEALw_wcB

 

Thank you sir, i'll check that out.

[WRYZ926]

Yes I have a GPS and SiriusXM antenna AKA shark fin. The newer Escapes actually have the Am and FM antennas built into the rear hatch glass so the only antenna on top is the GPS/SiriusXM. But I am also running two mag mounted antennas. I have the luck of the Irish (usually bad) so won't push my luck. I don't want to mess anything up or introduce any RFI/RMI issues. New vehicles are finicky as is with all of the onboard computers.

I'll just stick with the two magnet mounts for now since I have everything setup and working the way I want.

 

[WRUU653]

43 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

And another video I enjoyed:

Intresting that in this video he says that the Larsen version has a plastic base and needs a no ground plane antenna. Here is the link to the version he shows that has a metal base so you can use a ground plane antenna. https://theantennafarm.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=9280 

[gortex2]

youll spend more money and time trying to rig something up that may or may not work. a NMO mounted in the roof is your best and cheapest solution. I had 6 on my F150. Frilled the holes with 6 miles on the truck. My $100K challenger had a hole in it with 26 miles.... If you do it right its better in the end and wont affect any value of the vehicle.

[SteveShannon]

8 minutes ago, WRUU653 said:

Intresting that in this video he says that the Larsen version has a plastic base and needs a no ground plane antenna. Here is the link to the version he shows that has a metal base so you can use a ground plane antenna. https://theantennafarm.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=9280 

Good job, Gil!  That’s a much better price than the one from LCom.