Antenna Advice

[FreqNick54]

New to GMRS. I own a H3 and H8, now considering a mobile radio for base and vehicle. I own a 2019 Ram with a panoramic roof and a Leer cap. What are good antenna options and mounting locations given this scenario? Please feel free to chime in with radio recommendations also.

[WRYZ926]

One of the best antennas that works on 2m, MURS, 70cm, and GMRS is the Comet 2x4SR. The only reason I don't use it all the time on my vehicle is the fact I park in my garage all the time. My 20" Comet SBB1 just barely clears the 7 foot garage doors and the garage opener. There are a few shorter dual band antennas that will also work for GMRS. The Comet SBB1 is one of them. 

The Midland MXTA26 is hard to beat for a GMRS only antenna. Again it is about the same size as the Comet 2x4SR.

Yes it is ideal to get the antenna centered on the highest point of a vehicle. But that is not always possible. Plenty of people run antennas on the hood, tail gate lip, Jeep spare tier mount, or bed rails right behind the cab on trucks and they all get out fine.

I do run two antennas on my 2023 Ford Escape just because I do like having separate radios for 2m/70cm and GMRS. I am using the Comet SBB1 dual band and a Tram 1174 for GMRS. The setup works for me since I am restricted by height requirements. And I still get out just fine. Yes I hit dead zones on 70cm and GMRS in valleys and/or locations with a lot of pine/cedar trees. But that is how things go with UHF.

As far as radios go. The DB-20G is popular where one can get by with a 20 watt radio. There is really only 4 main choices when it comes to off the shelf Part 95 certified 50 watt radios. The choices are; the B-Tech GMRS 50V2, The Midland MXT500, Midland MXT575, and the Wouxun KG-1000G Plus. The Wouxun is the better radio out of those choices.

And don't listen to the Negative Nancies. The Wouxun KG-1000G is a good radio and plenty of people use it over any other 50 watt GMRS radio.

[WRYZ926]

39 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

I don’t know how many times this comes up a week.  Go ahead and get the ground plane ghost antenna and put it on a lip mount on the front fender as close to the window as possible with the least amount of ground plane possible.   Make sure it’s the midland, laired  or another very expensive one. Also make sure you pair it with a kg1000plus, you’re already used to radios that have bad firmware in the h3/8.  That way, between the radio, mount, coax, antenna and location your spending maximum money for the least return possible.  This setup may net you 45 or so radiated watts and only in one direction for a mile or so.  None of this will work well at all but it’s what all the “overlanders”, what ever that is, I’ve off roaded and made a living in the business my whole life and still can’t figure out what a overlander is, on this site seam to like to recommend.  
 

or pm me and I’ll help you get the best possible range up into the 50-100miles for the least money possible.  
 

 

flame on.  
now that I said this no one is going to recommend what they always do.  Or they will say the set up I have described works amazing for them.  “Upto 5 miles”. Ect….

Again,

If you don't have anything positive or constructive to say then don't bother replying to people. We are all getting pretty tired of your negativity. You bad mouth Wouxun radios every time they are mentioned and even when they are not. And @SteveShannon is spot on with his comment above. A name change didn't help.

[Lscott]

2 hours ago, FreqNick54 said:

Possibly, I am currently studying the HAM test. I have certainly wondered about whether an antenna for both services exists as that would be convienient. Primary use would be around town and vacation travel. The truck is not garaged, however, there are occasions when I may park in under or above ground parking garages infrequently. Thanks for responding.

In the above case you might want to look at the this antenna. It will handle both Ham and GMRS. Also if you have a VHF MURS enabled radio it will work with that too.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/268-ca-2x4sr/?context=new

The antenna is available in UHF and NMO type mounts. There is an optional spring loaded bottom element which will save you some possible roof and or antenna damage if it hits something like low tree branches.

A number of people on the forum have had good results using it. Note it is a BIG antenna and does require a good ground plane to get the claimed gain and SWR match range.

[Hoppyjr]

I just ordered this tri-band from Larsen. My buddy has one on his truck and it works great. From what I can tell, this model was specifically designed for public safety, so I expect it to be durable too. Only 16.5” tall and a spring loaded NMO base.



https://www.magnumelectronics.com/shop/nmo150-450-758-pulse-larsen-nmo150-450-758-tri-band-vhf-uhf-7-800-mhz-antenna-123105?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADuEBTPH5MCDpTMdLEZC0hCe_v3Fz&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6ZPigsbQiQMVYHNHAR1ggwP3EAQYBiABEgIiE_D_BwE

[Lscott]

8 minutes ago, FreqNick54 said:

New to GMRS. I own a H3 and H8, now considering a mobile radio for base and vehicle. I own a 2019 Ram with a panoramic roof and a Leer cap. What are good antenna options and mounting locations given this scenario? Please feel free to chime in with radio recommendations also.

Do you see getting an amateur radio license in the future too? That will change the antenna recommendations a bit. Those that do usually ask if there is one antenna that will work for both services.

Some other important info would be the usual application, like just around the town use, off roading etc. 

Also do you need to park in a garage, need to pass through drive-through windows etc.? Some of the nice mobile antennas are rather tall and don't like low over head hanging obstructions.

[SteveShannon]

1 minute ago, Socalgmrs said:

I don’t know how many times this comes up a week.  Go ahead and get the ground plane ghost antenna and put it on a lip mount on the front fender as close to the window as possible with the least amount of ground plane possible.   Make sure it’s the midland, laired  or another very expensive one. Also make sure you pair it with a kg1000plus, you’re already used to radios that have bad firmware in the h3/8.  That way, between the radio, mount, coax, antenna and location your spending maximum money for the least return possible.  This setup may net you 45 or so radiated watts and only in one direction for a mile or so.  None of this will work well at all but it’s what all the “overlanders”, what ever that is, I’ve off roaded and made a living in the business my whole life and still can’t figure out what a overlander is, on this site seam to like to recommend.  
 

or pm me and I’ll help you get the best possible range up into the 50-100miles for the least money possible.  
 

 

flame on.  
now that I said this no one is going to recommend what they always do.  Or they will say the set up I have described works amazing for them.  “Upto 5 miles”. Ect….

Obviously if it comes up more than once per week it’s too frequent for you to remain civil.  You do well for a short time, but then you go back to acting like you have to debase yourself to help others.  Changing your screen name obviously didn’t help.  Now you’re inviting PMs rather than having us criticize your hubris nature.

[FreqNick54]

35 minutes ago, Lscott said:

Do you see getting an amateur radio license in the future too? That will change the antenna recommendations a bit. Those that do usually ask if there is one antenna that will work for both services.

Some other important info would be the usual application, like just around the town use, off roading etc. 

Also do you need to park in a garage, need to pass through drive-through windows etc.? Some of the nice mobile antennas are rather tall and don't like low over head hanging obstructions.

Possibly, I am currently studying the HAM test. I have certainly wondered about whether an antenna for both services exists as that would be convienient. Primary use would be around town and vacation travel. The truck is not garaged, however, there are occasions when I may park in under or above ground parking garages infrequently. Thanks for responding.

[SteveShannon]

54 minutes ago, FreqNick54 said:

New to GMRS. I own a H3 and H8, now considering a mobile radio for base and vehicle. I own a 2019 Ram with a panoramic roof and a Leer cap. What are good antenna options and mounting locations given this scenario? Please feel free to chime in with radio recommendations also.

On my Ram with a tall topper I use a Midland magnetic base NMO mount (MXTA12 I think) and a Midland MXTA26 antenna for GMRS.  It’s a great combination. I place the mag mount on the center of the roof, but I wouldn’t hesitate to move it to the back or to use a hood mount or 3rd brake light mount to avoid a moonroof.
My radio is a Radioddity db20g, which is inexpensive and fairly easy to use, but has an abysmal software package.  Fortunately the software is free, because it’s not worth more.

But the MXTA26 is worthless for 2 meter vhf. So, for ham I use a Comet SBB5-NMO which is easy to place on the Midland mount. I use the same radio. The software sucks for ham also.

[RIPPER238]

Nice to find this thread. Im needing another external antenna since im going to try and use my H3 and the Comet SBB5-NMO or Comet 2x4SR which look like good options. It will allow for more versatility than just my Midland MXT275 with MXTA26 6db or ghost antenna.  

The Midland MXT275 with MXTA26 is a really great simple option for off roading but i'm finding i want to play with some more options. Will probably end up with a Wouxun KG-1000G. 

My midland set up in my 4Runner. Though not the best by any means its really good for off-roading use. 

 

 

[WRXR374]

8 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

One of the best antennas that works on 2m, MURS, 70cm, and GMRS is the Comet 2x4SR. The only reason I don't use it all the time on my vehicle is the fact I park in my garage all the time. My 20" Comet SBB1 just barely clears the 7 foot garage doors and the garage opener. There are a few shorter dual band antennas that will also work for GMRS. The Comet SBB1 is one of them.

Same here.  I got a Comet B-10NMO for the height, but it has terrible SWR for GMRS, so I replaced it with a Laird Phantom Elite GMRS antenna since that's where I am most of the time anyway.   I'll look at that SBB1.  Does it clear your garage door?  How would it react to getting whacked on the top 2" or so each time I entered and left the garage?

[WRYZ926]

50 minutes ago, WRXR374 said:

Same here.  I got a Comet B-10NMO for the height, but it has terrible SWR for GMRS, so I replaced it with a Laird Phantom Elite GMRS antenna since that's where I am most of the time anyway.   I'll look at that SBB1.  Does it clear your garage door?  How would it react to getting whacked on the top 2" or so each time I entered and left the garage?

Yes the SBB1 just clears the garage door opening. It occasionally will hit during the winter when the driveway heaves a little. But it has not been harmed (yet).

[Socalgmrs]

I don’t know how many times this comes up a week.  Go ahead and get the ground plane ghost antenna and put it on a lip mount on the front fender as close to the window as possible with the least amount of ground plane possible.   Make sure it’s the midland, laired  or another very expensive one. Also make sure you pair it with a kg1000plus, you’re already used to radios that have bad firmware in the h3/8.  That way, between the radio, mount, coax, antenna and location your spending maximum money for the least return possible.  This setup may net you 45 or so radiated watts and only in one direction for a mile or so.  None of this will work well at all but it’s what all the “overlanders”, what ever that is, I’ve off roaded and made a living in the business my whole life and still can’t figure out what a overlander is, on this site seam to like to recommend.  
 

or pm me and I’ll help you get the best possible range up into the 50-100miles for the least money possible.  
 

 

flame on.  
now that I said this no one is going to recommend what they always do.  Or they will say the set up I have described works amazing for them.  “Upto 5 miles”. Ect….