MXT400VP3 MicroMobile® Bundle not transmitting

[Guest Steve]

I have a new MXT400VP3 MicroMobile® Bundle with a 3DB gain ghost antenna. I am clearly receiving conversations on repeaters from 4 hours away which is quite impressive and am able to clearly transmit to my handhelds to friends on the trails about 1/2 mile away. I am however unable to transmit from my truck any further than that. The antenna is correctly mounted on my vehicle and the radio itself was installed correctly. I have the unit set to some new active GMRS channels and have all privacy codes removed from programming.

Why wont the unit transmit nice and far to repeaters and to other people further than 1/2 mile??

I am fairly certain it is an antenna issue but am no professional and am new to GMRS.

Where should I start when troubleshooting the antenna?

Any help is welcome, Thanks in advance!

[WRXB215]

You might start by checking power level and bandwidth.

Also, don't expect too much from a ghost antenna.

[SteveShannon]

12 hours ago, Guest Steve said:

I have a new MXT400VP3 MicroMobile® Bundle with a 3DB gain ghost antenna. I am clearly receiving conversations on repeaters from 4 hours away which is quite impressive and am able to clearly transmit to my handhelds to friends on the trails about 1/2 mile away. I am however unable to transmit from my truck any further than that. The antenna is correctly mounted on my vehicle and the radio itself was installed correctly. I have the unit set to some new active GMRS channels and have all privacy codes removed from programming.

Why wont the unit transmit nice and far to repeaters and to other people further than 1/2 mile??

I am fairly certain it is an antenna issue but am no professional and am new to GMRS.

Where should I start when troubleshooting the antenna?

Any help is welcome, Thanks in advance!

That bundle advertising indicates that it came with the MXTA26 whip, which is a much better antenna than a ghost antenna.  Ghost antennas are okay when you have wide open spaces with little vegetation and your truck is up high, but the MXTA 26 has twice as much gain and a larger radiator. Getting your antenna up as high as possible is very important also, usually.  

You say it’s “mounted correctly” but some mounting places are more effective than others, sometimes much more effective. Where the antenna is mounted can affect the propagation of the signal causing it to be biased in one direction or another.

Are you able to activate repeaters when you’re near them?

Are you surrounded by vegetation?