Heavy equipment gmrs antenna

[WREJ285]

I am wanting to mount a gmrs radio in my skid steer.  I need a really flexible heavy duty antenna like a rubber ducky that can handle 50 watts.  The factory am/fm is a rubber ducky type.  
 

Any input is appreciated.

[SteveShannon]

I haven’t used one, but I would consider something like this.  I use an mxta26 and like it.

https://midlandusa.com/products/mxat05vp-3-db-heavy-duty-bullbar-antenna?variant=42539707302065&campaign_id=17727845030&ad_id=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADAFdQglRxyShGFPXLNzwa6UtbZFt&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnui_BhDlARIsAEo9GusL9Y1FOKx1quX2PSNYMUM_aiJJ6i8Iq0p8mSonjpv2M4D7XH3-gwsaAnZ2EALw_wcB

[WRUE951]

52 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

I haven’t used one, but I would consider something like this.  I use an mxta26 and like it.

https://midlandusa.com/products/mxat05vp-3-db-heavy-duty-bullbar-antenna?variant=42539707302065&campaign_id=17727845030&ad_id=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADAFdQglRxyShGFPXLNzwa6UtbZFt&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnui_BhDlARIsAEo9GusL9Y1FOKx1quX2PSNYMUM_aiJJ6i8Iq0p8mSonjpv2M4D7XH3-gwsaAnZ2EALw_wcB

Wow,, that thing is made with Platinum 

[WREJ285]

I looked at that one.  I don’t think it will last forestry mulching.  I regularly have 5” diameter trees fall on the machine.

[nokones]

What about a Midland MXTA 25 Phantom antenna?

[BoxCar]

31 minutes ago, WREJ285 said:

I looked at that one.  I don’t think it will last forestry mulching.  I regularly have 5” diameter trees fall on the machine.

I don't think any antenna would survive that kind of abuse. Think about a 1/4  wave stubby like a Laird or similar that's about 6" high. They're relatively inexpensive but work well.

[WRYZ926]

I agree with @BoxCar, you are going to be hard pressed to find an antenna that will handle that kind of abuse. Something like the Midland ghost or Melowave Shadow might have a better chance of surviving.

[WREJ285]

Thank you for the input.  I have a ghost antennae… I guess I will try to strategically mount it unless a better option comes up.

[GrouserPad]

First off blueloctite ALL threaded connections. Mount and antenna!

My opinion is an antenna on a spring hard mounted to an nmo directly to the machine somewhere would be my reccomendation. Even if you have to weld a mount tab to the machine. The antenna will be able to bend and deflect alot of impacts that way at least until the very base of it gets smashed. Im currently running two mxta26 antennas on heavy iron, one on a 390 size trackhoe, and another on  d6 dozer. Both of which have held up fine but concrete dust is starting to corrode one of them pretty badly. I'm a big fan of the mxta26. My two have been going for about 3 months now no issues. But I really like the idea of a ghost mount as well as that would be easy to fit on a skidsteer but I feel like if it hit something it wouldn't be resilient at all. 

[amaff]

1 hour ago, WREJ285 said:

Thank you for the input.  I have a ghost antennae… I guess I will try to strategically mount it unless a better option comes up.

Ok, now I'm confused as to what you're *actually* asking. First it sounded like you were looking for an antenna recommendation that could deal with moving around.

Now it sounds like you HAVE an antenna and are looking for alternate mounting solutions?

What's the problem you're actually trying to solve here? 

[Socalgmrs]

Midland and others make off road antennas.  I have abused the heck out of them with no issues.    AND they don’t need a ground plane like a ghost or mx26 

[WREJ285]

2 hours ago, amaff said:

Ok, now I'm confused as to what you're *actually* asking. First it sounded like you were looking for an antenna recommendation that could deal with moving around.

Now it sounds like you HAVE an antenna and are looking for alternate mounting solutions?

What's the problem you're actually trying to solve here? 

I have five mobile gmrs units and several handhelds.  The skid steer really blocks the signal from a handheld and I need an external antenna.  I have reservations that a ghost antennae will survive and was hoping someone has already fought this battle.  

[WREJ285]

I have not mounted the radio in the skid steer yet… planning ahead…

[WRUI365]

Problem is because of the way a skidsteer operates, there is only 1 mounting solution which is the roof cab of the skidsteer in which will be hard pressed for anything to survive up there with falling debris. Dozer and Hoes have different operations for which hardly anything goes over the cab. How do I know this? You work for United Rentals long enough and you learn the intricacies of the equipment you deliver and set up.

[nokones]

I would try mounting a quarterwave antenna inside the Skidsteer cabin in order to protect the antenna from being damaged. Just make sure that the antenna is mounted vertically.

[Hoppyjr]

I’d think the noise of the machine would make it difficult to use a mobile rig. What about using a handheld, which you could tuck in a shirt pocket or put over your shoulder like those firefighter radio carrier things? A handheld would allow you to use an earphone too, making it easier to hear.

[Radioguy7268]

Do not mount antennas with 50 watts or more ERP inside the cab within inches of your head.   Read up on Specific Absorption Rates and RF safety.

Also realize that transmitting at 50 watts to someone who is holding a 4 or 5 watt portable is overkill.

 

[tcp2525]

Keep it extremely simple, just use a 1/4 wave magnetic mount and needn't worry.

[nokones]

2 hours ago, Hoppyjr said:

I’d think the noise of the machine would make it difficult to use a mobile rig. What about using a handheld, which you could tuck in a shirt pocket or put over your shoulder like those firefighter radio carrier things? A handheld would allow you to use an earphone too, making it easier to hear.

The noise factor is an easy fix, high noise environment external speaker or a high noise with noise canceling boom mic headset.

[Hoppyjr]

The noise factor is an easy fix, high noise environment external speaker or a high noise with noise canceling boom mic headset.

The headset solution would also work with the HT, but cheaper, more portable, and no antenna or mounting issues. It’s what I’d do.

[WREJ285]

I absolutely need an external antennae.  I can barely talk 50 yards with a handheld in the machine.  The dominant area I work in allows me to use a repeater.  When I am out of range from the repeater, I use simplex to another micromobile for directional supports, sometimes drone guidance.  The mulching head seems to generate a magnetic field.  I have not had success mounting a functional compass in the unit.

[gortex2]

As was mentioned a single quarter wave is our best bet. I installed those on many machines over hte years for logging and highway departments. Yes it may get destroyed but they are $10 at most. Unscrew NMO and replace it when needed. 

[GrouserPad]

On 4/13/2025 at 1:35 AM, Socalgmrs said:

Midland and others make off road antennas.  I have abused the heck out of them with no issues.    AND they don’t need a ground plane like a ghost or mx26 

You’ll have plenty of gp on any skidsteer. 
 

OP get a mag mounted 1/4 wave if the height of a 5/8 wave is too much,  put it behind the cab glass. Done. Prolly fish the cable through the left or right sliding window and carefully shut it on the coax. We do this with strobes and work lights on our skid steers. Could also lift the cab access the engine bay and run the coax along the foot plate up through the floor holes. Drill hole through the floor mat edge or something of that sort. Pretty awesome your trying to mount a gmrs mobile inside a skid steer. I’ve never been that brave cuz our skidsteer operators are absolute savages and not in a good way lol

 

also the tid h3 is the only radio loud enough for me to hear in a work environment and I still have to wear it on a jacket with a nylon radio clip area right next to my ear