Trail Comms - What and How? Hopefully a sticky!

Thanks. Can I get license online?

 

You will need to take a test. Exam sessions are given regularly in many communities.

More information:
http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed

 

What I think I said was, for a ground plane antenna to work properly, the ground plane needs to be connected to the shield of the coax at the base of the antenna. The ground plane doesn't have to be connected to anything else. In a vehicle you are using the body of the vehicle as the ground plane which happens to be connected to the negative terminal of the battery. You could run the radio off of an isolated battery and the antenna would be perfectly happy as long as it has a ground plane.

 

True,in fact that may even be preferred, and is done commonly with portable radio systems that can be dropped off or housed in a container, and is the same as a Handheld with an external antenna mounted to the body of your vehicle.

The coax shield is connected both at the antenna and the Radio output. The shield side of the radio output is commonly connected to the radio chassis, which is also connected to the power supply ground, ie the negative source to the battery.

Confused yet? Sure, point is most antennas require a ground plane (ie a conductive reference point, usually, but not always, perpendicular to the polarization of the antenna, & ideally equal in length to the antenna) to achieve their intended radiation pattern. A few antenna designs do not need a ground plane, but having one, usually enhances their performance.

What is polarization you ask? - adding a radio to your truck the antenna usually sticks straight up = vertical polarization. Remember the days of TV antennas on the roof of a house? they were horizontally polarized, with reflector elements to maximize their gain in one direction. another type is helical polarization, that combines both vertical and horizontal - think of a spiral.

 

I assume after you checked your connections, you tried this at different spots on the truck. A DC ground can affect receivers but you have a unique ground plane overall that could easily give a weak or dead spot.

 

There’s a new antenna out that’s 5” longer than their previous one:
https://midlandusa.com/product/micromobile-mxta26-6db-gain-whip-antenna/

Unless some of y’all SME’s know of a better one? Hell, I’d even go a few inches longer to get it higher above the roof.

 

Sorry, I missed this.

No, I didn’t try different spots on the truck. I chose that mounting location due to practicality and location. I guess I’m hoping a longer antenna could compensate for lack of ground plane.

They have a new tiny antenna that might work well mounted to a Prinsu rack on the cab, I think @ETXTacoma is looking at.
https://midlandusa.com/product/micromobile-mxta25-3db-gain-ghost-antenna/

 

I have a motor mount that allows me to use a decent length antenna. Remind me what frequencies you are on (2M, 440?, HF?, or just CB) as naturally that plays into it.

I didn’t research that coil but, coils don’t have the same properties as a true antenna.

 

440

I’d like to keep the swingout mounting location and add the longer antenna (that I’m quoting in this post) to gain better reception, as it’s 5” longer.

 

Cool. Ham radio is a lot about try it and adapt. I find the pickup shape is pretty decent overall as a RF ground, although my best performance transmitting is when I have it mounted anywhere near the center of mass.

 

Now I’m second guessing myself.
Tall antenna mounted on swingout.
Short/stubby antenna mounted on cab.

 

Ham conundrum! . Wish I could give you “the” answer...I can only give my anecdotes! Frankly ignore me and go forward.

Theoretically you can model and predict. Practically, well, that’s not been my experience. I generally fall back on an approach that keeps my options open. I have mounted, tested and used countless antennas on vehicles since doing so for my Dad first in 1978, though and including today and beyond. The best performance I ever got was dead center on a 1982 station wagon. My current setup is off center roof, owing to practical requirements (other crap on my roof) and I can hit simplex and repeaters at 30+ miles on 2M regularly. My Shack gives me much better. But mobile is “good enough”.

You can always try it. Duct tape. Get a buddy or two that are ~15-30 miles away and test, at low power their signal received from you simplex. You can also hit a repeater (off hour) and drive away slowly until you can’t open its squelch. (Ask the owner best times off hour and defer to any traffic) or engage a friend or both.

It may come to pass that it makes a lick of difference for how you might mostly use your rig. Don’t forget to test on 2M (if you can) as it has different ranges from 440.

Or, as I started, ignore everything I said.

73

Good thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...callsign-thread.260643/page-313#post-22512726

 

I need to clarify that I’m doing GMRS, not Ham, so despite using the same frequency, I don’t think there’s any way I’ll get that range.

unless maybe...?

 

Well, take the test and jump in the pool with us. I think you’ll find that while the antenna matters of course, you will as you point out only get so far. Post in that other thread, it’s more active, might get some GMRS enthusiasts.

 

Just picked up a Midland Micromobile MXT400 GMRS radio. Pretty excited to get it up and running! Anyone else running one?

 

@ETXTacoma You mentioned wanting the ghost style antenna. This is only $10 more than the Midland one, and doesn't need a ground plane.
https://www.arcantenna.com/trab4500n-m2m-400-490-mhz-black-low-profile-omni-antenna.html

edit: also, here's what I bought for my handheld:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XQAY7WI/

And since we were talking about the ground plane, here's one for the base:
https://www.arcantenna.com/bb4505cn...o-spring-450-470-mhz-uhf-no-ground-plane.html

 

I like that stubby antenna....

I am pretty sure I have the same handheld antenna as well.

 

Anyone have any experience with one of these?

Thinking of getting one for use at base camp, aka the RTT Trailer....

https://midlandusa.com/product/xt511-base-camp/

Thought about building a base camp radio, but once I started looking into it, for the price I would end up spending for the number of times I would use it... not worth it tbh.
As I would need... power supply, antenna, radio, antenna mast... gets pricey once I add it all up...

Plus Midland is running a 20% off sale currently, so may pick up some accessories for my truck radio and maybe a pair of handhelds or something.

 

Where did you see that 20% off? All I see is "Free Shipping" over $100. Is there a coupon somewhere?