GMRS antenna mount

what antenna is that?

 

Looks like a Midland brand with 6db of gain, here is the link:

https://midlandusa.com/products/mic...NrjYHpXgbh_xwbMXJm2xB09hnzKrN5YhoCw6MQAvD_BwE

 

This is the

$60 midland mxta26 micromobile® 6DB gain whip antenna – quadruple signal output – 32” antenna

midland mxta26. It’s supposed to be pretuned for GMRS but I’ll report back swr readings

 

What I used to do was run a full size antenna on the roof when I needed it, then remove and screw on a cheap tram NMO cap when not in use and throw the antenna under the rear seat.

I’m currently running a

$72 Larsen lp450nmo Larsen 450-470 MHz Mirage Low Visibility Transit Style Antenna - Black

Larsen lp450nmo for GMRS which has been ‘ok’ but the best of both worlds since I have to park in garages.

 

That’s a good idea man! I also just found this antenna to give a wirl. No ground plane required and basically the same specs as the midland mxta26 I’m running. Going to test a few options and see what works best.
https://www.arcantenna.com/products...-antenna-with-nmo-spring-base-no-ground-plane

 

Yes I did. I sent them pictures and info on what I was running in to. Response was just to refund me what I spent on the mount. I’m good with that but bummed it didn’t fit, looked like a very clean set up

 

I'm pretty happy with the set up. For me it was easy to install, it's sturdy and just does what it is supposed to.

 

Well I’m happy for ya . What antenna and radio are you running?

 

On that mount it's a Hustler all band scanner antenna feeding a Uniden SDS200 scanner. I use a mag mount on the roof for the Ham radio.

 

Follow Up on all of this: hopefully helpful to others getting into gmrs, lots to learn and test.

- I tested 5 or 6 options back to back. I tested with a mag mount on the center of roof with both a 6db, a 3db, and a 1/4 wave antenna. I tested the same antennas on my corner mount in the original post at the beginning. I did slightly improve my range with the mag mount on the roof, but very minimal gain by doing this. If anything, just an increase in clarity.
- The last option was to try a Laird b4505cns antenna that requires no ground plane. I put this on the back corner mount. Best reception and transmission of all the different set ups. Super impressed with it. I can hit repeaters at 35mi and 65 mi away.
- Heres a link to the antenna. https://www.solidsignal.com/laird-4...QqbLF9QrBltctB6KZFZtTsj9-dV8_a-gaAjfUEALw_wcB
-Also comes in an all black version (bb4505cns).

 

Thanks for sharing and testing. I have almost no reason for a radio as I have no one I want to talk to, but for some reason I still want one. The Midland MTX275 seems a great option, but I'm struggling to figure out an antenna option. The stubby ghost antenna is a great size, but I'm not sure it has good range. I don't want a 32" antenna on my roof or rack so maybe the Victory hood mount would work.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to take the antenna off for DD. What NMO mount did you get and is it easy to remove the antenna and maybe cap the mount to keep water/dust out?

 

That’s funny man, I also don’t really have a great reason for the radio but it’s pretty cool lol. Kinda fun listening to the local repeaters. Also figure if I can offroad with a group it will be nice. I have a

$110 radioddity db20g radioddity DB20-G GMRS mobile radio for car vehicle, 20W long range two way radio with cigarette lighter plug, 500 channels, VOX, display sync, for off road overlanding 4x4

radioddity db20g which is really similar to the

$165 mxt275 micromobile® GMRS radio – 15 watts two-way radio with integrated control microphone – overland caravanning tractors – detachable external magnetic mount antenna - 8 repeater channels

mxt275. It’s been sweet so far.

So the 3db antenna I described in the post is the midland ghost. I was super impressed with it. Best results were with a magnet mount on the roof. The antenna I’m going to use now is the 32” laird with a little bracket I made for the back corner. It’s a little better range than the ghost but I wouldn’t say it’s like twice as good anything.

 

In your opinion, would you say it's worth switching to the Laird from the Midland 6db

$60 MXTA26 MicroMobile® 6DB Gain Whip Antenna – Quadruple Signal Output – 32” Antenna

MXTA26?

 

Man that’s tough. I’d say it depends where you have it mounted. If it’s in the center of your roof or hood then no way. But if you’re like me and don’t have a great ground plane then yeah might be worth it. Even with a bad ground plane I got pretty good results with the

$60 mxta26 micromobile® 6DB gain whip antenna – quadruple signal output – 32” antenna

mxta26. But the laird was a step up with my set up. You can do what I did and buy it on Amazon then return it if you don’t like it haha

 

This is the same one you're talking about, just in all black, right?

Laird Connectivity BB4505CN UHF 450-470 MHz No Ground Plane Antenna Mobile Antenna

https://www.amazon.com/Connectivity...d=1650489644&sprefix=bb4505cns,aps,124&sr=8-1

I may give it a try...my antenna is mounted to the side of my roof rack in the front passenger corner.

 

I think that one is the non spring version. Here is the one I got on Amazon. Now returning and ordered the all black one from a retailer since Amazon doesn’t have it.

$85 Laird Technologies - B4505CNS - 450-470 Antenna w/Spring, No Ground Plane

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00794WID2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

Drop the link

 

https://www.solidsignal.com/laird-technologies-450-470-no-ground-spring-black-bb4505cns

 

You’re awesome. I think I’m gonna order this and sell my old one. Thanks

 

Yeah let me know how it works out. Going to tune mine when it gets here and give it a good test. Should work even better properly tuned