What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Ive got 2 too
Ham and long range gps

 

One if for my HAM radio and the other was for a hand held, now it is for a GMRS.

 

This might be a good intro setup and appease my OCD for the time being.

This idea has potential high up on the bed rack but still under the soft top in the center.

How much spring in those antennas? The east coast does NOT play nicely with stuff up high. Between down trees and snow holding pine branches way down low things are very often starting at mid windshield height and sliding over the cab or barely squeezing under stuff by inches.

Also took the kiddo out on his first forward facing trip to a swim spot.

 

@cynicalrider the branch thing is exactly why I didn't mount mine on the roof and instead behind the cab like I did. Even that ghost antenna seems like a ranch would destroy it.

 

Here's my setup, had the ARB before fiberglass. But this seems to seal up much better than the stock tube does, right angle goes over the airbox intake tube.

Could probably rig up something similar to work with the ARB.

 

They have ZERO spring. When I know I will be out in the brush, I have a shorter flexible antenna I use.

https://www.amazon.com/STI-CO-Indus...=STI-CO+Industries,+Inc&qid=1660006299&sr=8-3

 

A little overkill but I still like this since I would be able to get in and out of the garage without issue. Mounted right up where the cap roof rack overhangs a little past the cap. Would place it right above/slightly forward of the cab high-mount brake light. Wire it up so when radio is powered on the antenna would go up. Haven't done it yet but its on the list.

$137 K9000LRMO ~Luggage rack mount, motorized for NMO

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AR09O2S/

https://youtu.be/LhbujVWcvPI?t=45

 

Does a gmrs mounted to the rig have better range than a handheld gmrs? I use the handhelds while snowmobiling and I'm not all that impressed. To be fair it is usually in steep terrain with lots of drainage and no line of sight.

 

Properly mounted/configured vehicle antenna is better than the handheld antenna. Maybe connect the handheld to a vehicle mounted antenna? Terrain/LOS will always play a huge factor where range is concerned but that antenna choice does help as does power.

 

Get this VVVV they are basically just wire. Minimal base. No issue.

I actually like these one better as the base is really small.

https://www.solidsignal.com/sti-co-industries-whip-and-base-only-vhf-replacement-whip-roof-ft-niti-m

Uhf is pretty good for mountain terrain as it bounces off the mountains. Handhelds probably only have 4w though. You can run up to 50w in a truck. The real range extender is the antenna setup.

 

I bet a properly mounted antenna on a rig would prove to have way better range than a handheld.

With that said, I've never had issues communicating in any of the groups I've wheeled with when using my handheld (and talking with others on their handheld).

 

Welp forgot about the garage, Ghost on the hood it is.

 

bro..

https://www.solidsignal.com/sti-co-industries-whip-and-base-only-vhf-replacement-whip-roof-ft-niti-m

 

Flexible or not I have had flexible shit stab my garage door when I pull in. The problem occurs when needing to change direction, the flexible whip then digs into the door.

 

I just take my antennas off if I get a spot in the garage

 

yeah this isn't a rod antenna. Its a thin piece of wire. Not gonna do that.

keep a cap on it just in case.

 

upgraded the 2002 4cyl taco to these, wow, 5 min install and super bright.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B09JZ6QZ6T?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

So what's the ideal budget GMRS setup now for our trucks? Also can it connect to Ham and cb frequencies or is this it's own deal?

 

it's own deal. And you need a license for it. Very easy to get though.

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau...io Service,mobile radios and repeater systems.