Ratbert
Well-Known Member
That's where it gets the best reception, or that's the cheapest mounting option they could think of?this is where Rugged Radio wanted mine mounted, so i followed their instructions
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Mark75H
Well-Known Member
Neither. This is a good to very good location for reception and transmitting and out of the way from damage from limbs and brush.
Absolute best reception and transmitting would be on a plate mounted above the top of the vehicle which would be neither foreign object trail safe nor inexpensive.
Antennas themselves and mounting are always a compromise of multiple factors.
steelponycowboy
Well-Known Member
Considering that is a very LOW gain antenna that came with the radio and where you have it mounted, your range is not much better than a low powered walkie. Yeah, I get it not looking for maximum range but the idea of GMRS is reliable, clear and long range communications due to the higher power, UHF, FM radios over CB's. In the case of an emergency we all should be advocating for long range if for nothing else to reach a repeater to contact someone to get you help. Everyone should get a list of repeaters in the areas they are travelling in and know how to program them ahead of time or if too many, when you need it most.
My MXT500 can handle 128 channels and is programmable with my laptop. I have every major repeater in the southwest programmed and with names so I know which is which and where it is.
My ham radio has over 800 repeaters nationwide programmed. As a retired LEO, and seeing some bad stuff happen on trails, wilderness 1st Aid training, advanced medical kit and the ability to call for help long away from the nearest cell signal.
Antennas should be mounted outside the vehicle, high up as possible and close to the center of the vehicle. If that is not possible, the best choice is a Midland Grand Vista 7.5 DB gain mounted on a JK or JL spare tire mount you can get on Amazon. The Grand Vista is a top firing antenna and if the top 12" or more is above your roof, you'll have a full 360 degree transmit ability. As for the Ghost, it is a great little antenna mounted up on top of the vehicle with NO obstructions in any direction.
A good 2nd, but more expensive choice for antennas is the Midland Highland Tall 6.6db bull bar antenna. You see those on the front bumper of the "real" overlanders in Australia, New Zealand and Africa. Super heavy duty and nearly indestructible and not to be confused with the cheap Chinese clones. Antennas are the heart of any radio system and it doesn't do you any good to go cheap.
My MXT500 can handle 128 channels and is programmable with my laptop. I have every major repeater in the southwest programmed and with names so I know which is which and where it is.
My ham radio has over 800 repeaters nationwide programmed. As a retired LEO, and seeing some bad stuff happen on trails, wilderness 1st Aid training, advanced medical kit and the ability to call for help long away from the nearest cell signal.
Antennas should be mounted outside the vehicle, high up as possible and close to the center of the vehicle. If that is not possible, the best choice is a Midland Grand Vista 7.5 DB gain mounted on a JK or JL spare tire mount you can get on Amazon. The Grand Vista is a top firing antenna and if the top 12" or more is above your roof, you'll have a full 360 degree transmit ability. As for the Ghost, it is a great little antenna mounted up on top of the vehicle with NO obstructions in any direction.
A good 2nd, but more expensive choice for antennas is the Midland Highland Tall 6.6db bull bar antenna. You see those on the front bumper of the "real" overlanders in Australia, New Zealand and Africa. Super heavy duty and nearly indestructible and not to be confused with the cheap Chinese clones. Antennas are the heart of any radio system and it doesn't do you any good to go cheap.
steelponycowboy
Well-Known Member
Rugged Radio goes with the cheapest and easiest way to do things. Then again so do most others, even Midland (Midland has some great premium antennas that blows anything Rugged has out of the water but offer no real mounting solutions for best performance).
The problem with mounting it there is that your bottom loading coil is sending most of your transmit signal into your Jeep. Yeah the tall whip will receive good but the idea is to transmit and receive optimally. You cant do that with that antenna mounted where you show.
zouch
Well-Known Member
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agreed on the point of Compromise.
with my old XJ, i had holes drilled in the center of the big metal roof and ants mounted before it even had license plates mounted. i considered that an optimal compromise.
with the removable fiberglass hardtops of the JL(U)s, that isn't really an option.
however, i would be especially hesitant to mount any ant on the side of a J**p, having already seen a wayward Manzanita limb snap off a metal antenna that was mounted on the top of a fender panel. 'Desert Pin-striping' is a testament to this risk; if your travels don't take you to places where you might have limbs reaching out at your vehicle, this might be less of a factor for you.
although it's not the best for an even radiation pattern, i lean towards mounting our 2-way ants on the backs of our J**ps where they're more out of harms way. (because if i can't keep it, it's not going to be there when i might need it.)
unfortunately, this means that for performance we need to try to tip things more in our favor by having longer ants to get over the top of the roof, where the compromise becomes about clearance through garages, ferries, and under things on the trail.
however, tall ants become Contact Points; it's for this reason i don't care for fiberglass ants and prefer plain metal rods, having seen too many of the fiberglass ants splintered by banging into things.
compromises, indeed!
with my old XJ, i had holes drilled in the center of the big metal roof and ants mounted before it even had license plates mounted. i considered that an optimal compromise.
with the removable fiberglass hardtops of the JL(U)s, that isn't really an option.
however, i would be especially hesitant to mount any ant on the side of a J**p, having already seen a wayward Manzanita limb snap off a metal antenna that was mounted on the top of a fender panel. 'Desert Pin-striping' is a testament to this risk; if your travels don't take you to places where you might have limbs reaching out at your vehicle, this might be less of a factor for you.
although it's not the best for an even radiation pattern, i lean towards mounting our 2-way ants on the backs of our J**ps where they're more out of harms way. (because if i can't keep it, it's not going to be there when i might need it.)
unfortunately, this means that for performance we need to try to tip things more in our favor by having longer ants to get over the top of the roof, where the compromise becomes about clearance through garages, ferries, and under things on the trail.
however, tall ants become Contact Points; it's for this reason i don't care for fiberglass ants and prefer plain metal rods, having seen too many of the fiberglass ants splintered by banging into things.
compromises, indeed!
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jadmt
Well-Known Member
curious how these would compare to how I have mine mounted inside on the roll bar..All my buddies have theirs inside too and we have great range and have never had an issue but you have me thinking if these would actually be better or maybe the same or worse. with them inside we can talk to each other several miles way while we are in our respective driveways...
first is how we are currently..would either of the other positions work better? thanks
steelponycowboy
Well-Known Member
That antenna is total crap, the coax is so thin and not well shielded. Was meant as a temporary starter antenna. You can unknowingly damage the core and ruin your radio when you transmit.
All the ways you show it are bad for both transmit and reception.
Get a spare tire mount from Amazon and Midlands Grand Vista antenna, the difference will be far more than night and day.
All the ways you show it are bad for both transmit and reception.
Get a spare tire mount from Amazon and Midlands Grand Vista antenna, the difference will be far more than night and day.
Ratbert
Well-Known Member
Where do you mount something like that where it'd survive tight trails with overhangs?
steelponycowboy
Well-Known Member
It mounts center rear of the Jeep and sticks up about a foot above the roof, like a CB Firestick. The Grand Vista is easily removed with about 7 twists of the HD NMO mount.
Tight trails won't affect it and if you are going to have an overhang that low on a regular basis, perhaps you don't need a base radio and probably should use short range walkies.
Here is a picture of a JL mount. They also sell JK mounts similar on Amazon
Tight trails won't affect it and if you are going to have an overhang that low on a regular basis, perhaps you don't need a base radio and probably should use short range walkies.
Here is a picture of a JL mount. They also sell JK mounts similar on Amazon
Ratbert
Well-Known Member
I'm guessing that mounts significantly lower than what Midland shows on their site:It mounts center rear of the Jeep and sticks up about a foot above the roof, like a CB Firestick. The Grand Vista is easily removed with about 7 twists of the HD NMO mount.
Tight trails won't affect it and if you are going to have an overhang that low on a regular basis, perhaps you don't need a base radio and probably should use short range walkies.
Here is a picture of a JL mount. They also sell JK mounts similar on Amazon
I'm not sure what you mean about base radios. I went back a few pages and didn't see those being discussed.
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jadmt
Well-Known Member
the crazy thing is there are 4 of us who use this exact set up and 3 of us live in the same town and we can all talk to each other from our driveways and we live several miles apart as the crow flies. on the trail we all have clear conversations..We all just carry the radios when we are wheeling or traveling together otherwise we pull the radios out. We have all run the antenna wire under the carpet and behind the inside paneling so hopefully it is protected enough.
steelponycowboy
Well-Known Member
Hey if you think it works well enough for you then do it. just saying as antenna science goes, that antenna and any of the mounting positions you show is not by any means the best or most efficient. some day soon the internal wires of that thin coax is going to fail and you chance damaging the radio as a result.
jadmt
Well-Known Member
I guess my question should have been of the 3 ways I showed is one better than the other? I know there are way better ways but of the three ways is one better than the other? we have been using them for at least 5 years so maybe we are on borrowed time. is there a way to determine if they are starting to fail? any tell tale signs to look out for? they are cheap so might buy a spare to carry. thanks
Mark75H
Well-Known Member
Of your three the highest is the best.
The telltale of the coax failing would be lack of performance you don’t get the transmit or reception range that you initially did. If it works, don’t worry about it.
The telltale of the coax failing would be lack of performance you don’t get the transmit or reception range that you initially did. If it works, don’t worry about it.
steelponycowboy
Well-Known Member
So none of the ways are better, all really poor places to mount a 1.5db gain antenna. I would buy a 6db gain Midland whip and if you can't mount it high, get a cowl mount on Amazon and mount it there. You'll also need 6meter NMO coax and run thru the firewall grommet. don't mount stubby there as transmit range will suck. whip will take a beating there
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