Mounting GMRS antenna

[MountaineerTom]

Flipped the brass disc over and tightened it down.

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The stubby antenna is a 3db and the whip is a 6db. And according to Midlands website the higher the db the better the antenna.

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Do those mounts require the hole to be free of paint so that it grounds well, like a CB antenna mount? Just curious for when ever I add a GMRS radio.

I have one of the 6db antenna's that I got for cheap a few months back.

 

[Mr. Bills]

The stubby antenna is a 3db and the whip is a 6db. And according to Midlands website the higher the db the better the antenna.

That is certainly antenna theory. However, if the stubby antenna lets you communicate with everyone you need to communicate with, and if you don't particularly care for the longer antenna hitting overhead obstacles, the stubby may actually be the better antenna for you.

Antennas are very much about real world experimentation.

 

[Danarch]

Do those mounts require the hole to be free of paint so that it grounds well, like a CB antenna mount? Just curious for when ever I add a GMRS radio.

I have one of the 6db antenna's that I got for cheap a few months back.

Ours are not free of paint. The base piece (silver) has little teeth on it, I am not sure if that is to help create a ground on the mounting bracket it help hold it in place. So far our little stubby antenna works fairly well. I am thinking about getting the 6db for the TJ.

 

[Wildman]

That is certainly antenna theory. However, if the stubby antenna lets you communicate with everyone you need to communicate with, and if you don't particularly care for the longer antenna hitting overhead obstacles, the stubby may actually be the better antenna for you.

Antennas are very much about real world experimentation.

It will be a while before I can really test it out since my club is still using CB's and is resisting the change over to GMRS. I've tried to point out to them that you can communicate farther with the GMRS over the CB but these folks are stuck with the CB.

 

[Apparition]

It will be a while before I can really test it out since my club is still using CB's and is resisting the change over to GMRS. I've tried to point out to them that you can communicate farther with the GMRS over the CB but these folks are stuck with the CB.

Maybe it was just mine but CB quality is terrible compared to GMRS.

 

[Wildman]

Maybe it was just mine but CB quality is terrible compared to GMRS.

Since I've never used the GMRS I can't say. But from my experience most CB's are low quality in sound.

 

[Apparition]

Since I've never used the GMRS I can't say. But from my experience most CB's are low quality in sound.

Do you have a handheld to test with and possibly loan out for use? It becomes pretty obvious that GMRS is the way after a little use.

IMO it’s not about the range as I’ve never had range be a limiting factor. I run a fairly small antenna. I’ll find a picture.

 

[Apparition]

Here’s a pic, don’t mind the random guy in the background. The antenna is on the left tail light mount and it’s from Rugged.

 

[Wildman]

Do you have a handheld to test with and possibly loan out for use? It becomes pretty obvious that GMRS is the way after a little use.

IMO it’s not about the range as I’ve never had range be a limiting factor. I run a fairly small antenna. I’ll find a picture.

Yep I've got 3 hand helds.

Distance can be an issue for us. Have had issues trying to talk to someone less than 2 miles away due to the dense trees when running with a larger group. Would have to relay messages from the back to front and front to back. Tail gunning when it's a group of 15-20 people can really SUCK sometimes. If I could show them how much better GMRS worked maybe they be more willing to change?

 

[Apparition]

Yep I've got 3 hand helds.

Distance can be an issue for us. Have had issues trying to talk to someone less than 2 miles away due to the dense trees when running with a larger group. Would have to relay messages from the back to front and front to back. Tail gunning when it's a group of 15-20 people can really SUCK sometimes. If I could show them how much better GMRS worked maybe they be more willing to change?

You’ll have to use your GMRS and see if it’s still an issue.

 

[bucky]

Both my antennas have an o-ring on the base. My magnetic base does not. My magnetic base is insulated from ground and it works fine for me. I would think the cable shielding works as a ground.

 

[explorerlyon]

That should work for you now. You can also buy tinned copper braid and crimp on your own ring terminals rather than be limited to pre-made lengths.

While @Zorba may think that there can never be interference as a result of running antenna coax along side power wires, that is not always the case. It shouldn't be an issue for you, but never say never. If you do have an issue, just shield the coax.

As for front mounted antennas, I am not a fan. It is a personal preference. I don't like antennas banging on my grille, hood or fenders when they hit a tree branch or something else. I also don't like mounting anything in a location that can interfere with my forward vision.

These are my antenna mounts:

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How are those mounts grounded to the body? I have been using the same mount for my CB, and sanded off a little paint on the back of the bracket and body where the taillight bolts mount. But......it rusts over. Looking for a better grounding of that mount.

 

[Mr. Bills]

How are those mounts grounded to the body? I have been using the same mount for my CB, and sanded off a little paint on the back of the bracket and body where the taillight bolts mount. But......it rusts over. Looking for a better grounding of that mount.

I sanded to bare metal around the bolt holes of the antenna bracket and around the corresponding holes in the tub. In addition, I ran a short grounding strap inside the tub from one of the antenna mount bolts to a nearby bolt, again sanding to bare metal at all connection points.

 

[explorerlyon]

I sanded to bare metal around the bolt holes of the antenna bracket and around the corresponding holes in the tub. In addition, I ran a short grounding strap inside the tub from one of the antenna mount bolts to a nearby bolt, again sanding to bare metal at all connection points.

Thanks. I sanded mine exactly the same. I have to re-sand it every couple of years as the bare metal rusts over.

 

[Mr. Bills]

Thanks. I sanded mine exactly the same. I have to re-sand it every couple of years as the bare metal rusts over.

A tiny dab of dielectric grease should take care of that.