MY GMRS radio build and installation.

[SIO2GA]

I recently bought a GMRS radio since they are popular with the Jeep crowd and seem to be a better option than a CB radio. I went with a 50 watt Wouxun (pronounced "ocean") since it had a lot more features than midland for the exact same price. It has a built-in fan, THREE speakers, and all sorts of features that the Midland radios don't have. An example is that the Wouxun has 4 power level settings, and I was able to set it as 20watts on medium setting (Midland has only three settings). Midland only has one speaker and doesn't have a fan and I've heard they run on the hot side.
I read a lot about the ocean radio and Midland and almost everyone said to go with Ocean. I didn't read a single bad thing about Ocean/Wouxun and that is pretty amazing since usually it isn't hard to find something bad about almost anything. I researched many day and hours and hours of reading online about the various options and the pros and cons. I put a tremendous amount of thought into what I selected.
I went with the midland 5/8 wave over 5/8 wave since everyone said it was a great antenna. I went with the matching midland cable since the pair is said to have a great SWR and doesn't need tuning usually. Mine tested out at 1.3:1 on 462Mhz and 1.7 on 467Mhz.
I had a radio shop in Atlanta install the radio and antenna. - ATLANTIC COAST COMMUNICATIONS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. The only charged $85 for my install, but it normally runs about $140. Since my antenna didn't have to be tuned that saved $25. Also, I had everything that was needed (save for one bolt) and I had looked up where the wires were for the auxiliary switch and also the color so that the installer wouldn't have to take up time trying to find out the information. Leo, the installer, recommended a "Gear Keeper" which I bought from him and I'm really happy with it. If you need a CB radio or GMRS radio installed then I highly recommend Leo at ATLANTIC COAST COMMUNICATIONS. They are located on 285 on the West side of Atlanta and one exit North of where 285 crosses I-20.
I've tested the radio on 50w a few times when I was on the way home and with my daughter using a Radioddity GM-30 hand held radio. She could hear me at 5.78 miles away despite rolling hills and Google Satellite View Map showing lots of trees/forest in some areas. It's puzzling about the whole GMRS "line of sight" thing because it went through acres of trees that were between us.
Below are the names of everything in the build, the price, the cost, the sources and what the title to the listings were. And of course, lots of photos.
Here's the parts list, source and prices:

NMO CABLE MOUNT $32 AMAZON: Midland – MXTA24 Low Profile Antenna Cable with NMO Connector – CB Antenna Cable Extension – 6 Meters (19 ft) with Removable UHF Connection

Ditch Light Bracket for Antenna: $28 Amazon Nilight Light Mounting Bracket Hood Cowl Mount Brackets for Front A-Pillar Auxiliary Offroad LED Pod Light Work Lights on 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler JL/JLU 2020-2023 Gladiator JT

Antenna Ditch Bracket Extension : $21 AMAZON: Ham Antenna Ditch Bracket Extension | Compatible with Most Manufacturers Ditch Light Brackets | Made in The USA | Rago Fabrication | Quick & Easy Installation

ANTENNA: $69 SHIPPED buytwowayradios Midland MicroMobile MXTA26 6db Gain Whip Antenna

RADIO: $404 SHIPPED buytwowayradios Wouxun KG-1000G Plus GMRS Base/Mobile Two Way Radio

GEAR HELPER – $29 Gear Helper MICROPHONE TETHER ATLANTIC COAST COMMUNICATIONS ATLANTA GEORGIA

INSTALLATION: $85 ATLANTIC COAST COMMUNICATIONS ATLANTA GEORGIA.

I hope this is helpful to folks that are thinking about getting a GMRS or CB radio for their Jeep. I really did put a lot or research and thought into what products to use and I'm happy with the results.

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[Radio Guy]

Nice looking install and I hear the Wouxon radios work well, you should get really good range out of that setup. However you could improve antenna efficiency by using a trunk lip mount on the hood near a hinge. Antennas like to be mounted right to a big piece of flat metal and raising the feed point (the mount in this case) introduces losses and lowers efficiency. Your mount places the base of the antenna a few inches above the curved cowl piece which is plastic and the actual vehicle body metal is several inches below that. A trunk lip mount would be right on the sheet metal hood and well grounded to it.

Here is a picture of what it might look like.

 

[bd100]

To add a ground plane to the OP's bracket:
https://theantennafarm.com/shop-by-...s/misc-antenna-parts/11713-taf-disc346-detail

To use a mag mount antenna on the aluminum hood:
https://theantennafarm.com/shop-by-...s/misc-antenna-parts/11713-taf-disc346-detail
One advantage is you don't need to pierce the paint for a ground contact.

The little Midland antenna which comes with the 275 comes with an even smaller mag mount sticky disc, which I used, but I spliced better and shorter cable to the antenna using some crimped connectors. That RG176 stuff is a pain to work with, so I'd recommend something with RG58 to begin with.

To (maybe?) improve the lip mount at the edge of the hood, add a grounded copper wire in the channel going from the hood to the window next to the hinge. Or some grounded wire or sheet metal under the hood trim with the cowl bolts. Make it like a ground radial. I was able to use a metal spacer and a bolt from the hardware store to attach the wire to the under side of the hood. This may improve the signal behind the vehicle.

And in general high gain antennas are good for flat land, and small quarter wave antennas for hills and mountains where the other vehicle may be noticeably above or below.

 

[SIO2GA]

Nice looking install and I hear the Wouxon radios work well, you should get really good range out of that setup. However you could improve antenna efficiency by using a trunk lip mount on the hood near a hinge. Antennas like to be mounted right to a big piece of flat metal and raising the feed point (the mount in this case) introduces losses and lowers efficiency. Your mount places the base of the antenna a few inches above the curved cowl piece which is plastic and the actual vehicle body metal is several inches below that. A trunk lip mount would be right on the sheet metal hood and well grounded to it.

Here is a picture of what it might look like.

As I mentioned, I spent hours and hours and hours reading about GMRS radios and installation. The antenna that I am using is a "no ground plane" antenna and the Midland antenna page has lots of pictures of this model antenna mounted on jeeps that were not lip mounts. The set-up that I have now seems to be working exceptionally well. I actually bought a 12 x 12 1/8" thick copper plate and also a 8 x 8 1/16" copper plate to play around with as far as making a ground plane. I haven't had time to play around with that yet but the ditch light bracket that I bought was specifically bought with using a copper plate as a ground plane in mind.

 

[Radio Guy]

To add a ground plane to the OP's bracket:
https://theantennafarm.com/shop-by-...s/misc-antenna-parts/11713-taf-disc346-detail

To use a mag mount antenna on the aluminum hood:
https://theantennafarm.com/shop-by-...s/misc-antenna-parts/11713-taf-disc346-detail
One advantage is you don't need to pierce the paint for a ground contact.

The little Midland antenna which comes with the 275 comes with an even smaller mag mount sticky disc, which I used, but I spliced better and shorter cable to the antenna using some crimped connectors. That RG176 stuff is a pain to work with, so I'd recommend something with RG58 to begin with.

To (maybe?) improve the lip mount at the edge of the hood, add a grounded copper wire in the channel going from the hood to the window next to the hinge. Or some grounded wire or sheet metal under the hood trim with the cowl bolts. Make it like a ground radial. I was able to use a metal spacer and a bolt from the hardware store to attach the wire to the under side of the hood. This may improve the signal behind the vehicle.

And in general high gain antennas are good for flat land, and small quarter wave antennas for hills and mountains where the other vehicle may be noticeably above or below.

The aftermarket ground plane disc is 6" diameter and not big enough. A UHF antenna would need 1/4 wavelength radius around the mount meaning a 12" disc would be required. Or just use a trunk lip mount.

 

[Radio Guy]

As I mentioned, I spent hours and hours and hours reading about GMRS radios and installation. The antenna that I am using is a "no ground plane" antenna and the Midland antenna page has lots of pictures of this model antenna mounted on jeeps that were not lip mounts. The set-up that I have now seems to be working exceptionally well. I actually bought a 12 x 12 1/8" thick copper plate and also a 8 x 8 1/16" copper plate to play around with as far as making a ground plane. I haven't had time to play around with that yet but the ditch light bracket that I bought was specifically bought with using a copper plate as a ground plane in mind.

The "no ground plane" antennas mean they don't need a ground plane to tune up and give a good VSWR. But mounting them right on flat sheet metal will improve the range and raising them up in the air will reduce range.

Its good you spent hours and hours researching before installing, many people just jump into it with little though and don't end up with a good setup. On the other hand when I was in my mid 20s I spent 6yrs as a professional radio and antenna installer with about 1,000 installs under my belt and in the last 40yrs have studied and learned even more, especially antenna theory and behavior. There are very few things an antenna can do that I can't figure out in 30 seconds from across the street and most antennas know and fear that. Just ask them.

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