GMRS Radio Question

[Kballs]

Did you cut the coax down to size? I’m not sure about VHF, but pre made coax usually comes in increments of 3 ft…with the most common being 18’. I’ve seen SWR’s get way out of wack when folks cut it to size (to fit) or coil it up to stash it somewhere.

I have not cut the cable. I have a gentle bowtie weave under the hood of excess cable, probably 2/3 loops.

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[Radio Guy]

The antenna installed is a Midland MXTA25 3dB Gain Ghost Antenna.

Could a positive and negative wire run alongside the antenna wire cause this much of an issue?

No, its the antenna , its surroundings or pinched coax or improperly installed connector, etc.

If you can remove the antenna and mount do that and temporarily stick the antenna and mount on top of the hood with a good ground plane under it and test again. In this case the base of the antenna would have to be very close to the hood sheet metal. If the match is good then you need to find a better place to mount it. If its unchanged lift the antenna off the hood with no ground plane and test again. If little changes then its the cable or connector.

 

[Dougstdig]

I have not cut the cable. I have a gentle bowtie weave under the hood of excess cable, probably 2/3 loops.

I would undo the weave and re-test it. Remove all of the loops and make sure your hood is closed when you re-test.

mid thats found to fix the issue, feed it into the cab and run it under the carpet to take up the excess. …then test it again.

 

[Radio Guy]

I would undo the weave and re-test it. Remove all of the loops and make sure your hood is closed when you re-test.

mid thats found to fix the issue, feed it into the cab and run it under the carpet to take up the excess. …then test it again.

Coax is like a garden hose in most cases, it doesn't matter if you coil it or criss cross it or whatever, the antenna match should not change. The only time it will is when the coax is a radiating part of the antenna which can happen at HF or CB where there is insufficient ground plane and RF currents are flowing on the outside of the coax. This doesn't happen at UHF.

 

[Josh00333]

You may have a bad antenna.

may have other issues.

antenna are cheep but another one and test. Text a different type.

mid all the same return the tests. Look at other issues.

 

[ArmyMP]

Those Midland ghost antennas are garbage. It's a little stubby in a plastic case.

 

[Kballs]

Well I pulled the whole system out and re-ran everything and checked my coax. I also changed where the antenna was mounted, the interface is no longer and my SWR varies from 1.00 to 1.15.

Thank you all so much for you suggestions and time! Everything is operating well!

 

[Radio Guy]

Well I pulled the whole system out and re-ran everything and checked my coax. I also changed where the antenna was mounted, the interface is no longer and my SWR varies from 1.00 to 1.15.

Thank you all so much for you suggestions and time! Everything is operating well!

Congratulations! A lot of people are not willing to put in the work required to find the problem and you did.

 

[Kballs]

Here are some photos of the install!

 

[Radio Guy]

Looks ok but I would get that antenna up in the clear. You could probably get away with a trunk lip mount between the hood hinges as the antenna is short and should not block any view out the front windshield. Your range would be improved in all directions.

 

[ArmyMP]

Buy a real quality antenna

 

[Kballs]

Buy a real quality antenna

Looking for one still..

On another note, I finally had the engine running and went out for a ride. While scanning, my radio always stops on ch2 (462.5875 MHz) with static. I’ve attached a video below. Even with cranking the squelch up, it’s still coming in as static. Once again, does anyone have any suggestions? Antenna upgrade suggestions are always welcome too…

 

[ArmyMP]

Looking for one still..

On another note, I finally had the engine running and went out for a ride. While scanning, my radio always stops on ch2 (462.5875 MHz) with static. I’ve attached a video below. Even with cranking the squelch up, it’s still coming in as static. Once again, does anyone have any suggestions? Antenna upgrade suggestions are always welcome too…

Get a larsen antenna from amazon. Static could be the cheap China antenna or someone is using #2. Could also be a repeater on the fritz.

 

[Radio Guy]

Disconnect the antenna to see if that is how the interference is getting to the radio. Antennas do not cause interference, cheap or otherwise. If the interference is being picked up by the antenna a better antenna should pick up more interference.

 

[TwoSerious]

Exactly unless the antenna is somehow shorting to something introducing that noise. I would do as radio guy suggested. Could vary well be just noise around your area. Might as well scartch that off the list first

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