Another midland antennae question

[SuicideSaints]

I have searched and read for 2 weeks and I feel more confused than when I started. I want to get this right the first time.

I was gifted a midland 275 by a coworker and fellow jeeper. I will be mounting on the console passenger side and using a bullet point mic holder.

My question is antennae, most things I’ve read is stay away from the ghost, got it. So far I’m looking at the lip mount. I’ve read the midland is fine but most say get a laird. I can’t find a laird with the right connector on the radio said. Is the midland mount fine? Next is the actual antennae, what do I need? I’m in AZ, I run desert trails/washes and down by the lakes for half the year. The other half is in the mountains on trails/canyons and hunting. What is a good do all and part numbers help?

additional info, I have a rtt, aluminum bed cover and rack.

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[Bandit’s Lair]

Desert running you can do a lip mount to the hood with a 3 db gain type antenna and be just fine. Slim one or bullbar type either one works. My plans call for a mount to the lower cowl panel bolts and a 3 db bull bar type antenna. I like the look and passenger side gets me away from the battery and fuse block which “could” cause interference. 3db has a flatter output for nonwooded areas where you don’t need to shoot the signal to the moon to be heard. Will also be packing a longer antenna I can hook up if there are emergencies and I need more range than the 3db would provide. It’s just a PiTA running a super long antenna on the trail.

 

[shooterrex]

I run 2m 70cm ham rig. The antenna mount is from Amazon. the antenna and magnet mount is from DX engineering. Diamond antennas are top shelf and they make some for GMRS. It stays on just fine at 80mph.
I just remove antenna from the mount and set it inside when I go through the car wash.

 

[SuicideSaints]

Desert running you can do a lip mount to the hood with a 3 db gain type antenna and be just fine. Slim one or bullbar type either one works. My plans call for a mount to the lower cowl panel bolts and a 3 db bull bar type antenna. I like the look and passenger side gets me away from the battery and fuse block which “could” cause interference. 3db has a flatter output for nonwooded areas where you don’t need to shoot the signal to the moon to be heard. Will also be packing a longer antenna I can hook up if there are emergencies and I need more range than the 3db would provide. It’s just a PiTA running a super long antenna on the trail.

Thanks, looking for specifics and PNs. It seems this is the consensus but what brand, lengths, etc. I start getting lost and the reviews are all over the place

 

[SuicideSaints]

I run 2m 70cm ham rig. The antenna mount is from Amazon. the antenna and magnet mount is from DX engineering. Diamond antennas are top shelf and they make some for GMRS. It stays on just fine at 80mph.
I just remove antenna from the mount and set it inside when I go through the car wash.

I’ll take a look but I want a hard mount and I’m getting lost in the all the research.

 

[bd100]

For starters you could use the basic 6" Midland mag mount antenna stuck to one of the cowl bolts at the bottom of the windshield. It actually works pretty well, but the cable is too long and thin for my liking. I actually cut it short to where it just goes under the hood, then added a connector and adapter to use thicker cable the rest of the way in to the dash area. Won't try that again, though. Too much hassle and the thin cable is hard to crimp correctly. And I used their little stick-on metal disc on the hood to avoid piercing the paint job. The end result works great.

These days I'd probably use a cowl mount like the previous message here shows, plus a bolt-on base, and the antenna of your choice.

I find the 6" quarter wave to work fine, if the cable is good and if it is mounted over a ground plane; in my case it's the hood. Stays out of the way visually, and doesn't get knocked by trees since it's by the base of the windshield. The quarter wave is theoretically better for mountainous terrain with differing elevations, and a higher gain antenna is better for long distance over flat land.

 

[SuicideSaints]

For starters you could use the basic 6" Midland mag mount antenna stuck to one of the cowl bolts at the bottom of the windshield. It actually works pretty well, but the cable is too long and thin for my liking. I actually cut it short to where it just goes under the hood, then added a connector and adapter to use thicker cable the rest of the way in to the dash area. Won't try that again, though. Too much hassle and the thin cable is hard to crimp correctly. And I used their little stick-on metal disc on the hood to avoid piercing the paint job. The end result works great.

These days I'd probably use a cowl mount like the previous message here shows, plus a bolt-on base, and the antenna of your choice.

I find the 6" quarter wave to work fine, if the cable is good and if it is mounted over a ground plane; in my case it's the hood. Stays out of the way visually, and doesn't get knocked by trees since it's by the base of the windshield. The quarter wave is theoretically better for mountainous terrain with differing elevations, and a higher gain antenna is better for long distance over flat land.

Appreciate the response. Maybe I’m just overthinking this. I just going to try the standard lip mount and the buy the midland ghost for ease and then get out in the trial and adjust from there.

 

[ASU_Greg]

Clean, simple and can’t say that I’ve had any issues with the performance.

 

[Thunderspud]

I haven't had any performance concerns with the Ghost antenna mounted directly to the windshield hinge bolt. I think I just used one of these Simpson Strong Tie L Brackets from Home Depot. Couldn't find any better pictures unfortunately.....

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[Bearpaw]

Thanks, looking for specifics and PNs. It seems this is the consensus but what brand, lengths, etc. I start getting lost and the reviews are all over the place

Call DX engineering. They are a tremendous help and can get you everything you need.

 

[SamJ3]

I have been using the Midland MXTA26 6 dB High Gain Whip GMRS Antenna for my 275 radio, mounted as shown in the image. The bracket (~$20) mounts near the A pillar using an existing bolt hole.

Performance has been more than satisfactory for my use while wheeling in national forests.

(Also, I've since moved the bracket to the forward bolt to make room for another accessory.)

 

[Bearpaw]

Check
Rugged radio and radioddity they have a lot of gmrs and cb products.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I have been using the Midland MXTA26 6 dB High Gain Whip GMRS Antenna for my 275 radio, mounted as shown in the image. The bracket (~$20) mounts near the A pillar using an existing bolt hole.

Performance has been more than satisfactory for my use while wheeling in national forests.

(Also, I've since moved the bracket to the forward bolt to make room for another accessory.)

This is a very good use case for the 6db gain. It emits a higher “plume” of signal that gets out over the trees and cascades. 3 db is flatter so doesn’t achieve as much height.

Did you have to drill out that bracket to fit the antenna connection? I looked at the Rugged Ridge version of that one but wasn’t sure on mounting hole size for antenna.

 

[SamJ3]

This is a very good use case for the 6db gain. It emits a higher “plume” of signal that gets out over the trees and cascades. 3 db is flatter so doesn’t achieve as much height.

Did you have to drill out that bracket to fit the antenna connection? I looked at the Rugged Ridge version of that one but wasn’t sure on mounting hole size for antenna.

It's been a few years since I installed it, but my memory says that it worked without modification. (Fishing the cables and creating a proper ground connection actually took more time than assembling and mounting the bracket.)

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Thanks I’ve been flip flopping between this style and the AAL one that mounts there.

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