Can somebody help me understand Antennas?

[Radio Guy]

So, bouncing off of a repeater in this instance is impossible even though we were on ch19?

I'm running an MXT275 with a ghost antenna,

Yes you might be able to go through a repeater on your ch 19 if your in range and you have programmed the correct CTCSS or DPL code along with the channel. There are 38 CTCSS codes and 104 DPL codes available in your radio and if you didn't program the right one its doubtful you would access the repeater by chance, its a deliberate thing you have to know and program in.

When you transmit on a simplex channel or no repeater, when you unkey your radio its squelched until someone else transmits. When you key up a repeater it will transmit for several seconds after you unkey your radio and you will hear the dead carrier for a few seconds and sometimes a repeater has a courtesy beep you can hear when you unkey. If you don't hear the "hang time" carrier or a beep you are probably not accessing a repeater.

Sponsored

 

[Alpine Warthog]

If you don't hear the "hang time" carrier or a beep you are probably not accessing a repeater.

OK, I'm 100% I'm not hitting repeaters. I've purposely not touched repeater settings and I'm 99% sure I've got no repeaters within range of my ghost antenna. (besides tall hills limiting signal, I'm also pretty sure 15 watts won't hit the nearest repeater which is southwest of Buffalo, NY.)

heres a screenshot of my area: (from mygmrs.com)

SO.. The last remaining question is my tone settings. And is there a way to detect what codes other people are running around me?

(Bonus question) am I better off mounting the Ghost Ant on the camper shell with a metal disk or on the side of the cowl.....

 

[Radio Guy]

OK, I'm 100% I'm not hitting repeaters. I've purposely not touched repeater settings and I'm 99% sure I've got no repeaters within range of my ghost antenna. (besides tall hills limiting signal, I'm also pretty sure 15 watts won't hit the nearest repeater which is southwest of Buffalo, NY.)

heres a screenshot of my area: (from mygmrs.com)

SO.. The last remaining question is my tone settings. And is there a way to detect what codes other people are running around me?

(Bonus question) am I better off mounting the Ghost Ant on the camper shell with a metal disk or on the side of the cowl.....

I looked through the MXT275 manual and don't see a scan function for CTCSS or DPL but you might be able to go into the privacy code menu and manually scroll through them all when someone else is talking and find their code. For this to work the radio cannot be in monitor mode where it will hear anyone, it has to be tone squelched so you can hear the conversation pop in when you select that parties tone.

 

[PaulW]

Good read to understand antennas for Jeeps.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-...-mount-your-cb-ham-antennas-your-jeep-227276/
This link is appropriate for GMRS frequencies.
The bottom line is do not mount your antenna close to any thing metal - like the A pillar or behind the Jeep.

 

[cranbiz]

I run a Diamond 770 NGP MNO mount Antenna. It's a 6db gain dual band antenna and it works great. Mounted to the bed by the hard top.

I run it on all my vehicles. On my JK I was able to hold a QSO back to my home repeater that was 150 miles away on 2M. Yes, I was about half way up the mountain but that's a heck of a trip for 50W. I also was able to talk on 2M simplex to a VWA station from Potts Mountain.

 

[sarguy1941]

(Bonus question) am I better off mounting the Ghost Ant on the camper shell with a metal disk or on the side of the cowl.....

Maybe I missed it but what's your intended goal for GMRS. If it to talk to others on the trail then leave the antenna put and enjoy jeeping. If you want to use repeaters and talk to other users you know buy a better antenna and use the same mount. If you expecting GMRS to be a service to find friends your probably going to be disappointed. I have multiple jeeps and run a 1/4 wave on the fender by the A pillar and have no issues on the trail or to my local repeaters.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Maybe I missed it but what's your intended goal for GMRS. If it to talk to others on the trail then leave the antenna put and enjoy jeeping. If you want to use repeaters and talk to other users you know buy a better antenna and use the same mount. If you expecting GMRS to be a service to find friends your probably going to be disappointed. I have multiple jeeps and run a 1/4 wave on the fender by the A pillar and have no issues on the trail or to my local repeaters.

+

OK, Brief recap:
Midland MXT275 (15 watt) with a Midland 3dB Ghost ant.
It started with what I was fairly confident install with a mount location on TOP of the A Pillar and a light bar. I got decent range testing out with a little FRS in a city area (3/4-1 mile range) then I went on a jeep run and got ignored and/or wasn't heard. So my confidence in my install took a body blow.
The conversation (here) has covered lots of things like repeaters and tones. (I still have to check out my tone settings) Running around town, I hear lots of conversations with the radio on scan. From little kids playing with FRS on channels 1-8 to road crews and an elementary school too. I try to radio check any of them gets zero response. The lack of response can be for a couple different reasons from "who's this moron trying to talk to us" or I'm not being heard.

SO bottom line, I want the best placement for a limited range antenna. I've removed the light bar from the windshield and that leaves the camper shell or a cowl for placement. I've got a cowl mount arriving today but I was also considering mounting it on the fiberglass roof with a metal disk mounted on the underside of the camper shell roof directly beneath the ghost antenna.

Next project will be mounting a CB antenna. I have a 102" whip laying around in the garage that I'd love to use but I also may just use a firestick. (But this is after GMRS is settled)

 

[cranbiz]

If you are wheeling it, don't use the 102" whip for the CB, use the Firestick.

The 102" whip is a great antenna but it flops around and whips all over when off road. It's just not safe.

 

[sarguy1941]

For the use your explaining the cowl mount like everyone else is using will be fine. Make sure radio is on CSQ and enjoy. If your in a group of jeeps you don't need a crazy antenna. I run the 275 in my jeeps and as long as everyone is on simplex and no tones it should work fine.

And agree with CB. Dont run a 102" whip. I run a 3' fire stick on the Rugged Antenna mount that replaces the AM/FM and it works fine for jeep rides and on the interstate. Its not ideal but for the use case its perfect.

Sponsored