GMRS Radio Question

[Kballs]

Hi all,

I am very new to radios and GMRS. I recently installed a Midland MXT115 with a ghost antenna mounted near the driver's side a pillar. Since completing the installation, I noticed the radio shows it’s receiving a weak signal on every channel.

The antenna cable is routed from under the hood, through the firewall, behind the dash to the radio mounted above the Uconnect display.

I have an aftermarket front camera that’s wires are routed with the antenna. Am I getting interference from that? Any other suggestions?

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[johnparjr]

Buy a SWR meter
A good reading is 1-1.5
Ok is 1.6-2
Bad is 2.1
Really bad and might fry your systems is 3 or higher

Gam3Gear SURECOM SW-33 Mark II 100 W 125-525 Mhz Mini Digital VHF UHF Two-Way Radio Handheld Power & SWR Meter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075H8FDD...t_i_4Y8KRTE6ZDG7CEEA5FE0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

you probably need adapters as well they should be listed on the same page figuring out where the issue is using the meter will help

 

[johnparjr]

Here’s a better read for the ratings you want

https://www.rightchannelradios.com/...ides/18542155-interpreting-swr-meter-readings

 

[Radio Guy]

Just find a ham operator to check your antenna with an antenna analyzer. For most GMRS users its a one time test so why spend good $$ on a meter you don't really need.

 

[Dougstdig]

Where is the coax routed?

 

[ArmyMP]

Those cheap bubble pack midland ghost antennas are junk. It's just a little stubby guy in plastic cover.


WRPK996

 

[Shawnu22]

Does your radio have power (low-med-high) settings?

 

[Kballs]

Thank you everyone for your responses and willingness to help me sort this out. Just to troubleshoot, I hooked the MXT115 stock antenna up and popped it on my hood, running the wire away from all other possible interference sources. Still getting a random signal.

I have the radio wired into the passenger’s side AUX bundle and grounded just behind the glove box. Something interesting, when I was installing the radio it powered up with out a ground wire connected to the radio (grounded via the antenna). Definitely threw me off.

Where is the coax routed?

Drivers side a pillar, into the engine bay, through the firewall, under the driver’s side dash, up into the center of the dash terminating into the radio which is above the Uconnect screen.

Those cheap bubble pack midland ghost antennas are junk. It's just a little stubby guy in plastic cover.

WRPK996

Any suggestions? It’d have to be a MNO based antenna.

Does your radio have power (low-med-high) settings?

Yes, I believe it does. However, the signal I am receiving is a constant interference.

 

[Radio Guy]

Disconnect the antenna at the radio and see if you still pick up a signal and it should go away. If you have a long chunk of coax you can attach that to the radio and peel off a few inches of braid at the far end and use that as a probe antenna then walk around the vehicle sniffing for the source of interference. I would suspect aftermarket things to cause interference like something plugged into a USB port or other electronics you have installed.

Thank you everyone for your responses and willingness to help me sort this out. Just to troubleshoot, I hooked the MXT115 stock antenna up and popped it on my hood, running the wire away from all other possible interference sources. Still getting a random signal.

I have the radio wired into the passenger’s side AUX bundle and grounded just behind the glove box. Something interesting, when I was installing the radio it powered up with out a ground wire connected to the radio (grounded via the antenna). Definitely threw me off.





Drivers side a pillar, into the engine bay, through the firewall, under the driver’s side dash, up into the center of the dash terminating into the radio which is above the Uconnect screen.





Any suggestions? It’d have to be a MNO based antenna.





Yes, I believe it does. However, the signal I am receiving is a constant interference.

 

[ArmyMP]

Thank you everyone for your responses and willingness to help me sort this out. Just to troubleshoot, I hooked the MXT115 stock antenna up and popped it on my hood, running the wire away from all other possible interference sources. Still getting a random signal.

I have the radio wired into the passenger’s side AUX bundle and grounded just behind the glove box. Something interesting, when I was installing the radio it powered up with out a ground wire connected to the radio (grounded via the antenna). Definitely threw me off.





Drivers side a pillar, into the engine bay, through the firewall, under the driver’s side dash, up into the center of the dash terminating into the radio which is above the Uconnect screen.





Any suggestions? It’d have to be a MNO based antenna.





Yes, I believe it does. However, the signal I am receiving is a constant interference.

I run a triband larsen antenna.

What kind of signal are you getting?

If you want give me a call and I can try and help disgnose..

 

[Kballs]

i just ordered a Laird quarterwave antenna that covers GMRS frequencies and a SWR meter. Should be here tomorrow and I’ll report back with my finding!

 

[Jaxmax]

Can I cut excess cable out of the antenna cable when installing my Larsen antenna , and Midland 375 radio in the next week when parts show up. NMO antenna cable is 15-17' long, and I am looking at having a distance of perhaps 3-5 feet, I am not worried about making the connection to coax, just worried about the coil of wire and what effect it would have......Jack

 

[ArmyMP]

Can I cut excess cable out of the antenna cable when installing my Larsen antenna , and Midland 375 radio in the next week when parts show up. NMO antenna cable is 15-17' long, and I am looking at having a distance of perhaps 3-5 feet, I am not worried about making the connection to coax, just worried about the coil of wire and what effect it would have......Jack

Just gently loop it up not coil and ziptie and tuck it away

 

[Radio Guy]

Can I cut excess cable out of the antenna cable when installing my Larsen antenna , and Midland 375 radio in the next week when parts show up. NMO antenna cable is 15-17' long, and I am looking at having a distance of perhaps 3-5 feet, I am not worried about making the connection to coax, just worried about the coil of wire and what effect it would have......Jack

There is noticeable cable loss at UHF so if you can cut out 10ft of RG-58 cable that will save around 1.2 to 1.5dB of loss. If this were for CB at 27MHz I would just coil it up.

 

[Jaxmax]

Thanks guys.

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