GMRS GHOST ANTENNA: I Compare The Midland MXTA25 Ghost Antenna To Two Popular GMRS Mobile Antennas
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- Опубліковано 23 січ 2023
- Get the big Midland MXTA26 Mobile antenna here: amzn.to/3FsN8g9
Get a small Midland MXTA25 Ghost Antenna here: amzn.to/3MhzbFD
Get the Nagoya UT-72G here: amzn.to/3kt2SbE
Does a Ghost Antenna such as the Midland MXTA25 GMRS Ghost Antenna work as good as other larger GMRS mobile antennas? In this video I compare the Midland Ghost Antenna to the Nagoya UT-72G GMRS antenna and the Midland MXTA26 mobile GMRS antenna to see how they compare against each other in both receiving sensitivity on GMRS channels and transmitting performance on GMRS frequencies.
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#GMRS - Авто та транспорт
As everyone knows, "Ghost antennas" are antennas which are home-built without a serial number, and can be converted to be fully semi-automatic, and may use high capacity caliber clips. No civilian should own one. I have had good results with the Laird version of this evil assault antenna.
@@08jk74x hahaha.
Just got my P80 antenna in the mail. Milling it now. Might have to drill a third hole.
@@brian954 Be careful not to allow your antenna to become fully semi-automatic, like those old car radio antennae that just pop up when you turn your radio on. You'll put you eye out!
I'm "dying" from this comment. This antenna has been used in several mass transmissions. 😂
Whatever you do don't get an antenna brace. It turns your antenna evil.
The "evacuation" of the ghost antenna from it's "bag" was just plain SICK! (I loved it)!
It's a sick world, Randy is a happy guy....lol
I believe what he did was summon the darkness from its satchel to be released upon the uhf band.
I reserve the right to be wrong.
AH...Jim Carey "evacuating" from the Rhino... Would have made a great little insert right there. That's OK, my brain inserted the image on its own.
But was it the visual or the audible? Somehow in a world of audibility Randy still adds some Carlinesque expressions- most frequently when looking at YOU - his favorite viewer (of the day). Upon reading every regulation, suggestion or rule (but not law) put forth by the FCC Overlords... I find no restrictions on facial expressions thus squelching the Karen or sad HAMs ability to complain.
Are talking about the park where he pushes until his dummy load drops? I hate it when you have to push…
Dear Randy. Giving birth to antenna and finally switching to mygigglehertz, reassured me that I'm in the right place on YT. Thank you for not wasting our time.
That ghost untenna might not be very long, but it looks like it has some girth to it, and I have heard that's what counts.
That's what she said 😉
I’ve always heard that antenna size doesn’t matter but that it’s how you use it. Have I been lied to?
@@bryantucker1266 You have
At any given point, my antenna has been at least TWO good inches, and nobody has ever complained about performance.
It's not the size that matters. Its how you use it.
I've put dozens of these style of antennas for VHF, UHF and 700/800magooberhertz on police cars and not had anyone complain about insufficient fars
I love your videos for 2 reasons. 1) Very interesting topics, clear and concise information. 2) You antics and attitudes toward "Some People" and "Experts" leaves me in stitches!
Please do more antenna tests like this for HTs (nagoya 771g, smiley, HYS and Abbrree)!
In my handheld tests. The Nagoya made for GMRS was as good at the 42 and 18 agree tactical.
Using a AR152.
AND it looks good on the AR152.
Not so much on the smaller Baofengs.
Outstanding reviews & comparisons Randy. I employ the Midland 6dB Gain MXTA26 with my Radioddity DB-25G and love how they work so well together with such excellent performance!
My gigglehurtz too!! Thanks Randy for doing this. The roof of my van will be thanking you.
I am so glad you clarified and corrected your pronunciation of Ghz. That is the most correct pronunciation.
Have the larger midland and just bought the ghost monday for $30 on sale, nice video. I appreciate all your videos
I've been watching your videos the past few days. And this is the exact question I was asking myself to get for my truck. You're why I got my GMRS license and that fcc website is hot garbage. But this is perfect.. Also the last couple of days I've been telling my baby she's full of gigglehurts while I'm tickling her 🤣
For several months now I’ve been using the Laird phantom elite 450-470 with excellent results. 👍🏼
Hi Randy! Please a video about Home base GMRS antennas. The best, the quality, the fars, the cheap. Regards from Miami 🌴😎
Have you thought about doing a video tour of your jeeps set up for Comms? Pointing out where you mounted antenna and grounding and such ? Would be an interesting video
I realy enjoyed that we employed the sdr to get some actual numbers on this test. It was a bit surprising to me how well the stub performed. I use one for receive on my mobile repeater but never tested it for TX. Thanks for another great episode.
I love that your a straight shooter no bs like some of the others as you point out. Thank you for all the great information you give us
lol love the way you tell it like it is. There are a lot of "experts" out there who can not find their ass with both hands. I have done some of the same research your channel shows and found you to be spot on with your analysis of products. Well done.
This is the first I have seen of your channel. I enjoued the video. You have a wicked sense of humor, so I'll subscribe.
I have appreciated your videos. I used to watch just for the education moments, now humor and savage moments!
I have been using mine for about a week now and I've been really impressed by it.
I ran the Laird for years, it worked just as well as a 1/4 wave. These work great so long as you have enough sheet metal around them.
Great ! Just ordered one. My Browning BR-174 keeps falling anytime I pass low trees and stuff. I do rescue with PR EMS and it’s a pain all the time having to stop and replace the antena. Thanks Randy. 🇵🇷🚑
I've been sporting that antenna on my truck for the last year. Here in the Midwest, with the hills, it works as good or better than any other antenna out there for gmrs. Great video Randy, as per usual.
What part of the Midwest? SE WI/NW of Milwaukee we're challenged by rolling hills created by glaciers. I'm rolling with a fender mount on pickup, not fond of the idea of putting an NMO through my roof.
@@TomRolfson if done correctly it will be fine to drill through the roof. Although I am not crazy about putting additional holes in the roof of my truck either. I use a fender mount as well and can get a range of about 25 miles with my 2 meter mobile.
@@TomRolfson take a look at the 3rd brake light mount from Bulletproof Diesel. $$ but you’re not drilling holes in an expensive truck and you’re getting the antenna up at the highest possible position. Albeit, not as high as a 36” whip antenna. I’ve got mine ready to go, just waiting for it to warm up a bit.
@@727cpt Larson Electronics (in Texas) sells a bent plate to install at that location. It is only 2/3rds the cost of the one you mention, and while not as clean in appearance, the Larson (not to be confuggled w/ "Larsen") mount may offer a better groundplane. Who knows. Photo: i.imgur.com/BupcarZ.jpg
This is the video I share when I want to educate people of a great Radio Comm's youtube channel!! You Rock!
Hey Randy.... thanks for the OBEY "They Live" non intentional shout out in this video... I actual work for OBEY and this made my day! oh the video was good too...
Have had mine for over a year works just fine
Thank you for demonstrating the birth of a ghost antenna from it's bag, along with it's performance in life. This was a very simple but informative video.
Thanks for the information! Your videos have been quite helpful as a radio noob.
A thumb’s up just for the opening graphic, but a nice real-world test also!
you have good sense of humor 🤣😂 love all your vids
Great test. I'll admit, I was a little surprised. I knew the Midland Ghost antenna would perform decent, but it actually performs very well. Of course you left the Sad Hams befuckulated at the beginning by holding up the wrong number of fingers. They are still re watching that part trying to figure it all out...lol. Mygigglehurts ! Thanks Randy !
Excellent video.
I'd be interested seeing the same test on the foldable flat "tactical" antennas for GMRS radios.
The 18” ish and the 40 something inch both work well from the bowfwang uv5r, anytone and similar 5-8w walkies and achieve many fars bidirectionally by that I mean it goes both ways.
We've got a group w/approx 20 GMRS users. On HTs the folding Abrees have done well and the Nagoya whips (17" I believe) almost identical. While it would make some people cringe as does Randy's swinging a radio around by antenna, more than a couple of us have rolled a window up on the folded Abrees and found (should be obvious) that they performed much better than being encased in the passenger compartment which was almost useless.
I had one last summer, I must have screwed it on a little too tight because when I went too take it off to try another antenna, the ghost antenna broke apart. The black top part separated from the section that screws onto the nmo base. I tossed it.
But just now I bought another one through your link because of this video. I have it on the roof of my Silverado and need a short antenna to get in my garage. Good video.
As a fellow Jeeper (though I’m not out crawling around big rocks or anything) I think it would be great if sometimes you would show/demonstrate how you use your equipment in your Jeep. Always looking for good ideas and pictures/descriptions are worth a lot (I’d be a thousandaire!). I have a very basic Jeep but working on getting it prepped for the impending zombie apocalypse. Thanks!
I wouldn't mind some of his install/use tips either. I noticed on one of his clips it looked like his GMRS radio was mounted on the ceiling of the vehicle - which is clever. As someone jamming more and more stuff into/onto my mazda hatchback, those details matter and inspiration is appreciated!
Fantastic test and presentation. Appreciate the efforts
You crack me up, dude. Thanks for the info, it's very helpful for a casual radio user like me.
Great video, Randy, thanks for your time and knowledge.
@notarubicon out here giving the people videos they want and need. 10/10 many fars, much talks
I love this guys sense of humor.
Great vid. Thanks for making me feel better about myself and my ghost purchase.
Just found your channel and subscribed. You sir, are a hoot!
Love the background picture👍 Precisely😂 And shirt.
Excellent video, very informative! Greetings from Argentina
Great review! For anyone who cares, dBi is performance compared to 'theoretical' antenna and dBd is performance compared to an actual antenna.
dBi is an isotropic antenna and dBd is a dipole antenna.
@@donkrause5262 converting between dBi and dBd is as simple as adding or subtracting 2.15 according to these formulas: dBi = dBd + 2.15.
dbi will make something look better than what it is
@@davep6977 I disagree a dipole in free space has a gain of 2.15 dBi but the ground changes that. Horizontal more than vertical but still not the standard 2.15.
In addition the other antennas that reported just dB not specifically dBd mean nothing, dB is a relative unit without saying what it's relative to it means nothing.
Something is wrong here anyway because that ghost plug says it's 3 dB.
Either dBi or dBd gives a gain above a diploe that would be 12 inches long for this frequency.
Gain has been so abused by the industry you can't believe any of their claims.
dBi isn't just to make them look better they just exaggerate for that it's actually a more honest measurement based on a mathematical model, not how the ground interacts with the antenna where the test happens to be conducted.
What analyzer is that you’re using?
I'm curious as to how a ground plane Rugged Ridge on a metal roof would compare to the "ghost antenna". I know theoretically it's +/-15 % better, but a test between the 2 would be cool.
I use that same ghost antenna on my Jeep with an MXT275 and am able to talk to a repeater 30m away all the time. For trail rides it's never been an issue. IMHO it's a great antenna. Like most things in life, what's good and what's not is subjective and depends on your use case. For my use case it's perfect. Great video
Great video. Thanks for doing the almost-science stuff for us.
I use both of the midland antennas..depending on where I’m going. Great video
Excellent content Randy !!
Nice demo. Thank you.
On a serious note, it’d be neat to compare the Midlands to the Melowave from BTR. They have some really interesting stuff.
I actually just bought this one and would love to see a test like that as well.
Came for the radio reviews, stayed for the sarcasm.
I've been using the two Midlands on my Jeep for quite a while now. I swap them out based on my needs and have achieved similar results. Having mounted on a hood lip mount I know it's not optimal and lacking a great ground plane however the jeeps hood being aluminum is limiting for using a magnetic mount. Great review.
I haven't watched one of your videos in far too long. They're very entertaining. I need a new antenna for my GMRS. It looks like I may get that ghost antenna. Don't worry, I'll use your affiliate link.
Liking the new testing method with the SDR!
Great review, and thanks for pronouncing megigglehertz correctly!
I installed a MXT 275 in my TJ and have the original antenna on the hinge of my hood. The excess cable is coiled under the weather tech mat under my feet and hand my buddy a UV 5R and don't seem to have any problems. I've also talked to my sister-in-law about 5 miles across our little town on the UV 5R with no line of sight.
The only thing your tests did was prove that the Ghost antenna transmits better and receives better than the other best antennas out there...oh wait...never mind. But seriously, thanks Randy. This antenna will solve my antenna problem as I am moving my mobile GMRS unit from my car to my high top conversion van. Now I just need to figure out a ground plane for the fiberglass top for it.
A friend has a Nagoya ground plane kit on his fiberglass pickup cap. He says it works well, it looks to me like it would be vulnerable to elements and even create a lot of wind noise (literal audible in the vehicle). IF you find a good solution to recommend and can remember, please share an update here. TY!
I “released” at the same time you released your ghost antenna. Thanks for that. It’s time to smoke a cigarette.
Love the effective use of humor while staying factual
OMG and LOL! You cracked me up when you took the antenna out of the package... and then a sigh of relief.....
Your style will take some getting used to but the information you provide is really good. Thank you.
I talked this antenna on 3 Jeeps, opposite side of the stock fm antenna. Excellent coms on the trail. Less visual for the jerks to get interested (and break it), less to get snagged on the trail. While I have the midland 6db antenna as well I don’t plan on using it unless extreme circumstances require it. Randy thanks for offending the “experts” yet again 😂
Love your shirt!!
Just goes to prove real world testing is the way to find out how well an antenna will do. I am going to get one of the ghost antennas. I can then park my SUV in the garage without having to remove the antenna from the vehicle!!! Thank you for the review. Gigglehertz!!! ROFL
I have the MXTA26 on two of our Jeeps and the Ghost Antenna on a third. They all work.
What antenna cable and mounts would you recommend for all of these antennas for mobile use?
I just received my license and a newb at this.
Your videos are absolutely awesome. 👍
The "aluminum" body on my new F-150 Ford truck is a challenge for choosing an antenna. I've looked for an answer on UA-cam but the only expert I trust hasn't covered that topic yet.
Your first problem is the ford
Hi Randy, Can you post a...........affiliate link to your 10 db Mobile Base Antenna that you used to receive the signal in your SDR during the last part of the video? I'm interested in checking that one out as well. Excellent video as always. Thanks
I remember being told to 'Always listen to experts...they will tell you what cant be done and why....then go ahead and DO it'.
Loved this video!
Living in the city with parking garages makes the ghost antenna perfect for my use. It’s not just trees!!
Thanks for the video and comparisons. in your next video you can please compare the Nagoya NL-770G-NMO High Gain Mobile GMRS Antenna (NMO) with your Midland mxta26.
Great review! Can you do the same test with the different Yagi antenna "lengths" ? Does size really make a difference? Thanks!
Excellent technical presentation. Unfortunately, I had to watch twice because the first time around I was laughing too hard to concentrate.
I have both Midlands, use both, love them both
I've got a couple of those stumpy antennas I use with UV 5R's
They work fine, and they don't poke your eyes out
You'll shoot your eye out kid (A Christmas Story)
Does it screw right on to the uv5r?
I just purchased the Midland Ghost, and compared to my Nagoya UT-72G, the Midland does seem to have greater clarity for receive. (I rarely transmit.) Bonus: I use my Retevis RA25 to pick up GMRS and also local law enforcement on ~151 MHz range, and the signals really are clearer.
I love your shirt!!!!!
Yeah im using the antenna that came with my Midland 40watt as my base. Ill soon get a better one.
I can tell you get tired of other folks telling what they think is right. I go by the facts to. I go by from what i learn. Trial and error. I built my bases from that and the best i can do.
I loaned someone a radio of mine. Im going to see how things work.
I have seen this style antenna used on Police cars for years. Now, those departments have many antennas setup around the county, and a Trunking system in place. But they always worked very well, when I was a Cop. There is a similar version for the 2M / 440 Ham bands, too. These antennas seem to work best when mounted in a corner spot, of its groune plane. I have been thinking about getting one for my pickup truck, so I can park in parking garages, without knocking my antenna off!
the corner is where mine is mounted, but I have 7 antenna's on my unit. 18/20 mtr, 6 meter, 10/11 mtr, 2mtr/70cm, 800mhz and satellite/GPS
I use a dual band just like that for 2m and 70cm. it works well in my opinion.
I am not an expert, just learning from your videos about this stuff. But I have a question, would it change anything to have a constant sound played from mobile phone like a long beep when he keys up ? Also another question, would antenna output the same amount of RF watts if you key-up without speaking as when speaking loudly ? Or it does not matter? Thanks!
My UTV antenna. Small and durable is a must.
Very nice testing ghodt antenna for my offroad rig for the win 😮
My giggle hurts every time I watch your videos 🤣
Oh this dood is hilarious. I love this channel and his reviews.
😂😂😂😂 great video. Love your sense of humor.
Thanks for the giggles!
Expert Analysis There(:
You are my rock. You are my mountain. I count the days between our passings and mourn the time without you in my life.
That was very moving 😂
There are mental health professionals that can help you with this :)
Hi I am new to gmrs and you have a lot of knowledge on antennas I would like to know I have a 102 in whip antenna can I cut the whip down to work on GMRS and if do what lenght should I staet at. Thanks so much! I love all your videos.
Thank you for the informative content OM! 73 de AC6GM!
Thanks for the comparison. How well does it work if it is mounted on the hood instead of the roof? Also, any issues with having a 50watt HAM antenna on the same vehicle?
I have my GHOST mounted on a hood clamp mount on my SUV and it works very well. I also have one mounted to a steel plate on the roof of my motorhome connected to a Wouxon KG-1000G and it talks many FARS both simplex and on repeater channels.
I mount mine to my hood, and I realize it works better if a contact is in front of my vehicle, but I could still hit our repeater no matter where I was in our small town.
What antenna do you use for your base? I have never seen a 10 DB gain. Thx.
Do you think if you were using the Midland 500 or 575 radios with the higher wattage the results would be better or the same?
You are the BEST!!! By-Far
Nicely Done!
ROTFLMAO…you are too funny LOLOLOLOLOLO. That unpacking was too hilarious!
Awesome video ! THANKS. ...Alan 🇨🇱