I have a midland mxt500 with the ghost antenna on a NMO mag mount for my tacoma, it works great, I easily get 8-12miles of good talking range mounted forward about 1ft from the trucks shark fin antenna/GPS. Although midland says I should get up to 30miles.. I find this to be untrue with surrounding area obstructions interference, and some with poor antenna placement.. but is FAR superior to a weak handheld which I still use for spotting others. I also carry a baofeng radio with HAM frequencies, and a Garmin InReach mini for emergency comms.
Yes. The range that Midland claims is rarely possible. It really takes at least one of the two radios to be in an elevated position. And when you think about that, the radios will still be line of sight. The length is exaggerated because you would be cheating the natural curvature of the earth with the elevation.
Decent video... can't use GMRS the same here in Canada though, so most clubs go amateur. I prefer the NMO mounts for my VHF/UHF gear, but the ⅜-24 is pretty much the standard for HF antennas.
Hi Ravendon. Not really other than tightening the antenna with pliers or a wrench. The downside to that is that it stresses the antenna components and may cause breakage. If you use an NMO mount, there are manufacturers that make antenna caps. That would allow you to remove the antenna and put on a much cheaper and more incognito cap. You don't want to just leave the antenna exposed to the weather. Hope this helps.
Hi Cesar. You could mount both antennas, but you will only be able to use one at a time. If you tried to use both at the same time, your phasing and likely your SWR would be completely whacked. You should just choose and mount one and then make sure that you can get the SWR as close to 1:1 as possible. I am sure that you will be pleased with the results.
@The Walkers About ... Sam, I realize this video has been out for a while, but being new to radio, I was hoping you could help me out. I am installing a Midland GMRS radio in my Jeep Gladiator and will be putting the head unit under the dash on the drivers side. I was told the the antenna would interfere with the am/fm radio already installed from the factory and not to install the antenna near the am/fm antenna on the passenger side. ( this is actually where I would prefer to install it) ... but being advised against it, the next location would be on the drivers side. I will be installing a Midland ghost antenna (but I am open to purchasing a better one, if you have suggestions) with a lip mount on/near the hood cowl ( as shown in your video @ 5:05 ) my concern is the antenna has a length of 19.6ft and the distance to from the head unit to the antenna ( depending on the routing path) if most direct is probably only 6 - 8ft. I'm not sure what to do with the excess antenna cable or the best way to route it. I have read that you do not want to "loop" the cable, but I wasn't sure if that applied to all radio systems. If the antenna was placed on the hood, I was thinking of making a large figure eight pattern from one side of the hood cowl to the other or one large oblong circle, but either way I am making either two small or one large loop. unless "looping" refers to being tightly coiled. Any advise, assistance or nudge in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. I hope this finds you in good health and spirits, thank you !
Hi Mr. Johnson. Sorry for the quite tardy reply. You are/were on the right track with the driver's side cowl/hood mount. Folks seem to be having good success with either the Ghost or longer 6db versions of the Midland antennas. As you have noted you will not need the full length of the supplied coax. Your choices would be to bundle the cable (oval or back and forth and zip tied is considered better than looped) or cut off excess and reinstall a new male end. Personally, I would just bundle the excess and try it to see if it will meet your needs. I will be watching the comments more closely now. Again I apologize for the slow response back.
By CB wire I am guessing that you mean the coax cable. If you buy a GMRS antenna that fits your current CB antenna mount then no adapters are needed. Just buy a GMRS antenna with the same mount as you old CB antenna, if you can find one or just buy a complete GMRS antenna system for your vehicle. Don't forget to get you FRN (Federal Registration Number, no charge from the FCC) and GMRS license* ($35.00 from the FCC, no test required) before transmitting! *The GMRS license covers everyone in your immediate family for 10 years!
He didn't forget, the video was about GMRS Antenna Installation , not about GMRS licencing.... You can find plenty of videos that are and a ton of information on the web about the licence.
I appreciate the introduction to this new NMO antenna, which is what I ended up with. Thanks so much for showing me how it mounts and works.
You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!
Love to see a national network for GMRS and continue the growth of GMRS repeaters. We have some in Florida that work well.
Thanks for putting this together. It helped me pick a good spot to mount mine
I am glad to have contributed to your success.
Outstanding! Thank you.
I have a midland mxt500 with the ghost antenna on a NMO mag mount for my tacoma, it works great, I easily get 8-12miles of good talking range mounted forward about 1ft from the trucks shark fin antenna/GPS. Although midland says I should get up to 30miles.. I find this to be untrue with surrounding area obstructions interference, and some with poor antenna placement.. but is FAR superior to a weak handheld which I still use for spotting others. I also carry a baofeng radio with HAM frequencies, and a Garmin InReach mini for emergency comms.
Yes. The range that Midland claims is rarely possible. It really takes at least one of the two radios to be in an elevated position. And when you think about that, the radios will still be line of sight. The length is exaggerated because you would be cheating the natural curvature of the earth with the elevation.
Decent video... can't use GMRS the same here in Canada though, so most clubs go amateur. I prefer the NMO mounts for my VHF/UHF gear, but the ⅜-24 is pretty much the standard for HF antennas.
My concern is how to prevent theft of the antenna. Someone could just unscrew it. Is there a secure method?
Hi Ravendon. Not really other than tightening the antenna with pliers or a wrench. The downside to that is that it stresses the antenna components and may cause breakage. If you use an NMO mount, there are manufacturers that make antenna caps. That would allow you to remove the antenna and put on a much cheaper and more incognito cap. You don't want to just leave the antenna exposed to the weather. Hope this helps.
Thanks, Sam...awesome job!
My pleasure!
Well done. Thank you.
Thank you.
Another great vid Sam. Thnx
Glad you enjoyed it
Sam can I place a Midland 3db Ghost antenna on the front and a 6db midland antenna on the rear both hooked to the same radio?
Hi Cesar. You could mount both antennas, but you will only be able to use one at a time. If you tried to use both at the same time, your phasing and likely your SWR would be completely whacked. You should just choose and mount one and then make sure that you can get the SWR as close to 1:1 as possible. I am sure that you will be pleased with the results.
Great video.
Thank you.
Great stuff thanks!
I am glad that you found value in the video.
@The Walkers About ... Sam, I realize this video has been out for a while, but being new to radio, I was hoping you could help me out. I am installing a Midland GMRS radio in my Jeep Gladiator and will be putting the head unit under the dash on the drivers side. I was told the the antenna would interfere with the am/fm radio already installed from the factory and not to install the antenna near the am/fm antenna on the passenger side. ( this is actually where I would prefer to install it) ... but being advised against it, the next location would be on the drivers side. I will be installing a Midland ghost antenna (but I am open to purchasing a better one, if you have suggestions) with a lip mount on/near the hood cowl ( as shown in your video @ 5:05 ) my concern is the antenna has a length of 19.6ft and the distance to from the head unit to the antenna ( depending on the routing path) if most direct is probably only 6 - 8ft. I'm not sure what to do with the excess antenna cable or the best way to route it. I have read that you do not want to "loop" the cable, but I wasn't sure if that applied to all radio systems. If the antenna was placed on the hood, I was thinking of making a large figure eight pattern from one side of the hood cowl to the other or one large oblong circle, but either way I am making either two small or one large loop. unless "looping" refers to being tightly coiled. Any advise, assistance or nudge in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. I hope this finds you in good health and spirits, thank you !
Hi Mr. Johnson. Sorry for the quite tardy reply. You are/were on the right track with the driver's side cowl/hood mount. Folks seem to be having good success with either the Ghost or longer 6db versions of the Midland antennas. As you have noted you will not need the full length of the supplied coax. Your choices would be to bundle the cable (oval or back and forth and zip tied is considered better than looped) or cut off excess and reinstall a new male end. Personally, I would just bundle the excess and try it to see if it will meet your needs. I will be watching the comments more closely now. Again I apologize for the slow response back.
What’s the part number or name for the adapter to convert cb coax to gmrs at the antenna base? You could have put that in there at least.
A double female SO-239 connector.
Is there a part number for the adapter from cb wire to a new GMRS antenna?
By CB wire I am guessing that you mean the coax cable. If you buy a GMRS antenna that fits your current CB antenna mount then no adapters are needed. Just buy a GMRS antenna with the same mount as you old CB antenna, if you can find one or just buy a complete GMRS antenna system for your vehicle.
Don't forget to get you FRN (Federal Registration Number, no charge from the FCC) and GMRS license* ($35.00 from the FCC, no test required) before transmitting!
*The GMRS license covers everyone in your immediate family for 10 years!
@@jfrphoto01 already have the license
Thanks
Hello Sam
Hi Kay.
You forgot to mention that GMRS requires an FCC License. No test is required.
He didn't forget, the video was about GMRS Antenna Installation , not about GMRS licencing.... You can find plenty of videos that are and a ton of information on the web about the licence.
Not every single video has to mention the fucking license
What
??