How To Build A GMRS Base Station - Everything You Need To Know To Put Together A GMRS Radio For Home
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- In this video I will show you everything you need to build your home GMRS home base-station. Its very simple does not need to cost a lot of money. LINKS:
Samlex SEC-1235M Power Supply: www.buytwowayr...
Duracomm LPX-14 Power Supply: bit.ly/3o59PxY
Nagoya UT-72G Mobile GMRS antenna: amzn.to/3ciisD1
Midland MXTA26 6DB Gain Antenna bit.ly/3yIbwGz
NMO magnet mount with coax: amzn.to/3OeVsSq
Tram 1486 base station antenna: amzn.to/3PrbKIT
Surecom SW102 SWR meter for GMRS: amzn.to/3azhuBT
Messi & Paoloni Pre-assembled coax for GMRS:
www.buytwowayr...
LMR400 Pre-assembled GMRS coax: amzn.to/3OcS9Lr
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NOTICE - The above links (and most other links on my channel) are affiliate links - if you use one of my affiliate links to make a purchase I may receive credit/payment/money/something of value in return.
Music by Stern Beats - You can find him here:
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#GMRS
I am now a youtube certified radio base station installer! Your favorite viewer thanks you for this new certification!😉👍
Pro Tip: Disconnect antenna's from your radio's during storms to prevent a lightening strike from frying your radio.
Fun Fact. If you sleep like a baby during a wind storm, your antenna isn't high enough :)
Funfact im doing emcomm (as a firefighter) for our local civilians because i live in a village and where i live everybody has an pmr radio so we monitor pmr446 for help calls so during a storm i set my antenna up on our ladder truck and raised it all the way (33m high) and at that time i didnt even have an lightning arrestor pretty scarry time tbh
@@gamingforlive2150 lol....that's one way to make radio more exciting!!!!! Sorry,couldn't help it. I'm glad you're safe!!
Randy, I have successfully set up my very own GMRS Base Station rig. I'm using the Wouxun KG-1000-G, a Toppower STP-1330 30AMP power supply, LMR400 coax 50', a Tram Browning 6155 UHF antenna 450-470 MHz 5db gain base station antenna which is 73" tall. The antenna is grounded as you laid out in the video. The antenna is mounted on my house. I am able to hit the Squaw Mountain repeater 91 miles from my home and the Lookout Mountain Repeater 71 miles from my home. And I can do this on LOW power. I think the antenna makes all the difference. My SWR readings using the "older" version of the Farsometer shows an SWR of 1.05 pushing 49 watts at high power. Thanks for putting this out there for those who want to establish a base station. You have been an inspiration to me and I've used the wonderful information you put out to help me set up my base station.
Awesome man. From your descriptions of the repeaters, I have to ask.. are the ones you mentioned here in the Phoenix metro area? I have the kg-1000g and have yet to install into my truck.. which I believe is going in this weekend!
John Sampson indeed!!! The antenna is one of the most crucial part of getting signals in/out.....imo
Hey guys, I’m in Phoenix and I want to get into GRMS maybe get a base station. I live just east of the I 17 just north of Jomax in a two-story house. I could pop in antenna on the roof and have it pretty high up in the air.
I just have to say, I have never, ever, seen a video on base station set up explained more simpler than this. All key points divulged to the “user”, even the LMR400 “coax”. Bravo to you, sir, for helping people get on the air.
PS: what if we started using the term “Dream Crushers” for all those pesky people that you speak of.
Of course, you're assuming we like our family... I used to attach the grounding cable to my ex-wife's ankle when she slept, I convinced her that I was protecting HER from the storms, not really sure if she bought that story...
Wish you would have made this video 2 years ago . When I was trying to figure out everything. Like you said everyone made things so complicated. Great way to explain everything.
I also recommend the Ed Fong antenna, I have a gmrs and a dual band ham antenna.
Yes! I have the same antenna and works like a champ!
KB9VBR sells various base station antennas. Among them is a dedicated GMRS base antenna. I have other antennas from the same source. Great quality and quick shipping. No affiliate link below. I’m just a repeat customer and will let you perform due diligence and search on your own if you’re interested. Correct grammar is included by me at no extra charge. Best…..
Here is an antenna I ordered for my GMRS station.
Comet CA-712EFC Commercial/GMRS UHF Base Vert. 450-470 mHz
It has a 9db gain. A bit tall but if you have the room for $139 not a bad option. Only negative is that it is 2 weeks backordered.
Nice, simple video Randy. Enjoy your channel and learning tid bits about this hobby. 69's
Link 2 purchase? Thnx
That brief mention of static electricity is a fact, I did a service call on a very windy day for a customer whose base radio was popping. Pulled the coax off of the back of the radio and it would arc from the center conductor to the shield every few seconds. Thanks for the base station installer certification, I will hang it next to my certified zip tie technician certificate
Some antennas with matching networks at the feed point of the antenna just so happen to be dc grounded. The Ringo Ranger brand and the J-pole antenna are two such antennas. If you have a problem with static discharge and/or lightning strikes in your area then one of those types of antennas might be a good choice for you. The quick and easy way to tell if an antenna is DC grounded is to put an ohm meter across the center conductor and shield and it will show a dead short while also having an acceptable swr.
I decided to build a GMRS base station to connect with some friends in my general area. I had no idea how to do this because my reading comprehension score was significantly higher than my math score on my SAT 30 years ago. NotaRubicon made it simple for me. Since then, I've been devouring his channel because he's entertaining and practical. I share his philosophy- I just need stuff to work and not burn down my house. I don't need egghead perfect. Thanks, buddy!
My base station is a radioddity db20-G with a power adapter that sits right next to my PC. I ran some rg58 up to the ceiling and connected a nagoya UT-72 antenna to it. Works fine for gmrs and listening to Dallas PD.
Thank You, Sensei for this thorough, descriptive, informative, video on how to build a proper base station for GMRS use.
Especially mentioning the precautions on proper grounding of antenna! 👍
Much appreciated! 👌
I love your thumbnail! I had a radio shack "base station" walkie talkie and I took it for me! and gave my brother and his friends the mobile units. I sat in the tree fort being awesome with the base station 😎
I spent $7,000 on my ham base rig as a GMRS operator only just so I can dead key with a Roger beep on my local ham operator rejects. I love making these arrogant old boomers mad.
Not all heroes wear capes.
69s
My wife must not be grounded properly, maybe that’s why there is so much static 🤔
One cool thing about the Wouxon KG1000G is that you can remote the head display up to 16ft from the main radio body. Gotta get the SCO-002 cable. Im thinking about buying the KG1000G and power supply to mount in a cooled enclosure in my attic mechanical room for a shorter coax run to the roof peak. Then mount the display in the mancave directly below the mechanical room.
How difficult would it be for us to make our own longer cable. Are the connectors easy to get or are the some type that is strange and hard to find. Then the question becomes: how long of a cable can we use.
@@craigdavidson2977 just get cat cable and 2 male ethernet plug and the apropiate tool bam there`s ur cable EDIT: Some radios may use special layouts!
@@gamingforlive2150 and you can get all that at home depot fairly inexpensively
@@hitekredneck109 well maybe? 😅 Im german so ive never benn to home depo, wallmart micro centre ir anything like it
Do two antenna's being close together absorb the RF energy from the other when one is transmitting ?
My MXT275 failed within 2 hours of its first use, VSWR was 1.2:1, and something in the main unit failed. Midland is sending a replacement. I chose a 1/2~ fiberglass GMRS antenna mounted on the ladder of my RV with a 10' 1 1/2" PVC pipe and LMR-400 coax. The range was about 30 miles simplex up into the foothills with 15 watts. I look forward to trying the base station with a 50-watt radio next.
When i ground an antenna I sternly point my finger at it and inform said cable that it is grounded and what it did wrong and how long it's grounded for.
It was winter with snow on the ground when I first got my GMRS license. I put a mag mount antenna like the little one you showed on the A/C compressor just outside my home office and ran the coax in the window. I was still able to close the window on the RG58 coax without crushing it. As ridiculous as this sounds it worked as well as a mobile setup. Since upgraded to roof mount like Randy’s but don’t let a less than ideal situation stop you from setting up a base. Even a roll up J-pole from Nelson or N9TAX hung in the corner of a room will get you on the air.
Have you heard of & could you review the Ed Fong GMRS base station antenna? No ground plane needed, lives in a 3.5 foot length of PVC pipe. He makes one specifically for GMRS rated up to 50 watts.
Have to say you have a way with stating the obvious and keeping on point without being distracted by the 'experts' :)
Enjoy your videos and find them useful as well
Ed Fong sells a GRMS antenna. DBJ-UHF.
A base station sounds fun. Plus the extra range would be great. Is there a way to make a base station into a repeater just using one radio? Probably not, but can't hurt to ask. Thanks Randy. Great channel sir..
Tim..
The Comet GP-6NC GMRS/FRS Commercial is tuned for 153-157 MHz and 460-470.
Great presentation as always and as always, you are the man
Randy, you must be doing well with your UA-cam channel. I know from my broadcasting days, those RE20s are not cheap. Congrats!
Any chance you recall what trim spec off the Tram chart you trimmed your antenna to??? I found a few folks that used the "464" trim spec.......
Thanks in advance
Great channel!
For a low cost power supply option, there are sub $20 12v supplies meant for use in arcade machines, which will put out duty power all day long, meant for computer boards so it's clean power. These power supplies have output adjustments so you could bump it to 13.8v if you really want to. But the main thing is, they put out clean 12v for cheap. You will know you have the right one when all you see is a bare metal box. You have to add the 120v input cord and 12v output via screw terminals. I use one of these with my mobile/base sad ham radio and also for a CB. Works great.
Do you have a brand/model number handy? That’s an interesting tip.
Exactly! Thanks for someone speaking up and checking in
I have used oneac
I have used old PC power supplies and modified UPS-es for cheap power supplies. Bonus with a UPS is the battery inside that will allow you to "play radio" if the power goes out.
How much current can those power supplies provide?
like the shirt! RF grounding..... the ARRL handbook is a good place to start, hams have been trying to dodge lightning for around a hundred years so they have plenty of experience to call on.
Sadly Everything Is So Expensive For Me From What You Showed :( !
Can`t Afford Anything From It :( SADLY
It doesn't matter if you are into GMRS, CB or ham radio, you will ALWAYS find "experts" arguing online about grounding- to the point of name calling and personal attacks. Grounding is the 4chan of the radio world.
Thank you! I was trying to figure out the power supply. Purchased the uniden pro505 xl. Greatly appreciated ✈️✊🏾❤️❤️❤️✊🏾✈️ simple terms help!
"RF Electricities". 😅
Comet 712EFC (if you can find it) is GMRS specific base antenna. No cutting or tuning required. Many reports of perfect SWR straight out of package or below 1.5 SWR.
Just found this channel, love it. Switching from CB to GMRS. Starting with a HT but will be moving to a base station soon. I live in an apartment so may be challenging to set up an antenna.
I know nothing of radio coms atm, but I like your 'style' sir. I appreciate outliers and ppl whom help others(especially noobs); you seem to be both.
If you were making videos on a less niche' subject you would have a gold UA-cam plaque. Very entertaining
My comment is that I have ( 2 ) xtl5000 for Gmrs and with PVC tube as antenna and didn't ground because I have on 7 story building and running Pl-259 cable to my 3 floor apt
And I need a little help or vice from you if it is possible
Plus I got to say I am using. ( 2 ) 12 volt batteries 18ah and no power supply why you ask because con Edison bill and in case of no power to city
I am now "You Tube certified" expert GMRS base station know it all! I cant wait to talk about what I know on my local repeaters! Thank you Randi, and don't forget - if you are "some People" to disconnect your radio in a lightning storm and hold a 3 iron up to the sky as high as you can in a swimming pool preferably with some elevation.
So the RF signal attenuation is the issue?? Or is it the RF leakage at points along the coax? I still have some good connectors from when I was a broadband tech . A big issue with coax and leakage was with bad connections and the metal stranded insulation of the wire not bonded with the connector. Allowed the metal of the insulation to turn into an antenna for ingress/egress. Sounds like you use nice wire and connectors installed. Another thing that was an issue, is that some wires that were already in the walls, had a resistance “rating” that didn’t match our 75 ohm system. Thanks for the videos I’m going to build one soon! I’ll report back and possibly test for leakage at the connections!
For my base station, I bought the Ed Fong J-pole kit for GMRS from Ham Radio 2.0. Seems to work well.
Hey! I love your videos and appreciate you sharing all the info! I have a question: My oldest daughter is in a university about 200 hundred miles from our home. I am giving her a Baofeng UV-5R radio to keep at her dorm and I want to build a home radio that can reach those distances clearly (Urban Environment). Can you give a recommendation and or exact list of what I'll need to accomplish that? Thank you so much in advance! Cheers!
I understand ED Fong, out there in California, makes and sells great J Pole base antennas, tuned to GMRS, for $55.00.
I just started getting into GMRS, and your channel is quickly becoming my go-to for answers on all my questions. Thanks for all you do!
I knew it! 😂👍🏼
I like to use weed trimmer line for grounding. It's plastic so it won't ever short out and ground your antenna cable. 🤨
I think it's funny that you're assuming that radio nerds have children and wives they're normally just like stuck in their basement playing dungeons and Dragons in their underwear at the sausage fest
He was dead on about signal attenuation through coax. The longer it is, the more signal will bleed off and you have a weak transmission. Recommend getting a coaxial attenuator to prevent bleed off and overly strong signal strength. I'd like to find out what wind rating his antenna setup has. I live on the coast and during strong storms we get high winds coming off the water which makes antenna placement important.
Thank you for the post, its almost like you are a mind reader!
i am in a valley with hills around 150 ft high. can i use a smaller antenna on the house and put a baofeng repeater set up on the surrounding hill ( still my property) to get out of this dish i am in? if so... what should that set up look like in order to maximize a 50 watt station? thanks .. love your vids and t shirts btw :).... dave
I have a question. I am building a GMRS base station. What is the difference between the Tram 1486 and the 1486-B? Thank you.
1486 is white, the B=black
LOL, do I feel stupid? It must be my gray hair, LOL.@@TheNotaRubicon I am using a Midland 50-watt for my base. One last question. Just how high can I raise my 14866 antenna about my roof? Thank you so much for all you do. Love your videos and your style. have an awesome day.
§ 95.317 Registration of antenna structures that may constitute a menace to air navigation.
(a) Each antenna structure used for a Personal Radio Service station is subject to the antenna structure rules set forth in part 17 of this chapter. In particular, the owner of an antenna structure that is more than 60.96 m (200 ft) in height above ground level (see § 17.7 of this chapter for specific criteria) may be required to notify the FAA and register the antenna structure with the FCC.
(b) Further, stations located on or near a military or public-use airport with an antenna structure that is more than 6.10 meters (20 feet) high may have to obey additional restrictions. The highest point of the antenna must not exceed one meter above the airport elevation for every hundred meters of distance from the nearest point of the nearest airport runway. Differences in ground elevation between the antenna and the airport runway may complicate this formula. For stations near an airport, see appsint.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/towairSearch.jsp to figure the maximum allowable height of the antenna. Consult part 17 of the FCC's Rules for more information (47 CFR part 17).
You are awesome. :) @@TheNotaRubicon
I have a g.m.rs radio with mag mount antenna my radio is rated at 45 watts I asked ham radio world what size powersupply to
buy thay sold it to me and I have been on air since 06 03 2023 no problums like everyone else has thay cant make the repeter
becouse there running a ht at five watts so there
that duracom looks just like my 50 year old radio shack power supply. yes still works great .
If I mount my base station antenna on a pole roughly 25 ft from the house, is grounding necessary?
I’ve looked through your store for that shirt you’re wearing. I couldn’t find it.
Listen only to the national electric code on grounding....dont listen to anyone else....
Plus I am disabled person and member of Gmrs since it came out
I know a ham clown that has 12 ground rods around his house and 3 at each tower five towers mind you !
Is the Samlex the better power station compared to others? TIA.
The COMET CA712EFC is tuned to 460-470 mhz and provides 9db gain. I have had great results during the three years mine has been connected to the gmrs side of my station. Kj6wss/wrap287
( 1 ) TX of Gmrs 467---- /Rx 462-----
Xtl5000
Comet CA-712EFC Commercial/GMRS UHF Base Vertical Antennas. Tuned to 460-470 mhz. They also make some that are up to 16’ in length that are sectional.
I have a Btech 50v2 and I’m using it as a base station. I’m using 25ft of KMR-400 coax and a HYS 200w GMRS antenna that I got on Amazon. For some reason I’m getting a 1.7 to 2.2 SWR and I wanted to ask if you think this is acceptable? I’m using a Surecom to test the SWR. Also, it seems that I get a higher SWR when I’m on high power, but it goes down when I put the power lever on low. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
1.7 is near perfect and 2.2 is very good.. Stop overthinking it and enjoy your radio.
Can you use a J pole mounted on the roof, or what's the best??
I just want your tshirt. Where did you find that one?
Randy, what type of antenna wouks you recommend for a 50W base station setup?
Also, does attic antenna still have to be grounded?
I use a Tram 1486 for my base station setup.
Everyone I know that uses an attic antenna grounds theirs.
Will a TV antenna UHF antenna work for GMRS radio. I have a big vanguard mounted to my house.
No.
What's a cheap but decent GMRS base station and antennae and whatever else I need if I want to have a way to communicate just 11 miles to another of the same unit? (I want to set up two base stations, one at my house, and another at my aging parents house for when we lose cell tower comms during hurricanes here in Florida). Thanks.
I use a Tram 1486 for my base-station. Its not too expensive and it does not look like a giant-space antenna on the roof so the neighbors..and the wife, don't complain.
I happen to use the Ed Fong GMRS monoband base antenna for my current setup it is mounted on a mast. It was 1.1 to 1 with the LMR-400 coax I used.
You could also make your own ground plane antenna. It's VERY easy to do. Search youtube for GMRS ground plane antenna.
@@Tommyr Lets see if this link does not get deleted by our youtube overloards and masters.
ua-cam.com/users/results?search_query=how+to+build+your+own+ufh+quarterwave+antenna
Regarding NMO antennas. When the listening says "no ground plane" is that implying included or required?
A "no ground plane" antenna means that no ground-plane is required.
Well, I'm a HAPPY HAM! ☺ I have both HAM and GMRS base station! Thanks Randy! You're the BEST! Really good advice! I'm trained to save my family and my house... Except...
Cool if you’re into talking to dudes on a radio.
Thank you for the informative and most helpful on-topic visual aids! I feel empowered!
Stupid question: In setting up a GMRS antenna, can that same antenna be used for certain Ham bands? If so, which ones? How best to go about obtaining the most "universatility" out of a single investment?
No, it would have to be re-tuned for the section of the 440 (70cm) band you want to use.
I use my ham antenna on GMRS but the SWR isn't optimal. Not horrible but I wouldn't push 50w through it.
I am fully reeled in.. now even when I am just listening and can't see the actual air quotes.. I just proclaim "EXPERT"..out loud in the proper pause spaces provided.
Thank you for making Me... Your favorite viewer..., feel as though I am part of something fars bigger than... Myself..
Glad I can help. 😂🖖
Or instead of spending almost $200 on a DC power supply, buy/locate a power supply from a pc workstation or server on ebay. The server power supplies put out nearly 5x the amperage as the dinky power supplies listed in the video.
I use one all the time for battery charging and it cost me $20 and puts out more than 60amps at 12v
Another excellent video. Very informative, and just the correct amount of humour. Hello from Scotland, wishing we had GMRS here, but the airwaves are far too valuable to the useless government we have, to be given away. We urgently need a 1776 type uprising, but the aforementioned useless government make sure our gun laws are so tight, we can never rise up ☹️
I’m an expert at assuming , I am disabled and would like a couch radio. I assume a cookie sheet base station is better than using a handheld on my couch.
Usually a correctly tuned mobile antenna on a cookie sheet in the window will outperform an HT antenna, assuming there are no issues with the coax/connectors, etc.
“Some people are generally idiots, morons, dolts, trolls, or basement dwellers AKA “know it all’s”. They never go outside but they always try to impress us with how smart they think they are.”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Love it!!! I hate going on some message boards and videos because I get this exact thing. Some snarky unhelpful answers that don’t help me or anyone at all. Thank you sir for all your help and videos you post. I am a new subscriber but I have be eating up all your content. Love it!
🤣 "Those that try to sound more intelligent often are not. Barely capable of comprehending the big red sign we find at some intersections yet they have a driver's license." (I used quotation marks on purpose [intentionally])
I found it better to get an Icom ID 5100 Deluxe and let HRO do the MARS MOD - you know so I can talk to the planet Mars!
🤣🤣
I have been rocking a (🐷 station) Betty Crocker, mag mount for years. They work good, and don't need all that extra heavy wire, mast, grounding, etc. You just gotta be careful, about all your other home electronics vs. power usage! 50 watts can blow up other wifi and bluetooth receivers, if mounted to close by. (I cooked a DVD player, beneath my antenna, one day!)
I just got a UV9G with your affiliate link and it should be arriving soon, thanks for the work you do and the comedy man, it’s great. I’m up in the 805, do you think I could xmit to SoCal? I’d like to try, just got my license.
Woo Wee... Where do I get my Certificate at?
Just received my Tram 1486 today and other than the cutting chart which has 3 columns which I don't know which column to use. Mine didn't come with any instructions so I don't have much to go on. Should it have had instructions?
I am new to the grown-up level of GMRS. I have had my license for 5 years, but only for blister-pack radios. I only used those occasionally for hunting and vacations. In fact, I did not even know base stations and repeaters were a thing until two weeks ago. Your channel is a Masterclass for GMRS. Thanks a bunch for the content. I can see, that even at a conservative level, I am going to be investing in some cool big-boy toys.
If I have a metal roof can I just place my mobile antenna on the metal roof instead of a cookie sheet?
yes.
I've been watching lots of your videos... Very informative while being humorous! Thanks for your info!
Randy, what can you tell me about the FCC telling me there are some frequencies I can't use because I am near the Canadian border when I applied for my license ? Thanks
Radio RIP house survives ⚡️?
What’s you thoughts on the Ed fong antenna?
Ok... when it oooooozes out, can't we just pick it up and put it back in? 🤔
Hi Randy , I sent Retevis RB86 Mobile GMRS a comment about the radio , after they fix it that may be my base station/ moble go to. I just got the Baofang waterproof radio today thanks
I used my mobile radio mag mount antenna to the lid of my BBQ and got much better FARs than my basic HT. I think the Propane helped propel the electrotrons.
What a nice entertaining way to cover all the basics and bases. A tuned antenna, premade coax sized for the length of the run and proper grounding go a long way in the quest of many fars. Where can I buy a branded Fars-O-Meter? Are there other products in the Fars line?
Hey, thank you for these videos. I didn’t have any idea about what radio to get.
You were the first person to really explain all the confusing stuff and actually I decided to go with GMRS was because I kept watching again I like the explanations.
Thanks again. You really helped.
I am a simple man, I just have a UV-5X dialed to my repeater sitting 20ft from me and just have the volume on low.
Searched base station setups seen your video first and immediately clicked on it, those other guys look like the sad ham types. Love your videos man!
Hey randy great content I have the midland 575 and I ordered the midland mobile antenna and will be getting the same base antenna
Do you know anything about the Overlander antenna I have be considering getting one for my 18 ft travel trailer thankyou in advance
Thanks for putting this together! I’d love to see what you would recommend for a SHTF type of mobile base station.
Comet makes a fantastic GMRS antenna, no tuning required, GP-9NC. Pre tuned for 460-470MHz. 16.6 FT Tall, has 11.9dBi. I have one and it works great.
I have a friend that has that antenna, but it was not pre-tuned. It works very well but its kinda big!
@@TheNotaRubicon But we like big and so do the ladies.....Just Say'in. That is a lot of gain. Up high, it would have a hell of a lot of simplex range. It might even hit Randy's 69 mile away repeater from Iowa.....lol
@@TheNotaRubicon Yes very tall and I can't hide, they have a dual band version for Ham GP-9, I have that one too, the GP-9NC is the tuned one, it was originally made for commercial frequencies, that are now allocated for GMRS.
KINDA ain't the word 🤣