New GMRS Radio Install for Jeep JL Wrangler and JT Gladiator-Midland MXT275 & Rugged Radio Mount
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- New GMRS Radio Install for Jeep JL Wrangler and JT Gladiator-Midland MXT & Rugged Radio Mount. On this video we install my new Midland MXT275 GMRS radio in my 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL, this install will be the same for a Jeep JT Gladiator as well. Along with the radio install we also add a mount from Rugged Radio on the a-pillar as well as a 3dB ghost antenna from Midland. This was an easy install anyone could do in their garage and the parts we choose made for a super clean install. The Midland MXT275 is a great com's setup paired with my GXT1030VP4 handheld GMRS walkies. These radios do require a GMRS license from the FCC, so don't forget to get one of those! I was super happy with how it performed on my last wheeling trip, thanks for watching!
Frostbite Off-Road Merch: frostbiteoffroad.com/
Midland MXT275: amzn.to/314DNa4
Midland GXT1000 Walkies: amzn.to/32Gbm32
Midland Ghost Antenna: amzn.to/2Pbw1sm
Midland 6m GMRS cable: amzn.to/3vLKsUx
Rugged Radio JL Driver Side Antenna Mount: amzn.to/312i9TE
Surecom SWR & Power Meter: amzn.to/3wLdpj9
Connector Kit For SWR Meter(needed for Midland): amzn.to/3g06Qm6
Topsy JL Mic Mount: topsyproducts.com/products/un...
Velcro used: amzn.to/2PfqEZy
Instagram page: / frostbite_offroad
Amazon store link: www.amazon.com/shop/frostbite_jl
0:00 Intro
0:17 New Radio
1:40 Unboxing
3:58 Antenna Install
6:00 Cable Install
12:50 Radio Install
15:28 Wiring The Power
17:28 SWR Testing
22:30 Mic Mount Install
25:33 Radio Test
28:48 Outro
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. - Авто та транспорт
Midland has a “Fall Offer” at the moment. Buy a Micromobile and get a free external speaker. It’ll probably sound better than the one integrated into the unit. Plus then you can hide the unit without worrying about its placement because you need to hear the speaker.
That’s a great deal, we were just talking about adding an external speaker to my buddies Midland setup. Thanks for the info and for watching the video 👍
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD thanks. I just subbed. I don’t have a Jeep, But I appreciate this content.
@@johnnywood8082 thanks Johnny, I appreciate it!
I wonder if folks realize that you can turn on the base unit speaker and the mic speaker either together, or independently -- the system is stupid loud with both speakers and I have no idea why you would need more!
@@prov431 that is a nice option, I have both mine on and the are quite loud when your just driving. I do find it nice though when you’re bashing through the woods with the stereo on.
That is a hard earned sub! Thanks for the great video. It was very clear and to the point, No BS, and helped me through the install perfectly. I have a 2023 Wrangler 392 - outside of the waterproofing being a bit different around the a-pillar and some extra clips in the difficult to remove passenger kick panel - your video was spot on. Thank you!
No problem, I’m glad the video helped you out with your install! Thanks for the sub and enjoy that new Jeep!
Great job on the video! All the information that you need and nothing that you don't need. Very useful.
Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching Joseph!
Hey Frost, just installed my Midland MXT275 radio this evening. Used your video for reference and the install couldn't have gone better. Thanks for sharing this with us and looking forward to your next video. 😎
That’s cool the video helped you out, I’m really enjoying this setup so far! Thanks for watching 👍
One of the better install videos that I have ever found. Thanks for the details. Ive had this radio for over a year and havent finished the install. Now I will get it done....and use some links for items needed....then check some other videos. Nice KC lights.
Thanks Bill for watching the video, hopefully it helps you finally get your radio installed! Thanks for using the links it definitely helps my small channel out, those KC lights are definitely one of my favorite upgrades 👍
She called you Sir! Impressed, ha! Anyway I've watched every install vid for this radio as I just put ne in my wife's SUV. Using the local repeater in town to a hand-held at home we have about 16 miles, easy, of coverage, in a straight line. Like the radio, just wish it did split tones as there's a good repeater NW of here that needs it.
Haha yeah that was funny, I do like the radio, just used it off-road and it was crystal clear with everyone in the group. We do have a local repeater near us but haven’t used it yet, I’m sure it would greatly increase the range. What antenna are you running with your setup?
This is the way a tutorial video should be made...Good jobe 👍
Thanks man, I really enjoy this radio setup!
Really clean install! Thanks for sharing the details. Very helpful.
No problem Paul, glad the video helped you out! Thanks for watching!
Well done on the video, cleared up several questions I had about the instal, thank you
Glad it helped you out, thanks for watching!
Nice video. Where you have mounted your antenna the Jeep body is blocking the transmission and reception of the antenna significantly and greatly reduces your radio's range. I mounted the small whip antenna on my roof with some industrial velcro. That way the radio signal can transmit 360 degrees around the Jeep with out interference. And will (and has) just get knocked over by low trees. I easily get 3-5 miles range in the big city city (Tacoma WA) and much more range in open terain.
Yeah I’m aware that location isn’t ideal but it’s been working great for a couple years now. I did have plans to put a small whip in that location but haven’t had a need to, it works great in our Jeep groups and I’ve never needed more range. The Velcro is a good idea if you’re not trying to drill your hardtop, thanks for watching the video!
Thanks for the video man this is exactly how I’m going to do mine
No problem Josh, thanks for watching! I do really like the way this setup turned out!
Thanks for the video. I just got the Midland MXT115 with the ghost antenna kit. I bought the mount and Velcro. Just got my fcc license today too. Very excited to get this working on my Jeep.
No problem Rob, sounds like you’ll have a nice setup! I’ve been really happy with mine, a lot of people are switching to GMRS so it’s a great setup to have! Thanks for watching 👍
I just ordered this same setup. So if I don’t pay more government fees to the FCC I can’t transmit? “Legally”
@@jason20341 yeah Midland states that you do need a GMRS license to use these radio’s.
Great installation
Thanks for watching Chris!
Although I have no plans to mount a radio, I still really enjoyed the video!
Thanks Randy, I’m glad you enjoyed watching it. 🍻
Take that magnetic antenna with you, so if you get into a roll over you can stick the magnetic on the bottom, now the top, of your Jeep and call for help.
Great idea, always good to plan for the best lol.
In a pinch in case you scrape the ghost antenna, the mag antenna sticks to the hood hinge bolts.
Thanks for this, very well done
Thanks for watching, I’m glad it helped you out!
The little black disk is a standoff that goes in the hole on the cowl to keep the bracket held away from the hole. The foam round disk it to keep the bracket off the paint!
Links down below lady was funny. Nice!
Yeah I thought that was pretty funny, thanks for watching!
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD Great video, been watching them all. Building out my JL as well. Considering upgrading from a handheld GMRS to the Midland now.
@@RyanRij thanks for the support Ryan! Yeah I definitely think it’s a nice upgrade, and having the handhelds for spotting or loaning out to people is great as well!
Great video 👏🏻
Thanks 👍
Excellent video. Thank You
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!
nice vid very detailed, i had to subscribed ;now i know how to run my antenna cable thanks
Thanks for watching and subscribing, I’m glad it’ll help with your install! Enjoy your new radio!
Great video.
Right now Midland has the radio bundled with the 6db gain antenna for just u dear $200.
That seems like a pretty good deal, thanks for watching the video Mark!
I’ve had the mxt275 but haven’t installed it quite yet, planning to run the same antenna set up, but instead of under the glove box I’ll have it mounted to the ram mount system right up on the dash which will also allow me to remove it and toss it in the center console if I’m leaving the Jeep with the doors off for an extended amount of time 🤙
That should be a great setup, I’m really happy with mine still! Being able to remove it quick and store it is a great feature on this particular model, thanks for watching Gabriel!
Another good place utilizing velcro, is to position it right under the drivers seat close to the right front . this allows a perfect place for the mic reside and using the sticky mic mount stuck to the lower right of the push to start button. This seems to prevent the constant "pull" when using the mic if mounted on the passenger side.
That’s a good idea, I haven’t had any problems with the cord on the passenger side. You can get an extension for the mic cord if needed. Do you ever bump it with your knee on the driver side?
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD Yep, the extension is the way to go for this!
Thanks!
No problem glad the video helped you out, thanks for the super thanks Lee!!
Thanks, Brian, Very informative. I'm in the midst of replacing both my CB and GMRS with versions that have on the controls, so I was curious as to where you ended up putting the radio body. I might do the same thing. The question for me is: If I put the GRMS mike where you did (which is how I'm leaning), where to I put the CB mike? :)
The body for my radio is under the glovebox and Velcro is securing it to a plastic box so it’s semi permanent. They do make grab handle mounts for mics you could add on the passenger side.
That was one of the best instructional videos I have seen on any topic! You were quick to the point but explained things fully, and the video angles were excellent.
I have a TJ and a Gladiator that I will be using two MXT-275s. I am really wondering what is the best antenna setup. Your DB gain with the ghost, or the one that was supplied with it. When I called Midland, she said the stock antenna would probably be best on a TJ in a hilly area where you don't have a long line of sight. On the TJ I am mounting on top of a rack. On Gladiator, I'm still not sure which path I would want to use. I like your amount install, but I'm wondering if it would be better to use the one that came with it on the cowl or on my light bracket bar. Have you tried using two different antennas and testing the difference between the two?
Again, absolutely awesome job on that video! Please let me know on the difference between the two antennas.
Thanks Johnny, I’m glad the video is going to help you with your install! I’ve only used the ghost antenna with this current setup and have been very happy with it. I was on a trail ride not too long ago where we got separated and I was able to talk to one of the other jeeps that had the same radio a couple miles away, something I could never do before with CB. I have debated getting their longer antenna and swapping it out when we do trail rides, but the ghost antenna has done everything I needed it to. If you want some thing that you can remove easily that one that came with the radio is definitely the way to go, you also have some flexibility on where you put it. It probably wouldn’t hurt to try that out first and then go to the ghost antenna later if you want, my buddy is running a ghost antenna on the roof of his XJ and it works great. Thanks again for watching the video, let me know if you have any more questions!
The longer antenna that they and others offer will add transmission and receive. The shorter antenna's that comes with the kit only get at best 3db gain. The longer antenna's get 6db gain. If you've hard mounted your antenna mount all you need to do is remove the antenna it's self and screw on the longer antenna. The downside is the the longer antenna's are prone to hitting trees. I'm mounting my antenna's on a rail that's above my winch so they're (3) sort of centered the the jeep. I can't attach them to my roof rack because of my RTT.
Best of luck.
Should move the antenna to the roof rack. Especially with that stubby antenna.
I would get better reception but it works just fine where I have it and it looks clean. On my Jeep I would have to mess with the hardtop to mount it on my rack and in the NW it’s not a great idea. I was going to run their longer 6db antenna but I haven’t felt the need to, thanks for watching the video!
Nice interior install, but there are better places to mount that antenna.
I’m sure there is but I’m happy with how it looks and functions, thanks for watching!
Great video, thank you. Dumb question - Would it not have been easier to mount the antenna on the right side of the hood? That way antenna and unit are all on the same side of the vehicle? Or is there something I'm maybe missing?
Not a dumb question at all, there is a reason. The main one being the two antennas that close to each other causes a lot of interference and would severely decrease the quality of your transmissions. The other for me is to keep it looking clean, it would function better on my roof rack but without drilling my top I did not see a clean way to install it. Hope this helps, thanks for watching!
Great installation video, thank you for sharing! thinking to purchase one for a JL. A quick question, can this GMRS radio communicate with a midland handheld, i.e. walkie-talkie?
Yeah, I actually bring the handhelds every time I go wheeling! Thanks for watching the video!
Excellent video. What size antenna cable did you with?
Thanks, I used the Midland 6m cable for GMRS. I have a link for it in the description if you need it.
Great video, I am looking to do the same thing in my 2021 JL Rubicon:)
Two questions, please. First, with the base unit underneath the glove, can you still hear the speaker and have access to the USB port? Second, I watched other reviews for this radio that mentioned midland designed this unit pre-tuned, and no need for SWR tuning, are they wrong?
Thanks, yeah the speaker is still audible, I have no problem hearing people on it. The USB port is still accessible if you wanted to use it you could although it would be a little inconvenient getting to it. As far as the SWR goes it’s alway good to test before you start transmitting on any new radio, it can fry the unit if it’s too far out of spec. I’m sure the unit is tuned to the antenna it comes with but I added a ghost antenna a different companies mount and a super long cable that I didn’t cut to the exact length needed. So I did have the potential of having a high SWR, didn’t hurt anything to check it before transmitting. I hope this helps, thanks for watching!
the mic and radio both have a speaker, and both can be turned on, off, or both on....it's super loud if need be!
with your VSWR reading... all those adapters are causing some DB loss too.. so you might actually be lower than you think. FYSA (for your situational awareness), VSWR is a ratio of power being sent out from the radio to the antenna and the power being sent back to the radio from the connectors and antenna. Also looping 5 feet of cable loop is pretty bad, un-needed inductance causing impedance. I really enjoyed this video though, I will be mounting mine where you mounted yours, I have been searching for a good spot, thank you!
that accessory power wire bundle you have there, would that be on my 22 Gladiator?
Thanks for the insight, those accessory wires come with the aux switch package. I have a max tow JL so they are included. I believe on the JT's it's an add-on option, they can install it afterwards at the dealer if yours didn't come with it. Thanks for watching and enjoy your new radio.
Good video. My Jeep doesn’t have the auxiliary cable under the dash so I need to find a spot to wire into
Thanks for watching, yeah the aux group wires are handy. I’ve see people tap into the cigarette lighter wires but then it’s only on when the Jeep is on, could just take it straight to the battery. Enjoy the new radio!
Ya I looked it up. A lot of work to add the aux switch kit. I just bought a 8 gang aux switch and ran a power wire from the battery up to the glovebox area today. Radio works. Just need to mount it now. Started to get too dark out. The mic holder they supply you with won’t even stick to the same spot where you put yours. I’ll need to buy some stronger double sided tape lol
@@MiKoRoGoD that’s cool you got it all wired up, I like the mount I bought for the mic. It was fairly cheap and the install was pretty easy.
Is there an output for external speaker? I'm thinking you could run a cable from the speaker output and plug into the Jeep radio media input and control volume with the Jeep volume controls.
Great job on the video! With the 5ft excess of antenna cable, did you wrap it in a certain way?
No I just rolled it up like a hose and zip tied it. It’s been working great so I didn’t bother trimming it down encase I want to relocate the antenna in the future. Thanks for watching the video Lorne!
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD Thanks for the reply! I did the same but got some feedback that my signal was crackly... I'll review the setup again.
Thanks for the video! I was told once that with GMRS you don't need to perform an SWR reading. Is that not true?
They do recommend to check SWR on all new radios including CB, GMRS and HAM. If the SWR is too high you can fry your new radio. Some GMRS antennas aren’t adjustable so some might think you don’t need to check, but the antenna could have a bad ground or you could have a bad cable and you wouldn’t know until it failed. Doesn’t hurt anything to check.
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD Ok I'll do it then. Thank you.
Is there one you can recommend? It looks like many are only built for CB.
@@Sh1nrin_Yoku I’ll go back and add the links for the Surecom tester and the adapters you need to hook it up to the Midland. Let me know if you have any more questions!
Thanks for the video! Why did you snake the antenna all the way from the drivers side instead of installing on the passenger cowl?
The factory antenna is on the passenger side and I felt like it would look super cluttered. I also read somewhere it’s not good to have two antennas mounted close to one another, it will mess up reception supposedly. Thanks for watching the video!
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD I’m thinking about mounting on the front of the coal on the passenger side. Hopefully that would be far enough from the antenna to prevent interference. We will see!
@@thatguy4019 yeah that should be fine, if anything you will probably just loose a little signal. Not a big deal when you’re in a group of Jeep’s.
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD i ended up doing it on the drivers side like you after i read a little more about interference. Changed a few things but overall followed your video. Thanks!
@@thatguy4019 no problem man, I’m glad the video helped you out! Enjoy your new radio!
I mounted mine very similarly - however I've seen some different methods with the antenna - specifically the black plastic washer which is included - some say it's for shipping purposes only and doesn't get installed - that might make sense however I can't find it in writing --- I mounted mine with the black washer and will admit the threads surely don't seat down very far as one might expect....what's your experience? EDIT - upon closer inspection, I believe the black washer is supposed to be thrown away - the brass "nut" has an o-ring seal on the bottom against the mount - by removing the black washer you also raise the antenna wire center "pin" which pushes up against the inside of the ghost antenna - if the inside of the antenna isn't being pressed inward by the end of the "pin" you're likely not getting full contact / potential of the antenna
Thanks for letting me know, I haven’t had any issues but I might go back and see if removing it changes anything. It did test well and has been working fine in the field but it’s worth looking into.
I have watched your video several times and I purchased the same mount. If the mount hole was wider, that black plastic washer has a detent and slips into the mount hole. It appears that your washer is sticking upwards and is not making good contact with the Ghost antenna. Can you clarify is you’ve addressed this issue? Great Video by way!
Nice video man thanks! One thing I don't understand is why they keep telling in other videos that you should make good contact with the ground on the bracket for the antenna, so if I do this on my Hilux I should make sure the bracket sits nice and snuff against the bodywork or like you did with a rubber spacer in between to save the bodywork from scratches?😁
Thanks man, it is very important to have a grounded antenna, it was very noticeable on CB if it wasn’t. It all depends on the type of antenna you run, I know in my research the Midland Ghost antenna is pre-grounded as part of the design. If you are running a cheaper one or a different brand you will probably need to ground it better. That is another reason why I check the SWR to make sure everything with the antenna and cable were within spec. Hope this helps, thanks for watching!
I'm sorry if these questions have already been asked but first did you remove the swr tester or just leave it on? And second I'm getting reading of 2.0 to 2.2 on lower stations and 2.6 on higher. How do I lower that? Thanks for a great video and thanks ahead of time for answer on these questions
No problem, you will want to remove the tester and reconnect the radio as designed. If you are having SWR issues it stems from the antenna, what setup are you running?
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD same as your video
@@travisjones4457 that’s interesting, did you remove the plastic washer on the antenna? That’s just for shipping and should be removed. What type of mount do you have?
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD I will have to double check on that washer i dont remember removing one but using same mount as in video.
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD I used all the links and set it up using the same stuff and the same way ad the video. Where is that washer at on the antenna? On the bottom on the threads?
Changing the length of coax does not change the SWR , you have to change the length of the whip on the antenna….
The SWR is dependent on the antenna, in CB you do adjust the length to tune. SWR readings can be affected by length and looping the coax which is what I did on this install that is why I decided to check the SWR. I was debating cutting it to proper length if the readings at the meter were too high. It’s always a good idea to check the SWR on a new setup, thanks for watching!
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD just saying …..the “antenna” starts at the BASE of the antenna. Any adjustments to change the SWR needs to happen at the “antenna” the coax is just a conduit to get the signal there ….it’s 50ohms at the radio and
50 ohms at the base of the antenna, the manufacturer provides an ideal length for Mobil applications and coiling coax and different lengths CAN affect issues like RF issues , but to adjust SWR must be made at the antenna, usually length of the whip. Cheers good video
@@HANDGUNADDICT thanks, yeah I totally agree with you. I was just concerned with how I set it up and wanted to double check the SWR, thanks for the comments 👍
@@HANDGUNADDICT length of cable does affect things. Maybe not much for this setup, but longer runs can.
While that is a great spot for the antenna in terms of aesthetics and not drilling a hole anywhere noticeable the best spot for it would have been up top maybe on the roof rack in the clear, you would get much better range.
Yeah I totally agree, I’m not quite ready to drill my hardtop yet, maybe down the road.
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD I just watched your video, excellent work. I ordered a Rugged Radios JEEP-KIT-GMR25. It comes with the same mount in your video. The antenna it comes with can be trimmed to get the right SWR. Thanks to you I know what SWR meter to get for the GMRS. Thanks!
@@donmontalvo1 no problem, I’m glad the video helped you out! Thanks for watching!
You'd be better off with the MXT 26 you would have gotten lower SWR and further range it;s a 6db gain
Yeah I mentioned maybe getting the longer antenna but I like the smaller footprint and I’ve had no issues over the years. If I do ever do a longer overland trip I’ll probably pick it up, thanks for watching the video!
Ok, so I had wired mine up exactly just you did yours in my JLU Rubicon. It has been fine, until our trip to Jeep Beach a couple weeks ago.
The MXT275 will randomly turn on all by itself while driving, even though I have it turned off!
The lead wire is connected just as you did and I have a good solder and have heat shrink. I have a great ground just as you do yours.
Any ideas?
I would check your mic connection to the module, the mic controls the on/off button. It may be loose or damaged, if you unplug it and plug it back in it might help. If not I’d call Midland to get a replacement mic under warranty. Hope this helps, thanks for watching Buck!
Hoping you can offer a suggestion - I wired my radio identically to the way you did yours - Everything works as it should however I've noticed if I turn on the weather radio I get a clear signal with vehicle off, ignition off - when I turn on ignition, or start engine it goes to a lot of static - obviously this is power related, however I'm unsure of the cause -- what might you have for a suggestion and did you experience anything similar? Thanks!
I haven’t noticed a difference between the engine on or off, I can test it and see. Being wired straight to the battery should give you the steady power needed for a clear signal, on mine the radio tested a lot higher with the engine on. I wonder if something else is interfering with the signal, did you test the radio?
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD I would really be interested to see, specifically on the weather bands, if you get static...all I have to do is turn on weather radio with vehicle off - then cycle the ignition to 'on' (engine still off) and it goes to immediate static. I plan to separate the wire bundle today and move the excess positive lead around to see if that changes anything - I'll also try that with the ground - if no result I will run a new positive lead straight to the battery away from the aux bundle. Thanks for checking / helping and let me know what you find see with yours and your antenna washer! (and no I don't have SWR tester)
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD I figured it out - it didn't like 2 LED pod pairs on the same aux circuit - I separated them to individual aux circuits and BOOM, no more static. Weird, but resolved - unfortunately that was the last thing I did - I totally unwired the whole thing and put it back twice! Grrrr
@@prov431 I’m glad you got it figured out, I was off-roading this weekend and damaged the Jeep a bit so I haven’t messed with the radio at all. I did find out mine worked quite far when we were stuck on the trail👍
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD dang!
Oh and one more question please? :) Did you wire these so you can use your AUX switch and if so which one did you use?
I used the always hot wire from the bundle of wires that are included with the Aux package. As far as which wire I don’t remember off the top of my head but I did show it in this video if you need to know what color it was. Hope this helps, thanks for watching!
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD ah yes, when I rewatched it you mentioned "battery-direct" which is the red and white wire. I didn't know there was a battery connect so I am assuming it just has a constant connection to the battery but only when the Jeep is on.
I like that option better than using one of my AUXs:)
Which quick disconnects did you get on Amazon, unless I am missing it in your store link?
@@baylorpeak7135 that wire I used is a constant on from the battery, it works even with the Jeep off which I like. There has been several times when we’re outside the Jeep and I get an important radio message, you just need to remember to turn it off at the end of the day. There is also an ignition on wire right next to that one if you prefer. As far as the power wire quick disconnect, it’s included with the radio wiring harness. Let me know if you have any more questions.
No hate, I’ve got got a 4Runner and just picked up one of these Midland radios for it. Could I run the wires to a controller like a SwitchPro/VoSwitch UV100?
Yeah I’m sure you could it’s a simple power and negative wire to operate the radio. Would just need to make sure you have enough power wire to reach the Switch Pro, could ground it in the footwell if you guys have a spot in the 4Runner. Thanks for watching!
So how does that speaker work for you or did you get an external speaker? I’m still watching the video so you may have answered the question for me already ..
This model has a speaker in the mic and the base unit. It is plenty loud for me even while wheeling hard. Let me know if you have any more questions, thanks for watching the video Mary!
If ur testing ur SWR inside a garage or close to power lines ur swr readings will be off u want to be in a open area with nothing around and ur doors closed
I wonder if that antenna mount will work with a 4xe next to the charge port?
It might hit the plastic around the charging port, I’d get the passenger side mount that they make to be on the safe side.
Does a longer antenna clear the side mirror when door fully opened?
I haven’t tried it yet but it does look like it would be close to the mirror if you opened the door fully. I’ve been happy with the ghost antenna and didn’t have any need to upgrade as of yet. Thanks for watching the video!
what do you think about mounting the antenna on the rear or front bumper ?
I’ve seen people do it before but with longer whip antennas. I’d be worried about line of sight with the little ghost antenna. It would probably still work for short distances.
Is this PMR446?
I tried that Velcro. It held the unit up for about 3 weeks. Now the adhesive is wore out
That’s interesting, mine is still on there really good and I’ve gone off-roading several times since then. You could always just use zip ties to support it if you don’t want to bolt or screw it into your Jeep.
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD yeah I’m looking for a good zip tie spot for it now
@@patrickcraft6546 I believe there was a metal support running under the dash that would be a good anchor, it’s a good thing that radio is so small you can hide it pretty much anywhere.
What is the purpose of the black plastic spacer? Can I run the antenna without that?
I’ve been told it was for shipping but someone else on here removed it and got a worse SWR reading. I still have mine in and it works fine.
Wish I could put antenna at rear of jeep
Yeah I thought about installing some sort of bracket to my HD tire carrier and doing Midlands longer 6dB antenna. I've been happy where it's at, it's a little more low-key.
How would this be installed if you don't have the aux 1-4 on the wrangler?
You’d have to run the power to the battery and ground it in the footwell or the engine bay on one of the negative posts. I have seen people tap into the cigarette lighter as well.
Aren’t these radios narrow band, I wanted to get one but the guys here run wouxun radios which cost more, but they say they wouldn’t here me on the midlands?!
I have read a few different forums that do say they are narrow band only, they believe this is due to them making FRS/GMRS radio’s that all work together. I have had friend’s with the cheap Amazon radio’s be able to send and receive on my Midland stuff but I’m not sure about the Wouxun radio’s. Best way to know is test them with someone that has both, hope this helps thanks for watching!
What do you do with the excess antenna wire? Roll it up under the dash and secure it or???
Yeah I just zip tied it in a coil under the carpet, I was originally going to cut it to length but I haven’t had any issues with it. I wanted to leave it long just encase I wanted to mount the antenna elsewhere, thanks for watching the video!
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD Sitting at work watching it now 😃👍 thanks
@@Heard_J no problem 🍻
Why did you choose the driver's side for the antenna if the unit is on the passenger?
The Jeep’s antenna is on the passenger side and they say the two will interfere with each other, I still am happy with how the Midland setup looks and performs. Thanks for watching the video Jodi!
@@FROSTBITEOFFROAD Thanks for the great video.
Seems like a pretty bad spot for that antenna
It actually works pretty good and is great for Jeep convoys which is my main purpose for it, thanks for watching the video!
How far with a repeater??
There is a lot of variables, it depends on the repeater, the radio your transmitting to, the terrain and even the weather. That being said it has the potential to expand your range by several miles. Hope this helps, thanks for watching!
Why do people like that stupid little 3db gain antenna?Don't you want a good SWR Don't you want better range?Then get rid of it and get the MXTA 26 by midland it's a 6 DB gain Pre set and great SWR and BETTER RANGE! I had the "Ghost Antenna like what you have I hated it so I took it and just THREW it as far as I could and then I got the MXTA 26 This was in 2018 I still have my 6 DB gain antenna I had it on a Dodge Ram Pick Up then on a Dodge Grand Caravan now it proudly stands on my 2003 Ford Taurus Station Wagon STILL on the same Magnet Mount and I'm still getting distance with my 5 watt Midland MXT 105 GMRS Radio and YES I do have My 10 year license.
I quickly lost count of how many times he said "go ahead"...
With the 6 DB gain YOU DON'T NEED TO CUT OR SPLICE YOU SHOULD BE 1.0:1 on ALL CHANNELS!