Cp200 and Antenna

[Maxwell21]

My FD runs VHF CP200's. When going in route to the station on a call, most FF's radio up that they are on their way. Is there any way that I can get an antenna, and some sort of quick connector to attack to my mobile to be able to get out any better? Or does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to help out? Some times while on scene this would be handy, seeing how our repeaters are far out.
Thanks.

 

[LtDoc]

Using an antenna other than the 'duck' on a hand held radio is almost a 'given' for better performance. I think the biggy would be in attaching that antenna to that hand held radio, not mounting the antenna on a vehicle. If it were me, I'd just mount the antenna on the car and leave it. That's up to you though.
- 'Doc

 

[kb5udf]

Possible Solution

So you want better antenna performance in the car, but want your CP200 to return to service as a handheld quickly. The CP200 has a screw in type antenna jack, which would delay you somewhat. So I suggest the following:

1. Obtain an adapter like the following BNC Antenna Test Adapter for Motorola Radio CP040 CP200: 001531-055 Virtual Village USA
this will convert your radio to a BNC antenna jack, which connects/disconnects quickly.
2. Get a simple mag mount or other mount antenna for your car, like a nice VHF broadband halfwave
since you don't specify the freq, but make sure the mount has a bnc connector (you can buy mounts with coax and bnc connectors installed on ebay).
3, Get a VHF rubber duck with a BNC for your handheld that is tuned to the correct frequency range you need, you might want to check out rfwiz.com.

So enroute, you quickly unhook the bnc ht antenna, hook into mobile antenna (it's a twist like a tylenol bottle). On scene, reverse the process. This approach will spare your HT, because the abuse of hooking unhooking will fall on the adapter not on the radio. Hooking/unhooking directly to the radio without an adapter is a likely path to rapidly breaking most radios.

JB

 

[davidgcet]

if you MUST do this, do it the way kb5udf suggested. the problem with it is that the adapter will allow for more leverage against the jack than it is designed to take and catching it on something will result in a broken jack, i've seen it happen a hundred times. my suggestion would be to spend a couple hundred bucks and buy a decent mobile. but until that time just be cautious and don't torque on the adapter.

 

[Maxwell21]

Whats a suggested cheap mobile full set up that will get me rolling? Freq. rang 151.xxx