Antenna - best value/performance

[PreferredCustomer]

Calm down, Frances. It's just a joke.

Yes, I know. My comment is just a joke also.

 

[PreferredCustomer]

For GMRS use, whether simplex or hitting nearby repeaters in any direction, a Comet CA-712EFC will work for under $200. You could put it up 50' if you need that height, or already have the tower. You will get a few more miles versus half the height of 25'. More importantly, the antenna should be above any nearby structures. My neighbors roofline is around 25', so the base of my antenna is at 30'. What I do not know is how well the Comet will hold up in Florida at your location in Ocala. Also, as previously noted, LMR-400 or LMR-400UF coaxial cable would be prudent at the GMRS frequency range.

A dual band antenna...do you mean for amateur use? I would and did put up a separate antenna for that, as those are tuned for the amateur bands, so I do not suffer for GMRS. There are a variety of antennas for that, but an inexpensive model is the Diamond X50. It may work fine for banging the nearby repeaters and or local simplex. Again, use either of the LMR-400 versions for that antenna as well.

* You could use the Diamond X50 for GMRS as well, I occasionally still do, but it is not as favorable up there. Still, the reduced performance on GMRS may be fine as you may clobber the repeaters you want to use with it, as well as nearby simplex. The X50 costs less than the Comet and you can dedicate the X50 for amateur use if you later find you need to buy better for GMRS.

Gain numbers matter. To what degree depends on our needs. We use a four bay dipole on club repeater. We do not need 360° coverage, so we set the antenna spread to focus on more of a pie wedge shape and enjoy the gain results from that small spread. If you need a lot of directivity/gain, you should be looking at a UHF Yagi, or dual band log periodic antenna in a vertical orientation. A log periodic would probably handle GMRS freqs too. Add the cost of a rotor to that build out as well.

For GMRS, I am currently using a Diamond X50, but it makes me nervous, because I read 4 to 1 SWR at 467.725 MHZ.

I am waiting for warmer weather to put up my GMRS antenna. But I am in Wisconsin, so cold weather seems to drag on forever.

It's supposed to be 65 degrees tomorrow.

First, I need to climb up on the roof to get a measurement for coax. I am ordering a custom made length from DX Engineering, because I am terrible at installing coax connectors.

The coax will likely cost more than the antenna, or radio.

 

[vagrant]

Oh wow 4 to 1 is too much. I do not recall my SWR on that antenna, but it was not that high.

 

[TXFitz]

Total newbie here and first post. I've got my GMRS license and plan to get my ham technician license in the coming months and I want to set up a base station antenna that will work on GMRS and 2M frequencies. I've seen mentioned the Comet GP-6NC and GP-9NC mentioned, is there something else that would be recommended? I'm in the far North suburbs of Dallas where it is flat and want to maximize range so the 9NC seems attractive. I'll be installing on a mast about 25 ft.
Thanks in advance and apologies if I should have posted elsewhere.

 

[prcguy]

I've used many of the amateur band Comets, Diamonds and clones and none will work on amateur and GMRS as the VSWR on GMRS is way too high. Many commercial UHF antennas work great on UHF amateur and GMRS but they won't do 2m. If you can put up a separate antenna for 2m there are some deals in your area on huge high gain UHF commercial antennas that will kick butt on both 440 amateur and GMRS.

How far are you from Richardson?

Total newbie here and first post. I've got my GMRS license and plan to get my ham technician license in the coming months and I want to set up a base station antenna that will work on GMRS and 2M frequencies. I've seen mentioned the Comet GP-6NC and GP-9NC mentioned, is there something else that would be recommended? I'm in the far North suburbs of Dallas where it is flat and want to maximize range so the 9NC seems attractive. I'll be installing on a mast about 25 ft.
Thanks in advance and apologies if I should have posted elsewhere.

 

[sallen07]

Diamonds ... and none will work on amateur and GMRS as the VSWR on GMRS is way too high.

Gee, @TXFitz there's a guy on another radio-related forum site asking this same question.

Not to argue with you @prcguy, but I think I must have lucked out. I have a Diamond X50 that I put up when I got my ham ticket. Works great on 2m and 70cm. A few months ago I got curious and wondered how it would do on the local GMRS repeaters. I swept it and SWR was just under 2.0 on the GMRS repeater input frequencies. Not great, but for the few times I've talked on GMRS it's done just fine for me.

About a week ago I put up a Diamond V2000A, primarily for 6 meters, but it's even better on GMRS than the X50. SWR is > 1.5 on all GMRS frequencies. The Comet CX-333 I bought to replace the X50 wasn't good on GMRS when I swept it (on a tripod), but I don't care; I've got a separate radio to use for GMRS with the V2000A now and have taken all the GMRS repeaters out of the UHF radio that will be connected to the CX-333.

 

[TXFitz]

I've used many of the amateur band Comets, Diamonds and clones and none will work on amateur and GMRS as the VSWR on GMRS is way too high. Many commercial UHF antennas work great on UHF amateur and GMRS but they won't do 2m. If you can put up a separate antenna for 2m there are some deals in your area on huge high gain UHF commercial antennas that will kick butt on both 440 amateur and GMRS.

How far are you from Richardson?

I'm up in Prosper so not too far away from Richardson. Who is selling what?

 

[prcguy]

A guy in Mesquite has a couple of used surplus DB Products DB-420s which are very broad band and close to 10dBd gain. They would make a Comet GP-9 look like a wet noodle. I sent an email asking about pricing.

I'm up in Prosper so not too far away from Richardson. Who is selling what?

 

[TXFitz]

Thanks prcguy. I'm interested.

 

[TXFitz]

Hey PRCGUY, did your friend in Richardson ever reply re the antenna for sale?

Does this forum have private messaging?

 

[prcguy]

Have not heard back yet and I just pinged him again. I'm only in the area until early next week so I hope he gets back to me.

Yes there is PM on this forum.

Hey PRCGUY, did your friend in Richardson ever reply re the antenna for sale?

Does this forum have private messaging?

 

[prcguy]

Just heard back from the guy and he wants $250 each, which is more than I want to pay. Probably an ok deal but I'm cheap.

Hey PRCGUY, did your friend in Richardson ever reply re the antenna for sale?

Does this forum have private messaging?

 

[natedawg1604]

A guy in Mesquite has a couple of used surplus DB Products DB-420s which are very broad band and close to 10dBd gain. They would make a Comet GP-9 look like a wet noodle. I sent an email asking about pricing.

Is this what you're referring to? If so that looks like an awesome antenna!

DB420-B

1-port omni exposed dipole antenna, 450–470 MHz, 360° HPBW, fixed electrical tilt

www.commscope.com

 

[TXFitz]

Thank PRCGUY. I am meeting him tomorrow morning to look at the antenna.

I'm not able to PM anyone. Perhaps since I'm a noob?

 

[prcguy]

PM sent, let me know if you got it.

Thank PRCGUY. I am meeting him tomorrow morning to look at the antenna.

I'm not able to PM anyone. Perhaps since I'm a noob?

 

[top13]

I use the Comet GP-9NC, would not trade it for anything. I don't have space for many antennas.
This works well from 118mhz to 500mhz. Planes, trains, marine, public safety, etc. I use it as a scanner antenna.

 

[K6GBW]

Question, did the 20 foot height limit go away with the new rule role out?

 

[TXFitz]

Question, did the 20 foot height limit go away with the new rule role out?

Was there previously a FCC limitation on 20 foot height for GMRS antennas or was that a local regulation? Seems odd since ham or CB antennas can be much higher.

 

[mmckenna]

Was there previously a FCC limitation on 20 foot height for GMRS antennas or was that a local regulation? Seems odd since ham or CB antennas can be much higher.

There used to be several station types in the GMRS rules. One of them had a 20 foot height limit, and I think a 15 watt power limit (I think it was called a "small base"). Goes back to the old days of GMRS and thankfully they cleaned that mess up.

 

[MjrSinkhole]

I too am looking for GMRS base antenna. The wife is not particularly keen on antennas going all over the roof or anything super tall. I think I can get away with a small antenna mounted to the back side of my metal fake chimney. I am looking at something like a Tram-Browning BR-6140 or Sirio CX 455 as they are about as tall as I think I can get away with, at around 26" tall. Any thoughts?