- Joined
- Jun 23, 2019
- Messages
- 3
Hi! I am pretty brand new to this, although I have had my GMRS license since 2021.
Previously, I had two BTECH GMRS-V1 handheld radios that I intended to use as walkie talkies. I still have them.
But I wanted something more, so I just got a brand spanking new Midland MXT275, which came highly recommended. It's meant for communication while off-roading in a Jeep, but I don't have a Jeep.
So I could put it in my car, but what I want is something I can use in my house, so this post is about antenna setup.
I live in Nicholson MS, which has an abundance of pine trees. I live in a trailer, which is made of metal and is off the ground, like a traditional trailer. I have a front porch, and a small backyard.
Someone suggested putting the antenna on top of the refrigerator, which would be a great idea, except the 6db gain antenna I got (Midland MXTA26) is 32 inches. That won't fit! Unless I bend it, but not sure that's recommended. Although the stock antenna it came with is very short, so that would fit. But I don't know how good the stock antenna is.
I'm right now looking at a Nagoya UT-72G Super Loading Coil 19-Inch Magnetic Mount (Heavy Duty) GMRS (462MHz) Antenna PL-259. That antenna would fit. Anybody have experience with those antennas and can tell me if it's good or not?
Another factor is putting it on the refrigerator in the first place. It would be indoors, although since I live in a trailer, it would be higher off the ground than if I lived in a ground level house.
My next option would be in my backyard, on an upside down galvanized metal trash can (since you need a ground plane, apparently). That way, I could use the 32 inch antenna outdoors, but it would be at a lower level than the refrigerator.
Now! The galvanized metal trash can that I have, has holes drilled in the bottom of it because I was using it for a specific purpose. The fact that the bottom has holes drilled in it, will that affect its ability to be a ground plane? Or does the "ground plane" have to be free of holes?
If it has to be free of holes, I do have another can without holes, but I'd rather use the one I'm not using if the holes will not be a problem.
And then there's my front porch. I could attach a pizza pan to my porch railing and put the antenna there. The question is, how far would it need to be from the metal trailer itself? That answer would determine where I would attach the pizza pan. How big does the pizza pan need to be? Otherwise, I can place a trash can on the porch, but it would take up space on the porch.
This setup will be the same once I get my ham license. I'd just put a ham radio antenna on the same plane, unless the GMRS one would interfere. In which case I would swap them out as needed.
Or I could place it on one of my window air conditioner units. What about the distance between the trailer and the antenna though? does it have to be farther away?
Can someone give me some direction on this?
Someone suggested the roof. My trailer roof is coated with tar. Would a magnet still stick to that?
Previously, I had two BTECH GMRS-V1 handheld radios that I intended to use as walkie talkies. I still have them.
But I wanted something more, so I just got a brand spanking new Midland MXT275, which came highly recommended. It's meant for communication while off-roading in a Jeep, but I don't have a Jeep.
So I could put it in my car, but what I want is something I can use in my house, so this post is about antenna setup.
I live in Nicholson MS, which has an abundance of pine trees. I live in a trailer, which is made of metal and is off the ground, like a traditional trailer. I have a front porch, and a small backyard.
Someone suggested putting the antenna on top of the refrigerator, which would be a great idea, except the 6db gain antenna I got (Midland MXTA26) is 32 inches. That won't fit! Unless I bend it, but not sure that's recommended. Although the stock antenna it came with is very short, so that would fit. But I don't know how good the stock antenna is.
I'm right now looking at a Nagoya UT-72G Super Loading Coil 19-Inch Magnetic Mount (Heavy Duty) GMRS (462MHz) Antenna PL-259. That antenna would fit. Anybody have experience with those antennas and can tell me if it's good or not?
Another factor is putting it on the refrigerator in the first place. It would be indoors, although since I live in a trailer, it would be higher off the ground than if I lived in a ground level house.
My next option would be in my backyard, on an upside down galvanized metal trash can (since you need a ground plane, apparently). That way, I could use the 32 inch antenna outdoors, but it would be at a lower level than the refrigerator.
Now! The galvanized metal trash can that I have, has holes drilled in the bottom of it because I was using it for a specific purpose. The fact that the bottom has holes drilled in it, will that affect its ability to be a ground plane? Or does the "ground plane" have to be free of holes?
If it has to be free of holes, I do have another can without holes, but I'd rather use the one I'm not using if the holes will not be a problem.
And then there's my front porch. I could attach a pizza pan to my porch railing and put the antenna there. The question is, how far would it need to be from the metal trailer itself? That answer would determine where I would attach the pizza pan. How big does the pizza pan need to be? Otherwise, I can place a trash can on the porch, but it would take up space on the porch.
This setup will be the same once I get my ham license. I'd just put a ham radio antenna on the same plane, unless the GMRS one would interfere. In which case I would swap them out as needed.
Or I could place it on one of my window air conditioner units. What about the distance between the trailer and the antenna though? does it have to be farther away?
Can someone give me some direction on this?
Someone suggested the roof. My trailer roof is coated with tar. Would a magnet still stick to that?
