GMRS mobile antenna

[toastycookies]

my midland mxt400 came in mail today! i'm so excited!

but it's one of those (hurry up and wait) moments. =(

I'll have to wait until it warms up some before mounting the antenna (for a base) i might toss this one in my truck for a while and see how it performs on my Larsen 1/4 wave antenna.

i also have a kenwood tk-8180. i'm debating on which radio i'm going to use for base and which for mobile.

The 8180 is a nice radio, I have one . Do you have the 25 or 45watt version? If the 45 I'd use that as the base station.

 

[bhamilton930]

The 8180 is a nice radio, I have one . Do you have the 25 or 45watt version? If the 45 I'd use that as the base station.

I thought the options where 30w and 40w. None the less I have the slightly older radio with lesser wattage. :-(

I'm using this link for as a reference for specs. http://www.kenwood.com/sg/com/lmr/tk-7180_8180/spec.html




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[prcguy]

I think I have several of the NMO versions you mention, They have a long 3/8"dia stainless steel tube with a spring inside that works with the fold over feature. Then there is a slim grey coil about the same dia and color then a whip on top. Inside the NMO mount is a removable disc with a tapped metal coil that has tiny screws for changing the frequency range and match slightly.

These are about the longest co linear UHF mobile antennas I've come across and they work really well.
prcguy

Does anyone recall two mobile UHF antennas Motorola sold in the 70s. One was a tall coaxial sleeve antenna made of stainless or plated brass that had a permanently connected cable. It was for motorcycles. The second was a chunky 5 dB gain, elevated feed with a NMO mount an a fold over swivel at the base. It was also very tall. I would like to find one of these in good shape if I could.

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[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I think I have several of the NMO versions you mention, They have a long 3/8"dia stainless steel tube with a spring inside that works with the fold over feature. Then there is a slim grey coil about the same dia and color then a whip on top. Inside the NMO mount is a removable disc with a tapped metal coil that has tiny screws for changing the frequency range and match slightly.

These are about the longest co linear UHF mobile antennas I've come across and they work really well.
prcguy

That would be the antenna. They were pretty impressive, the downside was that supposedly at highway pursuit speeds, the mast would fold over rendering horizontal polarization until normal speed resumed.

I can't find any documentation on these other than the hardbound silver parts and data handbook showing the part numbers and exploded view. Are the frequency ranges marked on the disc? Are you interested in selling or trade for one?

 

[prcguy]

I found 3 in the garage but one is missing the guts in the base. I gave them a quick test and the 1.5:1 edges are at 458 and 474MHz with a great match in the middle. There are no markings on the disc but I'll play with one tomorrow to see how far the adjustments pull the frequency range.

I would like to keep 2 and if I run across the missing parts I would part with one. BTW I've used them at 70+mph and they might bend back a few deg but they don't fold over. There is a very stiff spring inside the base that keeps them upright unless you hit something.
prcguy

That would be the antenna. They were pretty impressive, the downside was that supposedly at highway pursuit speeds, the mast would fold over rendering horizontal polarization until normal speed resumed.

I can't find any documentation on these other than the hardbound silver parts and data handbook showing the part numbers and exploded view. Are the frequency ranges marked on the disc? Are you interested in selling or trade for one?