A ground plane to an antenna is a bunch of sheet metal or ground radials right under the feed point. A ground strap to the chassis is more of a DC ground and not an RF ground unless it really short.
-
To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:
Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.
If you are having trouble legally obtaining software please state so. We do not want any hurt feelings when your vague post is mistaken for a free request. It is YOUR responsibility to properly word your request.
To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.
The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.
For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).
This is a large and very visible forum. We cannot jeopardize the ability to provide the RadioReference services by allowing this activity to occur. Please respect this.
Recommendations for mobile GMRS antennas
- Thread starter jnojr
- Start date
I never seem to be able to find the right meter on short notice, maybe I should get some more and stash them everywhere. Not shown is the Agilent RF power meter and attenuators I use to calibrate some of these.
DOAUSMC0331
Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2024
- Messages
- 27
Great thank you does it matter if the ground plane is vertical or horizontal or just that there is one?
For best transmission and reception for a vertical antenna its best to have a flat horizontal ground plane under the antenna. For most antennas except for a non ground plane type, any metal around the base of the antenna will help it achieve a good match, even if the metal goes a little vertical.
E4418A, you can enter an offset for attenuators so it will read actual power in watts. Plus it reads down to -70dBm with the head I have.
DOAUSMC0331
Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2024
- Messages
- 27
Ok another dumb antenna question I would be installing on fiber glass top. Would just a plain piece of 12x12 steel underneath it work like sandwiched up thier?
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Yes, that would work. You'll want a 'thick mount' NMO to work with the fiberglass topper and the sheet metal.
I did this recently with some 800MHz antennas on some transit buses with fiberglass roof skins. Did the same thing with some UTV's with plastic roof tops.
K6GBW
Member
Get some aluminum sheet and have a nice circle cut out of it, then epoxy that to the roof and drill a 3/8" hole for the NMO. Worked on our ambulances. The aluminum can be painted to match and people won't even see it.
