Will this work?

[DOAUSMC0331]

THT 9800d plus.

 

[prcguy]

Wouldn't the radio be fine if the one I wasn't using is turned off?

The switch shown will work fine if you are willing to use one radio at a time. The switch will protect the radio that is off line whether its turned on or off. If you use a two way splitter you will probably damage one radio when the other transmits even if its off.

 

[mmckenna]

It's use is for monitoring gmrs

Then just use the ham antenna. It'll be fine for monitoring.

 

[DOAUSMC0331]

E

Then just use the ham antenna. It'll be fine for monitoring.

I really appreciate you explaining this all to me thank you. Would this antenna work in the event i switched to a gmrs full time or is it still to far off. I trying to keep from having to buy multiple antennas

Comet Antennas CA-2X4SRNMO​

 

[W8UU]

Would this antenna work in the event i switched to a gmrs full time or is it still to far off. I trying to keep from having to buy multiple antennas

Comet Antennas CA-2X4SRNMO​

If the specs can be believed, you have coverage from 435 to 465 MHz. That firmly includes the 70 cm. (440 MHz) ham band and the simplex part of GMRS at 462 MHz. The 467 MHZ transmit frequencies for FRS simplex and GMRS repeaters are out of band.

Three suggestions: If you're wanting one antenna for your 2 meter and 70 cm. ham radio, the Comet antenna is fine. Just know that repeater access is outside the technical parameters of your antenna and you can get reflected power that may damage your radio if you transmit on those frequencies. Listening is not a problem. If you'd like full capabilities and no worries, go with a quarter wave UHF antenna and a quarter wave VHF antenna -- or, if you will have a separate GMRS/FRS radio, install a UHF quarter wave for that radio and use the Comet on your 2M/440 ham gear. Long ago, I accepted that the more radios I had or the more radio bands I wanted to use, the more antennas I needed to have. The quarter wave antennas have a low profile, they operate over a wide range of frequencies, they're inexpensive, and they're easy to install and maintain. Just my $0.02. Have fun!

 

[mmckenna]

E

I really appreciate you explaining this all to me thank you. Would this antenna work in the event i switched to a gmrs full time or is it still to far off. I trying to keep from having to buy multiple antennas

Comet Antennas CA-2X4SRNMO​

The manufacturer claims it is "broadband", but I've never used one and I'd want to test it to be sure. Ham/hobby antenna manufacturers are not known for being honest and truthful in their statements.

That antenna isn't going to work on 6 meters, like you asked about above.

I agree with W8UU above, if you want to do 2 meter band as well as 70cm and GMRS transmit, you'd have good luck using a diplexer specific for VHF/UHF and using a 1/4 wave VHF and a 1/4 wave UHF. The nice thing about 1/4 wave antennas is that they are quite broad banded and would give you low SWR and good performance on both 70cm and GMRS. I ran an Icom commercial mobile for years in my truck on 70cm and GMRS connected to a 1/4 wave.

If you really wanted to run 2 meter -and- 6 meter, you could replace the 1/4 wave VHF with a 5/8's wave VHF antenna tuned for 2 meter band. Those will work as a base loaded 1/4 wave on the 6 meter band, also. But you need to be sure your diplexer will cover the bands correctly.


However, the THT 9800d is only an amateur radio. Even though it may be modifiable to work outside the amateur radio bands, the radio does not have type FCC type acceptance for transmitting anywhere other than within the ham bands. Some people don't care, but some actually have integrity and understand why these requirements exist.

If you are serious about being a ham -and- having GMRS capability, you'd do better by having a dedicated amateur radio with the correct antenna and a separate GMRS radio with the correct antenna. Trying to cram everything into one radio with one antenna usually results in disappointment. You'll get better performance by setting this all up correctly the first time.

 

[W8UU]

The THT 9800d is only an amateur radio. Even though it may be modifiable to work outside the amateur radio bands, the radio does not have type FCC type acceptance for transmitting anywhere other than within the ham bands. Some people don't care, but some actually have integrity and understand why these requirements exist.

If you are serious about being a ham -and- having GMRS capability, you'd do better by having a dedicated amateur radio with the correct antenna and a separate GMRS radio with the correct antenna. Trying to cram everything into one radio with one antenna usually results in disappointment. You'll get better performance by setting this all up correctly the first time.

Yes. This.

Multi-band radios and antennas are always a compromise. You can live with it in many cases, but nothing you have is working at 100% peak performance.

6 meter, 2 meter, and 440 on one radio with one antenna is going to be a HUGE compromise -- especially the 6 meter part. Doing it right will involve spending a lot of money, and you still won't have the same performance you'd have with individual radios connected to their own band-specific antenna.

 

[mmckenna]

I really appreciate you explaining this all to me thank you.

So, one other thing I'd add about the THT 9800d plus

Before you spend money on that radio, understand the capabilities and licensing requirements.
For amateur radio, you need an FCC issued amateur radio license.
For GMRS, you need an FCC issued GMRS license.
This radio is not legal for use under FRS rules, under any circumstances.

Since this radio has no FCC type acceptance for anything other than "scanning receiver", it cannot be legally used to transmit outside the amateur radio bands. While 'hacking' the radio open is possible, it will not get around the type acceptance requirements.

Amateur radio license does not give any permissions on GMRS at all, under any circumstances.
GMRS radio license does not give any permissions on the amateur radio bands at all, under any circumstances.

As for the amateur radio side, unless you have a general class license, you cannot use the 10 meter capability of the 9800. The FM portion of the 10 meter band is not available for use by those with technician level licenses. So spending money on a radio that covers that band is pointless unless you have, or plan to get, the appropriate grade license. 6 meters is fine, but don't expect much traffic, and expect even less (if any) with a compromise antenna system.

The antenna challenges are real. Trying to cover 10m, 6m, 2m, 70cm and GMRS with a single antenna is going to result in disappointment.

You might want to look at a dual band amateur radio for your amateur radio use. Then add a dedicated GMRS radio for GMRS use. Use correct/separate antennas for both radios, and you'll get better performance/less headaches/less disappointment.

But, you do you. It's your choice. Just hate to see someone spend a lot of money trying to make the wrong equipment work.

 

[DOAUSMC0331]

You all are awesome one more question.
Other than wave size and use will the frequency recieve narrow and wide band? Or do you have to program the frequency twice to receive the transmission? one for narrow band and one wide band transmissions?

Or does the wide and narrow band only effect transmissions?
Thank you all for the great info!

 

[mmckenna]

You all are awesome one more question.
Other than wave size and use will the frequency recieve narrow and wide band? Or do you have to program the frequency twice to receive the transmission? one for narrow band and one wide band transmissions?

Or does the wide and narrow band only effect transmissions?
Thank you all for the great info!

For best audio quality you would want to program the frequency in one memory as wide and the other as narrow.

On a receiver programmed for wide band FM:
a wide band signal will sound normal.
narrow band will sound quiet and under modulated.

On a receiver programmed for narrow FM:
a wide band signal will sound loud and over modulated, maybe distorted.
narrow band will sound normal.

If you are transmitting, you need to transmit with no more than the bandwidth authorized by the license.

 

[prcguy]

E

I really appreciate you explaining this all to me thank you. Would this antenna work in the event i switched to a gmrs full time or is it still to far off. I trying to keep from having to buy multiple antennas

Comet Antennas CA-2X4SRNMO​

I have a CA-2X4SR NMO and it works fine for 2m/440 amateur and GMRS with a reasonable match everywhere. Its a little less gain than some other narrow band ham only antennas of similar size but they won't cover GMRS.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I have a CA-2X4SR NMO and it works fine for 2m/440 amateur and GMRS with a reasonable match everywhere. Its a little less gain than some other narrow band ham only antennas of similar size but they won't cover GMRS.

My 2x4 nmo reads about 1.7.1 on 467.675. A tad bit high, but reasonable. Even 222mhz. works in a pinch.

 

[KF0NYL]

I run a Comet 2x4SR on my SxS and the highest SWR is on 467.600 at 1.7:1. Everything else is 1.4:1 or lower for MURS, 2m , 70cm and the GMRS simplex channels.

Yes we all want to get the SWR as low as possible. But in reality you will be fine as long as it is under 2:1

Others have already explained about diplexers and antenna switches.

 

[K8DFI]

E

I really appreciate you explaining this all to me thank you. Would this antenna work in the event i switched to a gmrs full time or is it still to far off. I trying to keep from having to buy multiple antennas

Comet Antennas CA-2X4SRNMO​

Yes. it will work on 2 meter, 440 and GMRS. Transmit and receive.

 

[vagrant]

The Comet CA-2x4SR antenna has crazy wide coverage. I use one with a scanner in the vehicle and another that handles TX on MURS, GMRS, and amateur 2m and 70cm. I think it may handle 1.25m as well. I need to sweep it again and look at that specifically.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Yes. it will work on 2 meter, 440 and GMRS. Transmit and receive.

And Gmrs and Murs.

 

[rf_patriot200]

And Gmrs and Murs.

^ This was a typo, and I couldn't delete it.

 

[sempai]

I have some dual-band radios with the Nagoya 701 that generally can listen to FRS/GMRS fine but the 771g antenna is definitely better suited for GMRS. I haven't used a Comet before.

We're a GMRS-first household, and when I get a radio to hand to another family the GM-15 bundles usually come with two options for each HT. The short one is fine if you're within a block or two of my house but the longer one is needed beyond that in a suburban environment. All simplex, as there is no public repeater within range. I asked the local amateur radio club if they'd let me rack one where they keep their gear and got crickets 😂

 

[rf_patriot200]

I have some dual-band radios with the Nagoya 701 that generally can listen to FRS/GMRS fine but the 771g antenna is definitely better suited for GMRS. I haven't used a Comet before.

We're a GMRS-first household, and when I get a radio to hand to another family the GM-15 bundles usually come with two options for each HT. The short one is fine if you're within a block or two of my house but the longer one is needed beyond that in a suburban environment. All simplex, as there is no public repeater within range. I asked the local amateur radio club if they'd let me rack one where they keep their gear and got crickets 😂

Typically most of the Comet ht antennas aren't tuned for Gmrs.

 

[Peter_SD911]

I asked the local amateur radio club if they'd let me rack one where they keep their gear and got crickets 😂

A donation to the ham club might be a good door opener. Get a few of the GMRS user together and ask to rent or lease space via a legit donation.

It's a simple "yes" or "no" for them.