Show us your GMRS antenna mounts

Snowbird Tom

JK Enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2023
Messages
319
Location
Michigan and Texas
The group I’ve started trail riding with use GMRS for comms, so the CB is coming out in favor of a mounted GMRS radio. The handheld is just awkwardly annoying as a solo Jeeper. Trying to figure out a solid mount and antenna to use with a dash mounted radio. Power output will be much improved too.
 
Up high...
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I used the cowl mount with a 3db gain short antenna. Works great with a 15 watt GMRS . I've talked over twenty miles from ridgetop to ridgetop. Clear audio, unlike CB.
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@Amok & @Dirty Dog I think those are two (3, including the hood) of the best locations. My windshield pillar lights prevent mounting it in that spot, and I used to have a ham antenna on the hood lip. Had very good reception and SWR, but branches did a number on it. I have limb risers that may ameliorate that now, but having the GMRS antenna high in the back gives me great rx/tx, and low SWR. But it's a good thing it's spring mounted, because last ride I went on, branches were whacking it left and right.

Everything is a compromise 😊
 
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@Amok & @Dirty Dog I think those are two (3, including the hood) of the best locations. My windshield pillar lights prevent mounting it in that spot, and I used to have a ham antenna on the hood lip. Had very good reception and SWR, but branches did a number on it. I have limb risers that may ameliorate that now, but having the GMRS antenna high in the back gives me great rx/tx, and low SWR. But it's a good thing it's spring mounted, because last ride I went on, branches were whacking it left and right.

Everything is a compromise 😊
I've lost too many CB antenna to trail damage. For trails, I replace the 6db antenna with a 3db "Ghost" antenna (like @Amok uses), and I may just leave that one on forever. I'm not real worried about long distance communications; just talking to folks on a trail, for which range isn't an issue. With the 3db setup, I've talked to my wife at home in the house with her using a little 5W handheld from 7 miles away with excellent clarity on both ends.

We have pillar lights, or that would be a good mounting option for us.
 
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Mounted to the rack, haven’t had any issues with it yet. That said I just installed the new top so it was closer to the hardtop so not sure how much of a difference that might make.

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Decision made. I ordered a ghost antenna with a lip mount to add to the existing pillar light mounts. If that doesn't work, I'll figure something else to mount it to. Got a Radioddity 25w base radio too. Be here tomorrow, but probably won't get a good test till next month's gathering. Pictures when I get it installed.
 
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