Show us your GMRS antenna mounts

[Snowbird Tom]

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.

 

[JerryD]

Up high...

 

[Dirty Dog]

My antenna is mounted on the drivers side fender. Hers is a hood mount. The radios themselves are mounted on the passenger sides of the consoles. I'll grab a picture next time I'm out.

 

[Dirty Dog]

@Snowbird Tom, thanks for liking my post. I took a couple photos yesterday, but had forgotten till I saw your thread again.



The mic clip is from Hooke Road.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GB45PPG/?tag=jkforum-20

 

[Amok]

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.

 

[JerryD]

@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

 

[GROUNDHOG]

Pillar mount is nice

 

[GROUNDHOG]

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.
View attachment 124354

REALLY NICE LIL SETUP
WHERE GET THE MOUNT?

 

[Dirty Dog]

@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.

 

[GROUNDHOG]

YEP GOOD SPOT

 

[Snowbird Tom]

I was/am considering adding a stiff metal tab under the pillar light mount to handle the antenna.

 

[Danarch]

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.

 

[Snowbird Tom]

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.

 

[GROUNDHOG]

@Amok & @Dirty Dog I think those are two (3, including the hood) of the best locations. My windshield

YEP GOOD SPOT

 

[Amok]

REALLY NICE LIL SETUP
WHERE GET THE MOUNT?

I got the antenna in a radio package from Midland when I bought the MXT275 radio. I liked that one because the controls are on the mic. I purchased the mount from them separately.

 

[GROUNDHOG]

Thanks