GMRS antenna

Zorba

Zorba

"The Veiled Male"
Supporting Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2020
Messages
14,259
Location
Merritt Island, Fl
The little magnet mount unity gain GMRS antenna that came with my Midland has turned into a mass of rust. It worked well enough for what it was, but it now needs replacing. I know the 6 dB whip is better than the 3 dB "ghost", but I'm leaning towards the latter anyway as I figure it would be fine for trail use. But as the 3 dB ghost is actually slightly smaller than my old unity gain - I'm a bit dubious. Short antennas tend to be more of a dummy load than an antenna - any experience here?

And where/how do you have it mounted?
 
Zorba said:
The little magnet mount unity gain GMRS antenna that came with my Midland has turned into a mass of rust. It worked well enough for what it was, but it now needs replacing. I know the 6 dB whip is better than the 3 dB "ghost", but I'm leaning towards the latter anyway as I figure it would be fine for trail use. But as the 3 dB ghost is actually slightly smaller than my old unity gain - I'm a bit dubious. Short antennas tend to be more of a dummy load than an antenna - any experience here?

And where/how do you have it mounted?
Click to expand...

I installed the 3dB ghost antenna on a windshield corner light bracket. It receives well and I hear a lot of conversations on the local repeater channels. I have made a couple of radio checks and have received responses, but haven't had a chance to try it on a trail run yet.

IMG_8284.jpeg
 
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For the less than 5 miles yall will be strung out on the trail, a "Ghost" antenna even mounted low on the jeep like seen above should be more than adequate. hell you could see decent success with a handheld, and the ghost is significantly better than that.

Now if you are trying to get into town from the hilltop 20 miles away, that's when a proper antenna with a good mounting location starts to really shine.
 
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KingCarGuyZ said:
For the less than 5 miles yall will be strung out on the trail, a "Ghost" antenna even mounted low on the jeep like seen above should be more than adequate. hell you could see decent success with a handheld, and the ghost is significantly better than that.

Now if you are trying to get into town from the hilltop 20 miles away, that's when a proper antenna with a good mounting location starts to really shine.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I'm not trying to tune in Tokyo, just keep in touch with someone a mile or less ahead of me on the trail.
 
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Mine is a Midland 3dB gain Ghost Antenna. Mounted on my cowl. Shocking how far I can reach. Several miles on relatively flat’ish terrain. Sounds like they are standing right outside my door…

IMG_0354.png
 
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Zorba said:
Yea - I was looking at that thing. Just don't want to induce rust with the grounding screws.
Click to expand...

They are just set screws. No need to take them to metal. I have a thin rubber/polymer piece that is under the cowl that I tightened them into. No paint was harmed. Works like a champ…
 
deadbeat son said:
I installed the 3dB ghost antenna on a windshield corner light bracket. It receives well and I hear a lot of conversations on the local repeater channels. I have made a couple of radio checks and have received responses, but haven't had a chance to try it on a trail run yet.

View attachment 469531
Click to expand...

I use the same mounted similar. Works great, really surprised how well its worked in mountains and forest
 
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