There may be another thread for this but, where are you guys mounting your antennas for ham/gmrs?
Radio question
- Thread starter duncancsu
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It really depends on terrain and obstructions. GMRS is great for close convoys. Ham gives you the option of leveraging repeaters for range. They're both line of sight though so reception can go to crap very easily in tight obstructed terrain conditions. I've found my ghost antenna to work better unidirectionally than some peers who use the little whip antennas (in the same convoy).What is your antenna setup, and any quantifiable range you can pass along?
I was thinking about the below setup w/the 3dB antenna mounted using the KOAN.
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I have both the 3db Ghost antenna and the 6db mast. I have tried range test with both and results are nearly the same. I get about a mile before reception gets garbled.What is your antenna setup, and any quantifiable range you can pass along?
I was thinking about the below setup w/the 3dB antenna mounted using the KOAN.
Amazon product ASIN B08SYCFQ6GLHS Side Mirror Antenna and Aerial Mount for Toyota LandCruiser (LC200)
Upgrade your Toyota Landcruiser with the LHS Side Mirror Antenna and Aerial Mount. Perfectly designed to suit your vehicle for a hassle-free installation.
- Thread starter
- #25
I’m reading the comments a lot of people are saying get both a HAM and GMRS. People are saying HAM because of the range. So when using HAM are you able to communicate only with other HAM operators or can you communicate to GMRS units? Or is the reason people might have both is because HAM only speaks with HAM and GMRS on speaks with GMRS?
A 70cm ham radio (properly modified) can talk with a gmrs radio. The reason you are seeing people getting both is because the US FCC has put regulations in place to stop communications between the two types of radios. They are separating the frequencies on purpose. Just get both and you'll abide by the FCC regs.
- Thread starter
- #27
Any recommendations on a GMRS unit. Im
Looking at the Midland MXT 275 but wondering if I should consider the 575? Thoughts?
Per FCC Part 97, Amateur Radio can ONLY be used by FCC licensed HAM operators. HAMs can't use amateur radio equipment to communicate with other services unless in an emergency where there is immediate and imminent danger to life or property and there is no other way to communicate. Modifying HAM equipment to transmit on non-amateur radio frequencies is very illegal as is modifying any other equipment to transmit on amateur radio frequencies, and the frequencies are monitored. Also, as with GMRS, HAM VHF and UHF are line-of-sight transmissions. To get out of a hole like Death Valley, you would need HF.
W6ATL
I've never been to Death Valley. I'm assuming there aren't any repeaters around (6m, 2m, 1.25m, 70cm, etc.). If there are, then range beyond simplex is likely significant.
73's
K0KH
Death Valley is pretty much a dead zone for VHF and UHF as there are no repeaters on any of the mountains that overlook the valley. I have never tried it but I have read reports that it is possible to hit a repeater in Ridgecrest from the Panamint Valley and some coverage of the Saline Valley. As for simplex, it would be interesting to know if there is someone there monitoring the Wilderness Protocol frequencies of 146.520 and 446.0. I've never inquired about that. I guess I should find out since I go there all the time, now that I am thinking about it. Thing is, when I go to Death Valley, I get way out in the hinterland, many miles from the nearest pavement. Nothing seems to work out there. Sometimes I wonder if one of those satellite phones is the way to go as they work everywhere.
73, W6ATL
73, W6ATL