Link to the inexpensive SWR meter we use: amzn.to/2GSzOqH Link to the Browning BR-450 GMRS / UHF antenna we use: amzn.to/3lp4WwL Link for the smaller, Tram GMRS antenna: amzn.to/3naC5g8
A note to newbies, when he says grounding your antenna, he doesn't mean the negative of the battery or black wire from a black and red pair. Antenna grounding is a reflector to the main whip. If you attach your antenna to your roof and your roof is fiberglass, it wont be grounded because fiberglass isn't conductive and wont help to balance your whips energy. Be sure your antenna is mounted to a metal surface that it's going to be operating in and when checking SWR, dont stand next to the antenna. This will affect SWR because your body will absorb some signal throwing off the meters results. Don't touch the antenna while transmitting either as an RF burn is possible. 73
Quick tip. After setting the bolt cutter where you want to cut the antenna, throw a small rag over the top of the bolt cutters and antenna end so you don't shoot those little suckers all over the place. They'll drop right at your feet.
It's hard for men to get over the longer is better mentality, I would have guys ask me "why are you cutting my antenna, it won't talk as far". Good job on the no bs explanation of swr and the need to tune an antenna.
I hope you realize that, in addition to your work here being very engaging (I like watching “some people” getting their chops busted), it is truly very informative. Particularly for someone like me who up to a few months ago thought the only part of a radio you had to know about was the O-N/O-F-F switch. Thanks!
I really love the topics your covering! Great intro for 4x4 folks who are looking for more out of their comms. I'll add there are plenty of antennas out there that come pre tuned. But don't think I'm suggesting to ever do any antenna install without at least measuring SWR just as you stated. Comet 2x4 is one of my personal favorites.
Pro-tip: @ Randy Notarubicon Productions For tuning replace the Stainless Stinger (SS) with a piece of wire that is about the same diameter, & length as the SS one. Trim or lengthen the tip of the wire, until you get the best SWR, then remove it and cut the SS to match. Install the SS, and your done. I've been doing it this way for many years. It saves a lot of time and frustration of pulling the stinger in and out, especially on taller vehicles.
Perfect! Thanks for the link! The whole Ohm's Law Vs RF boost Vs SWR is just....confusing. But as long as I can just plug in a meter and figure the SWR, I don't care. LOL
I newbie question. For the handheld GMRS radios that have removable antennas - are the antennas that are included with a Baofeng GMRS-9R (Upgrade of the UV-5R) pre-tuned out of box? And, if you buy a longer whip antenna that can screw into the radio, are they pre-tuned? In other words, is it necessary to check their SWR readings the same way you would for roof-top mag mount antenna?
So why go with the UHF antenna you have that you have to trim instead of something like a Midland 6db whip antenna that is supposedly cut at the correct height? What are the gains and losses of either choice?
@@TheNotaRubicon Morning! The Midland 6DB whip vs the short stubby 3DB gain. I am not sure if I am understanding this correctly. Does going from 3DB to 6DB “double” the range and or power?
I was wondering if you should tune using 465.1437 as your center frequency to account for the higher frequencies that the repeaters use? (low ch. 1 at 462.5625 and high of 467.7250 for highest repeater freq)? Considering the higher repeater frequencies are the frequencies that allow up to 50 watts, would it be better to make sure these have the lower swr readings? Oh, and thank you for posting this video. I know its a little bit dated, but i just discovered it and it shows how easy it is to tune your antennas.... hopefully it will encourage others to tune without being afraid of destroying their antennas. Great video.
I have a radioddity 20 watt that I use as a base station. I have a laird 5db xs 2 1/2 wave ant set up on the second floor of my house. I have not trimmed it and on repeater channels I get a swr of 1.01. on my simplex channels I get 2.58. I only use my repeater channels. SHould I bother adjusting my ant or am I good to go.
I noticed my antenna mount is solid metal. Also my antenna base is metal. Assuming it electrically becomes the same when connected to the mount. Does does the antenna mount need to be chassis grounded?
I lucked out , I had a pro that works for public safety doing radios . I have a Motorola cdm 1250 with a team 1480 6.5 db gain with 50' lmr400 .he got 1:1:1 match .wow does it get out too .our club has 3 large repeaters . We all check out not a these videos great tips for our new people and us ole timers as well . Great videos keep em coming .73s nysgmr
Do you stop once you get below 1.5:1 or keep going until you get closer to 1.1:1? How do you know when to stop cutting, or more importantly, what if you go too short looking for the best ratio?
Trim only a very small amount at a time, and only if moving the whip in/out of the base doesn't give you good enough results. If the SWR lowers as you move the whip farther in, but the whip bottoms out, then cut a very small amount and try again. "Rinse and repeat." If the SWR starts to go up - STOP cutting and move the whip back UP just a small amount and the SWR should go back down.
Hi, thank you for your helpful video about how to tune antennas. While I was using my Sure-Com SW-102 and cutting small segments of antenna off like you showed, I noticed that as the SWR was getting closer to 1.1 the power output was decreasing as well. When I got the SWRs down to 1.01, with a 10" antenna, my power output for my new 45W GMRS mobile radio was only 27W. I kept experimenting with different length antennas and to get the full 45W of power, I needed a 18" antenna that gave me 2.95 SWRs. My question is why cant I get a full 45W of power and low SWRs at the same time? Thank you
Great instructional video. One question. I used your link to purchase the SWR meter and it arrived a few days ago and I'm finally getting a chance to use it but the adaptors it came with dont fit onto my antenna nor the back of my GMRS unit. What other adaptors do I need to buy? Thanks
Depends on what radio you have. Amazon and ebay have a ton of kits for different adapters, or you can search specific. Some common connectors are PL-259, BNC, SMA male, and SMA Female. I have the same little meter, or one like it and it had everything I needed except for one to go to PL-259. What model radio do you have?
Randy I am putting gmrs in my Polaris ranger I am installing it under my passenger seat then running the control/ mic out into my drivers area. I only need 7 feet of a 19 foot antenna cable. what am I supposed to do with the extra cable, is coiling it up ok?
For the most part, yes.. However the SWR could be different on the other vehicle due to a different ground-plane, connections, etc so its always good to check the SWR.
Stupid question, no doubt, but I will ask it anyhow. Let us assume that you have trimmed so that your SWR has dropped from the original 1:8 to 1:4. Now, you are about to proceed to trim again, making sure that you are taking the same size bits from the antenna as you have previously in the process. You are, of course, trying to get to as low an SWR as possible, so you continue. You test after making the last cut, and the SWR begins to proceed back up the scale. You check everything that you have mentioned regarding what could cause this problem but nothing other than the size of the antenna seems to be the problem. Consequently, you are stuck with the higher SWR now. You can't go any lower now, of course. It is at that point in the process that seems to be totally unpredictable. When do you decide that the process needs to stop? Do you settle, say, for instance, on the last measurement of 1:4 or do you take the "leap" so to speak to venture into the land of "damn, I have to buy another antenna!"
Been there and done that more than once. Depending on your particular antenna and its 'style' I have found that Amazon sells stainless steel rods in a 10-pack of varying lengths that have helped me to save a two-part antenna that I over trimmed. It was easy to get the hang of it when I was practicing on disposable rods. My final tune on my expensive antenna was 1.25 on Channel 15 at Low Power. Channel 1 SWR is 1.15 Good enough for me. Thanks Amazon for the 300mm x 3mm 304 Stainless Steel Solid Round Bar Lathe bar Stock- Pack of 10 for $11.00.
I just wanted to thank you for all of your video's and the information you share. I have learned a lot for you. I look forward to each new video your produce. Thanks again!
Could you elaborate on your justification on why its not necessary to use the CB method of comparing SWR's on low and high channels? You state that because the antenna instructions give the recommended length, we can just trim the antenna till we get the lowest SWR. I don't see how that would work because we wouldn't know that it is the lowest achievable SWR until the ratio starts to go back up, but at that point the antenna is already cut too short. Is the method of checking on low and high frequencies still applicable to GMRS the same as CB? Great channel btw. You have a good attitude. Just discovered your videos and also just getting into GMRS after being on CB for a few years. 4x4 club is transition to GMRS so its time to get on the bandwagon.
I have a side by side with a plastic roof, if I mount a 12x12 steel plate to the roof, should I install a ground strap to the roll bar? I am going to use the 6db gain midland antenna with magnet mount so it will give me a break away point if it hits low trees. I really appreciate your videos.
Connecting it to the cage with a strap (not a wire) wouldn't hurt, but probably not necessary as long as you have at least 4-6 inches of all around the base of the antenna.
Thank you for another great video. Questions. The browning antenna you show obviously requires the purchase of a base for it to screw on to? What about the length of the antenna wire does it effect the SWR? I just purchased a UV9G ( and made sure you got credit for the sale) and want to use it at home with an antenna on the roof. What kind of antenna do you recommend for that? I have been told to use a Discone is that the best idea and what about a ground plane? If I use one of the mobile antennas do I have to mount it on a cookie sheet like you did? When the OEM antenna is mounted directly to the radio what is the ground plane then? Thanks for your help.
"Best" is always highest spot, center.. But any place will work with little noticeable impact.. Mine is mounted in pretty much the worst possible location (low, rear corner) - the experts say it wont work at all - yet i can talk to my wife in her jeep, also with a bad antenna location, over 30 miles away.. So what I have learned from this is that the "experts" are idiots.
Not very much on a mobile-radio setup as you're only increasing the length of the feed line, not the electrical length of the antenna.. On a hand-held radio though, it can make a significant difference.
Nice layman’s explanation. Many people would benefit by listening to these tidbits. I cringe every time I hear myths about SWR, co-ax lengths, etc. Many radios will reduce power at high SWR, luckily.
The corner of a flat rat tail file will cut through a stainless steel antenna element in no time If you don’t have a bolt cutter. I found out the hard way when I tuned an old replacement AM car radio whip antenna to work on the ham radio 2 Meter band as a 1/4 wave element with a hacksaw. It took forever and both made the antenna element get hot near the cut so be careful.
I just received my GMRS license, what would you recommend for a base station antenna. I plan on using the Btech 50X1 radio. I hope to hear from you. Thank you
So if I have a antenna that came with my radio and it was a 144 - 430 mhz. From Factory and or another antenna That's rated that megahertz could I still tune the antenna
First let me thank you for all the information you have made available. It has helped tremendously. I am a total noob. I have 3 radios on order from (affiliate link below). And have been researching, but I can’t find much on antennas, mounts, wire, connectors ect.. Any suggestions on where to look? I’m thinking of contacting we’re I purchased my mobile unit for my truck to ask for suggestions. But I thought I’d ask you first. And maybe give you video(s) idea(s).
You will need a short "jumper cable" - You can find them on Amazon, at your local radio shop, or you can even make your own. Just make sure that it has the correct ends/connectors to connect to your specific things that you are connecting to.
@@TheNotaRubicon thanks, I purchased the Wouxun KG-1000 per your recommendation, got it installed and want to check the attenna, i'm having trouble finding the right connections to fit. Can you recommend via Amazon?
I bought the meter in the provided link. Must be doing something unauthorized. The SWR read .62 for a handheld, about the same for a Midland in a SXS. What am I missing? Enjoy your video. Larry
Hello! I have a Midland MXT400, 6 meter antenna cable and 6dB gain antenna (mxta26). Using a Surecom SWR (sw-33), with the radio set to low power, the SWR reading is 1.05. I think I've cut the antenna too short. Can anyone confirm my belief, or is the reading acceptable? TIA
At some point when you cut, the SWR will go back up. This is the whole reason for cutting little pieces at a time (1/4 inch). When you reach that point, just extend your antenna back up. There is usually at least 3/4 inch of adjustment area in the base.
Pl259 connector or the cable your showing does not come with the swr meter in the link you provided. Did you make it up? If so what length would it need to be. Thanks! Im running btech 50-2
Pretty new at this but unfortunately at my workplace you gotta take initiative to get shit done sometimes. Anyways we have kng-m150, with the MWV1365S, permanent mounts on the roof of the vehicle for most and others having a longer antenna from the hood. Having PA VSWR issues some will go into low power others wont allow transmit at all. So try antenna, grounding, and then the coax cable? For example, we swapped antennas and still got vswr fault so thatd rule out antennas. Then a swr meter would help me confirm a coax cable problem is that correct? Also our frequencies range from 154 to 171.5, our most used channel is at 166.9. Thatd put the middle at around 162, but itd be quite a bit of work to change our 171.5 repeater channels. I imagine we could just aim for our 166.9 channel to have the least swr since our 154 channel is hardly used either.
Just ordered my first gmrs mobile radio for my truck. It's gmrs repeater capable, and scans uhf and vhf ham. My question is what's the best antenna for this? Should it be dual band in order to pick up the other frequencies? Thanks in advance
If you're going to be talking on GMRS and scanning ham VHF, then yes, a dual band primarily tuned for GMRS (462-467Mhz).. If you're going to be scanning ham 70cm, then a GMRS tuned antenna will be good/close enough
Your question was exactly what I was thinking. I know me, I would struggle to leave well enough alone until below 1.5. Maybe after the SWR starts rising, you could solder the previous tiny bit back on?
Hello ! Maybe you can help with this. I have a Laird BB4505CS which is a 450-470MHZ 5/8th over 5/8th wave antenna. It has a usable bandwidth of the entire 450-470 range. Do I need to cut this to use it for gmrs ? The antenna package comes with a cut chart but I called both my local radio shop and where I bought the antenna from ( The Antenna Farm ) and they both said that I do not need to tune this antenna.
The only way to know for sure is to put your SWR meter on it and test it.. anything else that anyone tells you is just a guess. MY GUESS, based on testing/tuning a dozen or more antennas in the same 450-470Mhz band, is that yes, you will need to cut/tune it.
First I want to thank you, your videos have been very helpful for me since I just got into GMRS. I have a video suggestion!! Can you make a video where you show and test different antennas, an antenna shootout if you will. Btw I just order me a Wouxun KG-1000G thank you your recommendations.
I found your channel a few months back and can relate to your sense of humor, but the visual of a toe nail flying into you eye... hahahaha, sorry, that's just funny
Question I have a new Uniden 980 SSB. And I have a older adjustable type antenna.Like you showed in the beginning of this video .Can I use that or is it not any good for the new technology? Thanks, Len
I saw in another on of your videos comparing several antennas that the Middle Ghost antenna was over 2 SWR. Is there any way to tune that style of antenna to improve that?
Thanks for this video. I went out and got the SWR meter you use and I just love it. Works fantastic. On trimming the wire, I bought a Nagoya NMO-200C that they advertise as not needing any tuning for GMRS... Well, I put this up and the SWR without touching it, on channel 1 was 1.9 and 22 at 2.6. So yea, didn't think that was true. So I've taken a half inch off of the top rod and have it down to 1.86 and 2.0 respectfully. So while it is coming down, do you just keep trimming until it comes down? I don't ever recall trimming that much off an antenna but guess so. And I trim using the grinder too. Works fast.
In my Mazda Miata, I installed a midland mxt275 with the standard (not ghost) antenna that is included. SWR pegs the meter all the way into the red. No coils or pinches. I even took it out of the car and set up inside like you did with your MXT275. Still pegs the meter. Suggestions?
Fully into the red usually means a short - Check your wires and connectors. if they look good then something is seriously wrong somewhere that is far beyond the scope of youtube comments to get fixed.
any "GMRS" mobile antenna is as good as any other.. if it is marked as a "GMRS" antenna you should not have to tune/cut it.. a "UHF" antenna will need cutting/tuning.
Yep - if you keep making it shorter and it starts going back up, stop cutting! You've gotten it as good as it's going to get (and then made it slightly worse).
I totally understand a Firestik is for CB radios and is not intended for a GMRS radio. I currently have a firestik on my jeep with the tail light bracket. I'd like to keep it symmetrical on the rear. So, is there any way to modify a firestik aka longer or shorter screw at the top to make it work on GMRS? I'd like to run a pair of firestiks, one for CB and the other for GMRS.
Hi there. I just installed a Btech 50x1 radio with a Browning antenna. I purchased an swr meter like you use and right from the start on GMRS channel 16 it was 1.0. When I went to Repeater channel 16, rechecked the swr and it showed 2.0. Is this correct or should I try cutting the whip some to bring it down? Thanks
Regular channel 16 transmits at 462.575.. Repeater CH 16 transmits at 467.575, 5Mhz higher, so you need to tune the antenna the best you can for both frequencies - you will probably end up with 1.5 for each.
5:11 That is not a hacksaw. A coping saw is a type of bow saw used to cut intricate external shapes and interior cut-outs in woodworking or carpentry. It is widely used to cut moldings to create coped rather than mitre joints.
The Midland ghost antenna, is there a procedure to tune it. I have not purchased it yet but I was looking at that with the 575 radio and the 6db gain antenna so I had an antenna for dense areas and one for open area. I was going to mount the antenna on my 4Runner on a calie rays ditch light mount. Or am I looking at it all wrong.
You're doing it wrong... The Ghost antenna (any "GMRS" antenna) is pre-tuned.. take it out of the sack, connect it, and use it.. Stop trying to overcomplicate it.
Thank you for the video. I have 1.1 and I can transmit with no issues. friends can hear me miles away, but i'm unable to receive anyone on simplex unless they are within a few hundred feet. Setup is Yaesu FTM 300, Brownie antenna on a hood mount. Any help I would greatly appreciate it.
SWR problems may not be related to electrical length and instead related to other problems like bad ground plane or no ground plane... These can be harder to fix...
Hi there, I've been geeking out on radios and antennas and SWR/power meters the past few days and I have a question that I cant find the answer to. I have a programmable radio and I've been trying lots of different frequencies to match my antenna rather than cutting my antenna to match a specific frequency. I've noticed that my radio transmits much more power on some frequencies compared to other frequencies. For example, in 156.500 my radio is pushing out a solid 50W according to the SW102 meter, while on your favorite channel 462.575 its barely pushing out 23W, both with low SWR. Why is that? Thank you, David
Most (if not all) radios cannot output the same power across all frequencies.. Usually they are set at the factory to output their maximum at a certain frequency and the further from that frequency you transmit, the lower the power will be.. If you are getting 50W at 156.500, then it sounds like you have a ham/VHF radio, so transmitting on GMRS/UHF (462.575) you'll get much less power output. Perfectly normal. If you want a full 50W on GMRS frequencies, you will need to buy a 50W GMRS radio.
@@TheNotaRubicon Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I had no idea that radios only transmitted max power at a specific frequency. That makes sense. My radio is a VGC -N7500, listed as a dual band mobile radio. It puts out a max power of 40W at 429Mz on the UHF band. The further away from that I get, the weaker the power becomes. I am learning so much! Thank you,
Very informative. Thanks.👍 Question: I just got finished tuning my new mobile radio and antenna, a KG-1000g & Midland w/magnet mount GMRS antenna. I have my SWR good at 1.02 across the channels on low power, but when I switch to HI power my SWR jumps to 1.6 to 1.75 on all channels. Is this normal or a problem? Thanks
Because SWR is a ratio, it should remain the same, no matter what the power level. 1.6 - 1.75 is fine, and not an issue, but it my guess is your SWR meter is not that great..
@@TheNotaRubicon thanks. My meter is a Surecom SW-102. I don't think I'll make any more adjustments for now. Thanks again for the very informative videos.
I have been shopping around and just starting to learn about GMRS. Noobie question, what about the Ghost antenna from midland? How is something like that antenna tuned?
Technically, on paper, in a book, yes - but in the real world, with human ears, it would be difficult to cut it so much that you would detect any noticeable reduction in reception.
Zero issues, and it is the main antenna I use on both my KG-805G and my BTech GMRSV1 .. I regularly get several miles range with it and easily hit repeaters over 30 miles away using it.
So I’ve been looking into getting into gmrs... according to some ham buddies the btech gmrs-50x1 and x2 aren’t fcc approved radios! Really want something better than midland offering however.
It would seem that your ham buddies are confused! The BTech GMRS 50X1 is fully FCC Part 95E compliant/accepted.. The 50X2 is a ham radio, not GMRS, but it is approved for use on ham frequencies.
My experience has been some ham guys are like scared little girls when it comes to GMRS and will say just about anything to try to discourage people, i guess the clowns think GMRS Somehow threatens them and their precious hobby
What is it that you don't like about the Midland? I have had the 15 watt version for almost 2 years now and now that I am using an aftermarket Tram model antenna it works great. I have tuned it down to a best of 1.09 on the swr meter on the low watt channels and a 1.15 on the high wattage channels.
I am following your instructions for tuning my Comet CA-F72GF, even though I kept the instructions, they are unbelievably vague. When cutting and adjusting, do I do so on top and bottom or bottom only? You mentioned the latter, but I assumed you meant that was specific to the Browning. So far, I cut down to 207mm on bottom and 324mm on top, but SWR is a high 3 on the freq I need. It does drop down to 1.5 when I tx on low power...does power output matter?
SWR is a ratio, so it should not change between low and high power - you may have other issues, although I'm not sure what. Check your cables, make sure the antenna is properly grounded and make sure you have a good groundplane - if your mounting area is not a good groundplane, that might be as good as it gets.
@@TheNotaRubicon I have it posted temporarily on a tripod and hooked up to my ham-in-a box, grounded the antenna to the nut on that faceplate, with jumper cables between the meter, radio and antenna. I did not set up the groundplane. The numbers went significantly lower (1.1), when I used the 126ft straightened cable in the same setup, although I still received three different readings(1.1-2.4) on the various power levels.
I have a President radio that may have been modified to open up the CB bands. (So it's a CB, 10 AND 12 Meter radio.) I also have a President Antenna that has a couple of tuning rings. 2 questions: with GMRS radios, do they have any that have a build in SWR meter? And, do they also have an antenna with such tuning rings?
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Link to the inexpensive SWR meter we use: amzn.to/2GSzOqH
Link to the Browning BR-450 GMRS / UHF antenna we use: amzn.to/3lp4WwL
Link for the smaller, Tram GMRS antenna: amzn.to/3naC5g8
A note to newbies, when he says grounding your antenna, he doesn't mean the negative of the battery or black wire from a black and red pair. Antenna grounding is a reflector to the main whip. If you attach your antenna to your roof and your roof is fiberglass, it wont be grounded because fiberglass isn't conductive and wont help to balance your whips energy. Be sure your antenna is mounted to a metal surface that it's going to be operating in and when checking SWR, dont stand next to the antenna. This will affect SWR because your body will absorb some signal throwing off the meters results. Don't touch the antenna while transmitting either as an RF burn is possible. 73
Quick tip. After setting the bolt cutter where you want to cut the antenna, throw a small rag over the top of the bolt cutters and antenna end so you don't shoot those little suckers all over the place. They'll drop right at your feet.
It's hard for men to get over the longer is better mentality, I would have guys ask me "why are you cutting my antenna, it won't talk as far". Good job on the no bs explanation of swr and the need to tune an antenna.
LMAO "longer is better mentality". It's not about how longer your antenna is, it's about how you use it.
A Dremel with a cut off wheel is the easiest and cleanest way to cut the antenna down to size.
Great video Randy, But I missed your normal sarcasm. Best calibration video I have seen to date. Thank you for your always great information.
I hope you realize that, in addition to your work here being very engaging (I like watching “some people” getting their chops busted), it is truly very informative. Particularly for someone like me who up to a few months ago thought the only part of a radio you had to know about was the O-N/O-F-F switch. Thanks!
Just getting into gmrs and this channel is just what I needed. Great content !
This was a much better tutorial on tuning than I've seen in the past. Thank you.
Amazing how better your videos were back then.
I really love the topics your covering! Great intro for 4x4 folks who are looking for more out of their comms. I'll add there are plenty of antennas out there that come pre tuned. But don't think I'm suggesting to ever do any antenna install without at least measuring SWR just as you stated. Comet 2x4 is one of my personal favorites.
What a difference a year has made! I've enjoyed your videos... Keep up the good work annoying SadHams.
Thank you for all the great videos. Takes a real man to use a cute little vice like that in front of everybody, stay strong fellow girl vice user.
Very informative! Just thinking... shouldn't you check for any bent, or coiled coax cable, and check for proper grounding BEFORE cutting your antenna?
That's exactly what I was thinking when he talked about trouble shooting the adjustment.
It’s about time someone addresses this issue ,, thank you 👍
Pro-tip: @ Randy Notarubicon Productions
For tuning replace the Stainless Stinger (SS) with a piece of wire that is about the same diameter, & length as the SS one.
Trim or lengthen the tip of the wire, until you get the best SWR, then remove it and cut the SS to match. Install the SS, and your done.
I've been doing it this way for many years. It saves a lot of time and frustration of pulling the stinger in and out, especially on taller vehicles.
Perfect! Thanks for the link!
The whole Ohm's Law Vs RF boost Vs SWR is just....confusing. But as long as I can just plug in a meter and figure the SWR, I don't care. LOL
I newbie question. For the handheld GMRS radios that have removable antennas - are the antennas that are included with a Baofeng GMRS-9R (Upgrade of the UV-5R) pre-tuned out of box? And, if you buy a longer whip antenna that can screw into the radio, are they pre-tuned? In other words, is it necessary to check their SWR readings the same way you would for roof-top mag mount antenna?
Well done, I appreciate the humor, radio can be monolithic... you must be a teacher, if not, you should be. Thanks for the instruction.
Great video. Where did you get the white wire that connects to the GMRS?
I trim mine on a bench grinder. Slow and steady and mark a line where to stop.
I use a fine triangular file to score the antenna then use pliers to snap off the antenna at the scored mark. I have found that that works very well.
Great explanation. (Fun to see your early set up ... and persona.)
When you trim it a little too far you can regain some length by putting the antenna below the set screw but not bottoming it out
So why go with the UHF antenna you have that you have to trim instead of something like a Midland 6db whip antenna that is supposedly cut at the correct height?
What are the gains and losses of either choice?
I went with a UHF antenna that requires manual trimming because the GMRS/no-trimming antenna that I wanted was out of stock.
@@TheNotaRubicon Thank You for the reply. What antenna did you originally want?
@@TheNotaRubicon Morning! The Midland 6DB whip vs the short stubby 3DB gain. I am not sure if I am understanding this correctly. Does going from 3DB to 6DB “double” the range and or power?
I was wondering if you should tune using 465.1437 as your center frequency to account for the higher frequencies that the repeaters use? (low ch. 1 at 462.5625 and high of 467.7250 for highest repeater freq)? Considering the higher repeater frequencies are the frequencies that allow up to 50 watts, would it be better to make sure these have the lower swr readings? Oh, and thank you for posting this video. I know its a little bit dated, but i just discovered it and it shows how easy it is to tune your antennas.... hopefully it will encourage others to tune without being afraid of destroying their antennas. Great video.
I have a radioddity 20 watt that I use as a base station. I have a laird 5db xs 2 1/2 wave ant set up on the second floor of my house. I have not trimmed it and on repeater channels I get a swr of 1.01. on my simplex channels I get 2.58. I only use my repeater channels. SHould I bother adjusting my ant or am I good to go.
2.58:1 is not a "great" SWR, but I would not bother messing with it.
The swr meter is out of stock at Amazon until November 24, i hope I remember to come back here and click thru your link when I get ready to buy😊
Put it in your shopping cart anyway,,, when it becomes available it will be there
I noticed my antenna mount is solid metal. Also my antenna base is metal. Assuming it electrically becomes the same when connected to the mount. Does does the antenna mount need to be chassis grounded?
I lucked out , I had a pro that works for public safety doing radios . I have a Motorola cdm 1250 with a team 1480 6.5 db gain with 50' lmr400 .he got 1:1:1 match .wow does it get out too .our club has 3 large repeaters . We all check out not a these videos great tips for our new people and us ole timers as well . Great videos keep em coming .73s nysgmr
Do you stop once you get below 1.5:1 or keep going until you get closer to 1.1:1? How do you know when to stop cutting, or more importantly, what if you go too short looking for the best ratio?
Trim only a very small amount at a time, and only if moving the whip in/out of the base doesn't give you good enough results. If the SWR lowers as you move the whip farther in, but the whip bottoms out, then cut a very small amount and try again. "Rinse and repeat." If the SWR starts to go up - STOP cutting and move the whip back UP just a small amount and the SWR should go back down.
Thank you very much for your videos dealing with GMRS radio. I will be tuning my antenna today and your video is informative. Have a great day.
Hi, thank you for your helpful video about how to tune antennas. While I was using my Sure-Com SW-102 and cutting small segments of antenna off like you showed, I noticed that as the SWR was getting closer to 1.1 the power output was decreasing as well. When I got the SWRs down to 1.01, with a 10" antenna, my power output for my new 45W GMRS mobile radio was only 27W.
I kept experimenting with different length antennas and to get the full 45W of power, I needed a 18" antenna that gave me 2.95 SWRs. My question is why cant I get a full 45W of power and low SWRs at the same time? Thank you
Great instructional video. One question. I used your link to purchase the SWR meter and it arrived a few days ago and I'm finally getting a chance to use it but the adaptors it came with dont fit onto my antenna nor the back of my GMRS unit. What other adaptors do I need to buy? Thanks
Depends on what radio you have. Amazon and ebay have a ton of kits for different adapters, or you can search specific. Some common connectors are PL-259, BNC, SMA male, and SMA Female. I have the same little meter, or one like it and it had everything I needed except for one to go to PL-259. What model radio do you have?
Randy I am putting gmrs in my Polaris ranger I am installing it under my passenger seat then running the control/ mic out into my drivers area. I only need 7 feet of a 19 foot antenna cable. what am I supposed to do with the extra cable, is coiling it up ok?
coiling it up is fine. Just keep the coil loose and do not kink the coax.
@@TheNotaRubicon thank you👍
Are you recommending to not coil, or loop, up the extra antenna coax cable to avoiding unwanted high SWR readings? Thanks!
Yeah, finally watched a video of yours with no bitching. Thank you! Thumbs up!
People that dont like the bitching are usually who I am bitching about.
I’m going to get one of those SWR power meter but where did u get the tow lp-259 adapters?? Plz let me know
Question: when u tune a gmrs antenna on a vehicle will it work ok when you use it on a diff vehicle?
For the most part, yes.. However the SWR could be different on the other vehicle due to a different ground-plane, connections, etc so its always good to check the SWR.
Stupid question, no doubt, but I will ask it anyhow. Let us assume that you have trimmed so that your SWR has dropped from the original 1:8 to 1:4. Now, you are about to proceed to trim again, making sure that you are taking the same size bits from the antenna as you have previously in the process. You are, of course, trying to get to as low an SWR as possible, so you continue. You test after making the last cut, and the SWR begins to proceed back up the scale. You check everything that you have mentioned regarding what could cause this problem but nothing other than the size of the antenna seems to be the problem. Consequently, you are stuck with the higher SWR now. You can't go any lower now, of course. It is at that point in the process that seems to be totally unpredictable. When do you decide that the process needs to stop? Do you settle, say, for instance, on the last measurement of 1:4 or do you take the "leap" so to speak to venture into the land of "damn, I have to buy another antenna!"
Been there and done that more than once. Depending on your particular antenna and its 'style' I have found that Amazon sells stainless steel rods in a 10-pack of varying lengths that have helped me to save a two-part antenna that I over trimmed. It was easy to get the hang of it when I was practicing on disposable rods. My final tune on my expensive antenna was 1.25 on Channel 15 at Low Power. Channel 1 SWR is 1.15 Good enough for me. Thanks Amazon for the 300mm x 3mm 304 Stainless Steel Solid Round Bar Lathe bar Stock- Pack of 10 for $11.00.
Where did you get the adapters for the antenna cable and for the radio to meter?
I get all my stuff from either BuyTwoWayRadios.com or Amazon
I just wanted to thank you for all of your video's and the information you share. I have learned a lot for you. I look forward to each new video your produce. Thanks again!
I’m new to GMRS. Dose the antenna need to have the spring/coil in/on the antenna?
If the antenna is designed/tuned to work on GMRS with a spring/coil/anything on it, then it is not recommended to take any pieces off.
Could you elaborate on your justification on why its not necessary to use the CB method of comparing SWR's on low and high channels? You state that because the antenna instructions give the recommended length, we can just trim the antenna till we get the lowest SWR. I don't see how that would work because we wouldn't know that it is the lowest achievable SWR until the ratio starts to go back up, but at that point the antenna is already cut too short. Is the method of checking on low and high frequencies still applicable to GMRS the same as CB?
Great channel btw. You have a good attitude. Just discovered your videos and also just getting into GMRS after being on CB for a few years. 4x4 club is transition to GMRS so its time to get on the bandwagon.
I have a side by side with a plastic roof, if I mount a 12x12 steel plate to the roof, should I install a ground strap to the roll bar? I am going to use the 6db gain midland antenna with magnet mount so it will give me a break away point if it hits low trees. I really appreciate your videos.
Connecting it to the cage with a strap (not a wire) wouldn't hurt, but probably not necessary as long as you have at least 4-6 inches of all around the base of the antenna.
Thank you for another great video.
Questions. The browning antenna you show obviously requires the purchase of a base for it to screw on to?
What about the length of the antenna wire does it effect the SWR?
I just purchased a UV9G ( and made sure you got credit for the sale) and want to use it at home with an antenna on the roof. What kind of antenna do you recommend for that?
I have been told to use a Discone is that the best idea and what about a ground plane?
If I use one of the mobile antennas do I have to mount it on a cookie sheet like you did?
When the OEM antenna is mounted directly to the radio what is the ground plane then?
Thanks for your help.
Great job, a very good description of what needs to be done and how to do it .And you touched on the other stuff that might be wrong, Thank you.
What's the best placement on a vehicle? Installing one on a Nissan Frontier and undecided if I should mount on tool box, roof, or hood of vehicle.
"Best" is always highest spot, center.. But any place will work with little noticeable impact.. Mine is mounted in pretty much the worst possible location (low, rear corner) - the experts say it wont work at all - yet i can talk to my wife in her jeep, also with a bad antenna location, over 30 miles away.. So what I have learned from this is that the "experts" are idiots.
Thanks for de-mystifying the closed
World of radio, and love the verbosity and de- pussification of language
Excellent video. I just ordered the inexpensive SWR meter you linked. Thanks! Once it arrives, obviously I'll check my SWR.
Doesn't adding the SWR meter to the antenna increase the antenna length and hence affect the SWR?
Not very much on a mobile-radio setup as you're only increasing the length of the feed line, not the electrical length of the antenna.. On a hand-held radio though, it can make a significant difference.
Nice layman’s explanation. Many people would benefit by listening to these tidbits. I cringe every time I hear myths about SWR, co-ax lengths, etc.
Many radios will reduce power at high SWR, luckily.
The corner of a flat rat tail file will cut through a stainless steel antenna element in no time If you don’t have a bolt cutter. I found out the hard way when I tuned an old replacement AM car radio whip antenna to work on the ham radio 2 Meter band as a 1/4 wave element with a hacksaw. It took forever and both made the antenna element get hot near the cut so be careful.
I just received my GMRS license, what would you recommend for a base station antenna. I plan on using the Btech 50X1 radio. I hope to hear from you. Thank you
So if I have a antenna that came with my radio and it was a 144 - 430 mhz. From Factory and or another antenna That's rated that megahertz could I still tune the antenna
First let me thank you for all the information you have made available. It has helped tremendously. I am a total noob. I have 3 radios on order from (affiliate link below). And have been researching, but I can’t find much on antennas, mounts, wire, connectors ect.. Any suggestions on where to look? I’m thinking of contacting we’re I purchased my mobile unit for my truck to ask for suggestions. But I thought I’d ask you first. And maybe give you video(s) idea(s).
the SWR meter you recommended shows the use of a "test jumper coax" in the instructions, but not included in the box? Where do I find that coax cable?
You will need a short "jumper cable" - You can find them on Amazon, at your local radio shop, or you can even make your own. Just make sure that it has the correct ends/connectors to connect to your specific things that you are connecting to.
@@TheNotaRubicon thanks, I purchased the Wouxun KG-1000 per your recommendation, got it installed and want to check the attenna, i'm having trouble finding the right connections to fit. Can you recommend via Amazon?
I bought the meter in the provided link. Must be doing something unauthorized. The SWR read .62 for a handheld, about the same for a Midland in a SXS. What am I missing?
Enjoy your video.
Larry
When you buy a antenna that is made for gmrs, are they not pretuned?
yes
Hello! I have a Midland MXT400, 6 meter antenna cable and 6dB gain antenna (mxta26). Using a Surecom SWR (sw-33), with the radio set to low power, the SWR reading is 1.05. I think I've cut the antenna too short. Can anyone confirm my belief, or is the reading acceptable? TIA
1.05 is near-perfect. .Dont touch it anymore.
Thank you so much! I was able by following your video to get my SWR down to around 1.2!
What happens or what would an SWR Meter read if I cut an antenna too short (cut too much off)?
if you are too long or cut too short, the SWR would start to read high.. the shorter you cut it, the higher.
At some point when you cut, the SWR will go back up. This is the whole reason for cutting little pieces at a time (1/4 inch). When you reach that point, just extend your antenna back up. There is usually at least 3/4 inch of adjustment area in the base.
Pl259 connector or the cable your showing does not come with the swr meter in the link you provided. Did you make it up? If so what length would it need to be. Thanks! Im running btech 50-2
Its a jumper im assuming
Pretty new at this but unfortunately at my workplace you gotta take initiative to get shit done sometimes.
Anyways we have kng-m150, with the MWV1365S, permanent mounts on the roof of the vehicle for most and others having a longer antenna from the hood. Having PA VSWR issues some will go into low power others wont allow transmit at all.
So try antenna, grounding, and then the coax cable?
For example, we swapped antennas and still got vswr fault so thatd rule out antennas. Then a swr meter would help me confirm a coax cable problem is that correct?
Also our frequencies range from 154 to 171.5, our most used channel is at 166.9. Thatd put the middle at around 162, but itd be quite a bit of work to change our 171.5 repeater channels. I imagine we could just aim for our 166.9 channel to have the least swr since our 154 channel is hardly used either.
Just ordered my first gmrs mobile radio for my truck. It's gmrs repeater capable, and scans uhf and vhf ham. My question is what's the best antenna for this? Should it be dual band in order to pick up the other frequencies? Thanks in advance
If you're going to be talking on GMRS and scanning ham VHF, then yes, a dual band primarily tuned for GMRS (462-467Mhz).. If you're going to be scanning ham 70cm, then a GMRS tuned antenna will be good/close enough
Thank you. I enjoy your channel. Very informative. I appreciate what you're doing . Much respect.
What happens when you think you got the lowest SWR but actually cut more than irreparable? Does the SWR measurement start increasing back again?
Yes.. thats why you cut in tiny MM increments.. and dont get greedy.. leave well-enough alone once you get around 2.0:1
Your question was exactly what I was thinking. I know me, I would struggle to leave well enough alone until below 1.5. Maybe after the SWR starts rising, you could solder the previous tiny bit back on?
Recent facts shows a high swr DOES affect receive..I personally have shown it on a manual tuner on hf or uhf..
Hello ! Maybe you can help with this. I have a Laird BB4505CS which is a 450-470MHZ 5/8th over 5/8th wave antenna. It has a usable bandwidth of the entire 450-470 range. Do I need to cut this to use it for gmrs ? The antenna package comes with a cut chart but I called both my local radio shop and where I bought the antenna from ( The Antenna Farm ) and they both said that I do not need to tune this antenna.
The only way to know for sure is to put your SWR meter on it and test it.. anything else that anyone tells you is just a guess. MY GUESS, based on testing/tuning a dozen or more antennas in the same 450-470Mhz band, is that yes, you will need to cut/tune it.
Thank you for the quick reply ! Ok looks like I’ll be getting myself an SWR meter then !
First I want to thank you, your videos have been very helpful for me since I just got into GMRS. I have a video suggestion!! Can you make a video where you show and test different antennas, an antenna shootout if you will. Btw I just order me a Wouxun KG-1000G thank you your recommendations.
I found your channel a few months back and can relate to your sense of humor, but the visual of a toe nail flying into you eye... hahahaha, sorry, that's just funny
Haven't installed it yet but how would you tune a bull antenna
Question I have a new Uniden 980 SSB. And I have a older adjustable type antenna.Like you showed in the beginning of this video .Can I use that or is it not any good for the new technology? Thanks, Len
I saw in another on of your videos comparing several antennas that the Middle Ghost antenna was over 2 SWR.
Is there any way to tune that style of antenna to improve that?
The ghost antennas are not tunable, but as long as the SWR is below 3, most people consider that 'ok'.
Thanks for this video. I went out and got the SWR meter you use and I just love it. Works fantastic. On trimming the wire, I bought a Nagoya NMO-200C that they advertise as not needing any tuning for GMRS... Well, I put this up and the SWR without touching it, on channel 1 was 1.9 and 22 at 2.6. So yea, didn't think that was true. So I've taken a half inch off of the top rod and have it down to 1.86 and 2.0 respectfully. So while it is coming down, do you just keep trimming until it comes down? I don't ever recall trimming that much off an antenna but guess so.
And I trim using the grinder too. Works fast.
In my Mazda Miata, I installed a midland mxt275 with the standard (not ghost) antenna that is included. SWR pegs the meter all the way into the red. No coils or pinches. I even took it out of the car and set up inside like you did with your MXT275. Still pegs the meter. Suggestions?
Fully into the red usually means a short - Check your wires and connectors. if they look good then something is seriously wrong somewhere that is far beyond the scope of youtube comments to get fixed.
what is a good gmrs specific antenna for a btech in car
any "GMRS" mobile antenna is as good as any other.. if it is marked as a "GMRS" antenna you should not have to tune/cut it.. a "UHF" antenna will need cutting/tuning.
I assume that you will eventually get to the point it will go back up without ever hitting the perfect 1.0/1.1?
Yep - if you keep making it shorter and it starts going back up, stop cutting! You've gotten it as good as it's going to get (and then made it slightly worse).
I totally understand a Firestik is for CB radios and is not intended for a GMRS radio. I currently have a firestik on my jeep with the tail light bracket. I'd like to keep it symmetrical on the rear. So, is there any way to modify a firestik aka longer or shorter screw at the top to make it work on GMRS? I'd like to run a pair of firestiks, one for CB and the other for GMRS.
No but you can still use mount and coax and play with different adapters for proper band antenna to fit in same place..
That's a good question, I was wondering the same thing.
Hi there. I just installed a Btech 50x1 radio with a Browning antenna. I purchased an swr meter like you use and right from the start on GMRS channel 16 it was 1.0. When I went to Repeater channel 16, rechecked the swr and it showed 2.0. Is this correct or should I try cutting the whip some to bring it down? Thanks
Regular channel 16 transmits at 462.575.. Repeater CH 16 transmits at 467.575, 5Mhz higher, so you need to tune the antenna the best you can for both frequencies - you will probably end up with 1.5 for each.
5:11 That is not a hacksaw. A coping saw is a type of bow saw used to cut intricate external shapes and interior cut-outs in woodworking or carpentry. It is widely used to cut moldings to create coped rather than mitre joints.
Hi does a magnet mount for my truck need a grounding.
No.
@@TheNotaRubiconThank you.
Good video, but have you made one on a Dual Band Antenna (UHF/VHF)
The Midland ghost antenna, is there a procedure to tune it. I have not purchased it yet but I was looking at that with the 575 radio and the 6db gain antenna so I had an antenna for dense areas and one for open area. I was going to mount the antenna on my 4Runner on a calie rays ditch light mount. Or am I looking at it all wrong.
You're doing it wrong... The Ghost antenna (any "GMRS" antenna) is pre-tuned.. take it out of the sack, connect it, and use it..
Stop trying to overcomplicate it.
I have the Browning like you have in the video it's 5/8 ths wave by 5/8ths I don't have the meter or the list to trim it I use gmrs c
What happened to the Money Shot of 1.05 = ) Did you cut the antenna too short??? You did, didn't you.
Thank you for the video. I have 1.1 and I can transmit with no issues. friends can hear me miles away, but i'm unable to receive anyone on simplex unless they are within a few hundred feet. Setup is Yaesu FTM 300, Brownie antenna on a hood mount. Any help I would greatly appreciate it.
Check your squelch. Sounds like it is set too high.
This was our thought as well.
SWR problems may not be related to electrical length and instead related to other problems like bad ground plane or no ground plane... These can be harder to fix...
Hi there,
I've been geeking out on radios and antennas and SWR/power meters the past few days and I have a question that I cant find the answer to.
I have a programmable radio and I've been trying lots of different frequencies to match my antenna rather than cutting my antenna to match a specific frequency. I've noticed that my radio transmits much more power on some frequencies compared to other frequencies. For example, in 156.500 my radio is pushing out a solid 50W according to the SW102 meter, while on your favorite channel 462.575 its barely pushing out 23W, both with low SWR.
Why is that?
Thank you,
David
Most (if not all) radios cannot output the same power across all frequencies.. Usually they are set at the factory to output their maximum at a certain frequency and the further from that frequency you transmit, the lower the power will be.. If you are getting 50W at 156.500, then it sounds like you have a ham/VHF radio, so transmitting on GMRS/UHF (462.575) you'll get much less power output. Perfectly normal.
If you want a full 50W on GMRS frequencies, you will need to buy a 50W GMRS radio.
@@TheNotaRubicon Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
I had no idea that radios only transmitted max power at a specific frequency. That makes sense. My radio is a VGC -N7500, listed as a dual band mobile radio.
It puts out a max power of 40W at 429Mz on the UHF band. The further away from that I get, the weaker the power becomes.
I am learning so much!
Thank you,
Very informative. Thanks.👍
Question: I just got finished tuning my new mobile radio and antenna, a KG-1000g & Midland w/magnet mount GMRS antenna. I have my SWR good at 1.02 across the channels on low power, but when I switch to HI power my SWR jumps to 1.6 to 1.75 on all channels. Is this normal or a problem? Thanks
Because SWR is a ratio, it should remain the same, no matter what the power level. 1.6 - 1.75 is fine, and not an issue, but it my guess is your SWR meter is not that great..
@@TheNotaRubicon thanks. My meter is a Surecom SW-102. I don't think I'll make any more adjustments for now. Thanks again for the very informative videos.
What about the small stubby antennas that are enclosed in plastic?
Those cannot be tuned.
Are there better antennas then others?
On the BR-450 antenna if you know...... would my big old magnet mount from my Wilson 2000 accept that antenna?
I have been shopping around and just starting to learn about GMRS. Noobie question, what about the Ghost antenna from midland? How is something like that antenna tuned?
Does shortening the antenna effect the receiving distance? Thanks Chris
Technically, on paper, in a book, yes - but in the real world, with human ears, it would be difficult to cut it so much that you would detect any noticeable reduction in reception.
@@TheNotaRubicon Thanks, that 771 you cut it extremely short any issues?
Zero issues, and it is the main antenna I use on both my KG-805G and my BTech GMRSV1 .. I regularly get several miles range with it and easily hit repeaters over 30 miles away using it.
@@TheNotaRubicon Great thank you
So I’ve been looking into getting into gmrs... according to some ham buddies the btech gmrs-50x1 and x2 aren’t fcc approved radios! Really want something better than midland offering however.
It would seem that your ham buddies are confused! The BTech GMRS 50X1 is fully FCC Part 95E compliant/accepted.. The 50X2 is a ham radio, not GMRS, but it is approved for use on ham frequencies.
@@TheNotaRubicon you are correct just did my own research to be sure, and looked up the fcc ID myself!
My experience has been some ham guys are like scared little girls when it comes to GMRS and will say just about anything to try to discourage people, i guess the clowns think GMRS Somehow threatens them and their precious hobby
What is it that you don't like about the Midland? I have had the 15 watt version for almost 2 years now and now that I am using an aftermarket Tram model antenna it works great. I have tuned it down to a best of 1.09 on the swr meter on the low watt channels and a 1.15 on the high wattage channels.
Just came across this video and clicked on the link for the swr meter. It does NOT come with the connectors for a mobile radio antenna.
I ordered the SW-33 but it did not come with the adapter cords. Any idea where to get them?
What are the exact fittings I would need to test my midland mxt500 thank you.
I am following your instructions for tuning my Comet CA-F72GF, even though I kept the instructions, they are unbelievably vague. When cutting and adjusting, do I do so on top and bottom or bottom only? You mentioned the latter, but I assumed you meant that was specific to the Browning. So far, I cut down to 207mm on bottom and 324mm on top, but SWR is a high 3 on the freq I need. It does drop down to 1.5 when I tx on low power...does power output matter?
SWR is a ratio, so it should not change between low and high power - you may have other issues, although I'm not sure what.
Check your cables, make sure the antenna is properly grounded and make sure you have a good groundplane - if your mounting area is not a good groundplane, that might be as good as it gets.
@@TheNotaRubicon I have it posted temporarily on a tripod and hooked up to my ham-in-a box, grounded the antenna to the nut on that faceplate, with jumper cables between the meter, radio and antenna. I did not set up the groundplane. The numbers went significantly lower (1.1), when I used the 126ft straightened cable in the same setup, although I still received three different readings(1.1-2.4) on the various power levels.
How does this unit compare to Surecom SW-102 Digital
Is it worth paying a bit more for the more expensive unit?
I have a President radio that may have been modified to open up the CB bands. (So it's a CB, 10 AND 12 Meter radio.) I also have a President Antenna that has a couple of tuning rings. 2 questions: with GMRS radios, do they have any that have a build in SWR meter? And, do they also have an antenna with such tuning rings?