Advocate III
- 5,584
- First Name
- Michael
- Last Name
- Rose
- Member #
20990
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- W7FSB
- Service Branch
- US ARMY Retired
The new TNC3 works with IOS, where as the TNC 2 is Android/PC...
OB Approved US Comms - An Introduction to your communication options
- Thread starter Prerunner1982
- Start date
Endurance III
Love this forum! It cleared up a lot of the questions I had. I'm a newer HAM user, so I really appreciate this... Thank you!
Off-Road Ranger I
- 1,376
- First Name
- Jeremy
- Last Name
- McNeil
- Member #
4443
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- K2JTM
- Service Branch
- Army
Great post, after making the transition from CB to Ham I wish I had done it years ago.
Enthusiast III
Off-Road Ranger I
- 1,518
- First Name
- Javier
- Last Name
- Armendariz
- Member #
27524
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- W3JAV
The club I ride with is using CB with no plans to change, so I'm going to install CB in the cab , but I would like to avoid having to install multiple antennas. Would I be able to use a CB antenna (which is longer) with a GMRS or HAM transceiver? Or, is there a mount that can host either antenna (one-at-a-time, not at the same time)? is a specific coax required from the mount to the rig for either type of radio?
Great info on this thread. Thanks!
Great info on this thread. Thanks!
Advocate III
- 5,584
- First Name
- Michael
- Last Name
- Rose
- Member #
20990
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- W7FSB
- Service Branch
- US ARMY Retired
First a 1/4 wave CB antenna is 102” a 1/2 wave GMRS antenna is apx 14”. So the CB antenna won’t work for GMRS (or vice versa).
GMRS, Amateur Radio, and CB all use the same coax, so nothing special needed there. You could get a NMO antenna mount to run several different antennas from one single mount, but you are going to have to get a switch to change between radios.
you don’t mention what your rig is. Last option (and probably the one I would do in your situation) is get a mag mount CB antenna and a mag mount dual band 2m/70cm 5/8 wave antenna. The dual band antenna will work for both GMRS and the VHF/UHF portion of the amateur radio bands.
Last edited:
Member III
- 2,827
- First Name
- Joshua
- Last Name
- Downs
- Member #
20468
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KK6RBI / WQYH678
- Service Branch
- USMC 03-16, FIRE/EMS
You'll need more than one antenna. Install an NMO mount and get an NMO CB antenna. I have a Browning BR-140 which is a CB antenna with a NMO base. It's a whip style antenna and I've drug it through some heavy underbrush and it's take being bent quite a bit.
I do typically use my dual band HAM radio antenna for GMRS. It's not perfect but gets the job done.
When I'm up in the Ouchitas in really tight quarters with trees I remove that Dual Band ham antenna and put a UHF commercial band 6 or so inch 1/4 antenna on for GMRS use. That keeps it from getting damaged by trees.
Antennas take up very little space. I put mine between the edge of the body and seat on the driver's side of my XJ and you don't really notice they are there. With the NMO antenna mount you can screw them on and off in very little time so swapping as needed isn't a huge deal.
38 inch GMRS antenna would be more like 2x 5/8ths wave. A 1/2 wave GMRS antenna should be about 12ish inches long.
Advocate III
- 5,584
- First Name
- Michael
- Last Name
- Rose
- Member #
20990
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- W7FSB
- Service Branch
- US ARMY Retired
Yes… you are right… but he also mentioned Ham which I assume is 2m. So needs a dual band which generally is about 38” long for a 1/2 wave on 2m, with a trap at 12”
Member III
- 2,827
- First Name
- Joshua
- Last Name
- Downs
- Member #
20468
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KK6RBI / WQYH678
- Service Branch
- USMC 03-16, FIRE/EMS
Advocate III
- 5,584
- First Name
- Michael
- Last Name
- Rose
- Member #
20990
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- W7FSB
- Service Branch
- US ARMY Retired
