Here are some suggestions for installing a fixed-mount GMRS radio in your vehicle. GMRS radios are powerful two-way communication tools for off-road communications and they can work independently of cell towers, satellites and the grid. Having a pair of GMRS handhelds, along with a fixed-mount radio in your vehicle can be a lifesaver during a disaster scenario, as well as being extremely useful for recreational activities in remote areas. An FCC license is required, but it’s only $35 and covers the whole family for 10 years.
Choosing a GMRS Radio & Antenna
- For off-road use, you’ll want a rugged GMRS radio with enough power to deliver decent range over a variety of terrain. Maximum legal power for GMRS radios is 50 watts – on channels 15-22.
- Do you need a repeater capable GMRS radio? In some areas, this feature can greatly extend your range.
- Is the radio IP65 or better rated for water resistance? (our MXT-575 is not, but the main unit can be mounted out of the weather and the mic protected in an open Jeep)
- Does it offer the ability to scan frequencies outside the GMRS band? (This can come in handy for monitoring National Forest, fire and other radio channels.)
Who Makes the Best GMRS Fixed-Mount Radio?
Brands of GMRS radios include BTECH (Baofeng), Midland, Rugged Radios, Retevis, Radioddity and Wouxun. We like Midland radios for their reliability, features and power, along with the company’s product support and warranty. The old saying “you get what you pay for is true for GMRS mobile radios. Midland has several 50 watt radios that are repeater capable, including the compact MXT-575. The “all in one” microphone/speaker/control head is a space-saver when used in a Jeep – (but you may want to add an external speaker for better audio).
We now use a BTECH GMRS 50X1 in our truck, and a 50 watt Midland MXT-575 in the Jeep. Both are good radios, with the BTECH being about half the cost of the Midland and the latter having better specs for overall ruggedness. However, the BTECH GMRS-50X1 lets us receive more frequencies, including USFS and NPS channels – which comes in very handy for keeping tabs on wildfire activity. For that reason, we took the BTECH instead of the Midland on our last trip out west. If interested in monitoring these channels, please see our post: How to Program a BTECH GMRS-50×1 to Receive National Forest Frequencies.
Should You Get a Waterproof GMRS Radio?
The Midland MXT-575 is a great 50 watt radio and we have one in our Jeep. But, if you have an open UTV or topless Jeep, a better choice might be the waterproof MXT-500. When looking for at waterproof GMRS radio look for an IP (Ingress Protection) rating of IP65 or better. The Midland MXT-500 is rated IP66, which means dustproof and resistant to strong jetted water.
Tips For Installing a GMRS Radio In Your Vehicle
- Mount the radio in a convenient location.
- Run a heavy gauge, fused power cord to the battery.
- Mount the antenna as high as possible.
- Tune antenna with an SWR meter
Choose a Mounting Location For Your Two-Way Radio
One of the most important parts of installing a GMRS radio is choosing a mounting location that’s convenient and well ventilated. (50 watt GMRS radios get very warm and need some space around them.) A location just under the dash – to the right of the steering column – works with many vehicles, plus keeps the radio out of the direct sun and prying eyes. The nice thing about the Midland MXT-575 is that you can mount the radio out of sight and use the control head for all functions.
GMRS Radio Mounting Considerations
- Is the radio water resistant?
- Will it stay cool?
- Can you access all the controls?
- Can you secure it from thieves?
Connect Radio to Your Vehicle’s Battery
Cigarette lighter plugs don’t supply enough power for most full-power GMRS radios. Also, to avoid electrical noise, the best option is to wire your two-way radio directly to your vehicle’s battery, with a fuse near the battery. (A fuse inside your cab won’t protect against a short in the rest of the wire inside the engine compartment.) 14 AWG wire may work, but larger diameter 12 AWG or 10 AWG wire is better.
You’ll want to install a pair of 15 amp fuses on both positive and negative wires – or the size of fuse recommended by the radio’s manufacturer. Be sure to zip-tie wires inside the engine compartment and keep them away from hot and moving engine parts. Special protection, like plastic wire sleeves and rubber grommets – is necessary where the wires run through the firewall..
Install The Antenna
Thoughts on GMRS Antenna Placement and Best Practices
- Locate antenna as high on vehicle as possible
- Use a high-gain 5/8 wave for better range.
- Have a good amount of metal under the antenna (ground plane).
- Always check SWR after installing a new antenna.
- Check the antenna’s base connection and Allen head screws before heading off-road.
Choosing the Best GMRS Mobile Antenna
There are many choices available for GMRS mobile antennas including “stealth” GMRS antennas which we recently reviewed, 1/4 wave antennas and high gain 5/8 wave antennas. Lots of mounting options are available, including SO-239, magnetic and NMO mounts. For maximum range, we like the Midland 6dB antenna and use one on the Jeep, but for normal running around we use a Midland 3dB gain Ghost antenna which is only 3″ tall and less likely to hit overhanging branches. We bit the bullet and drilled a hole, mounting the NMO base permanently on our Jeep’s roof.
For more info on high-gain GMRS antennas and ways to boost your radio’s range see our article How to Boost GMRS Radio Range.
There are several mounting options for this model, including a magnetic base, L brackets and permanent NMO mount. Pro Tip – Choosing a GMRS antenna with a NMO style base means you can easily swap sizes if needed for more range.
Why Consider a Dual Band VHF/UHF Antenna?
A dual band antenna, such as the fold-over ANLI WH-713 or Tram-Browning dual band whip will also work great for GMRS radios. These antennas offers a gain factor of 5.5 dB on UHF (which is where GMRS channels are located) and 3.2 dB gain on VHF, (which is where MURS and NOAA weather frequencies are located). If you ever want to use your antenna for MURS, Ham radio, or any other use where VHF frequencies may be involved, you’ll have that option.
GMRS Antenna Placement
To get the best range and performance from your GMRS radio install, a properly located antenna is critical. The best mounting location for a two-way radio antenna is usually in the center of a vehicle’s roof. At this location the metal of your vehicle’s roof provides a good “ground plane” or launching pad for your signal, which mobile antennas need to work properly. We realize this may not always be practical, especially if you don’t want to drill holes in your roof, but it’s hands down the best spot for a GMRS antenna on a vehicle.
Important Note for Ford Owners – Magnetic mount GMRS antennas are very handy, but be aware that they don’t work on vehicles made of aluminum, such as new Ford F-150’s.
Running The Antenna Wire to Radio
Be sure to run your two-way radio antenna’s wire out of the way and protect it from chafing using protective wire wraps in areas prone to rubbing. Secure all loose wire with zip-ties. If you cut the wire and solder on a new PL259 connector, be sure to check your antenna resonance with an SWR meter.
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Tuning Your GMRS Antenna For Best SWR
If your GMRS mobile radio came with a magnetic mount antenna, chances are it’s already going to be matched to your radio. If you’ve bought another antenna and have mounted it somewhere on your vehicle, it should be checked using an SWR meter. This device shows the amount of unwanted signal being reflected back into your radio. See our article on How to Tune Your GMRS Radio Antenna.
After your set is all tuned up, you should be ready to go, provided you have your $35 FCC license (good for 10 years) – which is required. For best practices on GMRS, see our article How to Talk on a GMRS Radio
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