How Far Can the BCA-300 Dual Band Mag Mount Antenna Transmit? BCA-300 Road Test

[@cp300blackout4]

It's really frustrating to watch the video and not have distances marked. That's why I followed the steps shown in the video and redid them on google earth. The Mag Mount Antenna: The last call with an answer and good signal (time 7:35) was made 3.15 miles from the starting point (5.1 km). The last call (no communication) was made at 3.37 miles (only 0.34 miles from the last viable call) - in fact it appears that this last call was made at a lower location on the highway, if he had followed the road a little further ahead there would be several higher locations and maybe he would get a viable signal). Following the steps on Gooole earth, it was possible to see that the places where the signal was weakest were actually in the lowest positions on the ground. It is also possible to note that there were no significant relief formations between the starting location and the last location with a good signal, although there was a natural variation in relief between the positions. The starting point is at an altitude of 248m, the first stop is at 283 meters, the first call with weak signal (driving at the lower place of the road) is at 269 meters, and soon after, a good signal again, at the top of the hill at 283 meters (timestamp 6:05). One of the intermediate call (timestamp 6:38) with a good signal is at an altitude of around 292 meters. In the end we had a maximum distance with a good signal up to 3.15 miles (5.1 km). The rubber ducky antenna: The last communication with a good signal made with the HT's rubber antenna was made at 0.94 miles (1.51 KM) at 279 meters altitude (the base is at 248 meters). The attempt to communicate with the rubber antenna, poor and unfeasible signal, was made 1.29 miles (2.08 km) from the base at an altitude of 282 meters (yes, interestingly higher than the base but at 1.29 miles from distance) All markings are in a straight line. 73!!

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

Thank you for your comment.

[@cp300blackout4]

👍 73!

[@asapsd7175]

lol what a joke. You did all that work, and he still managed to not pin your comment.

[@recall2880]

@@asapsd7175 Yeah seems he got butthurt just for people giving some feedback. Perhaps it’s weedy man syndrome

[@brucekempf4648]

When you do a video on range, you must let everyone know what your distance is at each step otherwise your video has no point. Sorry but I was very unhappy hearing nothing about miles distance. Its like showing me a ruler with no lines.

[@cp300blackout4]

I agree, I marked the distances and posted them in the comments you can see it there.

[@BobGarrett66]

@@cp300blackout4 Yeah, nothing in the comments section.

[@Martin-io4wc]

For the next mobile antenna test you might want to put a mileage counter in the video. 73 WD9ABG

[@cp300blackout4]

hey Martin, I put a comment with the distances achieved in the test. Please like the comment so it can be at the top of the comments list and more people can read the information. 🗼>>>>>> 📻

[@ihaulscrap]

Yes I agree.

[@sgtgrantham]

I have this on my patrol vehicle a Ford utility(explorer)interceptor. I used it with my 878 for about 2 years. I live approximately 25 miles from the VHF repeater. It transmitted well if I was in a good spot and still. But received very well even moving. I now have a 578 on it and works well transmit and receive.

[@tmc1473]

Yeah, I'm going to pick 1 up. I have the 878. I am also going to pick up a 578, because I love the 878.

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

That's awesome Sarge!

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

Let's Roll!

[@BlackHamRadioUniversity]

What was the total amount of distance/miles did you go with the antenna to get a clear signal excluding being on the hill?

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

Not sure

[@mikejmardis]

Distance and elevation changes would paint a clearer picture

[@cp300blackout4]

Hey Mike Mardis, I agree, so I put a comment with the distances achieved in the test. Please like the comment so it can be at the top of the comments list and more people can read the information.

[@khlstrkog]

What about the driven distance and elevation ?

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

It does affect range of the antenna. It's hard to know exactly.

[@McRambro]

They do a range test and don't even show the milage...

[@cp300blackout4]

Hey McRambro, indeed, but I redid the steps and posted the range, I put a comment with the distances achieved in the test. Please like the comment so it can be at the top of the comments list and more people can read the information.

[@maktheturd6220]

elaborate on how great in term of gaining extra feet or miles of reception when compare to the stock antenna.

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

Thank you for your comment. We invite you to ask your question in our very large Facebook group. Here's the link to join: facebook.com/groups/BridgeComSystems. Also, please check out our plug-and-play package: www.bridgecomsystems.com/pages/plug-and-play-package.

[@tracym427]

I have a couple dual band antennas that size that work good to be so little. My work van has a 62” diamond sg7900 that so far seems to be the meanest antenna I’ve used in a mobile application. Only prob is it’s long and on top of a 7 foot tall van. Hits a lot of things. I think I’m going to try to find a bigger one and build a motorized mount to lay it over for drive thru’s, etc. maybe

[@freeslave8824]

So, what was the range in distance?

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

Very difficult to know as it's a function of line of sight and power.

[@freeslave8824]

@@BridgeComSystemsInc Understood. I meant specifically the distance of the tests conducted in the video. Its hard to know if you were miles away or a yards away at any point. Knowing the actual distances being demonstrated in the test would make the video much more informative. Thanks.

[@JoeEvansSound]

Hi and thanks for the very informative video. Can you tell me please how far in miles did you eventually get between the two radios? thanx.

[@cp300blackout4]

Hey PJ, I redid the steps and I put a comment with the distances achieved in the test. Please like the comment so it can be at the top of the comments list and more people can read the information. Tks!!

[@Thomian326]

So following along with google maps and using Pythagorean theorem about triangles. I think you were roughly 3.675 miles from Rule Rd, (were I think the antenna reached the limit of its range) to your office in Smithville. That to me seems underwhelming. I would have hoped you could get that out of the stock antenna and closer to 5.5 to 6 miles with the antenna. Is this normal for any mobile antenna. I’m sorry to make it seem like I’m throwing your product under the bus. I just thought mobile antennas would have done a bit better. Sorry for been noob questions and thank you in advance for your time.

[@sangalanga9593]

Hello, do I need to ground this Antenna?

[@roberthilton172]

Do you not need to swr the antenna to the radio

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

Hi Robert, Thank you for your comment. The antenna is pretuned at the factory for swr. You may need to do fine tuning adjustments to get the absolute lowest SWR for your application though.

[@roberthilton172]

@@BridgeComSystemsInc thanks

[@alvarogaitan2529]

great job 73

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

Check out out Plug-n-play package that helps you get on DMR FAST! bit.ly/3Lgiz1k

[@mollyfilms]

Ok so what was the range? You show a map but it meant nothing?

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

Range is variable. Depends on terrain and RF output power, antenna height.

[@mikejmardis]

The guy at the base needs to learn how to give a proper signal report

[@arupian666]

But he said, quite clearly at one point that the signal "was as clear as the day is long", lol !!!

[@redk9102]

Were you guys on DMR simplex or FM simplex..? de W5DMG

[@bobalobalie]

@@skypilot0077 No need to be rude and condescending about it. How about you explain why it is obvious they are using analog FM instead of digital. Then maybe go further and explain that DMR would have been clear the entire time and would have gone further. You think in your little mind that you were intelligent in your comment. Nope, you sound like what a mom would call “special” at best. True intelligence goes beyond ones own knowledge. Those who are actually intelligent jump at the opportunity to spread their knowledge. Those who are “special” don’t, much like yourself. Have a good rest of your day young man.

[@vitaminb4869]

@@bobalobalie they were not on digital, as digital wouldn't have those analog radio noises when you get too far away.

[@bobalobalie]

@@vitaminb4869 I am well aware of that fact. You should get some reading comp classes under your belt. Since the fact I know it is FM simplex is quite clearly described in my comment. It is also But, reading isn’t for everyone and I can’t blame you for your inabilities.

[@dangerous8333]

@@bobalobalie These people, huh? 🤷

[@arupian666]

To be fair, a piece of wet string performs better than the stock antenna. Does anybody NOT just trash it the second they open the box ? What would have been more meaningful would have been to compare the mag mount to a popular 3rd party antenna, like the Signal Stick or a Nagoya which themselves WAY outperform the stock antenna.

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

Thank you for your comment!

[@gblan]

Seemed like some crap performance to me. I get that kind of range with a Nagoya 771.

[@dangerous8333]

Huh? Why wouldn't you say the distance? 🤦‍♂️

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

There's so many variables. It's hard to know the distance.

[@petemitchell6788]

I’d avoid the word wimpy if I was you.

[@deanshaw7434]

So you just did a video, showing how far we could transmit with car antenna. But you never mentioned even 1 time, how far you were on either. That's a waste of time for anyone watching.

[@BridgeComSystemsInc]

Hi! We invite you to join our very large Facebook group, where you can ask for help if you need assistance. Here's the link to join: facebook.com/groups/BridgeComSystems. Also, you might want to check out our plug-and-play package at this link: www.bridgecomsystems.com/pages/plug-and-play-package.

[@NLJ1953]

lower sq

[@williamgreenleaf9302]

Must have hand free communication in New York. Bad form to show the one hand driving. Like the results, but safety first.

[@SnoqualmieHeights]

Ham radio is exempt from being hands free in Washington State.

[@dieseldrax]

Just because you're in NY doesn't mean they are. They're in Missouri and didn't break any Missouri laws. Bad form to assume your laws apply to everyone everywhere.

[@JustLearning]

Yup in New York you can get a ticket for driving distracted using the HT like that. I know he is in another state and the hands free law does not apply to him. It is not in stone but i heard hams were exempted from the hands free law but it may come down to what the court judge decides. Too bad the Police are paranoid about using the radio in a car with your hands. And you cannot even have a scanner in the car! Wish I had the money to challenge those laws. I think they are more strict in NYC and perhaps allow for radio in hand outside the city. I always envy those hams who live in states with reasonable laws.

[@TheBluntNinja]

In New York you can be arrested for drinking too much soda

[@vitaminb4869]

99% of people drive with one hand. Come back to earth and reality. Stop living in your imaginary world.