Midland MXT275 Antenna Upgrade

Upgraded the stock antenna and coax and the results are significant. A Browning BR-450 with RG-58 coax nets a 7.3 db gain over the issued stock 1/4 wave antenna with 20 feet of RG-174 coax.
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--Update May 2021--
For some reason the BR-450 has gotten pricey. A similar antenna from the same manufacturer is the Tram 1177 for $26. www.theantenna...
If buying again, the Laird B4505C for $30 would be my choice for a high gain mobile antenna. www.theantenna...
I am an Amazon affiliate and I do get credit from the above links to support this channel.

[@gregkurtz1950]

This was a very good real world example that clarifies basic RF principals.

[@akblair3862]

Excellent review of antennas and coax and how they effect your transmit and receive capability.

[@Soladaddy]

Many thanks! The new antenna is pulling in new repeaters.

[@jaybarr3307]

I put this radio into my wife's suv recently and paired it with a Larson antenna and a Laird NMO mount. Cut the antenna for 465 and it works swimmingly. Paid about $38 each for the mount and antenna. Worth it as we can now use our town's repeater from all the neighboring towns while she's out n about. I'm able to talk with her using just an HT from inside my home as the repeater is only about 1.4 miles from the house.

[@Soladaddy]

I have a 5/8 wave for when this radio goes in the wife's van.

[@SimonRiley115]

When I got my jeep it had this radio in it, could only get the noaa, come to find out it had a cb triband antenna 😆 just ordered the mxta26

[@bulldogbrower6732]

You are showing us how well the weather channel is received. The weather frequencies are VHF, 162.400 to 162.550 MHZ. The GMRS frequencies are UHF 462-467 MHZ. That’s quite a difference. You should be tuning for GMRS reception. A GMRS antenna at 1/2 wave should be 14.5 inches tall.

[@Soladaddy]

Correct, but at the time there was no GMRS signal to work with.

[@AmbassadorEarl]

I thought I recognized noah weather channel 3. Your in the same region that I am.👋

[@Soladaddy]

Central Florida.

[@AmbassadorEarl]

@ East Coast

[@hoody2141]

Is it recommended to shorten the cable? I did upgrade the antenna with the mxta25 3db miromobile ghost antenna but i have about an extra 12ft of cable that i had to coil up.

[@Soladaddy]

Coiling will create an RF choke and it can change the SWR reading as will changing the coax length. What is the new coax? If RG-58, cutting 12 ft would recover just under 1db of loss so a small improvement. Is that antenna tunable? If the SWR reading is good, I've leave it be.

[@alpha6tango860]

NOAA weather radio is VHF.. 162 MHz… not a valid comparison. Spot on with the coax and a better antenna though.

[@Soladaddy]

True, could use a continuous GMRS signal for a better comparison.

[@revadan]

magnetic mount..? good luck.

[@Soladaddy]

Not the best way to go but I've used them for years with losing an antenna.

[@Tecktrek]

This is a great review; you've saved me from buying a stock Midland antenna. Could you please link to some of the products you refer to for quick reference by we newbies? Also, the upgraded 275 has been announced with USB-C and Split Tone - will you be reviewing it soon? Thanks! :-)

[@Soladaddy]

I saw that Midland updated the 115 and 275. Its great that they are listening to feedback and making changes. I don't have immediate plans to get another 275, unless they send one to me. :) Midland had a decent selection of antennas and mount options, but I have no experience with them. Recently I got this mount and it is working well. www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=264_265_273&products_id=8079. The magnet was larger than the small ones but not a huge 5" one either. It is using BR-195 coax which has less loss compared to RG-58. However, it is stiffer and does not like sharp bends so consider the routing path before selecting this one. Others on this page would work. Check on the cable length as most are either 12 or 17 feet. www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=264_265_273 I updated the description with other antennas because the BR-450 got pricey, way more than it should cost.

[@sfv1001]

Don’t think antenna gain works that way for transmit. You can’t create energy without amplification so there is no way you are doubling your output. The radio is rated for 15 watts max. The 6db gain increases sensitivity on the receive side. If you have a link to information that proves an antenna amplifies your TRANSMIT I would love to see it. SWR is what preserves your TX energy and that is achieved through proper tuning, but the best you can hope for is a 1.0:1 ratio which will give you 15 watts at the antenna minus any loss on the feed line.

[@Soladaddy]

The term Effective Radiated Power (ERP) takes into account the transmitter power out, the line loss and the antenna gain to determine how much power is heading out towards the gain direction. The FCC uses this formula in capping the output of many transmitters. Here's a basic overview www.rfvenue.com/blog/2014/12/15/what-is-erp Here's a deeper explanation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_radiated_power And a nice calculator: m0ukd.com/calculators/erp-eirp-calculator/

[@GeoFreeskier]

what you think about Midland 6 dB Gain Antenna with Durable Spring Base and NMO Connection ?

[@Soladaddy]

Like the NMO mount and the spring is a good idea especially off-road. I almost bought one when Midland had a good Black Friday sale, but haven't seen one in person. The Browning is rather flexible and has done well with a few drive thru overhangs. Just have to periodically check the set screws to make sure those hits don't loosen them.

[@Johnyrocket70]

Can't you shorten the cable and get more gain

[@Soladaddy]

Yes that is an option. I think Midland used a thin, long cable to allow installation in a wide variety of vehicles.

[@jaybarr3307]

You'd need to buy a crimp tool and maybe some jaws that'd run you the cost of a better antenna, perhaps. If you had the tools, definitely worth the $5-$6 for a new connector and shortening that cable as much as your mounting setup permits.

[@Soladaddy]

I never intended to use the supplied antenna, but my truck needs about 17 feet of coax and trimming 3 feet is not going to have much benefit. Cutting it down to 10-12 feet would be worth the work.

[@thedoorider]

kewl!

[@pledgegamer]

what is the magnet mount your using?

[@Soladaddy]

In this video I was using a basic Tram 3.25 inch with RG-58 amzn.to/3Elkeg5 Since then I switched to this one www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=264_265_273&products_id=8079 It has a slightly larger magnet 3 5/8 inch and uses BR-195 (off brand LMR-195) which has about .5 db less loss than RG-58 at GMRS freqs. The 195 is stiffer so if tight turns are needed it may not be best option.

[@Treacherous_One]

based on your weather radio. you are close to me. lol nice review.

[@Soladaddy]

The test was near Lakeland. I'm near Tampa.

[@Treacherous_One]

@@Soladaddy NSB here

[@Soladaddy]

Makes sense. Wanted a distant signal to work with.

[@djsoundzentertainment42]

I think you meant MXT275, NOT MTX

[@Soladaddy]

Opps. Dyslexia kicking in.

[@accurateexteriorsco]

Which mount did you go with?

[@Soladaddy]

I went with a slightly larger mag mount that uses a knockoff LMR-195 coax. It has about 1/3 less loss than RG-58. It is less flexible so not good for sharp turns, but it was routable in my truck. www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=264_265_273&products_id=8079

[@matthewwood5462]

Just purchased a MXT275 so I'm looking to go ahead and get an antenna for it. I found a packaged deal on Ebay with the BR-450 and a tram magnetic mount for $45. Do you think that will work fine for this setup?

[@Soladaddy]

Sounds like a good price, depending on the mount. Make sure the coax is long enough for your installation location. In my truck and van I need about 17 feet. My cars can work with less. Mag mounts usually com with 12 or 17/18 feet of coax.

[@matthewwood5462]

@@Soladaddy It's a 17' so I should be good.

[@donalderickson-si8ww]

I own the bigger antenna and us it for my base operation that will not com off that little one is a joke

[@dustoff499]

I think for the price point and intended purpose, the little one will work just fine - no joke.