User's Manual

GETTING STARTED | 9
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Antenna Basics
Your Mobile Radio Kit does not include an Antenna. It is VERY Important to NOT transmit without a antenna or
dummy load attached to the mobile radio. Doing so, will cause harm to the internal components of your radio.
You will want to choose a suitable antenna for the bands you plan on transmitting and receiving on.
If you plan on transmitting on 145MHz you will want to ensure you have picked an antenna that states it is
capable of working with 145MHz. If an antenna is not properly tuned for the frequency you transmit on – it can
cause damage with the reflected power going back into the radio.
Pick an antenna with SWR of less than 1.5:1 to safely transmit.
Grounding Plane
Antennas require an appropriate grounding plane to properly work.
Magnetically Mounted Antennas
These antennas must be grounded to a metal surface, such as a vehicle body. Magnetic base antennas do not
properly operate unless they are fully magnetically grounded first.
NMO or PL-259 Base Antennas
These antennas will normally require a base or mobile hardware kit. These kits are grounded either through:
drill or clamp inserts on vehicles, magnetically mounted, or available as stationary base hardware kits. Some
antennas may include a base station grounding plane kit.