Super stout attena, probably not needed for most people. But for those who like top performce, and a steller look. Look no farther. Paired with a 50 watt radio, ive picked up on chatter miles away through dense forest. I technically have this mounted wrong, in the middle of the truck high up. But it works perfectly fine and prefer this look.
This antenna was ordered intentionally as the MXAT05VP which includes the heavy duty Spring mount. Frankly, MIDLAND needs to elaborate on the mounting options for this antenna. I had to guess but I was correct that you can use this HD spring mount, or remove that and then the antenna can be placed on an existing SO-239 type (not NMO) mount. The product should include a much better Instruction sheet that includes how to convert this "VP" model, to SO-239. It is easy to do. It is just not obvious out of the box. Since I do not have an antenna analyzer that works on UHF frequencies, I had to trust this antenna to have a good factory match. I decided to see if I could bring up a repeater that is 27 miles away and not totally a clear, line of site path with just my 5 watt hand held connected to this antenna. While I still had my JEEP parked inside the garage which has steel lap siding. Yes, steel. Not vinyl, wood, hard-plank or even aluminum. Steel. Roll up door aluminum paneled. Asphalt shingle roof. Sort of 3/4 Faraday cage shielded environment. I hit that repeater and had good report contact. Same with other repeaters at 19 and 21 miles away. One repeater at 14 miles away did not work but I do not have a clear line of site to that one at all. I can never bring that repeater up with the same 5 watt hand held with its HT antenna, just standing outside. I backed the JEEP out of the garage, still no go with the MXAT05. I turned the JEEP to have its front end face the direction of that repeater. Bingo. Nobody answered but it was a solid automated repeater audio identification reply that sounded clear. So I have confirmed repeater contacts at 19, 21 and 27 mile distances from inside my semi-faraday garage using the 5 watt hand held with this MXAT05, and picked up the somewhat obstruction blocked, not clear line of site repeater at 14 miles. I am sure the higher power MXTA245 (15 watt) will do well for these area repeaters. I think even more distance repeater contacts possible, depending on terrain and other obstructions when I do more experimentation.
Great reception and even better looking . I already knew where I wanted it installed as soon as I saw the YouTube video from Baptismoverland 4 months ago