Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Just got my first mobile (Icom 5100) installed in the Truck. Nerve racking drilling the hole in the roof for the NMO mount, but the install came out great IMO. Wrote it up over here in my build thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ld-and-adventures.484602/page-6#post-15682298



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This is fine, you're not doing anything out of the ordinary. It's a common practice for a lot of folks here in California to do this on VHF or UHF repeaters. The only time you might get a grumble is if you're cross banding on a repeater that's linked to a large repeater network like the Win System or The Condor link. Neither of those are active in your area If you're running DCS you shouldn't have any issues

Don't assume you can run like that for unlimited time on your aux battery. Setup the auto power off (APO) to shut it off after a period of inactivity. you'll get more runtime on a full charge if you don't have to operate that mobile radio on high power. Keep your battery in good health by making sure it's getting charged.

 

I'll have to check into the power draw of the radio, both static and when transmitting. My second battery is isolated from the starting battery and charged whenever the truck is running. It powered my fridge for four days with only about a half discharge on it.

I successfully tested this setup after work today with a friend using his Baofeng HT. We only were about ten feet from the truck but it worked as designed. Baofeng transmitted on UHF to the truck, truck transmitted VHF to the repeater, Baofeng received VHF back from the repeater. Made a quick call and checked in with another station and called it a day for that test so we could get home for dinner.

 

And you do not have the mobile rig set-up to re-transmit the VHF repeater output on UHF, it is only re-transmitting your HT UHF signal on the VHF repeater input freq, correct? If so, then you should be OK.

It is when you set it up to serve as a full duplex repeater that you run afoul of the Part 97 requirements concerning remote control and identification. Since it requires your DCS encoded transmission before it does anything you are fully in control, and since it is only transmitting what you input, you are able to ensure that you are identifying per regulations.

Good job. You don't know how many people go the whole hog cross band repeat route without even considering any of these things and getting crosswise with the regs.

 

Yep, just a simple one way repeat from the from the simplex UHF input from HT to mobile to repeater. The mobile was locked out to not allow transmissions back through UHF from the repeater.

 

When you are cross banding. Your radio is doing double duty cycle. And will get warm. So keep transmitter time minimum. I run cross band alot

 

Welcome! I would agree that cutting the hole is downright scary. You just aren't supposed to put a hole in your 35k truck. On the other hand, it's just sheet steel. Easily one of the best mods I've done so far.

73's

W1FOY

 

My setup, could not be happier! The 400 looks cock-eyed in this pic, but it's straight from the drivers point of view.

 

How dumb would it be to try to mount a uhf/vhf/cb antenna to this?

 

Not dumb at all. I would mount and then test it out.

It is funny how somethings help and hurt. For me, with a tailgate mounted antenna, I can have my plate bumper and tire carrier OR my shell on and I have great signal. However, if I have both on... it is horrible.

 

I am thinking of trying the wilson non magnetic roof mount kit, just have to find a way to make sure the rack is properly grounded, however, I am just unsure how its RF ground plane will actually be with just the metal rack and a plastic bed.

 

Run a ground strap to the rack.

 

Yeah, I'd probably do that, also I am a little worried because I've never seen anyone else use a roof mount in this manner. But I guess there is a first time for everything

 

Someone did a roof mount on a pinsu rack, they put a piece 1ft square metal between the antenna and rack to make a better ground plane.

 

That bedrack looks like an ideal ground plane. Slap a 5/8 magmaount on there (if it's steel. If not bolt a small steel plate up there) and you're golden.
KH6X

 

Awesome. Thanks guys!

 

Hello folks. Haven't been on the forum in ages. Anywho, I got questions about mounting an antenna and routing coax. The radio in question is yaesu ft8900R and the antenna is the diamond CR8900. I went with the K400 mount, the one that goes on the top of either door. It's a single cab.

As for mounting of the radio, I plan on putting the radio under the seat and running the head on the dash.

I should mention that I'm no stranger to routing coax around the single cab. Currently running a ft 2900R power block is in between the fire wall and center console/dash and power runs from that up beside the dash under the pillar and to the dash. Coax goes the from center dash, up pillar, over head under the trim, down and out of the grommet holes and so on.. I also have a 980 ssb with similar coax/power routing. But that's on the ceiling.

Is there anyone here that can share their coax routing method for the Diamond CR8900 antenna? Has anyone done it with a single cab? Driver side or passed

 

I have just installed a Comet 680SB PL-259 antenna. I'm slightly concerned it will get loose and fall off. There's no way to tighten it with a traditional wrench. The outside is just a smooth cylinder. You guys have any advice for keeping it tight that doesn't involve me hand tightening it every day?

 

Pipe wrench lol

 

I have one of those rubber strap wrenches somewhere. That might actually be the answer.