Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

I'm looking to add an LED light bar to my Tacoma now and a mobile radio to my truck down the road. I know RF is a concern. Any tips or tricks so I can do the light bar right the first time and not have RF issues when I install my mobile radio later?

 

Don't buy crap. If it's a great price, it's probably cheaply made and will cause problems with your ham gear.

 

A lot of repeat information on the General test and I think it's a little easier than the Technician test. Start studying now while some of the material is still fresh in your head and you'll be ready to take the general class test in 2 weeks.

 

Just passed my General this morning! On the way home, made my first contact with a station in Hungary using only 5w and a hamstick. Couldnt believe it. Beginner's luck.

 

What band/mode?

 

20 meters USB. Band conditions seemed really good. I heard quite a few 5/9 stations from Europe on the drive home. Tried to get some more contacts but I think I was being drowned out by all the other people on the frequencies.

 

Some guys like to run 1500 watts all the time. I been looking into putting a amplifier in my truck.

 

Right now Im limited to 5w. Wouldn't mind getting a small 50w amp at some point. I'll probably fine tune the antennas for now. Emtech ZM-2 kit is on the way so that should help the hamstick.

 

Ameritron makes a 500 Watt amplifier for my truck. But I also have to change out my antenna to a tarheel. Right now I have the yaesu 120A antenna. That's good for 150 watts.

 

Neat! I would have never thought to mount the tarheel to the bed rail cap.

 

They have a mount for inside the bed also.

 

Tarheel Screwdriver Antenna Installation Toyota Tacoma KM2U 10 thru 80 MHZ - YouTube https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p8eg8bu7Ono

 

I have the 6m-80m Lil Tarheel, sweet little antenna. Is the ATAS-120 that poor a unit?

 

That's a great contact working QRP on a hamstick. HF hasn't been great lately.

 

It work every well. But it can't take 500 watts.

 

You're planning 500 watts mobile?

 

Yes. Ameritron makes a 500 Watt linear amplifier for your mobile.

 

There is a ham who has a jeep, with a super clean install who runs the legal limit 1.5KW mobile on HF. HF antenna is telescopic if I recall. I believe there are pics in this thread.

Edit: Found it. W8UZZ

http://www.buzzbar.com/w8uzzjeep.html

 

That's kick ass!

 

That's Hamsexy