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Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Discussion in 'Sports, Hobbies & Interests' started by The Traveler, Jan 29, 2013.

  1. Dec 19, 2019 at 6:25 AM
    #5961
    DaveInDenver

    DaveInDenver Not Actually in Denver

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    Unexceptional
    You could. You can also use an adapter the Motorola Plug to perhaps a PL259 UHF to use a standard antenna mount, too.

    s-l1600.jpg

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Female-UHF-Jack-to-Male-Motorola-Plug-Adapter-/261236428363

    Car radios are odd in that car radios expect their antenna feed lines to be about 100Ω (give or take, could be anything from 93Ω up to 125Ω). If that Larsen is designed for a mobile installation it might be designed for 50Ω mount so there could significant mismatch.

    Whatcha trying to do?
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2019
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  2. Dec 19, 2019 at 7:27 AM
    #5962
    theick

    theick Well-Known Member

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    That^^^

    It's a pretty decent dual band radio but if you care about aprs the D710G or FTM400 is a way better choice. If you are set on the FTM100 I would make you a good deal on mine because I'm planning to get the D710G
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2019
    Chipskip likes this.
  3. Dec 19, 2019 at 7:41 AM
    #5963
    DaveInDenver

    DaveInDenver Not Actually in Denver

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    It can monitor both at the same time but it's not seamless. As you mention the radio is single receive, single transmit. How it works is you tune a station (be that a repeater or simplex) and it dual watches that along with the APRS frequency. Periodically it'll jump from one to the other listening for activity. I think the logic is to mostly sit on APRS and check the voice channel you're using every couple of seconds.

    This works fine if you're only monitoring for voice and don't really care if your APRS packets are transmitted in time or will occasionally miss APRS packets from other stations. It breaks down when you start talking on voice or there's other people you're listening to since it will not interrupt that to do APRS. So you'll be missing all the APRS packets flying around in parallel.

    The radio is smart enough to know when there's a break in voice to send an APRS beacon and since you only need those at most every minute or two that's potentially acceptable. Not ideal, though.

    It is a significant limitation but for someone who is only interested in getting a position beacon out every once in a while the FTM-100 can work. But if you're interested in anything more with APRS it's not a good choice.

    But should mention that the TM-D710 and FTM-400 also have a slight issue in that they blank the voice side when doing APRS transmissions. They have to do that to prevent ruining the other receiver. That means when you beacon a position or send a message whatever is happening on the voice goes quiet. It's only for a second but sometimes that causes you to miss a couple of words and things like that. It's much better than the FTM-100 though.
     
    llibrm likes this.
  4. Dec 19, 2019 at 7:53 AM
    #5964
    MonkeyProof

    MonkeyProof Power Top

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    I think all around the TM-D710 is the best performer and is a solid platform for mobile use. Plus it's very easy to program on the fly without the use of software defined programming. And there are plenty of how to's on youtube that are extremely helpful that shows how to easily understand and operate the radio.
     
  5. Dec 19, 2019 at 8:01 AM
    #5965
    maineah

    maineah Well-Known Member

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    Freq? Time?
     
  6. Dec 19, 2019 at 8:41 AM
    #5966
    m603holden

    m603holden @Koditten Pirate Radio member #063

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    Marteeen
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    8am sunday. Normally around the 3.850 area. They start in the extra portion and move up.

    AA1W runs it.
     
  7. Dec 19, 2019 at 9:00 AM
    #5967
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    ED693802-DE5B-447E-8255-2579AEFE8AB3.jpg
    How would I find out if it is 50? I bought a used fender and the mount was super messed up and stuck, so I used this super small AM/FM antenna. Doesn’t work too great. I am going to be adding some VHF antennas to the roof in the near future so I thought I might as well see if I can use a NMO antenna for FM radio. I have had a kenwood tm281 for a couple months. Just waiting until I test to get everything installed.
     
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  8. Dec 19, 2019 at 9:11 AM
    #5968
    connerclan97

    connerclan97 Southern Xpeditions

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    Take my tech exam on 1/4/20. Gonna find someone who knows what they are doing and get them to help me set up a solid setup for my truck, after I pass my exam.
     
    joshuajayg likes this.
  9. Dec 19, 2019 at 9:19 AM
    #5969
    DaveInDenver

    DaveInDenver Not Actually in Denver

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    Unexceptional
    You can measure but it would take some test equipment. Larsen will probably list the specs for anything they sell.

    ETA: Looking at Larsen's page they just say it's a 1/4λ whip so it'll technically be 36Ω. That's not unusual and typically no matching is done to 50Ω anyway because the loss is acceptable (about 3%). It'll be more if the characteristic impedance of a car radio really is roughly 100Ω, but still perhaps a VSWR less than 3:1, which for reception isn't going to damage anything even if there's getting to be considerable loss (about 25%).

    Coax should have a manufacturer and type printed on it. My feeling is even if there's a mismatch in impedance it'll still work better than the majority of stock commercial radio antennas.

    The NMO model is NMOQ88C.

    https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/larsen-nmoq88c-3198

    There's a cheaper Larsen Q88, too.

    https://www.pulselarsenantennas.com/product/q88-2/

    https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/larsen-q88-8075

    https://wingsandwheels.com/q88-antenna.html

    It looks like to me the cheapest version is an LM, which appears to be a simple threaded stud.

    0003731_larsen-lmb-lm-mounting-hardware-only-34-hole_400x.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2019
  10. Dec 19, 2019 at 9:41 AM
    #5970
    looking

    looking Well-Known Member

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    Good luck on the test. Any thoughts how you are going to mount the antenna?

    Doug
    N8EKL
     
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  11. Dec 19, 2019 at 9:47 AM
    #5971
    connerclan97

    connerclan97 Southern Xpeditions

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    Considering front bumper mount, but am certainly open to suggestions. Not going to drill through the cab.
     
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  12. Dec 19, 2019 at 9:49 AM
    #5972
    Gunshot-6A

    Gunshot-6A Prime Beef

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    If you have a roof rack of any kind, you could make a mount.


    20171210_165820.jpg
     
    m603holden likes this.
  13. Dec 19, 2019 at 9:54 AM
    #5973
    looking

    looking Well-Known Member

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    I park my truck inside the garage. I don't think I can get a short enough antenna to not hit each in and out if I put
    it on the roof. Considering some kind of bracket which would attach at rear tailgate.

    My previous truck never had any kind of 2 meters antenna, I had that truck from 2008 to May of this year. The truck before
    that one I had an antenna in the bed but close to cab roof. I don't think that really worked the best.

    I have seen one mount in some threads on this forum that attached to a roof bracket used to carry items. Bracket had a switch
    which lowered and raised from inside the cab. Sounds neat but a lot of work.
     
  14. Dec 19, 2019 at 9:55 AM
    #5974
    Gunshot-6A

    Gunshot-6A Prime Beef

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    That would be Cudgel's truck
     
  15. Dec 19, 2019 at 9:57 AM
    #5975
    connerclan97

    connerclan97 Southern Xpeditions

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    Yea, I park under a carport. Had my magnetic antenna on the roof and it drove me crazy. I have my cb antenna mounted by my tailgate. I don’t have a roof rack yet, but will be putting one on, but it will be covered with solar panels.
     
  16. Dec 19, 2019 at 10:41 AM
    #5976
    m603holden

    m603holden @Koditten Pirate Radio member #063

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    I need to make one for the hf antenna
     
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  17. Dec 19, 2019 at 11:09 AM
    #5977
    foy1der

    foy1der Well-Known Member

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    If only you were an extra.

    We always start at 3.650 and move after the old windbags speak their piece and the generals find a spot.
     
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  18. Dec 19, 2019 at 11:36 AM
    #5978
    looking

    looking Well-Known Member

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    Where is the location of the coax going thru the firewall? I assume the coax started in the cab.
     
  19. Dec 19, 2019 at 1:41 PM
    #5979
    m603holden

    m603holden @Koditten Pirate Radio member #063

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    We're the gophers.... :pout:
     
  20. Dec 19, 2019 at 1:49 PM
    #5980
    maineah

    maineah Well-Known Member

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    1/4 wave on 6 meters is damn close to 60" FM band is around 1/2 that. So bottom line either way it's not going to work worth a hoot. The shortest thing you can get away with is a 1/4 wave antenna no matter what frequency you intend to use. The antenna you have without measuring is probably is a dual band 2/440. Measure it, it should come out to like 19"
     
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