1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

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

  1. Jan 18, 2020 at 7:00 PM
    #6161
    vssman

    vssman Rocket Engineer

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2013
    Member:
    #106440
    Messages:
    9,342
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Paul
    Naugatuck, CT
    Vehicle:
    2013 SR5 double cab
    I was on earlier. Not contesting but I did answer a few CQs. I did make a contact with a station from Argentina on... 15m! He was 57 and said I was 59. 100W on a G5RV.
     
    m603holden[QUOTED] and Newlife like this.
  2. Jan 18, 2020 at 7:14 PM
    #6162
    Oneoldforester

    Oneoldforester Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2015
    Member:
    #152979
    Messages:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2010 and 2000 Tacos
    Been studying for the Tech for about a month. Took the test today and passed with a 35/35

    Now the wait for a call sign....
     
    techfinsoup, NotRed, Phessor and 8 others like this.
  3. Jan 18, 2020 at 7:16 PM
    #6163
    joshuajayg

    joshuajayg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2019
    Member:
    #313511
    Messages:
    638
    Gender:
    Male
    Moab
    Vehicle:
    2020 TRD Off-Road MT
    Great! That makes three TW members today.
     
    Newlife likes this.
  4. Jan 18, 2020 at 7:45 PM
    #6164
    Oneoldforester

    Oneoldforester Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2015
    Member:
    #152979
    Messages:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2010 and 2000 Tacos
    Awesome!
     
  5. Jan 19, 2020 at 7:07 PM
    #6165
    Oneoldforester

    Oneoldforester Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2015
    Member:
    #152979
    Messages:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2010 and 2000 Tacos
    Planning a mobile VHF/UHF install in a 2010 Tacoma with a shell. I like the antenna mounting off the rear, similar to the attached pic. All my research says a no ground plane 1/2 wave or 5/8 wave...any recommendations on an antenna for this use?

    Thanks!

    FE9FE3D4-157F-4C75-9667-231DE38F2398.jpg
     
  6. Jan 19, 2020 at 7:12 PM
    #6166
    BenMara

    BenMara That Asian RedNeck

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2011
    Member:
    #54903
    Messages:
    1,899
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ben
    Belton/Charleston, SC
    Vehicle:
    2011 DC 4x4 SCed
    TRD Blower, Ham Radio, DBA T2 Rotors
    youd better run copper braid for a sup par ground.... I cant emphasize how important a ground plane is in any antenna system.... www.k0bg.com read up!!!!
     
    DaveInDenver, k8md and m603holden like this.
  7. Jan 19, 2020 at 7:14 PM
    #6167
    Oneoldforester

    Oneoldforester Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2015
    Member:
    #152979
    Messages:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2010 and 2000 Tacos
    I’ve spent some time on that site...would you recommend not going with that location, or think I’d be ok with bonding it?
     
  8. Jan 19, 2020 at 7:17 PM
    #6168
    BenMara

    BenMara That Asian RedNeck

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2011
    Member:
    #54903
    Messages:
    1,899
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ben
    Belton/Charleston, SC
    Vehicle:
    2011 DC 4x4 SCed
    TRD Blower, Ham Radio, DBA T2 Rotors
    Personally... if you cant drill a hole in middle of roof or no bed shell to drill a hole in center with sheetmetal under as a ground plane... yes... just do as K0BG states for grounding body to frame.....
     
    m603holden likes this.
  9. Jan 19, 2020 at 7:41 PM
    #6169
    m603holden

    m603holden @Koditten Pirate Radio member #063

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2014
    Member:
    #140581
    Messages:
    11,480
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Marteeen
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma DCSB OR MT
    Lots of sail boat fuel
    Uhg. Hate grounding. Still need to chase down noise in my truck.
     
    BenMara likes this.
  10. Jan 19, 2020 at 8:10 PM
    #6170
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2012
    Member:
    #73066
    Messages:
    16,541
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Anthony
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 dcsb trd offroad 4wd
    Anyone ever had trouble with water leaking after a roof NMO mount? I installed mine today and made sure everything was proper, and when I tested it with some water it leaked a little bit. I thought that single o-ring was suppose to keep water out? I could also see some “light” from outside. I removed it and added a little silicone and now it does not leak, but still.
    172F92AC-B3D9-430C-966F-3D33AA689862.jpg
    I do still have these for the outside
    63A6EFA2-D1BB-477D-BDB6-5ACC0BFBA355.jpg
     
  11. Jan 19, 2020 at 8:11 PM
    #6171
    irayfz6

    irayfz6 TTC #0249

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2017
    Member:
    #215940
    Messages:
    21,335
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joey
    McAlester, OK
    Vehicle:
    2014 Black SR5 4x4 Access Cab
    Did you over tighten the mount? If you tighten it too much, it will cause the o ring to deform and let water in. It just needs to be snug
     
  12. Jan 19, 2020 at 8:20 PM
    #6172
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2012
    Member:
    #73066
    Messages:
    16,541
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Anthony
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 dcsb trd offroad 4wd
    I used a pretty small adjustable wrench and just went snug. Definitely didn’t crank it too much.
     
    irayfz6[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Jan 19, 2020 at 9:50 PM
    #6173
    BenMara

    BenMara That Asian RedNeck

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2011
    Member:
    #54903
    Messages:
    1,899
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ben
    Belton/Charleston, SC
    Vehicle:
    2011 DC 4x4 SCed
    TRD Blower, Ham Radio, DBA T2 Rotors
    Only reason i havent done HF mobile... Ill just pull out my SOTA antenna and operate.

    Ive had 0 leaks from my Breedlove NMO mount. /me knocks on wood and metal.
     
    m603holden[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Jan 20, 2020 at 1:27 AM
    #6174
    k8md

    k8md Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2018
    Member:
    #244081
    Messages:
    422
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bob
    Vehicle:
    2015 Silver TRD Sport
    I have never seen one leak. How did you make the hole? The single o-ring should do fine. I always take my antenna off through the car wash, and that's the only gasket.

    If the hole is mangled or too large, this may work for you:
    https://www.breedlovemounts.com/nmo-roof-mount.html

    There is also a larger option from breedlove.
     
  15. Jan 20, 2020 at 5:26 AM
    #6175
    Newlife

    Newlife Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2013
    Member:
    #106845
    Messages:
    8,574
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Adam
    Knoxville TN
    Vehicle:
    2020 t4r orp
    Bone f’n stock for now
    Last question about your mount. I found a small plate just a hair bigger than yours about 3” long and 2.5” wide. Did you run into any grounding issues attached to the rack ? I am doing my install this Friday when I get back in state from my business trip.

    Gear is

    Kenwood 710ga
    Bearcat external speaker
    High frequency nmo mount
    Comet antenna
    And some Anderson power poles.


    I found a guy local with a good swr setup to tune everything once I have it installed and borrowing one of my kids laptops for the programming since I’m not having luck finding compatible software for my MacBook.
    I’m also going to run the cable from the rack through the windshield channel down to the fender into the truck via the grommets in the door to under the kickpanel to the passenger seat.
     
    Gunshot-6A[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Jan 20, 2020 at 6:08 AM
    #6176
    Scott B.

    Scott B. Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2014
    Member:
    #142118
    Messages:
    4,223
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Scott
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2015 ACLB SR5 4x4 Expo
    I added an aluminum backing plate to the underside of the roof, and put a bead of silicon sealer around the underside of the roof (it also held the plate to the roof while I was installing the mount)

    The forward mount is and NMO, the rear one is a K40.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Phessor, llibrm and foy1der like this.
  17. Jan 20, 2020 at 6:10 AM
    #6177
    m603holden

    m603holden @Koditten Pirate Radio member #063

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2014
    Member:
    #140581
    Messages:
    11,480
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Marteeen
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma DCSB OR MT
    Lots of sail boat fuel
    She's so naked.
     
  18. Jan 20, 2020 at 6:14 AM
    #6178
    Scott B.

    Scott B. Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2014
    Member:
    #142118
    Messages:
    4,223
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Scott
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2015 ACLB SR5 4x4 Expo
    I also added sound deadening before I put it back together.
     
    m603holden[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Jan 20, 2020 at 6:48 AM
    #6179
    Gunshot-6A

    Gunshot-6A Prime Beef

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2009
    Member:
    #28389
    Messages:
    23,243
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Conner
    Everett, WA
    Vehicle:
    2015 TRD Offroad
    My diamond antenna doesn't have any ground issues as far as I can tell. I did leave it unpainted under the nmo mount, so that may help, but I have been hitting repeaters a good distance away with my setup so if I do have issues, they haven't given me a problem yet.
     
    Newlife[QUOTED] likes this.
  20. Jan 20, 2020 at 7:20 AM
    #6180
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2012
    Member:
    #73066
    Messages:
    16,541
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Anthony
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 dcsb trd offroad 4wd
    I used a unibit to get a perfect 3/4 hole. That hole was just large enough to pass the coax through. The hole came out very good that’s why I am surprised.
     
    Gunshot-6A likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top