Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

I made my own 3rd brake light bracket that sandwiches between the cab and light. It uses a Nagoya mag mount with the magnet removed and the stud screwed into the bracket. The antenna has a built in spring which I exercise twice a day pulling in and out of my garage.

 

I used a portion of the stock Kenwood remote head mount and attached it to the plastic clip that covers the wires on the mirror with a #10-32 screw running from the driver's side through the plastic to the passenger's side. Fit is good and it's definitely secure.

 

Do you have any pictures or a build thread of how you did yours? Would love to see it. How is your reception and transmission from that location?

 

I'll get some photos. Reception and transmission is excellent. My radio covers the same area as everyone else meaning I get to the same spots where its fringe.

 

So would this location be any better or worse than a ditch light bracket?

 

From what I have been learning the last several days. It looks like the ditch light bracket technically goes above RF exposure limits. A website to check with this is: http://hintlink.com/power_density.htm
Check out my conversation over on Reddit in regards to this. https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurrad...tenna_questions_in_regards_to_rf_exposure_on/

 

Nice. this is the solution for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Actually if you wanted to you could put a Ram ball under the right side and another x-grip and mount the radio head like that. Or just use a plate with a Ram ball on it to mount the head to for a more permanent mount.

 

Setting aside RF exposure concerns, it will likely have better performance than the ditch light location as it is higher, does not have the cab as an obstruction, and gets benefit in certain directions from the roof acting as a large ground plane. Higher = better is a rule of thumb that will almost never lead you wrong when setting up antennas.

 

These are some of the many thoughts running through the cobwebs of my mind.

 

So now a new tunnel in this rabbit hole.


Beyond a Baofeng HT, what do folks take on a day hike or a week long camping trip?

My mind is leaning towards something I can put into a back pack for the hike.

 

Yes. Most of the antenna clears the cab and there isn’t the radiation through your head like there is with a ditch light bracket.

 

Here’s a few photos:

 

Alinco DMR ht and Yeasu FT-70. Haven’t got a good antenna solution yet to take the 991a on a week long trip yet. I mainly cruise the local repeaters when I go. Either I pick times when there’s no one around or they are a group that doesn’t talk to non locals.

 

@GHOST SHIP

Like this.

 

Nice. I like it. Did you pick up an extra foam gasket to seal it back up or did you use a caulk?

 

I just carry my 8watt Baofeng with a Nagoya 771 antenna and have yet to wish for more. If I really need long range, I hike back to the truck.

Plus it fits well in a 2x M-16 pouch.

 

The pen slot spot would also be good for your V71

 

The pen slot was my original plan but wanted to see the other options that I hadn't thought of yet. Still learning toward the pen slot but a couple other ideas have popped up that I need to look at more.