Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

That's good news for sure. I wonder if they would ever consider exposing the API because I bet someone would write an iPad app so you could use a tablet as the front end.

If it doesn't work out we have great options for a dual band mobile: D710G, FTM-400 - both are fantastic by all accounts.

 

The EE mount that @m603holden and I have in our trucks is pretty bombproof offroad.

This is the only picture I have of mine (from the day I installed all of that). It’s setup a little differently now.

 

You asked about a hood mount but I'll just say that I ordered four of the bed rail brackets from Taco Garage (the same guy who sold me my DMM rail). The product is called "Bed Rail Tie Down Bracket & Accessory Mount". They are pretty clever, the top has a slot for a tie down strap, and if you flip it over you have many holes that look great for mounting an antenna. To me, the further away from my head the antenna is, the better, so I will put the antenna in the rear corner of the bed.

Bed is plastic so no great ground plane, but it should be good enough for the girls I go out with. At some point I will order a DiamondBack, but that day is not today because I'll be paying a divorce lawyer if I buy a US$2100 tonneau cover.

 

I used this mount.

https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VT3CB-BARE.html

 

me too

 

The issue is I have a camper shell.

 

I suppose you could go to 1/2-wave or 5/8-wave and not need the ground plane. I have a camper shell too. I went with the Comet SBB-5 PL-259 type antenna mounted on a folding Comet RS-660U roof rack mount on the camper shell then using the Comet 3D5MB socket/cabling to run it into the driver's side. So, down side is that I have to manually raise and lower antenna to get my truck into my garage. I bought it thru Antenna Farm.

 

How do you like the SBB-5? I am thinking about picking one up from GigaParts tomorrow. Right now I run a SBB-2NMO from a hood mount but I want something with a little higher gain since I mainly am on flat terrain. Everyday I am in and out of a parking deck at work and garage at home so hopefully the SBB-5 will still be short enough to clear.

 

Should I get a Quad Band Antenna?

I got a Wouxun KG-UV980P which is a quad band FM transceiver recently and I like it, but I'm thinking about upgrading the antenna. Should I just stick to a standard dual band (X30 or X50) or get a quad band (70cm, 2m, 6m, 10m)? The dual bands antennas have more gain than the quad band I'm looking at and since I use those bands more often I'm leaning that way. But it would be nice to have further options. Keep in mind this is FM only and I'm using this as a base station.

 

I'm a fan of my newest one. Folds down super quick.

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts...nFH0qrEql-HPXMAwOj7dFtqnhegpxeO0aAu24EALw_wcB

Honestly if you don't have any high traffic 6m reporters around I'd just opt for a dual band antenna.

 

I added some 6 and 10M repeaters to my memory that I found on RepeaterBook, as well some some "commonly used" simplex frequencies so I'll keep those on scan the next few days and see what I hear.

 

I'm pricing a Tarheel screwdriver and controller right now. Makes me want to cry.

I'm in the Los Angeles area for another week and there's an HRO about twenty minutes away. Really want to go there but afraid of how light my wallet will be after I leave the store. That's what got me looking at screwdrivers.

I've been convinced through the wise internet that I shouldn't mess with hamsticks. With the FT-891, it looks like the only screwdriver that will automatically tune off the radio is the ATAS screwdriver. Am I misunderstanding that?

 

Mark is a cool guy over there at the Burbank store. There’s a popular gun shop next door too

 

Well, this wasn’t the review I was wanting to hear. Was considering a FTM-400 for my new truck for the smaller form factor from the D710. Didn’t realize they didn’t make it user friendly much at all. I do like being able to punch in a repeater quickly while traveling into new areas and the d710 does that very easily. I imagine as easily as the V71. I know my passengers would always bump the radio on the passenger side so I kinda wanted to have less for them to bump into but still be easy to use like the d710. There’s a guy locally with one so I guess I’ll have to go check his out and look at it’s quirks. I sat in the truck the other day placing the radio head all over the place trying to see where I could mount it. Not a big fan of having it near the top of the dash because that attracts idiots to steal it thinking they’re getting something and then I’m out a control head and still have a radio.

 

Just as an FYI, it seems 3rd Gens have a ton of noise that are really really difficult to get out. Injectors and fuel pump are the typical source.

 

That store tried to deny a fairly large purchase because my credit card wasn't signed in the back. I said give me a pen and i'll sign it right now, the dude said "No" lol.

 

I’ve never signed the backs of my cards.

 

Sounds like preppers heaven - coms and guns...

 

I know right?! That guy was a grumpy old idiot that day, and his co-worker that came up from the back wasn't very pleasant to deal with either.

 

They wonder why a lot of peeps don’t want to get into ham radio too probably.