Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Anyone run an HF rig off their tacoma? I might be making the drive from Portland to DC this summer and I was looking to mount the yaesu 857d to supplement the kenwood d710a.

Hustler makes a bumper mount (bm-1?) and I have the mast and resonators for 10m and 20m. I've got all the parts, ive just lacked the time to plug it all in and make a QSO.

Thoughts?

 

best 11 and 10 meter antenna: http://www.dxengineering.com/search...engineering-mobile-whip-antennas?autoview=SKU


when I hooked up my analyzer to it was 1.2-1.5 26-29MHz, and with my ah-4 tuner it tunes nicely for 6 meters.

 

yes i use an icom 706mkiig

 

Where do you have that mounted?

 

I wasn't recommending to tx without an antenna, I was just making the point that doing so would still get out enough of a signal to cover a few feet. Just reiterating that it was more than likely operator error that's all.

 

I have the radio behind the drivers side back cab storage area, and I machined a mount that clamps from the rear view mirror for the head unit.

 

I am trying to get mine. The two times I have taken it, I missed by 1 and 2 questions. I plan on taking my dads call sign since he passed away in 2005.

 

I run HF in mine ever time I'm in it. I use a screw driver antenna (LiL Tarheel) With the sticks any thing over 10 meters is a compromise I tried them a was a good bit less then impressed. If you are some where near Maine I have 3 I'll give you. The screw driver antenna gives me 10-80 meters will tune spot on on any band. The only draw back to the screw drive types is the price expect to pay $400 for a good one but you do get what you pay for. Mobile HF is not a cheap endeavor by any means but it is a great deal of fun pretty much ever day I make contacts from ME to CA. and most any where in Europe.

 

That will tune on several bands with the Icom tuner (very nice tuner) but you have got to remember that it only presents a match to the radio the bottom line is the antenna is still is not resonate.

 

There are a lot of people out there that hear you but won't answer. A repeater joke is being able to hit it with a dead battery. Get an SWR meter on it before you damage some thing.

 

^^ The Diamond CR8900 is pretuned for all four frequencies. Technically, with the Yaesu 8900r I should be able to hear my own transmission, and that didn't work either.

 

Yes VHF/UHF antennas are quite broad banded and should be pretty flat across the bands. But with out an SWR meter you have no ideal what's going on with connections or the feed line. The Yaesu 8900 is a bit tedious to manually program make sure you have the repeater off sets and PL tones correct. Don't get what you mean by hearing your own TX but you should be able to hear the repeater's squelch tail if you key it up. I would start with an ohm meter disconnect the antenna and the PL 259 make sure it is not shorted to ground make sure the grounding ring is grounded to the truck and make sure you have continuity through the coax center conductor from the

$38 PL259 USA Made PL-259 Improved Double Shielded RG-58u for FireStik Antenna K-8A 18-Foot Single CB/Ham Coax Cable

PL259 and the contact at the antenna mount.

 

I take my Technician Exam on April 27 and am going to try for the General Class at the same time.
I do not have a transceiver yet because I really do not know what I want yet. I am thinking a 2 meter rig is good and will meet my needs. What more would a dual band radio do for me in an off-road rig?

Newbie questions, I know....

 

These guys are out of Arizona and will more then answer your questions!
http://www.4x4ham.com

 

VHF does better in the Mts I would have a look at the repeaters in your area first and see what they are using (vhf or uhf) you can buy higher powered VHF ruggedized 2 meter radios I think Icom has a 75 watt one that MIGHT help you reach a repeater when a 50 might not make it. A duel band gives you a lot more flexibility for simplex with your friends out for a ride just a lot more frequencies for short distance stuff and you'll be able to use more repeaters in town. The only other reason would be public service monitoring if it’s something your into.

 

I appreciate the replies gentlemen. I am in the learning phase on this topic and will find out more as far as frequecies used locally, etc. BEFORE I settle on a VHF only or a dual band radio.

Thanks Again,
Desert Drifter

 

on 4x4ham.com, you can download a list of the local repeaters. Also check out the Arizona Repeater Association's website.

I was lurking with a Wuoxon HT for the last year. I have learned a lot by just listening to other talk. Finally bought a FT-8800r for my truck. If you are in the Phoenix area, there is the a lot of 2m and 70cm repeaters. They just finished a major link between 4 repeaters, covers the whole valley. Also the white tanks repeater is usually very busy.

I plan on taking my General at the 4x4ham.com's ARRL Field Day in June.

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

Still unable to get someone to respond to me. I did JUST notice at this moment that I'm transmitting on a different frequency when the button gets pushed. What is that called? Is that my problem?