Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Just checked, thats the same radio I have!

 

Anyone have a telescoping/collapsible antenna mast for field work? I am looking o=all over the enterweb for ideas, figured I would ask this lot.

I am thinking an Arrow OSJ antenna (about $60), then a cable, an antenna mast, and a drive on base plate.

Trying to keep the costs down, but still want close to a 30' mast that will collapsible small enough to lay flat in my bed.

give me your ideas and throw up any pics you may have.

 

have you checked out 4x4ham or eham for ideas???

so much info on those pages....

 

I am a 4x4ham.com member, I was actually out with some of those guys on Saturday. I also am reading reviews on eham. Tons of ideas out there from using a painter's pole to $$$$$ military grade masts. I think a good mast will be about $150-200.

That's why I am asking what YOU GUYS are using.

 

i guess the question should be than what are trying to reach???

are you optimzing for skip waves and propagation?? HF 10m?? 20m??

 

www.mgs4u.com/fiberglass-push-up-mast.htm

 

wow thats pretty awesome!!!

 

Yeah their 38ft mast is the front runner for me, right now. only complaint is that it is 7'7" collapsed, although that maybe the only way I can go with out spending $500+.

Mainly looking for 2m/70cm. I work a lot of events with the local clubs, foot/bike races, ultra races, etc, etc, etc. This last weekend I was out in the desert for a 31 mile ultra race. I could hit the portable repeater we had setup, but could not get to net control on simplex (need for our comm plan). The terrain was to hilly. In September I will bought way out in the forest working a 106 mile ultra race, even with the portable repeater, our group will be so spread out that getting into the portable will be difficult enough. They try and pair us up with someone that has a mast. I want to be that guy with a mast.

 

what antenna are you currently using??

As I know I can hit almost anything with this when on the trails 60 miles north of the city
http://radioworld.ca/790a-p-8541.html

granted yes sometimes due to LOS it would be nice to set-up a directional and point towards the repeater

 

I have a Diamond NR770HB, great antenna. However, most of Arizona is not flat. For this last weekend, LOS was maybe a mile at best (mountains and valleys). For the big event in September, LOS will be further than that, but hindered by the trees. I was communication grade and able to be relayed when needed, but the guy with me threw up a 20' mast and we were able to hit everyone on the course on low power.

I am thinking about getting a Arrow Antenna, the OSJ is considered one of the best for the buck ($49, $59 is you want it to be able to broken down in half for storage).

 

There was a nice post on expo a while back about a very nice mast project for under $100. I included a link and even a picture in this thread. Search out my past posts to find the link.

Edit, I found it.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/114834-Building-a-mobile-mast-for-2M-use?p=1413063

 

Yeppers, I have seen those too. They are using the fiberglass camo poles. god, I do not miss them. I found a guy that makes a pretty cool tripod setup for them. However, this guy and others have said it does take a while to put up and you almost always need to use guy wires with fiber glass poles. I can image that doing that solo is a PITA.

The question is not what can you find on the Internet, I know how to google, but what DO YOU OWN/USE? I am looking for first hand knowledge.

I know it will cost me more, but for the type of training and exercises I do with the local groups, I am looking for strength, speed, and single handed ability. I know those things almost always add $$$$. That's why I am doing more homework on the subject than needed.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide to to. If it were me, I would buy what BenMara recommended and call it good.

I do have a portable install (20' mast) which consists of a 10' section of steel pipe and a 10' aluminum pipe. They go on the roof rack, must be guyed out in order to work. For my antenna I use Larsen 2/70b dual band antenna with base station kit (Ground plane radials). I use ultraflex-240 for feed-line. At home I connect it to a hand held and run 4W power and talk just fine in 45 mile radius.

I would recommend to you to use Ultraflex-240 coax (or equivalent) for your feed-line. It's a great balance of lightweight, portable, and flexible. It's affordable too!

Picture of antenna:

 

That's a nice setup.

I hate those fiberglass poles. I think I going to get the pole BenMara reccomended. I had already found them online. I am going to built a drive-on plate myself, they are basic and shipping from anywhere would just be expensive. Thanks for the advice on the feedline. I think I am looking at about $300, plus the base plate to do it. More than I was originally thinking, but still within a doable range.

ok, back to studying for my general.

 

I use the fiberglass poles on my travel trailer and am building a system to raze the poles as one unit they need to be guyed and they do offer a base for them. I have a home made full (no traps no coils) half wave rotatable dipole that I use on 10,12,15, and 17 meters. I replace the dipole with a half wave inverted "V" for 40 and 80 meters. At 17 meters the dipole is 26' and it's about 26' up looks kind of silly on the back of an 18' camper but it has a killer signal. On 40 and 80 I need lots of space or two trees 136' apart.

 

Subd.
New to the ham.

What's a good hand held? And a good setup for a truck?

 

Two angle irons then a couple of flat plates space them the with of you tire foot print and drive over them. They make a very stable mount for most any mast.

 

A Chinese $40 radio an antenna adapter and a mag mount antenna. You'll pay more for a good antenna than the radio.

 

I am not a fan of the cheap Chinese radios. I do own a Wouxon HT and they are decent to get you started if you have to. However, there are several radios for only a little bit more that are a lot better. FT-60r is about $120 new, they have been the go to HT before the Chinese showed up. Swing by a HRO or other ham store near you and play with every single one and ask them tons of questions. Also, search to see when a hamfest is happening near you. Those are the best places to score a super deal! Find a used radio for well under $100.

 

That looks awesome.