Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Here for changes to Part 95 (CB, FRS, and GMRS) that the FCC will be putting in place soon.

 

Just looked at the FCC site and it's $70 for GMRS

 

I think part of extending the license is that they only have to charge the ridiculous fee every 10 years. It's just crazy that our ham license is 15 bucks and lasts 10 years. GMRS is just pointless.

 

HOLY CRAP I don't remember it being that much when I applied!

 

Thanks guys. Still looking into it as an addition to her truck and if we like it, I'll add it to mine as well. The increased license fee doesn't bother me.

 

Do you guys already have UHF/70cm/440MHz radios in your trucks? Lots of them will receive in the GMRS bands already and some will even transmit with some modification. I have an Icom IC-5100 that I just modified to do that—you take off the bottom cover and remove two tiny diodes http://radioaficion.com/cms/icom-id-5100-rx-and-tx-mars-mod/ Lets me transmit anywhere from 400 to 470MHz (and 137 to 174MHz in the VHF/2m/144MHz band)

Do a search for your radio model number and "extended transmit" to see if anyone has found a hack.

 

Just finished installing my Icom ID-5100! The faceplate fit perfectly in the pocket in front of the cupholders and with a glovebox organizer I was able to put in the body in there and not lose much room.

The antenna:



Here's where it's going:



Got a sheet of aluminum from Home Depot (20 or 22ga I think) and after some test fits with a piece of cardboard I cut and bent it to fit, holding the faceplate at a nice angle:



The faceplate has a couple magnets on back that grab onto the black plate attached to the aluminum.

Since the body was going to be in the glovebox there was no way I'd be able to hear the speaker in there. I picked up an external speaker from Amazon and it fit perfectly behind the faceplate, bolted to my bracket:



The sound is muffled a *little* being behind the faceplate, but I'm able to run the radio at about 50% volume with the windows down and still hear what's going on, so it's plenty loud.

I drilled a hole in the back of the pocket (not pictured) and ran the cables through that and back over to the glovebox. I ran the power/ground from my battery distribution box through the main fusebox grommet and across to the glovebox. I ran the antenna cable through a little unused grommet on the passenger firewall. I've the mic coming up out of the pocket and sitting in the little change holder thing to the right of the steering wheel:



And the body in the glovebox:



I've only had it in there for a day but so far I'm loving it. The display is fully visible from the driver's seat and the controls are reachable with just a little bit of lean. Most of the controls are actually available on the mic itself so most of the time I don't need to even reach.

The faceplate has a GPS antenna built in and still gets a great signal down in the pocket.



All the stuff:

Icom ID-5100:

$530 Icom ID-5100A DELUXE 144/440 Amateur Radio Mobile Transciver with Touch Screen, D-Star and Internal GPS

https://www.amazon.com/Icom-ID-5100A-Amateur-Transciver-Internal/dp/B00K5BNHT0
Diamond NR770HB Mobile Antenna: https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Original-NR770HB-Dual-Band-Antenna/dp/B00MANF3L6
Diamond C101 Antenna cable:

$47 C101 Antenna Mount Cable Assembly, UHF, 6ft

https://www.amazon.com/C101-Antenna-mount-cable-assembly/dp/B00AR09284
Relentless CB/AUX Mount: https://www.relentlessfabrication.com/products/05-tacoma-hood-hinge-cb-aux-mount
CB Speaker:

$18 RoadPro RPSP-15 Universal CB Extension Speaker with Swivel Bracket, 2-3/4 x 4-1/2"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ZIC18Q

 

I really like the way that looks in front of the cupholders. I wouldn't think that a speaker would fit in there. It seems that I need to start rethinking how I mount the face of my v71a.

 

Added a photo from a little farther back so you can see it with the whole dash. Looks great down there. If the pocket isn't deep enough for the v71a you might be able to cut out some of the back to make a little room. I think the airbag controller is down there somewhere, but there's room at the top-back of the pocket.

 

I hope you didn't have as much fun as I did enlarging that hole to fit an SO239 base for the antenna? That steel is work hardened and must be softened before enlargement is attempted. Ask me how I know.......I have a 27" Comet version mounted there. Mine works great there!

 

HA! I was able to cheat: that cable that I got has the body of the connector as a separate piece that be unscrews from the pin. When it's disconnected the fitting is only about 1/4" wide:



I removed the grommet and then sliced a little notch into it that hugs the 1/8" cable and (hopefully) keeps things water tight still.

 

I had to enlarge the mount base from 1/2" hole for a CB type 3/8" mount to 5/8" hole for a 239 type Amateur base. If anyone uses this Hood Hinge mount and you need to drill on it, soften it first. I ruined a perfectly good 5/8" drill bit and those are not cheap. After softening it enlarged no problem.

 

Oh the MOUNT you had to open! I thought you meant the firewall hole. I did have to widen my mount hole to 5/8" as well, but I used a stepped sheet metal bit and it drilled like butter, I couldn't believe it. I just added a couple drops of 3-in-1 oil and set my drill press to about 600 rpm.

$13 NEIKO 10194A Titanium Step Drill Bit, High-Speed Alloy-Steel Bit, Hole Expander for Wood and Metal, 10 Step Sizes from 1/4" to 1 3/8"es

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FZ2UOY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AHOezbQJ909F3

 

have any of the operators here tried the BitX40 QRP kit? looks like it could be fun.

 

I have one sitting on my desk. I haven't had time to build it yet. For $60, why not try it, right?

 

Where did you get this keystone? I want to do just this. Is it a RJ-12 or did you use a RJ-45? Can you even do a RJ-45 and only punch 6 to make it a RJ-12?

 

The keystone is a cat3 female to female. The keystone mount is a 3D printed part I have up on Shapeways. Not sure if I actually have the part listed for sale or not but I'll check later when I'm not mobile and link it here.

 

@forty2 i already bought that cubby to 3 switch replacement on shapeways. If you are the guy behind that also then you are the man. I have a cat3 to cat3 but I need that fancy thing right thar...

 

I am in fact that guy. Here you go.

 

Damn you, something else that I have to buy! That looks awesome and fun.