Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Don't hit a tree branch. It will be gone! Along with your light!

 

First hit with a google search.

 

I have that exact antenna on a hood hinge mount. The spring is super stiff compared to the antenna itself. If you hit something substantial with it the antenna would flex before the spring activated or the mount ripped the tail light off.

 

So I purchased an MFJ-347 Hamstick dipole mount. Going to use it for Emcomm 75 meters/NVIS. Yes the bandwidth is super narrow but it does work. Only issue I see with it is the brass SO239 connector center contact is SUPER tight. It only has a 2 split to the contact for the Male 259 piece to go into. Yes sometimes solder can get on that center 259 contact but I have sanded and filed to the point I see brass and it is still super tight. Contacted MFJ and the tech support guy went and pulled one and called me back. Even he said it is way too tight that it took the outside piece screwing it on to pull it up against the brass to seat well. Said he was going to tell the guy who contacts the vendors about it. Maybe they will do something about it as I saw another post on Eham's reviews where some were complaining the 3/8" standoff that attaches to this SO239 connector was too short so they did lengthen the standoff quite a bit over the first generation release of these mounts. You can't expand the center contact, tried that and snapped it right off even with light pressure. Ordered another replacement piece from MFJ and it is the same exact way. Anyone else experience this?

I found another 3/8" stud to SO239 base that has (4) splits on the web for sale. It is headed my way but the 3/8" stud part is shorter so not sure it will even go through the spaced mount to connect to the standoff. Going to try a short cable with a NON-Amphenol connector on it to SO239 base. I know it is Chinese parts with a slightly different dimension but hopefully MFJ will correct it soon.

 

Here is the center contact piece of the MFJ-347 Hamstick dipole mount.

 

I use Comet 790a antenna it stiff. Have it behind the cab. Lots of trees in upstate NY. Lost 3 antennas on the top of the truck.

 

I have the

$72 Comet ca-2x4sr CA2X4SR CA-2x4 Original Comet Dual Band VHF/UHF Mobile Antenna W/Fold-Over Hinge 140-160/435-465 MHz - UHF Male (PL-259)

Comet ca-2x4sr with the optional spring. I imagine it's the same spring, super stiff. The antenna itself is a telephone pole. I also have it mounted to the hood area and I don't feel confident with the sheet metal flexing all the time. I just bought a CBI antenna bracket that seems to be the answer for this antenna.

In other news.. just picked up a Yaesu ft-817nd. Not sure if I'll have it in the truck, maybe a temporary mount. Looking into options so its easy to bring in and out. Will hopefully upgrade to General next weekend.

 

Great deal on a Kenwood TM-D710GA on amazon again - $443 from warehouse deals (so there's only one at this price).

Note that last time I posted a similar deal, it turned out that it was some old computer parts in the box... but with a great return policy from warehouse deals, it's worth the "risk" (really just time/dissapointment, no $$$ risk) IMO if you're in the market for the 710GA. This is how I got mine, and it has been great!

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I was thinking of going with the D710's little brother, the V71A. Thanks for the heads up on the warehouse deals, though!

 

The V71A's a great unit, I know several people running it. Only reason I went with the 710 is because I was coming from an Icom 5100, and man, was I spoiled by that high res display. The 710 was the closest I could get from Kenwood

 

Hah, yeah I think I'll start on the lower end of the scale so I don't spoil myself too quickly. Just for future reference, would you recommend trying to pick a radio cheaper off of Ebay or with more peace of mind from Amazon? The V71A pops up on Ebay for under $300 occasionally.

 

I bought my Icom off of eBay. I've generally had good luck there, but it's definitely riskier.

 

I like to mount my radios on the side. Makes it easier to change out radios.

 

Nice. I found a mounting bracket for the 817. Planning on adding some studs that protrude out of the side of the console to mate with the bracket and use wingnuts to install/remove when I want.

 

Hadn't thought about that, really nice positioning. I was going to put the body under the seat and mount the face on Birddawg's mirror riser with a ram mount attachment.

 

You can get to 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 pretty easily this way. Some times I will add my yaesu ft 8900r for cross band operation when my yaesu 60r can't make the repeater.

 

Good point. Better access with less hassle than mounted under the seat.

 

Anyone know how to program a Kenwood D710 so that when you are using APRS it shows your active frequency, tone, and shift from the second VFO in the status message that shows up on other radios and aprs.fi? I have read it is possible, but haven’t been able to figure it out.

I know it’s possible to manually type all that info in, but that’s not what I’m looking for. Supposedly there is a way that it updates automatically so when you switch frequencies etc on the second VFO you don’t have to go and manually type in the new info.

 

Menu 608, Status Text. Enter [Freq MHz]

 

Thanks! Do you know if that will make it include the tone/shift as well if I’m tuned to a repeater?