Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

on another note about mobile HF, another ICOM system I hope they bring to the US

http://www.icom.co.jp/world/products/land_mobile/antenna/ah-760_740/

 

Another option for antenna a few friends use these.

http://chameleonantenna.com/

 

Wow. That would be excellent! Keep us posted on any updates you hear I'm certainly interested.

Good to know. I recall that you have the iCOM 706 mkIIg with the AH-4 auto tuner. You operate on 10m and 6m with it? How do you have the whip mounted to your truck? And is this your truck? (very nice!) If so, is that the whip mounted on the roof? Is it just a mag mount?

Thanks.

 

roof is VHF/UHF
the whip is in the back bed metal pillar, I machined a heavy aluminum angle mount so as to have a good radiation pattern with a good ground. I had a 706mkiig, now use a 7100, yes 10-6M and CW on 15. the AH4 works well for the price and comes in a rugged case sealed so you can mount it in a fender skirt or under the truck.

 

I missed your original post from back in October. The touch screen on the 7100 looks ideal. Can D-Star be used on 2M/70cm? it's not clear from the specs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpyEQSr0b7Q

 

What did you cut the whip to? Or is it a purpose built antenna?

 

Sorry I missed the link don't you hit a lot of trees?

 

Here is a bit of sticker shock for you Icom's whip. Never could figure out what makes it so special. http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/ico-ah-2b That kind of money and a little pocket change will buy you a real nice screw driver antenna 6-40 meters. With a screw driver antenna you do not need a tuner they can be run with a simple switch I do have an automatic controller but I know a lot of guys that just tune for max noise when they switch bands. The Icoms are probably the easiest radio to use with a tuner because they provide both power and band change voltage to the tuners and the same goes for the screw driver antenna controller.

 

Here is mine the whip is longer than the stock whip I did not care about 6 as much as I wanted more capture area for 10 and below so even with it's small size it will do 10-80 meters. The bracket is lexan the entire antenna is RF hot so it needs to be above ground and it keeps the antenna from flopping around like a fish on rough roads.

 

Yes I hit low slung branches, but also arc tether the antenna over like the military does, also I have small antenna just for the reason.

 

yes its D-star ready they say, although I wont use it. Initially the radio is pretty neat, reality is its just too many features for the truck. I put the 706mkiig up against it ( side by side) to see if it made any difference in receiving mobiling. In a mobile setting there are some nice features that are nice over the 706, however, they don't make enough of a change to warrant the cost. At least for my needs.

Thinking of putting the 706mkiig back in the truck, its just too rugged of a radio not to have in it.

 

My guess is it says iCOM on it, so it's special. Seriously, the pricing is just nuts.

That's the Lil' tarheel II right? Looks good on yer truck!

I was thinking of getting one and mounting it to my steel roof rack with some kind of 90° folding bracket. That way I could lay it horizontal for traveling and clearance issues and then pop it and lock it upright for usage. The rack floor is expanded steel mesh. Super simple to use bolt, couple of washers and a nylock nut.

Ah, okay. Was wondering if you used it on the PAPA system.

 

I want one of those rook rack antennas, were the basket is actually the HF antenna. I don't remember who makes them for the military (barrett maybe), but they will sell one to anyone for some serious $$$$.

 

That would be awesome.

 

It's HI-Q


http://www.hi-q-militaryantennas.com/mh-mobile.html

 

Is this it? I think it's made by Stealth Telecom.

SUPER SKYRIDER™ 9400 Mobile HF NVIS Magnetic Loop Antenna

http://www.stealth-tele.com/plugins/custompages/detinf.php?id=372&id_categories=156







With my BajaRack, it looks like I'm half way there.

 

I made my own mount for the HF whip

 

What coax is that?

 

That's it. I have read a few articles on them... PURE AWESOMENESS!

 

Amazon has a carry bag for the 9400 it's $170 the antenna is self about $1500 and is only good for 200 watts. A full size Screw driver antenna will handle a kilowatt and costs less than $500 and will TX on all ham HF bands and probable the military bands too. The 9400 uses a electronic tuning system pretty much like you would find in a LDG 200 watt tuner for $180. Don't forget this kind of thing comes from an outfit that pays $500 for a toilet seat.