1st Gen Ham Radio Stuffs

Fixin on taking the test at the end of the month.

What radios do you guys have and where did you put them?

Pictures would be awesome.

 

When you pass welcome to the club. Are you just taking the Tech test or are you going for your General too? My call sign is Kilo Juliet Seven Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. I don't have any pictures handy of what I have but I put a Kenwood TM-V71A in. Its a dual band 2M/70CM (144/440 MHz). I like it so far. I really got it because it has the crossband repeat option and also a data port on the back for when I get my APRS rig up. Where I put it? I removed the center console and put a radio console similar to like a police radio console in the center. It works pretty well but I kinda lost my cup holders. I've been contemplating moving it to the to the cuby boxes and using a remote head set up of the dash. But I have been contemplating selling my Xtra Cab to get a DC cuz I need more passenger space so I not sure yet how much work I want to put into that. Hope you pass your test.

 

I made a bracket and mounted it here.

 

Here is my set up. Not the best pic.

@paranoid56 what do you use the ram ball mount for?

 

i have a ipad min i am using for nav, and currently have a xm unit under that lol

 

Nice spot. I've been wanting to run a small tablet or computer and been looking at different ways to mount it while still having a usable passenger seat. Did you make the mount yourself?

 

the mount is some tacoma mount i found online, but i cant remember the damn name lol. then i mounted a ram ball to it

 

This is my setup using RAM mounts and a Kenwood TM-V7 dual band.

 

Ok, how about cheaper radios and places if don't have to replace be center console.

As much as I'd like to have a nice radio all I can afford is probably 150-250ish dollars.

 

pick up one of these and keep it near you.
https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-Dual...8&qid=1486173406&sr=8-6&keywords=handheld+ham

 

Dash mount

https://www.panavise.com/pdf_indash/75137-999.pdf

 

I've used these, they have good range but you can definitely tell the different between a base and those.

Would really like a base or whatever the real term is.

 

I have my head unit mounted to the map lights/rear view mirror.

Tons of pics in the Ham BS thread.


73s to you.

 

I found the Yaesu in your build. Pretty nice set up.

 

I've heard good things from people who have gotten this mobile radio.

https://baofengtech.com/uv-2501+220

I would also cruise around http://www.hamradio.com/ and see some things in your price range there. Or if you have or know of a local HAM club in your area there is often people selling used stuff thats still good. I know a lot of HAMs will sell their older stuff at lower prices to help new HAMs get into the hobby.

 

What did you end up getting? I just bought my first ham, a Baofeng UV82HP and a cable to connect it to my old Android phone for APRSdroid. Haven't used it in the truck yet but I'm sure the range will go down in the truck.

 

I know a lot of people who are using the Baofeng portables in a vehicle put a mag mount antenna of some type outside to help with reception.
Something like:
https://www.amazon.com/Original-Hypario-Antenna-baofeng-Sma-Female/dp/B00DTQ4A6M

Has some gain to it which will help your range and gets the antenna outside the vehicle.

 

Yeah I'm not sure I'll take that intermediate step before I just buy a real NMO mount... It is tempting. I'll have too see how far my current one will go on some trails I frequent and around my city.

 

If you want a mobile instead of a handheld, but want to save some money, you might take a look at this one:

$240 AnyTone Dual Band Mobile Transceiver VHF/UHF Transmitter Vehicle Radio AT-5888UV

https://www.amazon.com/AnyTone-Transceiver-AT-5888UV-Amateur-Radio/dp/B00B1F7IEE

Like the Baofeng, it's a cheaper Chinese import, so the QC isn't as good as the big name radios, but I know a lot of people who swear by them, and the one I bought (my first) has always worked as well as anything else. They also have some fairly nice features, and transmit quite well.

 

sub'd
lookin' for regular cabs...