Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

I want this.

Comet CAA-500 Mark II antenna analyzer



http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/meters/6478.html

@BenMara I gave it some thought, and I think you're right. Don't go cheap on tools. I think I'm gonna save up for this item...

 

I'm not sure on the diameter. What I can say is the 1/4 Wave whips I have on the roof now are also 200w rated, and are flexible enough to pull into the parking ramp at work without falling apart, but stiff enough they aren't constantly whipping around causing wild SWR and Signal changes.

I have one of the MFJ analyzers that does VHF and UHF, but have been looking very seriously at the CAA-500 in addition to the RigExpert AA-500

The RigExpert is pricy, but graphing the SWR over the whole band sweep is fantastic. It's the kind of tool you'll have for years, and an extra $100 when broken out over 10 years is ultimately nothing.

 

Thanks.

The RigExpert looks great. It's apparently used in commercial applications so I'd trust that more than I would the comet.

It also looks like the 500 has been discontinued... The closest thing to it appears to be the RigExpert AA-600.

Would love to have one.

 

I am considering replacing the the factory supplied inverter with my new radio. In this location it might just have better cooling than under the seat.

 

@Crom good choice. Ill give you a run down on my HF base. 1st Gen Elecraft K3 100w 2 filters bare bones... Palstar AT4k antenna TransMatch. MeterBuilder MB1, for power/SWR and an MFJ-266 antenna analyzer. Antennas for another post.... im currently wishing for a HF amp but probably wont happen any time soon.

 

Not necessary. My TM-V71a has lived very happily under the driver's seat for three years. I pulled the driver's seat and zip tied the mounting bracket to the seat springs.

I can program it easily as the rear ports are accessable when seat back is in the forward position.

 

That's exactly how I installed my TM-D700, although under the passenger's seat, and turned 90 degrees because of that cross brace.

 

Thanks Crom and Lars. As you can see the V71a is almost a drop in replacement for the inverter. Having yet to use a radio I was not thinking of programming!

A few holes in some unseen brackets and some time wasted is the only damage sustained and I will have my truck back together shortly.

So under the seat it goes. I am spinning my wheels on the install as a roll of sound damper material is somewhere in transit. I have an urge to start pulling the interior out so I can get on the air.

After weeks of study I have yet to touch a working radio. The club that put on the course and exam have a session for we newbies starting this comming week. We will be getting guidance and practice on basic operating procedures and they loan us, free, a hand held. I can't say enough good things about this club. It is called Vector and has a relationship with the city and is part of the cities emergency preparedness program. Several different members helped out with the course and all were cheerfull and had any amount of time to mentor and explain. Most of those who started took the exam, although a few did not get through first time around.

 

If I can ever be of any help at all Please don't hesitate to reach out with a message!
The TM-V71 is an amazing little radio and I like the idea of where you were going to put it actually. I'm still trying to figure out if I can fit a 1000w inverter in that space, and still wire it up to be activated with the factory switch

 

Again, thanks!

One of my reasons for wanting to put the thing in that location is that I am not real happy with the factory inverter. I would like to run a better unit off of my second battery . Not so much the amount of power but the quality.

 

after doing the 400w anytime mod, and adding an outlet inside the cabin, the stock one does what it has to. But I'd like a more powerful unit I could actually power a compressor from if I needed to.

 

Sounds great! I remember your HF hex shaped antenna pics from back in this thread somewhere. Very neat indeed!

I've yet to operate HF. No HF radio... Need to save up... lol

Appreciate the photos! It is nice to know that it could fit there.

Like Lars and many before me, I did the 400W inverter anytime mod, back in 2009. In seven years I think I've used that thing twice. lol Every accessory I have is DC powered.

I hope you have fun sound proofing your vehicle. If that is your aim, I highly recommend doing a MLV barrier. Between fall 2015 and winter 2016 I put in over 30 hours into my interior. I surmise what I have done is light years better than any factory luxury vehicle on the market today. My truck is like a mobile sound studio. I am very pleased with the results.

 

Here is a geek post for you all.

When I had my headliner down, I pulled this off the TPMS receiver.

Toyota Part No. 89760-35021 FCC ID: HYQ13BCG, Made by Denso, in Japan
I looked up the frequency of device, 314.98 MHz of the ISM radio band.


Very geeky, if I may so so. lol

 

That's the same band, slightly different frequency used by the TrailToys "No Strings Attached" switch box I've got in my truck.

 

Wait a min.... One of the reasons I got the Kenwood was the reported ability to program it from the unit with out the PC hook up.

I am back to putting it in the inverter spot. I didn't quite get mounting right and I need to raise the radio a bit to clear the hand break cables.

I will half to make a hole in the side of the console for the mic cable. Other than that it is reversible and the radio tucked nicely away.

 

You can program the radio memory using the face/mic. No problem there.

I use a laptop / cable when making major changes to the memory, like reorganizing.

 

I am planning to sound deaden my truck. Thanks to Crom and Ghostship I feel like it will be doable.

As far as the inverter goes I find that when I need 120v I need more and better. I too have many 12 volt devices find myself packing a generator when I have real work.

 

The TM-V71 has a USB port on it right? It'd be pretty easy to expose the programming cable inside the arm rest, @PeterVICEG is so inclined. (Which is to say, that's what I'd do....)

 

The TM-V71A has 1000 memory spaces to use.

There is no wrong way to organize it. It's totally subjective...

I've organized them something like this:

• 0-99 Local repeaters,
• 100-199 VHF/UHF Simplex, according to my local band plan. And GMRS, FRS, MURS,
• 200-299 Government frequencies (NFS, BLM, State Parks, CalFire, Etc.),
• 300-399 High Desert repeaters,
• 400-499 Eastern / Western Sierra Nevada

The radio supports scanning in groups, which is very, very useful to me.

 

This geek wants to know what happens if this unit is unplugged? Would the light go away?