Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

I can imagine yelling that across the pond.

"BRAVO DELTA CHARLIE, BIG DONG CANUCK! QSL?"

 

*Kamloops Ottawa 4

 

Used it in my dipole I built. Played around with it with some ht antennas also. I like mine. Think I made the right decision going with the bigger screen that has the metal case on it. I feel like it’s a lot more protected than the smaller one. Also really like the plastic case that came with it to hold all the extra parts and VNA. Less chances of losing something with the case.

 

Nice!

Dang, 2" of rain for field day

 

Good morning! Thanks @Cudgel for pointing me to this thread. Seems like y'all have a wealth of knowledge here.
I'm looking for the best reception for a GMRS setup (haven't made the leap to HAM, but I do have my GMRS license).

I'm "missing" or not hearing some radio traffic, and am not 100% sure why, but I'd like to mitigate it. Photos of my current antenna setup are on the bottom.

Radio is the Midland MXT275

If possible, I'd like to keep the same location, but maybe change to this antenna. It's 5" longer, so should reach a bit higher over the truck.
https://midlandusa.com/product/micromobile-mxta26-6db-gain-whip-antenna/

Or I could change to this:
https://midlandusa.com/product/micromobile-mxta25-3db-gain-ghost-antenna/
I could mount that to my Prinsu rack, probably to the side of my sharkfin antenna, between my camper shell and the cab.

I prefer the first version, but if the second is likely to give me much better communications, I'll do that instead.

Here is my current setup:




(Note, the gun cases on the cab are now gone)

 

Anyone interested in a relentless fab hood mount? Really meant for CBs but you can get NMO mounts that work with it. I was going to add another antenna to it, but I am re-evaluating my setup and it got cut. Maybe like $20 shipped to your door. Figured I'd give this gang first dibs.

https://www.relentlessfabrication.com/collections/toyota/products/05-tacoma-hood-hinge-cb-aux-mount

 

Do you have any led accessories you've installed? Headlights, fogs, map lights?

 

Passed my general a couple weeks ago, just looked on the FCC website and they updated it today!

 

Yes, several.

 

Family always trumps radio OPs.... Plus 70% of rain... oh well... next time... Winter Field Day

 

See if it makes a difference with them off. Some leds interfere with those frequencies

 

Turned off? No. They're very rarely on.

 

Congratulations @badweatherbiker /ag

 

I'd suggest a bracket on the roof rack for an NMO and a simple 1/4 wave.

 

2 antennas that close together physically = extremely NG

Zip tying coax together is sub optimal.

Skinny VHF coax = super mondo losses.

 

I’m assuming this is showing “dead zones” around my truck based on antenna location?
Does it matter that part of the antenna sticks above the roof, or is it more important that the majority of the antenna is blocked?

So basically everything about my setup is bad.

When y’all are talking “1/4 wave” antennas, is that length of antenna relative to signal wavelength?

 

Would that include the second link I posted?

 

I'm not a fan of those pill bottles.

 

So Im back in town got everything installed went to put the antenna on and can not get it to thread onto my nmo. I checked to see if there is a tab to pull and nothing. It starts threading and then pops off. I check the connector pin and it is spring loaded. Anyone ever run into this or did I maybe get a bad threaded antenna/ nmo mount.


EDIT :Scratch that I wasn’t holding my mouth right. Now to get the swr out and see what I’m putting out.