Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

Do you have a link to the Knott BB3 and where one can be purchased?

 

Dont think they are made anymore, i got this one from my grandfather and refurbished it big bulky thing but still runs like a top.

For a truck this size if you wanted to go with a screwdriver antenna I would probably recommend seirra screwdrivers or the like.

I was playing around with the idea of an ATAS 120 that the 857D can tune automatically but the guys in my area always seem to be fixing the darn things because of the ice in the winter as well as salt from the roads

 

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2848

 

Currently I've got a Wolf River "Silver Bullet 1000" coil, and a 42" whip mounted to the back of my toolbox. I've been eyeing one of the Hi-Q Piranha antennas, but haven't decided to bite the bullet just yet. Maybe I'll do that at the same time I put a 500w Ameritron solid state linear in the truck.

 

Get a spare battery
I see you have the 480SAT, have you thought about chameleon antennas at all?
Press tune and go!

 

I run one in the house to a 9:1 balun and as much wire as I could string up. Belts out like a charm at least when conditions are good.

The outbacker has also served me very well.. outlasted a jeep! Lol I find it is a pain to get out and change the leads though. Took a little while to get the grounding spot on

 

My wife asked me the other day if I was going to do a dual battery system.. I said yes, but not sure how to do it and where to start.. Eventually I am adding a compressor, fridge and winch as well... Guess I need to use the Search button for "dual battery setup"

 

National Luna Battery isolator seems the way to go. There's a dual battery thread around here somewhere.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ets-see-them-multiple-batterys-thread.295653/

 

Sweet!!! Thanks you guys!! Went to get another cup of coffee... Sit down to enjoy my cig and coffee.. Bam Once again.. @ckeene9 @Chipskip come threw!!!

 

No worries, I plan to add a 2nd battery before adding HF to my truck. Also, solar panels, upgraded electrical wiring to handle the extra current from the 200amp alternate I installed last month, and before a fridge and winch. So I have been doing a lot of homework.

 

I've not posted my aux battery setup except in verbal text, but the split battery isolator systems are old skool tech. I'm running a CTEK D250S it's a DC-DC charger and solar controller in one. I highly recommend it.

 

I am noticing there is ALOT of math involved... Especially since my wife wants to add the Zero Solar system..

 

Good thing you studied up on the formulas for your license, right?

 

Does that unit isolate the batteries?

 

Hell Yea!!! Bitches...

 

X2 on the Q.

Can you add a switch to switch between batteries?

 

The CTEK D250S, isolates, yes. It's superior to other systems because it's a multi stage dc-dc charger and can properly fully charge a 12v battery. The multi power point tracking solar controller is a huge bonus as well.

When I saw how much the product was I couldn't believe it. I've been running mine for two years straight every day and it's phenomenal. I had heard that C Tek extended the product warranty to 5 years as well.

When you research and understand what it takes to properly charge a 12 volt battery you will quickly understand why a constant voltage source, such as an alternator can never fully charge a 12 volt battery.

Here are some links

http://www.ctek.com/lu/en/chargers/D250S DUAL

http://www.ctek.com/Archive/ProductManualPdf/D250S DUAL_EN.pdf

 

Which panels are you using? I wouldn't mind a panel to maintain the truck battery(ies) while it sits idle during the week.

 

Pics are in my build thread, but I don't remember the brand and it doesn't matter too much really. I carry 75w full time and it does great keeping up with all my accessories.