Official Colorado HAM and cheese thread

Get it going already. Quit playing with boats.

 

looks about right

 

Passed the technician test on Sunday. Now to actually learn how to use these radios lol. So far managed to get the weather but not much activity on any listed area repeaters after using chirp. Anyone have any tips on active frequencies?

 

Congrats!

Others are much better helping out on your question than I.

 

Building out my mounts for my ft7900r and Android GPS/APRS phone. Might upgrade to a small tablet.

 

Did you load the colorado TW channel list?

 

145.145 is the most active repeater I’ve found in the Denver area.

 

No not yet, I just ran the local search on chirp a week ago and need to revisit programming. Is the channel list in the thread? Last I saw was something about PM to get a file.

 

1st post

 

@mountainmonkey where did you install the main part of the d710g. I'm concerned about below the seat but think it might be the way

 

I did mine under the drivers seat. My only complaint with that location is the internal speaker doesn’t quite get loud enough for my deaf ears sometimes. Otherwise it has presented no issues. I plan to get an external speaker at some point.

 

I went ahead and grabbed the extended cable kit too. The more I think about it the more I want on the back wall with a speaker under the seat

 

speaker under the seat is the same sound problem as unit under the seat isn't it?

I have a different radio of course, but under the driver seat is a really easy installation. I put an amplified speaker where the front cupholders are. No drilling, easily hidden wire runs.
What's holding you back from mounting under the driver seat?

 

I figured/read an external speaker would be much louder than the unit in the box so under the seat would be better as I heard they can be heard outside the vehicle sometimes.

I have this big empty Molle panel behind the rear seat, install will still be easy there and it will allow me to put that space to use and if I ever do anything with echolink the plugs will be accessible.

 

Plugs makes the most sense.
That said, my speaker has a volume control and I like that accessible. It's also pretty easy for me to plug in the cable to program my radio while it's mounted under the driver seat. Not sure what the echolink plugs look like though.
Did I show you my install?

 

I can't recall it.

 

This obviously is with the seat tilted back but the cables are all in the front there and easy to connect with the seat bolted up. Power and speaker wires are now tucked in to the side of the console. Kind of nice way to run them, no need to drill or even disassemble anything.

 

@DaveInDenver dont you have a d710g? care to weigh in on the mounting location?

 

I don't have a TM-D710. Used to have a FTM-350, sort of similar, but now I run a Connect System CS-800D. Anyway, I've mounted the body of my radios under the passenger seat for some time now. I personally mount it to the floor, run cables under the carpet. I prefer mounting to the floor so I can remove the seat and get the radio and wiring all done with it out of the way.

I guess in theory it could get wet if you cross a deep enough stream but it's no lower than other electronics in the truck. The main problem I had in the old truck was when I'd flip the seat forward to get in the back you could step on stuff but with the Access Cab doors that's not a problem.

I run an external speaker, the internal speaker is never loud enough. I put it where ever it fits. The face of the radio goes where ever I can sort of see it. I honestly don't come up with super great installations, they're always half assed.