Show us your ham radio installations

@TransNone13, @P-Factor, @GodlessPro, @fours
This just arrived today (10 April). This is for the roof mount idea that I may still go with.

2m/70cm DB antenna. 46cm/18in long.

Diamond NMO mount with 13.5 feet of RG316.

If anyone thinks I should return these items for something different, I am open to all suggestions because I have nothing but free time and want to do this right the first time. So for example, no 13.5 feet isn’t enough cable and you should get 16 or 17 feet or whatever.

 

This is the sexiest mount I've seen! Definitely going to look into doing a similar mount when I get my set up.


I'm new to the HAM Radio world. And I read through the thread. Going to download the app and start taking the tests through that. And hopefully by the time the COVID 19 pandemic is over I will be able to find a local testing.

 

I heard they are now doing online testing.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y-5EeB45bdrjl7yZF3Z4mBcVuUZU6p1b/view?usp=drivesdk

 

Awesome. Thanks for the info!!

 

Did everyone in this thread go underground or die?

 

Got 17 feet of RG58 from Laird and a spring kit for my antenna.

 

Working on both but thanks for asking!!

 

Yes, I died. What did you decide for mounting?

 

The center of this beautiful roof.

 

Let's see some pics!!

 

Instal will commence in a few days and I will get pics of full instal here for others to reference if necessary.

 

not sure about a ham antenna but i know it's possible for a cb one.

http://wagongear.com/shop/antenna-mount/

i have the parts for this but i have not yet dug into the fender to try and make it work. i still need to finish my ham install...

 

I have "been doing my instal" for about four months now.

 

i'm going to finish up my solar stuff this weekend. since everything will be unplugged, i'm planning on getting the radio in too.

 

I applaud you for the commitment.

 

Thanks NH2BV, you talked me into the Xiegu G90 for the future Airstream/mobile/HF... much obliged!!

I'm still convinced that I can transmit on 2m/70cm via the Tundra using Android and SDR.

I ordered the Phoenix radio (for 2017 SR5 Tundra): https://www.phoenixautomotiveinc.co...9&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign

I also ordered the add-on for HDTV, just because the connectors seemed to match those of SDR contraptions...

I'm not sure if I should buy the HackRF One or the LimeSDR to accomplish this goal of transmitting on 2m/70cm?

Anybody got any ideas!?

73
W2PAN
(follow along: http://W2PAN.xyz)

 

Wait a second,you really need to get the Metal into the air as much as possible.
If you can not clear the truck with the antenna then it is probably not worth burying one inside the metal structure either in my experience.

One of the beauties of the MNO mount is that you can run a dinky little antenna when needed and a full wave when you need to and can get away with that!

 

Yaesu FTM-350

 

what antenna is this with the mount? are you happy with the signals?

 

Its a Comet SB1 Dual Band and the only really short antenna that I have liked and is an NMO mount!

I also have 2 longer Diamonds that I interchange with it as needed and as I posted there already the key is ALWAYS to get the antenna as high as you can and the performance adjusts considerably as it clears the Cars Metal.

I have also lost a few long antennas on this mount as my street and many streets have low hanging branches and even with springs I hear what sounds like a gunshot and bam the antenna is gone!

 

Always good to have options and backups for antennas. I had a tree steal my Comet SBB-5 a couple years ago. My Comet 2x4 with a spring has a semi-permanent bend due to repeated tree strikes. I keep a Comet SBB-1 in the truck for when there is a high likelihood of low branches and if I know I won't be hindered by the distance hit.

 

What other Diamond antennas you have? Height is not an issue for me. I need something with great signals. I will be installing Yaesu FTM 400XDR

 

Diamond makes good antennas all the way around. Pick the one that matches your needs. The most important thing in any installation is grounding and bonding. Connect bed to frame, cab to frame, hood to cab, exhaust to frame (in three places, front, center, and rear), and use both copper strap and copper braid everywhere except the exhaust. The flex will break a strap there, braid will survive. Make sure the antenna mount has a good ground as well. The better the grounding and bonding, the better the signal. The best mobile antenna ever made will perform poorly if it's not properly grounded. I have both Comet and Diamond antennas. Both work well, but the Diamond seems to be a little more resonant than the Comet. I've also had to replace two Comet coils. They lose resonance for some reason. I don't know if it's tree strikes, water leaking into the coil, or something else.

 

i'm running that radio as well but with two comets, ssb-1 and ssb-5. the 1 is for trail days since it's short and flexible. i trade out for the 5 when i want a little extra range or on more open trails. both are NMO mounts.

 

Thanks. Would it be possible to run a splitter on the back of 400XDR and have both antennas connected? I apologize in advance if its a stupid question. I am newbie to this technology.

 

honestly, i don't know a full answer. i've got too much stuff in my head as it is so, i know just enough about HAM to be dangerous.

from what i do know, i don't think this is something you'd want to try. the antennas may be out of phase and your swr is likely to be pretty high as a result of some impedance issues and a bunch of electrical math that is slightly beyond me.

 

No not a practical idea at all.

You could use a switch and select one or the other though.

 

anyone ever tried one of these compactennas? i like the idea of the low profile but my nmo mount is right in the middle of the roof between the solar panels. not sure how well it would work right there. any opinions?

 

That looks interesting. I read up on a few low profile antennas in the past and they were a crap shoot, this one looks like it might have some promise.

 

yea, i'm curious. hro catalog showed up yesterday and i saw it in the back. i don't think i would have seen it otherwise.