Wanted Ham Radio

[DaveInDenver]

What antena should I get, I just want to mount it driver side on my hood side.

@nakman's bracket is solid.

Antenna Brackets — Gamiviti

www.gamiviti.com

Maybe he can help with what base and cable works best with it. I'd suggest an NMO base of some sort.

As far as antennas, I like the commercial brands - Larsen, Laird, Maxrad. I have a Laird B1442N 2m that I've sometimes used for APRS that is well built. This particular model doesn't need a ground plane so will tune up well on a fender bracket like Gamiviti.

Laird TE Connectivity B1442N VHF 144-174 MHz No Ground Plane Mobile Antenna

144-174 MHz 2.5dB 1/2 NGP, Usable Bandwidth 5 MHz, Gain (dB) 2.5, Maximum Power 200(Watts), Whip Length 55"

www.theantennafarm.com

 

[DaveInDenver]

This is a pretty decent little (small is size) 2m radio @3rdGen4R

Ham and 2-Way Craigslist Thread

FT-857 with ATAS-120, Astron SS-30 (power supply), MFJ-941E (tuner) - $1,100 http://rockies.craigslist.org/ele/5590761923.html You would have a mobile or base station ready to go.

risingsun4x4club.org

 

[RDub]

The Yaesu FT-2980r single band 2m mobile radio is currently on sale for $159.99 (regularly $179.99, with $20 mfg instant rebate). The rebate ends today. I just bought the last one from DXEngineering, but it looks like HRO has plenty in stock. This is a great 2m rig that gets solid reviews.

 

[RayRay27]

So just an update to my latest purchase of the Yaesu FTM-3100 I installed a few months back. I finally got use it in the wild yesterday on the snow run. Just some general specs on this radio, it is a 2m single band with three different power settings. Low-5 watts, med-30, and high-65 watts. I use this radio with my mag mount diamond antenna that's good up to 70 watts of power.

YAESU FTM-3100R

144MHz 65W FM Rugged & Compact Mobile Transceiver

www.hamradio.com

While trying to meet the snow run group at the parking area just above the central city cemetery I ran into the heavy ski traffic on I-70. I tried numerous times to reach someone who might be listening as I was headed up the hill. I had the radio set at the highest output setting at 65 watts.

I was finally able to get a hold of Perry who was at the parking area and I was near the Homestead overpass by clear creek high school.

I was able to hear Perry really clear and he was able to hear me clearly which was pretty awesome. So as the crow flies it was a little over 9 miles.

Not sure if this is great or not but I was pretty happy to get decent distance on simplex.

 

[MDH33]

@nakman's bracket is solid.

Antenna Brackets — Gamiviti

www.gamiviti.com

Maybe he can help with what base and cable works best with it. I'd suggest an NMO base of some sort.

As far as antennas, I like the commercial brands - Larsen, Laird, Maxrad. I have a Laird B1442N 2m that I've sometimes used for APRS that is well built. This particular model doesn't need a ground plane so will tune up well on a fender bracket like Gamiviti.

Laird TE Connectivity B1442N VHF 144-174 MHz No Ground Plane Mobile Antenna

144-174 MHz 2.5dB 1/2 NGP, Usable Bandwidth 5 MHz, Gain (dB) 2.5, Maximum Power 200(Watts), Whip Length 55"

www.theantennafarm.com

I`m jumping on this thread too. I already have one of @nakman s mounts on my 60 fender (currently with cb antenna) I'm scrapping my cb setup, so going to move my ham antenna from the rear hatch to the hood location. I need to upgrade my cable and need a new antenna. Tim, can you suggest a good 2M antenna setup that plays well with your mount?

 

[DaveInDenver]

Not sure if this is great or not but I was pretty happy to get decent distance on simplex.

For simplex that is about as good as you can expect.


Generated coverage maps using 65 watts with a 3 dB antenna gain at 2 meters over ground.

To be technically complete - green is strong, yellow is weak with the threshold being 10 dB lower. Minimum received strength is 0.5 μV (-113 dBm RSSI).

Point being the link you and Perry had was right at the limit given power, antenna height and terrain.

 

[DaveInDenver]

FYI. Compare your simplex link and coverage to what it would look like talking to a repeater. In this case I approximated the Colorado Connection repeater on Mt. Thorodin not too far north of Central City, using the same power, antenna and reception thresholds (e.g. like putting your truck 100 feet up on a tower atop even a fairly low peak). Height is everything!

 

[RayRay27]

FYI. Compare your simplex link and coverage to what it would look like talking to a repeater. In this case I approximated the Colorado Connection repeater on Mt. Thorodin not too far north of Central City, using the same power, antenna and reception thresholds (e.g. like putting your truck 100 feet up on a tower atop even a fairly low peak). Height is everything!

View attachment 101718

That's what she said! Yeah if you were to look at a topo map I was probably at the peak of that section of I-70 and had a decent line of sight to Perry.

 

[DaveInDenver]

That's what she said! Yeah if you were to look at a topo map I was probably at the peak of that section of I-70 and had a decent line of sight to Perry.

Yeah, I just took a couple of prominent landmarks. I can run an exact analysis if you have more detailed positions. Your local position isn't really limiting it, though, it's all the peaks and valleys in the path cumulatively affecting line of sight. There's a concept called radio horizon, which is actually just beyond the visual horizon. IOW RF wraps around objects and land slightly, which is why this path likely worked. You can see a similar thing with the Sun, which even when it's below the horizon still gives us light for a while at dawn and dusk.

 

[nakman]

I`m jumping on this thread too. I already have one of @nakman s mounts on my 60 fender (currently with cb antenna) I'm scrapping my cb setup, so going to move my ham antenna from the rear hatch to the hood location. I need to upgrade my cable and need a new antenna. Tim, can you suggest a good 2M antenna setup that plays well with your mount?

Hey Martin, the cable I like is Comet CK-3M. It's got the super skinny lead at the antenna side, allowing it to fit in the crack between the hood and fender. Then for antenna, I like PL-259's, and my criteria is basically the longest one that will still not hit the garage opening. On the 200 I have a Diamond NR770HAB, which is pretty long, on the GX I have a Comet SBB-5.. I think the Diamond works a little better but mostly because it's longer, not because of the brand. I don't get the fold-over antennas, I don't think it's useful when I change an air filter I just screw off the antenna and set it aside.

 

[MDH33]

Exactly the info I was hoping for Tim, thanks!

 

[The Feral One]

I have a hand held, looking to put a more solid setup into my truck. I don’t need the bells and whistles, I just want it to be a good radio to setup in my truck.

I have a new Kenwood HAM radio I'm willing to sell. I just joined, if you still need it, call me at 619-929-1944. Name is Dave Dillon.

 

[MDH33]

Hey Martin, the cable I like is Comet CK-3M. It's got the super skinny lead at the antenna side, allowing it to fit in the crack between the hood and fender. Then for antenna, I like PL-259's, and my criteria is basically the longest one that will still not hit the garage opening. On the 200 I have a Diamond NR770HAB, which is pretty long, on the GX I have a Comet SBB-5.. I think the Diamond works a little better but mostly because it's longer, not because of the brand. I don't get the fold-over antennas, I don't think it's useful when I change an air filter I just screw off the antenna and set it aside.

Finally got this installed, working great, big improvement over my previous setup which was on rear hatch.

Also did this mod. Don't know why I didn't sooner! My ham is in tuffy, and mic and antenna used to route over top and get pinched. So finally drilled appropriate holes and added grommets so I can close tuffy without pinching wires.

 

[RDub]

As a reference point the Diamond C213SMO is also a good ch once for a small diameter mobile antenna cable. Made using RG316 coax, which is about 1/8” diameter. I bought one for my Yaesu FT-2980r which tops o it at 80W.

 

[MDH33]

As a reference point the Diamond C213SMO is also a good ch once for a small diameter mobile antenna cable. Made using RG316 coax, which is about 1/8” diameter. I bought one for my Yaesu FT-2980r which tops o it at 80W.

Not finding much searching C213SMO. Link?

 

[RDub]

Oops. C213SNMO. https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dmn-c213snmo

 

[RDub]

My fat fingers and phone autocorrect. Sorry about that. 🤪

 

[MDH33]

Not sure if Tim's mounts have changed, mine is pretty old, but I did have to drill it out wider to fit the PL-259 through it. Not sure how the NMO compares.

 

[RDub]

NMO mounts seem to typically require a 3/4" hole. Although versions that only require a 3/8" hole are also available.

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

@3rdGen4R did you ever find one? Curious to know what you ended up with.