Last Friday while sitting in the parking lot of my building, I tried contacting NR4CB or AB4UG to wish them a happy wedding day. It didn’t happen. I could barely hear Connie, could tell someone was there (but couldn’t make out the words) when Eugene was on. It didn’t help that other stations were 2 kHz above and 2 kHz below.
I got to thinking about running mobile HF again.
This could work.
It looks like I need to fashion a pair of brackets – one would be simple, and the other complex a little. I do have the mobile bracket for my 706, so I can always use that as a guide for holes.
It seems far simpler when it is a sketch on a post-it note than when it is a piece of sheet metal that has to fit.
Another thought with the brackets is that I don’t *have* to have the radio there. I need the head there, but I do have the head separation kit, so I can always put the radio elsewhere and run power and antenna to it.
The other thing I looked at was the antenna. Like every other self-respecting ham, I feel as if antennas should be big. I was concerned about this 20m antenna and a quick look at K0BG’s website confirmed my suspicions.
Someone gave this to me. I’m considering giving it back once I have a better alternative.
The antenna is so small compared to 5 meters (roughly a 1/4λ for 20 meters) that it has to be basically a dummy load on a stick. I’m not sure if the bridge above me helped or hurt; I had thought about driving up to Mt. Adams, but for various reasons I couldn’t stray too far. I’ll have to try again. I need to run the antenna wire (I’m not sure other vehicles would like the idea of me having that coax flapping around, and I can’t have the tonneau cover open like it is when I’m stationary.
The last consideration is power, but it isn’t a huge consideration. I have a power line that is safe for 20 amps (as much as my 706 needs), but I don’t want to have to unhook/rehook power connectors (those ARE live, after all). I’m thinking I need a miniature power distribution center with two pair of fused power poles and a master switch, and maybe a battery shutoff.
-73-
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4 Responses to Mobile HF Coming Soon to an S-10 Not Near You
Andrew, your Icom is an all-mode HF through 440 rig, why not swap out the Yaesu FM rig for the IC-706MkIIG? With the ‘706, the Yaesu is a bit superfluous in a mobile. Just a thought.
Russ, you’re right – the extra FM rig would be superfluous with the 706 installed right below it. The problem is that my 706 will not fit in that mounting area (it is about an inch too wide, the 7800 is a tight fit there where my ashtray (change compartment) used to be. It seems easier to leave it and have expensive dual receive 🙂
[…] reading Russ’s comment on last week’s post, I decided that he’s right. There’s no good reason to keep […]
OMG… I feel responsible somehow. 😉