Mobile HAM/Amateur Radio Choices - Page 3

**opg4759** · 03-26-2008, 10:56 PM

I currently have the 7800 installed in my rig and I'm very happy with it. I am thinking about swaping a FTM-10R in it's place since you can mount the head cableless via bluetooth and it has a PA. built in.

For long trips I throw in my old school Icom 706 (first gen) I use that for 10M and cough cough 11M. On long road trips.

I've also thought about getting a FT-857, to replace the 706 and the 7800.

I used to use Kenwoods but after some really bad customer service, they managed to brick my TH-D7A during a upgrade they wanted me to pay to get a new one. Since then I won't support that company.

sdlsatcom · 03-26-2008, 11:47 PM

Spin,

next run you do with me (the 29th) ask me then and i will show you how all of my stuff is installed

**spincycle** · 03-27-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

sdlsatcom previously said:

Spin,

next run you do with me (the 29th) ask me then and i will show you how all of my stuff is installed

If I'm feeling good enough to head out then, I definitely will. Thanks.

rotorhed1 · 03-27-2008, 09:44 PM

Wow! After reading this thread some time back I started studying for my license. My father and in fact most males on his side of the family are/were hams.

Lots of great info in this thread. Mostly I want better comm on trails, but we used HF in remote Africa many years ago in our helicopters, cool stuff.

**spincycle** · 03-28-2008, 09:55 AM

Any opinions on the ICOM 2820H? Looks like an interesting unit.

The FT-857D looks interesting as well - I like that it will do HF as well, even if it's not dual-watch and would need an HF antenna. If I'm reading this right, it would be possible to primarily use the UHF/VHF, but still have access to HF for listening as well - say, get to camp, run a long wire antenna for SW & connect it to the HF antenna connector, and enjoy listening to SW over the campfire?

**opg4759** · 03-28-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

spincycle previously said:

Any opinions on the ICOM 2820H? Looks like an interesting unit.

The FT-857D looks interesting as well - I like that it will do HF as well, even if it's not dual-watch and would need an HF antenna. If I'm reading this right, it would be possible to primarily use the UHF/VHF, but still have access to HF for listening as well - say, get to camp, run a long wire antenna for SW & connect it to the HF antenna connector, and enjoy listening to SW over the campfire?

Yes you can run a long wire to it to listen to SW.

I've had dual watch radios and I've found the I've personally been happiest with my single band displays.

**spincycle** · 03-28-2008, 12:01 PM

Right now I'm leaning toward the FT-857D with the ATAS120 for HF and a separate dual band antenna. Spendy, but it'll do essentially everything I'm interested in, and I don't think I'll be outgrowing it anytime soon. And that atas120 antenna is, from what folks have been telling, quite good.

Just found out my uncle and cousin have recently done their technician and general tests and are studying for their extras as well. I feel like a kid who's just sneaked into his dad's workshop and has discovered a whole bunch of cool stuff to fiddle with.

**KD7NAC_07FJ** · 03-29-2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

spincycle previously said:

Any opinions on the ICOM 2820H? Looks like an interesting unit.

The FT-857D looks interesting as well - I like that it will do HF as well, even if it's not dual-watch and would need an HF antenna. If I'm reading this right, it would be possible to primarily use the UHF/VHF, but still have access to HF for listening as well - say, get to camp, run a long wire antenna for SW & connect it to the HF antenna connector, and enjoy listening to SW over the campfire?

I have the 857D (and an 8900) in my FJ and I have parked it on top of a mountain strung up the di-pole and done some REALLY long DX'ing from the comfort of my drivers seat

GREAT rig!

I have the HF mount on my WARN bumper with an SO-239 mount so I can put pretty much any antenna/adapter combination on it. The VHF antenna sits on the Bandi mount with a 5/8 wave on 2m most of the time but that one is also interchangeable so I can run a lot of different combinations.

CG_Chuck · 03-30-2008, 08:13 AM

Spinner, et al....

I installed a Kenwood D-700 in my FJ. There are pictures on my www site, linked in my signature block.

The head unit is on the adhesive backed mount which I located near the drivers side door pillar. I put the remote unit "under" the rear seat. Power comes VIA a 30A automotive relay located under the hood that is energized by turning the key on. A 10A fuse feeds 12VDC from the relay, VIA #8 stranded wire through the wire feed-through rubber grommet on the drivers side into the passenger cabin. The 12V wire runs under the drivers side, black plastic "step"; there is an easy to access wire tray under it. Also, all the remote wires from the TMD-700 have been ran from the head, between the door gasket and the door frame, down to the same wire tray the 12VDC used for the remote unit.

The speaker is located on the opposite side of the dash, near the pillar and aimed toward the driver. I used a couple of squares of scotch double sticky tape to hold it place. The speaker wire runs from the head unit, under the rear seat, through the wire channel under the opposite side door then up, under the door gasket to the speaker.

Antenna is a 5/8 wave Larson in an NMO mount fixed to the top-rear of the luggage rack. That mounting position optimally puts the base of the antenna well over your head. The bad news is if you garage the truck, there is only 8" of clearance above the mount. The Larson whip will bend however.

If you would like a better antenna and have the pressence of mind to remove the antenna before going into a the garage, the Diamond 770NMO 2M/440 antenna Diamond® Antenna ~ NR770HNMO Dualband Mobile Antenna will fit on the universal NMO mount.

BTW: You can use the Kenwood D-700 mount on a Yaesu 7800. Have tried that as the out of band performance on the 7800 receiver is better than the Kenwood. However, the not only is the 7800 an S.O.B. to program unless you buy the programming software, its a good bit harder to operate/access the memories.

All in all, its a very clean installation.

HF is next w/ a screwdriver antenna..... ciao, WA4HHG (Licensed 2/73)

FJ-Ollie · 03-31-2008, 10:56 PM

I'm a Yaesu junkie... My first rig was the VX-7R HT... Then bought the FT-7800 but missed the dual monitor/receive of the VX-7R... Switched to the FT-8800 and now own two... One for the FJ and one in a Pelican case w/power-supply for a crossband repeater. I then bought the Yaesu FT-897 for my base station at home. In doing do I came across its compact brother the FT-857 and now have that installed in my rig with the ATAS-120A attached to it. I found a convenient way to swap antennas/antenna locations from radio to radio as needed. I have a Larsen window mount antenna along with mag base diamond antenna for the roof I can swap out as needed. Pics below show what I'm tlaking about...

Installed FT-857 head unit under passenger seat... (sorry for the mess)

Installed 857 face plate here...

Installed 857 mic here...

Installed 857 enternal speaker here...

Here is the installed ATAS-120A so it stays pretty much out of obstructions...

Here is the head unit for the FT-8800 under the driver's seat... (I use this radio daily)

Here is the 8800 faceplate...

Here is the 8800 mic location...

Here isthe 8800 external speaker...

I ran coax back to bilkhead fittings in the cargo area so I can swap out what atenna I want to use on which ever radio or set up a mast in the field and hook that up for net control ops fot better comms abilities... Here's what that looks like...

My antenna locations...

This is my trail antenna...

This is my city antenna...

The 857 and 8800 are amazing radios... If I were to buy just one radio... It would be the 8800. If I want my family to track me via GPS anywhere I go I would buy the S.P.O.T. transmitter.