Mobile HAM/Amateur Radio Choices

[spincycle]

So I've been poking around, searching the forums (and elsewhere), reading up on mobile radios for HAMs. It seems that the 2 meter band is the most applicable for offroaders, although 2m, 10m, and 70cm might come into play as well.

As a soon-to-be licensed HAM (technician class, and soon after, general class), I've been doing some preliminary research to try and identify a well-considered choice for a mobile rig. I may well choose a handheld to start, but I suspect that I'll want a permanently installed unit with a detachable front face for use in the FJ.

So what I'm hoping is that our resident HAMs might be willing to post some thoughts about a good mobile rig, and perhaps some good antenna choices. I'm posting this as a separate thread in the hopes that it might serve as a place to distill some collective wisdom for folks like me who are new to amateur radio and are looking for answers. A note about my personal preferences: I tend to try to 'purchase ahead', meaning that while I might only need feature X right now (and not features Y and Z), I prefer to buy a product that has X, Y and Z *now*, rather than have to sell and re-purchase later when Y and Z become important.

So, what say you, HAMs? Thanks in advance for any and all comments and advice

[ebhudgens]

I would definitely go with a remote head unit - 2M, preferably Kenwood. The head could fit easily beneath the lower switchbank in the center. Have been thinking about doing this myself. Have used a 2M handheld several times with a remote mic, but there is not a good place to secure it other than in one of the cup wells.

As for the antenna, if you don't drag out a mount in the roof, I would attach it to the rear bumper. With all of the repeaters out there these days, a simple 1/4 wave should work very well.

BTW - My call is WB4RHQ

[River Runner]

for about 250 dollars you can be up and running....yaesu 7800 dual band uhf/vhf...get a dual band mag mount antena....i think that ham radio outlet has the yaseu 7800 on sale with the remote head unit....RR
Bill
KE5SSU
146.970
146.730
444.700+88.5
Osage county okla....arkansas river

[spincycle]

Thanks folks! It's interesting - I keep coming across references to the yaesu 7800. Perhaps that's a sign...

[Mikey D.]

Congratulations on going for your license and the future upgrade!

You might want to consider an HF/VHF/UHF radio (Icom 706MK2g) for when you upgrade to GENERAL as you'll probably want to work the HF bands from the mobile as well. The Icom has a detachable/remote head as do some of the other brands - you'll have to do research/shop around to find one you like.

Good luck!

Mike

[cnynrat]

One thing you might want to think about is whether you want a radio that allows you to monitor two frequencies at the same time, such as the Yaesu FT-8800. It's a dual band radio (2M and 70cm), and has a removable head. The dual receive capability might be useful in some situations.

N6DCF

[spincycle]

cnynrat previously said:

One thing you might want to think about is whether you want a radio that allows you to monitor two frequencies at the same time, such as the Yaesu FT-8800. It's a dual band radio (2M and 70cm), and has a removable head. The dual receive capability might be useful in some situations.

N6DCF

Yeah, I was looking at the 8800 as well (and the 8900 as well). Looks like the big difference between the 8800 and 8900 as far as my needs go is APRS, not sure that's something I'll develop a hankering for or not. But I can certainly see how dual band would be useful, and I notice that other companies make dual band radios as well.

Hmm..

[KD7NAC_07FJ]

2 meter is by far the most popular "local" band. Dual band is a very good idea but you have to determine what type of communication you will be doing.

70 cm or 440 has less range then 2m but is clearer and more resistant to interference. But I have yet to find anyone chatting on 440 and I've been a Ham a LONG time.

6m has much a much better range and even has better propagation then 440 and I often make contacts on 6m and there tends to be more 6m repeaters then 440.

It is also very nice to have a "dual watch" capable radio. Dual watch is where you can monitor two frequencies on the same radio at the same time.

As far as radios go some might call me a Yaesu evangelist but I do have 5 Yaesu radios (3 mobile & 2 handhelds). I had a Kenwood but I sold it a while ago.

My mobile radio recommendations;

FT-7800 runs about $255, dual band 2m/70cm
FT-8800 runs about $355, dual band/dual watch 2m/70cm
FT-8900 runs about $400, quad band/dual watch 10m/6m/2m/70cm

I have the FT-8900, FT-857 and an older FT-7100 (2m) and I have tortured them from one end of my county to another and they have never let me down.

If you looked at the 8900 and are the least bit interested in it - get it. It may have more capabilities you will use initially but you won't out grow it. That is why I have a 7100 sitting on my bench doing nothing.

[IRTSYSOP]

Welcome to the hobby ! Just a quick bit of advice when mounting ham radios. Be sure the grounds are set up properly. Unlike a CB at 5 watts some ham rigs put out over 100 watts! Make sure antenna grounds and the rig (that's the ham radio) grounds are solid. The last thing you want is to do is fry an ECU (and it surely happens) and be stuck somewhere because of the ham radio. Mag mount antennas are great on the trail. I used to put mine on the hood of the jeep because the antenna can add almost 3 feet to the height of your truck. If a mag mount get tangled up in trees it will just fall over. I also used a through the glass antenna for low power local repeater operation with great results, emphasis on low power and local. Nothing cooler that sitting in your car with an HF rig chatting with someone in Europe or Australia.

Good Luck & 73's

Andy KF2WR Member of K2IRT ARC

[spincycle]

Thanks, KD7NAC_07FJ and IRTSYSOP. I have looked at the 8900, and it does nicely fit with my general preference for 'buying ahead'...but I'm also in the process of trying to justify a couple other spendy items for the rig, so we'll see. Probably make a decision in a couple weeks.
About antennas - are antennas available (magmount or otherwise) that have the CB style sring loaded base? So that if I put it on the roof, it'd bend rather than break or come off if I went under a low hanging branch? Also, if I were to get the 8900 (quad band) or a dual band rig, how difficult is it to find an antenna that's going to perform reasonably well on all the bands supported by the radio?