Mobile Ham Setup Planning (2M/70cm)

[rbeau30]

Wow! so many Hams coming outta the woodworks!

Awesome info and LOTS of reading materials! Thank you fellas for the info, keep it coming!

gnihcraes, you know about the roof mount I had not even thought about that. It really is just some sheet metal holding it up there. Maybe I'll just put one hole up there for when stationary and want to get the tallest? Keep it capped until utilized?

I like that hood mount, it folds back eh? That is really neat.

[gnihcraes]

Hood mount doesn't fold back, it just follows along with the tilt of the hood when you open it. You just have to plan the best location for it. It might not work in all situations, but I've had the same mounts on multiple cars, I just move them over when I get rid of a car.

Roof mounts are better if you can get a 2 or 3 inch fender washer between the antenna connector and the sheetmetal, this gives a little more surface area than just the 18ga metal.

Yes, my wife's jeep shown, is currently capped, and I've never used it, but power and antenna cable are ready if I should need to swap or install a radio. (emergency use)

I even have a mount and antenna on my bicycle. Good fun to go Bicycle Mobile Ham Radio! Pictures of everything tomorrow when I get home.

I'm remembering all kinds of things now that you all got me rolling. ha

[rbeau30]

How about if I wanna get fancy on the power distribution like something like this? ;-D



If I do the roof mount... I do plan on putting some sort of reinforcement between the Roof and the mount like you said a fender washer... I bet I could even get a bigger one than that. If I do it, I'll be taking the headliner down to get to the whole thing so the bigger the washer the better LOL

[gnihcraes]

Glass fuses? Hard to tell in the photo.

I'd stick with something that is ATO blade type, easier to find replacements in the middle of nowhere. (my thought) But if you think about the Power Pole connectors, you won't find those anywhere either, so same problem.

[rbeau30]

Glass fuses? Hard to tell in the photo.

I'd stick with something that is ATO blade type, easier to find replacements in the middle of nowhere. (my thought) But if you think about the Power Pole connectors, you won't find those anywhere either, so same problem.

There are similar power blocks that take blade fuses, yeah the glass ones are a little less popular.

[zteknik]

I use circuit breakers instead of fuses,easier to reset then try and find a fuse.
http://www.rakuten.com/prod/stinger-...ngId=246229485

[streetglideok]

Yeah circuit breakers would be easier. Not real fond of the car audio stuff, as its mostly flare and more money. Since I'm running just a single radio, I have it wired straight in. Now if I go to adding an HF rig, etc, then I'm going to have to come up with something different.

[rbeau30]

Yeah circuit breakers would be easier. Not real fond of the car audio stuff, as its mostly flare and more money. Since I'm running just a single radio, I have it wired straight in. Now if I go to adding an HF rig, etc, then I'm going to have to come up with something different.

I just want the option of mounting another radio right where the dual band is, and just have to hook it up to the power block and where I have the COAX instead of adding another set of wires to the truck. Or at the very least minimize the rewiring when/if I expand.

I hear ya with the car audio stuff... seems like all they are doing with the equipment is stuffing LEDs into the equipment. Wonder what the skimp on at the expense of flair.

[gnihcraes]

Bicycle Mobile Ham Radio: (using handheld radio on handlebars and connected to the 1/4 wave antenna on the back. (better than a rubber duck)



Rigrunner under the dash of the truck. One switch turns on the rig runner, then it powers all the devices I want. Radios, Voltage Meters, fuel pump etc.



250 Amp solenoid for connecting one battery to the other, increases run time and I can easily jump my truck without getting out to fiddle with jump cables.


Fused power cable with power pole connectors feeding a main line to the cab. Also note the Extended Battery Terminal Bolt, allows you to connect other power devices without connecting things in strange ways. (redneck)

[gnihcraes]

Dash mount radio, which I don't recommend, sun heats them up and they are in plain view for others to steal them. This model radio has a front firing speaker, and the truck is not quiet like more modern rides. I needed the radio up where I could hopefully hear something.



Remote Head mount of dual band in small honda, with external speaker for more clear sound. The main unit is tucked up under the dash behind the glove box with custom mounts.



Jumbo Power Pole connector to the Battery, allows access for jumping cars without removing all the plastic shrouds and panels. The battery is buried under several things. Jumper cables have same connectors - which are Keyed so you can't connect them wrong.