Southern California Club Xterra
Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX General Discussion => Topic started by: onewaysoldier on December 17, 2009, 03:29:02 PM
-
Hello again,
So, my family has been asking me what I'd like for Christmas and it just dawned on me that a HAM radio for the X might be a good idea. My questions for you guys are... What the best lower budget radio? What antenna should I get with that radio? Any of you interested in selling a complete setup for about $175 or so?
I've been using the family band radios for years and will continue to as they're cheap, easy to use, and get workable range. A year ago got a cheap CB for the X but haven't been impressed with the "line of sight" range. I don't have a license yet, but I'll be studying up and will test for one fairly soon.
Paul, I know you've recommended the Yaesu FT-2800M in previous threads. From what I've seen on Gigaparts.com, Universal-Radio.com, and http://www.hamradio.com/ it looks like that's pretty much the best 2M buy out there. What are your thoughts on the FT-2900M? What antenna would you use with that radio?
How helpful is the programming software for the Radio?
Bobby, are per you recommendation, I'll make sure to pick up the "Arrl" repeater book too. Sound like that could really come in handy.
Thanks for your help guys. Sorry I haven't been around for the last 8 months or so. Career hunting again hasn't been fun & funds have been tight. I had to stay away from the board so that I wouldn't spend any money mod'n out on the trail. Got out for the fist time 9 months a few weeks ago and I felt human again.
Matt
-
Hey Matt,
For a straight 2M antenna, I'm a big fan of the Larsen whip. For wheeling, it's way flexy and can damn near fold in half. Durable and cheap; plus you can replace the parts if it gets bashed. You can get it just as the whip/coil or as a kit with the cable that you have to solder the end. If you go dual band, then the Diamond is a good one. I've bent that one pretty good and it's snapped right back to shape no issues.
I like my 2800. More power than a multi band radio, plus it's cheap and tough. Takes a while to program by hand and it organize things in groupings (meaning, all Big Bear freqs together, all San Diego freqs together, etc.). You just have to plan things out before sitting down at the radio.
For software, I've heard the best reviews about is at this place -- http://www.g4hfq.co.uk/ftb2800.htm
You'll have to get the right USB laptop adapter from a place like Ham Radio Outlet.
-
You know that you need a license right or do you have one already?
You can find cheap used/in good condition 2M radios on E-bay or Eham for cheap. I like a dual band radio in my truck as my club operates on both 440 MHz and 2M. There's a new radio made by Yaseu that's coming out that when it's available I'm going to swap it into my X, take the radio from the X into the base station and have a spare FT-2800. Yaseu has been advertising the radio for a few months now and I thought it would be due out by Christmas ... but no go. The new radio is going to be mega-bucks with 2M and 440 MHz at 50 watts and 220 MHz at 1 watt (my club has a 220 MHz repeater as luck would have it). It also has packet radio, bluetooth and a bunch of other features meaning it's going to be $500-$600 in my WAG.
I don't own a radio without the programming software. Life is too short to spend it cursing at the crazy stupid menu system these things have. I program the radios with my laptop and forget about it.
Check out www.universal-radio.com too.
-
220 at one watt? Is that a typo?
-
Matt,
Another good resource for radios/antenna/etc. is www.aesham.com (http://www.aesham.com)
I have ordered parts and radios from their Las Vegas location and experienced excellent service.
I own a Yaesu FT-1500 2m unit, which is very small and powerful. Going to try to install in the center console of my X when I get some time. Next step is to figure out which mount is best for the antenna.
Off the roof rack? A lip mount off the rear hatch?
Any suggestions?
John
-
Rim of the rear hatch!!
I tried, oh I tried, to get the thing to work on the roof. Ideally for RF the antenna ought to be in the center of the roof to act as the best ground plane possible. I mounted an aluminum bar between the pipes, grounded the thing with multiple braided lines - nope. Poor SWR. The four or five inches that the antenna sits above the roof is enough to require a ground planeless antenna. Didn't want that.
I ended up with a very heavy duty Diamond trunk mount that's taken some really hard hits (like driving into the garage with the antenna on). Most people put them on the driver's side to avoid low branches on the streets - don't have that problem here and I'll cheat to the driver's side rather than the passenger's side on the trails. I have two antenna - a big SSB-7 (55") and a little one for around town.
Your biggest decision is going to be is which of three standard antenna mount types to go with - 3/8" stud, UHF (PO), or NMO mount. I went with NMO as that's pretty much what the cops and fire department uses. The 3/8" stud is used for whips. The UHF (PO) mount is the most common.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Ham%20Radio/CometSBB7.jpg)
-
BTW - the new radio has a price tag ... $600! ::)
They're mighty proud of that radio ... don't know yet.
-
Rim of the rear hatch!!
I tried, oh I tried, to get the thing to work on the roof. Ideally for RF the antenna ought to be in the center of the roof to act as the best ground plane possible. I mounted an aluminum bar between the pipes, grounded the thing with multiple braided lines - nope. Poor SWR. The four or five inches that the antenna sits above the roof is enough to require a ground planeless antenna. Didn't want that.
I ended up with a very heavy duty Diamond trunk mount that's taken some really hard hits (like driving into the garage with the antenna on). Most people put them on the driver's side to avoid low branches on the streets - don't have that problem here and I'll cheat to the driver's side rather than the passenger's side on the trails. I have two antenna - a big SSB-7 (55") and a little one for around town.
Your biggest decision is going to be is which of three standard antenna mount types to go with - 3/8" stud, UHF (PO), or NMO mount. I went with NMO as that's pretty much what the cops and fire department uses. The 3/8" stud is used for whips. The UHF (PO) mount is the most common.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Ham%20Radio/CometSBB7.jpg)
Thanks Paul...looks like a good location. How did you fish the coax up to the radio from there? Under the headliner, or under floor mats? BTW, where do you mount your radio? I was thinking about putting it inside the center console on the standard bracket, and then mounting double sided hook and loop (aka Velcro) on the rear portion of the center console inside area. Thoughts? I don't want to have it on floor boards, and until I get a unit with a detached control head, seems like a pretty good solution.
JT
-
I went down that pillar and then along side the well under the plastic and along side the passenger's side simply pulling the plastic trip pieces straight up from their clips. The cable ends under the passenger seat. My radio has a "brain" and a detachable faceplate. The brain gets buried under the passenger's seat next to the Rockford-Fosgate amplifier making it nearly impossible to steal. I pulled the chair out and bolted it in place. The faceplate sits on the front of the center console on a matching Yaesu mount.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Ham%20Radio/HamRadioMounting.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Ham%20Radio/YaesuMounting.jpg)
-
You know that you need a license right or do you have one already?
Hmmm, no answer. I think the OP was either enlightened by, spooked away by, or both by this comment. Not your fault Paul....needs to be asked in posts like this.
OWS, if your still unlicensed, but interested.......there are plenty O' folks here that can suggest some ways and means to make the process easier. It's not at all difficult to pass the test for the Technician Class license.
If not interested, I'd suggest a SPOT or maybe a SatPhone for longer distance communications in/from the boonies. Neither requires a license.
-
If Matt or anyone is interested in a really friendly test location and they can make it out to Riverside I can sit their test at the AFN Broadcast Center. We charge $15 and pass or don't pay. We offer the technician class exams both on computer or on paper, your choice. Most use the computer as it grades instantly. If you fail and want to take a second shot we're open to that too. What we can do we do to make it as non-stressful as possible. The Moreno Valley Amateur Radio Association offers weekend classes where in normally takes about 8 hours of class and test to earn the license. Normally it's groups from the Mormon Church taught at their place but I think all are welcome. There would be classes locally around the area, the ARRL web site would be a good place to start searching.
There's at least five of us with licenses now if I recall correctly: Bobby, Randy, Don, Rachel, and me. The more the merrier.
KG6OAZ (E) and (VE)
Wonder if Santa has an extra $600 he can spare me .... :-\
-
We had a few more hams in the old days, but haven't seen or heard from them in a while.
Matt, if you're ever up in Long Beach, they do tests over at CSULB for only $4.
Found some double top-secret spy pics of Paul's daily driver...(I keed, I keed)
(http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9642/hamradio1.jpg) (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/hamradio1.jpg/)
(http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1923/hamradio2.jpg) (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/hamradio2.jpg/)
-
Bobby B....that is an AWESOME post. A man after my own cut and paste heart.
Paul, thx for the info on the install. I will be shopping up a new Comet or Diamond antenna and mount before the new year. Don't have a detachable face plate (much less a brain ;) ), so that will have to wait a bit. Thanks so much for the great photos and helpful posts. This looks like a great club, can't wait to make it out for a trip and meet all of you in person.
JT
KD6DCI (direct current inductance, always just a little short!) ;D
-
Bobby that's too funny.
You don't know how funny - the first car my wife and I bought when we got married was a red Dodge Colt!
-
Damn, that's hot. I was always wondering how to mount a "ringo ranger" antenna to my truck......pfff, there it is big as life.....a hatch mount....yessss!! What time does HRO open in the morning?
-
Damn, that's hot. I was always wondering how to mount a "ringo ranger" antenna to my truck......pfff, there it is big as life.....a hatch mount....yessss!! What time does HRO open in the morning?
There's a local guy with a huge beam on a tow behind trailer. Nice set up actually ... wonder what it does to his gas mileage?
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Amateur%20Radio/FieldDay2009.jpg)
-
Needs to put wheels on the outriggers. :D
-
There's a local guy with a huge beam on a tow behind trailer. Nice set up actually ... wonder what it does to his gas mileage?
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Amateur%20Radio/FieldDay2009.jpg)
Yeah, there are several members that show up with those for our field day. A couple are homebrew the others are commercially built.
That beam looks like the Cushcraft A3S (with 40m kit) that's in my backyard (the director and reflector have been painted..I think?). I've been slowly refurbing it for my Dad over the last two weeks while a pad and plate are being poured at his house.
I recently picked up one of these for my outings.
http://transworldantennas.com
-
My setup is very similar to Paul's. SteeevO did a write up about the install in his blog. http://thestevenexperience.com/2009/10/01/nissan-xterra-ham-radio-install/
-
You know that you need a license right or do you have one already?
Didn't get scared away, just a long week of work and not enough time to relax.
I do not have a license yet but would like to study up in the next week and test before the end of the year if possible. The HAM for Christmas was sorta a last minute idea.
I think I'm getting a the following radio & antenna
http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=zys-ft-2900r
http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZLR-NMO-150-B-K
Paul, heading out to Riverside for an afternoon and testing (& retesting if necessary) sounds pretty good to me. You guys open in between Christmas & New Years.
Bobby, I'm not typically in the LB area but I'll keep it in mind if it doesn't work out in Riverside.
My guess on the mileage for that trailer is 8 mpg w/ a top speed of 25 mph regardless of the vehicle.
-
No testing until next year. We have a web site at http://www.k6afn.net/ which will list the next VE Exam Session.
VE EXAM SESSIONS--Weekly
Every Wednesday at 2PM until 4PM
(Except for Holiday weeks)
Please schedule all exam sessions with:
Bruce Ziemienski, WA6BZ
email: wa6bz@k6afn.net
phone: (951)232-3725
Exams are all held at:
Defense Media Center
23755 Z Street
Riverside, CA 92518
-
I think I'll get one with my next tax return. I got the license but have been skeptical as to which brand to go with.
http://www.sccxterra.com/smf/index.php/topic,366.0.html
-
You have three choices: Icom, Kenwood, and Yaesu. I would avoid the Alinco and Jetstream. Kenwood is the smallest of the big three. Icom and Yaesu are the big "two" of the big "three". I sort of fell into the Yaesu side but I also have Kenwood (walkie talkies). Nothing wrong with any of them.
-
Just passed the Tech exam yesterday over in Escondido. Now to study up for the General (figured might as well get some more frequency privelages...can't hurt right?) Now to figure out what radio to get....or wait until after the general test to get the HF radio.
-
Just passed the Tech exam yesterday over in Escondido. Now to study up for the General (figured might as well get some more frequency privelages...can't hurt right?) Now to figure out what radio to get....or wait until after the general test to get the HF radio.
Congatulations, we have quite a few ham's in the club now.
-
:D Very good!
HF in the truck requires a bit of dedication as the antennas tend to be large and expensive and the radios are not cheap either. I have a portable HF radio but it doesn't stay in the truck. Nothing says break in and steal me like a $600 antenna and an $800 radio. I went on the cheap with a hidden UHF/VHF radio and smaller antenna. I have and extra class license but haven't found much to say to people in Arizona, Texas, or Ohio so I pretty much keep to the VHF/UHF side ... where I still don't have much to say!
On the trail with the club it's nice being able to chat on amateur radio rather than the short range and fuzzy sounding FRS radios.
-
Got the Radio & Antenna today. starting to study up.
-
I got the AARL book if ya need a study guide to borrow. Let me know.
-
Ordered the trunk lip mount with a PL-259 connector and a Diamond 40.2" dual band 2m/70cm antenna. Take delivery next Wednesday.
Also, just "inherited" a Kenwood TM-742 tri band radio (2m/70cm/220mhz) radio with the detachable faceplate. Studying the manual and interior of the X for the best set up.
Should be good once all is installed.
-
Ordered the trunk lip mount with a PL-259 connector and a Diamond 40.2" dual band 2m/70cm antenna. Take delivery next Wednesday.
Also, just "inherited" a Kenwood TM-742 tri band radio (2m/70cm/220mhz) radio with the detachable faceplate. Studying the manual and interior of the X for the best set up.
Should be good once all is installed.
Those are great radios!
-
Just passed the Tech exam yesterday over in Escondido. Now to study up for the General (figured might as well get some more frequency privelages...can't hurt right?) Now to figure out what radio to get....or wait until after the general test to get the HF radio.
If you truly plan on obtaining the General license, I would go ahead and get a multi-band/multi-mode like the Yaesu FT-857d or Icom 706mkIIg, 7000, etc. (706 is soon to be disco'd) or comparable radio with the HF bands. Antenna's can be as simple as a HamStick ($30.00) until you can afford to step up to a screwdriver type antenna. The HamSticks are single band and require you to physically change antennas between bands (takes seconds), but you really won't be doing it that often. For the most part two Hamsticks would suffice for remote travel....a 20m and 40m is all you'd need and the unused antenna stows away easily. 20m for the daylight hours, and 40m at night as propagation changes. With a separate antenna mount for a small cheap FM antenna (2m and 70cm) you'd have communication capabilities far beyond what even the best of FM radio and antenna combos can accomplish. With a small duplexer ($50.00) at the radio, the radio will sense what modulation method you're using (FM or HF) and send the signal to the appropriate antenna. With this setup you'd use your cheesy FM antenna for communication between trucks or other targets (repeaters if available) up to a range of approx 40 miles. With the 20m or 40m Hamstick you'll have a range of approx. 6000 miles.
I wouldn't use the HamSticks on bands below 40m as they become very inefficient. The 20m sticks actually work very well, and I used them until I picked up a screwdriver type. With the 20m stick I was able to make contacts anywhere in the States, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, Japan....you get the idea. The 40m stick works less well, but you'd still be able to make contacts anywhere stateside.
As for the possible theft issue Paul mentions, I don't think you take any more risk in mounting either an FM or HF rig in your truck. The nuklheds that would break into your truck wouldn't know the difference. And, most are built just the same as FM rigs with detachable faces and remote mounting capabilities. Essentially, there'd be no increased risk with an HF rig.
Another note, many in the offroad community struggle with the idea of getting this involved with radio and it really depends where you plan on traveling. If you're only going to the local offroad parks like Big Bear or Anza Borrego..you'd do fine with just an FM rig, as repeaters and cell sites are plentiful. But if you plan on going to more remote locations such as Baja, Death Valley or many areas in Nevada or Arizona (GC, north rim) the repeaters can be nonexistent to few and far between. With FM and without repeaters, you're only going to hit targets within or just beyond what you see from the drivers seat. With HF and an approximate knowledge of where you're at (got GPS?)....even a guy in Ohio can save your butt with just a simple phone call made on your behalf....and most hams would jump at the chance to help.
Again, if your are serious about advancing, in the long run you'll spend less money this way. You can use the radio immediately upon getting your Tech license and have plenty of growing room when you advance to General.
Edit: Heck, I just foraged through the garage. I've got both a 20m and 40m hamstick in the garage that I'll donate to the first clubmember to upgrade to General and buy an HF rig. You'd have to pick them up in Costa Mesa or whatever can be amicably arranged. If you're interested in the incentive, PM me here for details and to provide your callsign.
-
Thanks for the input Xtatik. The hamstick idea sounds great, until or even if i decide to use a screwdriver style. Just need to come across the cash for the HF radio. I like the style of the 857d but the 706 seems to have bigger display. Just got to finish up reading and studyin the General AARL book and go take the test. Thanks again!
-
Thanks for the input Xtatik. The hamstick idea sounds great, until or even if i decide to use a screwdriver style. Just need to come across the cash for the HF radio. I like the style of the 857d but the 706 seems to have bigger display. Just got to finish up reading and studyin the General AARL book and go take the test. Thanks again!
IMO, it's worth waiting/saving and getting a radio that will allow you to grow into it, rather than re-selling / upgrading and losing value on an outgrown or under-utilized rig. Also, don't be a Magpie for Icoms displays...keep in mind it's a mobile rig and the display isn't there to be stared at....keep your eyes on the road/trail! Once you're stationary, you'll find the 857d provides all that is needed in a display, and can be altered to your liking. I use a remote mic with mine and rarely touch the radio.... It controls everything.
-
you'd use your cheesy FM antenna
Who you callin' cheesy, breezy?
-
Who you callin' cheesy, breezy?
Hey Bobby,
Point is....it doesn't take much antenna to talk twixt trucks or hit a repeater within say 30-40 miles...that is if the repeater has any elevation to its placement. With HF none of that matters...you can rule the world! bwwwahahahaaaaaaa!.
Seriously, after that last DV trip and realising that a place that heavily traveled could be so badly repeater challenged........I said phooey and upgraded. It took a while to study up for General...maybe 6 hours or so in total, but was well worth it. I shocked myself a couple of months ago by sitting in for the Extra with less than an hour to study and passed it by the skin on my teeth. I wasn't planning to take it for another two weeks and was coerced. This time the peer pressure worked for the better. Last time, I think I woke up with a hooker! ???
j/k!! ;D
-
Extra, huh? Now I know you were mocking my low brow, low buck set-up. ;D
Last time I saw you, you had just gotten the new 857 going.
-
Those are great radios!
That is what I hear Paul, supposed to be very reliable.
Surprisingly (well, maybe not) Kenwood stopped manufacturing them.
I heard it was because the company felt it could make more money selling separate radios for the desired frequencies rather than a dual/tri-band all in one.
Do you think this is true? ???
-
220 MHz isn't a very popular band.
It just so happens that my club at work runs a 223MHz repeater at March Air Reserve Base. My RACES group has a handful of these radios in their mobile command center - but they never used the 220 MHz band until I invited them onto our repeater.
-
...There's a new radio made by Yaseu that's coming out that when it's available I'm going to swap it into my X, take the radio from the X into the base station and have a spare FT-2800.
Hey Paul, if you decide you like to sell your spare FT-2800 please let me know. My brother (has an 88' Zuk) is now in need of a basic mobile HAM radio. :-) He, myself, & both our spotters are going to be taking the test within the next couple weeks.
Thanks,
Matt
-
220 MHz isn't a very popular band.
It just so happens that my club at work runs a 223MHz repeater at March Air Reserve Base. My RACES group has a handful of these radios in their mobile command center - but they never used the 220 MHz band until I invited them onto our repeater.
I didn't realize that. I have heard that there is a great repeater network on 220mhz that links and lets you talk virtually throughout the southwest. Can't remember what it was called, but thought for that reason it would be worth checking out.
-
In case this helps, you can also get podcast study guides for free covering all three tests. You can get them on Itunes, just do a search for "ham radio," I pulled down the ones marked Ham Radio Podcast. These same ones can be listened to online at http://www.hamradioclass.com/download.html.
They sound a little dry, but it's another way to get the info.
-
I didn't realize that. I have heard that there is a great repeater network on 220mhz that links and lets you talk virtually throughout the southwest. Can't remember what it was called, but thought for that reason it would be worth checking out.
Condor Net
-
Antenna mount installed, and wiring plumbed through and fished up to and under passenger seat. Radio install next.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
-
Looking good! :o
-
Install complete. Mounted "brain" underneath drivers side seat, plumbed wiring through engine compartment, and ran wires underneath carpet and door jamb valance, through grommet in fire wall. Then mounted radio "face" to coin area with an $11.99 cell phone mount "modified" with a hack saw and held down with red heavy duty double sided tape. Transmit and receive checks out, so ready to go for the first week in February. ;D
Seat removed and wire fishing in progress
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Under seat view, with bracket mounted.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Kenwood TH72A face plate mounted
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
and finally, a side view.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
-
Looks great GhostX.
I've got to take some time and get test and get mine installed.
-
Looks great GhostX.
I've got to take some time and get test and get mine installed.
Thanks.
Did you get a radio?
I might be garage sailing my 2m Yaesu FT-1500...just have to find it and get it on the board. Would be a great starter radio. I will dig for it this week.
Are you going to the Rattlesnake Canyon run on the 6th of Feb.?
-
Yes I'm interested. Just PM'd you.