My new baby gurrrrl...

[kglueck]

used a Bird watt meter and a 2M 5W slug w/ a HT to measure radiated power and turned the slug to measure reflected power. Basically tuned it that way until I couldn't see the needle move on reflected power. Then used one of those mfj devices that has the frequency counter in it to get a little closer to my target frequencies. the one I use for voice varies from about 1.05 to ~1.2 across the 2M ham band. I'm going to go back and replace the rg58 on the new mount as the as the cable on the old nmo mount I've had laying around seems to be bad. hopefully just replacing that'll get me a better reading. that antenna's swr on 144.39MHz is a little higher than I'd like...think it was roughly 1.3. I think I can do better than that! (yes, I have been accused of being anal!)

yeah, the mount seems pretty good the biggest antenna I've had on it is a 5/8 wave 2M antenna, standard whip and it does fine with that. I've been thinking about a comet sbb7nmo 2m/70cm antenna for when I'm on a trip. it's got a fair amount of gain...certainly better than the 1/4 wave 2m ones I'm using around town (I park in a parking garage every day at work). we'll see.

 

[kglueck]

Just an update as it's been a while...

• the ham radios have been reinstalled back to their floorboard location.
• went ahead and mounted the radio heads to the front bezel under the hazard lights button (yep, drilled out 3 holes and used a piece of metal behind the bezel to strengthen the mount...end result is similar to the pic in my avatar)
• ran 6 gauge wire "direct" from the battery to the radios (I say "direct" because there's a 50A breaker installed in the engine compartment)
• added another radio to the mix (a yaesu ft857D) so there are now 3 transceivers in my vehicle...

Still need to...

• remount the "back-up camera"
• make a permanent mount location/enclosure for the actual radio units in the back rather than leaving them on the rear floorboard...
• identify a front bumper guard that I like...I still really like xpdnrunner's guard (and what was used on the other Global Extreme 4Runners)...here are pics of them (xpdnrunner's pics are also in here)
• add some more antennas...need that bumper guard for ground plane first, tho...

But, she does enjoy getting dirty these days...here's a recent pic (she's been MUCH dirtier, tho):

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Nice!! Couldn't you find something with a little more spectrum coverage than the Yeasu FT857D!! It "only" covers 160 to 6 meter bands plus the 144 MHz and 430 MHz bands!! :rolleye2: J/K Very nice and compact unit.

Mud!!!When did you find time to get muddy?

I'm taking a week off and heading out at 5am tomorrow in search of mud, trees, dirt, rocks, nature, you name it. Expedition mode on.

 

[kglueck]

hehe...yeah. I wanted a mobile 2-meter all-mode radio to add to the arsenal, but realized the ft857 was a pretty "cheap" way to get a 50W vhf/uhf all-mode mobile. and hey...the HF frequencies were just a bonus. Now to upgrade my license. actually, I'll prolly be taking my cw test here at the beginning of may, so cross your fingers for me.

Then I'll need a nice antenna...prolly will go with the atas-120. I've been pretty impressed with a friend's atas-100...

but yeah, I've been driving around listening on 20M during the day...lots of fun.

I found this mud taking a shortcut while hiding the "foxes" in our last transmitter hunt. ok, so the "shortcut" took me waay off the side, through a bunch of mud, down a few extra roads, and then back down the road a couple of blocks... my 4r wanted to go have fun, who am I to keep her from having fun! :

Have fun on your trip...

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Good luck on your cw test!

Don't you like setting your own VSWR? That Atlas 120 is sweet, but for $300+, I'd hope so.

I wanted to see how you were going to mount that "long wire" on your rig so you could talk on the "flat side."

I've always thought of getting my HAM license but never did. With the advances in electronics I've been thinking of it again.

 

[lexmedic157]

kglueck

can you take a couple pic on how you mounted up your ham rigs? been looking for a good idea for mine and still not sure. currently 3m taped to the angle above the shifter...