Ham Radio, anyone?

[Twenty7Delta]

Why are you ditching the FT10? Here's a couple of pics of mine I installed this last winter. It was a bit of a pain as the connecting cable between the control head and the transciever is not long enough. I added about 6 feet of CAT5 cable (lots of soldering!) to get them connected. I just tucked the transceiver into the trunk behind the cloth storage pockets and secured it to the wall with a huge piece of velcro!

 

I also put the bluetooth module in and use it with my Nolan helmet and can still use the CB when I plug in the multimedia wire from Nolan. Without the CB I am totally wireless and it works very well. The VOX is also not bad although I wouldn't use it on a repeater but it works well on simplex.

 

I forgot to get a pic of the antenna but it's just a Comet rubber duck on an angle mount attached to the trunk rack.

_____________

I forgot - I wired it straight to the battery and the radio killed the battery in less than a day. I don't know why there is so much draw but I then routed it to the plug in that is already there beside the battery and now it comes on with the accessory position of the key.

A buddy bought the mic for his and didn't want it so that's why that's hooked up in the trunk. Either PTT will work: helmet, front panel, VOX, or rear mike. It's all good!

Edited August 5, 2008 by Twenty7Delta
wasn't wordy enough the first time... ;-)

[Owen]

OK, so when can I expect UPS to deliver my new FTM-10? Give me a crack at it before it hits fleebay

 

Ok Bob, listed the radio for sale in the VR classifieds. Ask me any questions you may have.

[Owen]

Why are you ditching the FT10?

 

I was putting it on my road star mostly for the intercom and fm but then traded the bike for a Venture and did not need all the extra capabilities.

[bmannon]

KC8JXH in EM88 here.

No radio on the bike,,, YET.

[Bob Myers]

I have Alinco Ht on both of our Vulcans, was using the factory rubber duck with a minimum of effectiveness. Found a 4' glass antenna made by firestick, cut for 2m. My effective range is about 8 times what it was! I can hit my local repeater on 5 watts at about 35 air miles. Best I ever did with the duck ,mounted on the bars was about 4 miles. Ordered another one to install on the Venture.

[Bob Myers]

Ok Bob, listed the radio for sale in the VR classifieds. Ask me any questions you may have.

 

I thought a friend was going to buy my Alinco Dx-70th but he backed out so now I have no funds to buy with. Care to talk trade?

[Skid]

KC8JXH in EM88 here.

No radio on the bike,,, YET.

 

Welcome bmannon

Huntington, West Virginia!

that is not that far away.....

...de N8YOW

[bmannon]

nope Gassaway aint to far.

Nice to know there are some west virginia ham brothern on the forum!

 

Welcome bmannon

Huntington, West Virginia!

that is not that far away.....

 

...de N8YOW

[RandyR]

New Ham radio licensee (technician class) here. I expect to operate as W0JWD which is my Dad's original call sign issued to him in the late 1930's when he was a teenager. I passed the technician exam 3 weeks ago, got my call sign, and immediately applied to get my Dad's old one assigned to me under the FCC 'vanity' call sign program. My Dad's old call show up as unassigned in their database, so was eligible for me to request.

 

The current Technician Class license is quite easy to get with a little electronics knowledge. 35 questions, 75% passing. A local ham club offered a 4 hour cram course followed by the test. almost everyone passes. I had studied online a week prior and decided to skip the 4hour cram, as I already knew the material.

 

 

I'll buy a HandyTalkie for 2 meters and 440mhz as starters, but may look for a real mobile unit to mount on a motorcycle.

 

I decided to do this after driving an emergency pickup car with bicycle rack on it during a local bicycle race last fall. Most of the other drivers were hams and there were ham stations set up along the course for communications. This got me looking at the requirements for a license, which I knew had changed since I had looked at it when I was a teenager.

 

The new ICOM 7100 looks like an ideal mobile radio. http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/3071.html

Edited March 4, 2013 by RandyR

[Bob Myers]

As a tech you will find this radio to be quite a waste, at least until you upgrade to a General or better. That is if the FCC ever approves it for sale. No one has any, AES, HRO, R&L all say they have no idea when or if they'll ever get one. Expect it to be over $800.00 though!!

 

As a tech, would a less expensive dual bander suit you as well? Lots of good dual band 2m/70Cm units around for under $100 used, or 300 new.

[RandyR]

As a tech you will find this radio to be quite a waste, at least until you upgrade to a General or better. That is if the FCC ever approves it for sale. No one has any, AES, HRO, R&L all say they have no idea when or if they'll ever get one. Expect it to be over $800.00 though!!

 

As a tech, would a less expensive dual bander suit you as well? Lots of good dual band 2m/70Cm units around for under $100 used, or 300 new.

 

I'd like a radio I could also use on 10 and 6 meters in the technician bands. Add those features, and this radio isn't out of the ball park. Plus it would give me incentive to get my General Class license.

 

I've saved the HRO page for this new/unavailable unit and will check it periodically. I may buy one of the $50/new Baofeng handytalkies first. The 7100 seems to have all the latest bells and whistles and the detachable control panel looks like it could be mounted on the RSV gas tank for easy reach

Edited March 4, 2013 by RandyR

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Thanks Randy for bringing this thread back to life after several years...I had forgotten about it!

 

[bongobobny]

I used to be a Ham back in the '60s but when I got out of the military I never renewed, lost interest. I was a gerneral class WB2GBO...

[Bob Myers]

had you posted only 2 days earlier,,,, I just sold a Yaesu FT8900 quad band at Cave City Ky hamfest Saturday. Gave it away actually, $350.00. It is exactly what you want, 10m, 6m, 2m, and 70Cm.

[Bob Myers]

Another one you may be very interested in is the FTM 10. There are 2 versions of it, the 50 watt and a 10 watt, both feature a waterproof face/head unit, remote mountable. I have these on both my wifes Vulcan and my Vulcan.

You could easily enough use this on the Venture and still monitor the bike CB via the aux input on the FTM 10. On her bike I interfaced a GPS and my bike has a Satellite radio feeding the aux port. They are dual band, also have AM/FM stereo receiver. RIght now they are about $325, usually R&L electronics will "sale special" them for $299 every few months

I have an Alinco dual bander mounted on my Venture, with a Tiny Tracker for APRS tracking.

[RandyR]

Thanks for the suggestions. Waterproof is a desirable feature.

[Bob Myers]

I have some pictures of my Vulcan setup posted here; http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/motoradio/photos/album/0/list?order=mtime

 

You may have to join the yahoo group to see them but it is unmoderated so it'll only take a couple clicks to do so

[TDunc]

Congrats Randyr. Wife and I are hams for years.

 

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[Doppler]

Welcome to Amateur Radio Randy. For what it's worth, and to support my Ham equipped Motorcycle Marshall/Escort activities:

 

My ‘must have’ requirements were:

·Dual band

·Permanent mount

·All weather

·More than 5 watts

·Helmet mounted speaker/mic

 

What I implemented:

·Yaesu FTM-10R with Bluetooth module

·Diamond NR-770HA

·Sena SMH10

 

So far all audio reports have been ‘sounds good’ even at highway speeds using an open face helmet with flip shield. The Sena also doubles as my bike to bike intercom when my wife and I are riding.

 

For APRS I recently installed the APRSdroid app on my smartphone. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.aprsdroid.app

[Bob Myers]

Yes! What he said Randy, the FTM is designed for motorcycle/ATV use and is by far the toughest radio I have ever beat on and mis-used!

With a 4' glass whip I have talked simplex over 25 miles to wife on base from my bike, easily hit repeaters as far or farther.

 

I'd love to do the android app thing for my APRS but I don't have one of those smart phones, mine is stupid, all it will do is phone calls-not even text capable. But that is making me want one quite badly!

[RandyR]

The FTM 10 looked good for a 2m/440mhz rig when I read the specs. It appears the 5W version is discontinued.

[Bob Myers]

It was limited production, didn't go over as well as the 50w version.

I just bought a new Yaesu, the FTM 350 for my car, should be here on Friday

[RandyR]

To keep this thread semi-active.

 

I bought a Baofeng UV-5RA handheld for 2m/440mhz. I can hit the local repeaters with it from my house.

 

I upgraded my license to General Class in October so I could get on the high frequency bands (in addition to the very limited hf permitted by Technician).

 

I have purchased, but not yet on the air with the following gear for my base station:

 

Yaesu FT-857D (160meters thru 70cm coverage). 100w SSB on hf

LDG AT-100PRO-II antenna tuner

G5RV (80-6m) wire antenna

Diamond CP22E 2m vertical

 

Bought on ebay last night a Vibroplex iambic paddle for learning CW (morse code). The Yaesu has a built-in keyer.

 

Am waiting on cables and connectors to arrive which I finally ordered to get this all finalized and on the air. I should be on the air with the base station on 2meters before the end of this month and then high frequency with the wire antenna shortly there-after.

 

I've done nothing about going mobile with either my motorcycle or car yet (other than vaguely think about it when looking at parts/equipment listings). I have the mobile mount for the Yaesu FT-857D.

 

And. have started studying for the Extra Class license.

 

KK4ONJ

[Bob Myers]

If you study the "advantages" of going extra you may find the gains are not quite worth the effort.

 

What are you going to use for HF? I did a 80M dipole at first, then not quite satisfied with that I built a 80M loop. Amazing difference, lots less noise, much better signals, almost 100% non-directional like a dipole

[RandyR]

I have this G5RV on order for 80-6meter. along with 75ft of LM400 coax.

 

http://www.amateurradiosupplies.com/product-p/10098.htm

 

I was going to make my own 40m dipole, then add dipoles for the different bands to the end of my coax feed as I felt the need, but that sounded like a potential lot of work, so went with what appears to be the best compromise all-band antenna I could find. I wasn't sure about being able to string it high enough or long enough to get the 160meter version. So I'll pass at 160m for now and maybe do that in the future.

 

I looked at making a loop. Maybe in the future if the G5RV isn't getting enough gain or is too directional.

 

I realize the Extra Class doesn't offer too much more bandwidth than what I already have. I just want to do it. Call it a mental exercise.

Edited December 14, 2013 by RandyR