Ham radio and trucking

[kd5drx]

ok i see allot of questions comeing up about HF and trucks so i will post this web site again i have refered to it a couple of threads. [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. and [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. both of these are real good sources for info on trucks and hf radio operation. there were about 30 of us that ran 14.302.5 for several years before we moved on to different things. I still check in there when i can to see how every one is but its been a while since i work over seas now but soon i will return and i'm sure it will be back to 302.5 for me since that is where all the over the road drivers hung out for ever and we had some pretty good stations on that freq i personaly logged 15 countrys mobile includeing the south pole mobile so it can be done and still have allot of fun.

[Crankshaft]

Interesting, Ill have to check those out tonite when I get a chance!

[TruckerLlew]

I used to have an HF rig in the truck years ago and always tried to get onto 14.302.5, Always found most drivers there wouldn't answer my call or anything even when I identified myself as a driver. I know my radio worked as I had also logged several different countries from the road. I did get a couple of QSO's there but it took me months to work my way in. Plus the QRM from 14.305 and 14.300 Maritime net was quite intense.

I always did enjoy checking into the Nighthawks and ECARS net on 7.252.5..? if i remember the frequency right? There was a couple of professional drivers involved on that frequency. I can't remember calls or names though.

The company ended up removing my radio from the truck as I had a large High Sierra screwdriver antenna on the mirror and they thought I was using 1000 watts or some crap in my truck. I was most angry. I am considering asking them again if I can install the radio but with a smaller antenna or something. I was thinking of getting an autotuner and getting an 80M hustler whip and trying to work it that way. I don't know how much interference this truck has though with all the new electronics and anti pollution equipment on it. I get horrible interference on my CB and I can't seem to track it down.

I was aware of the 142035 website and am listed on it, but i haven't seen any activity on it since 2002 i think?. I don't know if the owner actually has anything to do with it anymore or if it's just sitting there waiting for passersby to look. I did like the members page though and the APRS links to the drivers who ran it in their trucks. Thats something I always wanted to try but I could never get the computer and software up and running when I had the HF in the truck. Sadly, most of the drivers who had their APRS setups listed on the 143025 site have since dropped it or have stopped driving or something.

anyway, have fun

73 de N2NKW/TruckerLlew