Question about Ham Radio

[Gadfly]

Originally Posted by Keith48

I would love to see some information on antennas to run on a truck. The problem I would see would be where to mount it. I just passed the Technician exam today, so I am ready to buy a unit and antenna. Thanks in advance fro your help!

Look at [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link. and email the guy. I think "he" can help!

73

Gadfly

[Keith48]

Thanks for the help. I have another question:

Now that I have a Technician license and they are doing away with code, can I take my General exam? Where can I get good study materials for this?

[Rook]

[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

[PappyGT13]

Practice Exams at qrz.com & eham.net-exams

[bbctransport]

HI-Q antennas are the best period. I have run about everything you can imagine and some things you probably cannot. They are the best. I even use 160 meters mobile on 1.868 and have been heard. For those of you hams you know what a feat that is. They are pricey but i ran my first one for 350,000 miles and when I sold it I could tune it to a frequency and drive through montgomery, AL on I-85 and it would not budge!!! try that with any other "screwdriver". I will say I have never ran an NO5E but have heard from 1 person I personally know that has one they are about the same.


Come on ham radio truckers and get on the air.

KE5BBC

[kd5drx]

Originally Posted by bbctransport

HI-Q antennas are the best period. I have run about everything you can imagine and some things you probably cannot. They are the best. I even use 160 meters mobile on 1.868 and have been heard. For those of you hams you know what a feat that is. They are pricey but i ran my first one for 350,000 miles and when I sold it I could tune it to a frequency and drive through montgomery, AL on I-85 and it would not budge!!! try that with any other "screwdriver". I will say I have never ran an NO5E but have heard from 1 person I personally know that has one they are about the same.


Come on ham radio truckers and get on the air.

KE5BBC

I noticed you didn't mention how much power you ran thru it and i also noticed in your comment on the thread about your set up you didn't mention an amp so i assume you run a barfoot 100 watt system and if you were heard on 160 i would like to know how far away. i have worked 160 and 80 mtrs for years from a mobile and with out an amp 160 and 80 mtrs mobile are real hard and even harder to get a good signal report on. i have checked into Arkansas Razor back net. on 3.987.5 from every corner of the united states on 500 watts and a Screw driver antenna. Useing a Francis whip for a stinger. and both the scredrivers i ran were under $150.00 and have over 1,000,000. miles on them and 1 is still setting in my garage just waiting to go back on the next truck when i come back from Iraq. Its not allways the price you pay that makes the differance. I ran on 14.302.5 in its day one of the buisest freq. on the ham bands we had guys running every thing from bug catchers to wire antennas on the trailer to Band hoppers. all worked well and all had there plus and minus so to say one antenna is the best hands down is a far stretch for you it may be but for some one else it may not be. I know a couple of guys that run the High Q antennas and like them. I know guys that run the band hopper and swear by them and i run NO5E antenna and love it i ran a BMD5 and loved it it had some problems with the finger stock handeling the amount of power i ran thru it but for a 100 watts it worked great and you couldn't ask for any better people than the fellow that made it and it worked great with power just had to replace the finger stock all the time. The bottom line is every one has ther favorite and what is best in his opinion.

[Gadfly]

Originally Posted by bbctransport

HI-Q antennas are the best period. I have run about everything you can imagine and some things you probably cannot. They are the best. I even use 160 meters mobile on 1.868 and have been heard. For those of you hams you know what a feat that is. They are pricey but i ran my first one for 350,000 miles and when I sold it I could tune it to a frequency and drive through montgomery, AL on I-85 and it would not budge!!! try that with any other "screwdriver". I will say I have never ran an NO5E but have heard from 1 person I personally know that has one they are about the same.


Come on ham radio truckers and get on the air.

KE5BBC

I would try that with a LOT of screwdrivers that will hold frequency with any other! The key is precise machining and quality build. Sure, there are some out there that are not so hot............but. Most builders are conscientious and make good products. To contradict what *some* say about screwdriver coils that move, again, while that is a nice thing for those who can afford such pricey equipment, there are some screwdrivers that will NOT move, change frequency, or "flop" around inside the contact stock. Yet, they DO change position with frequency. They are as stable as any! There is not "the best" screwdriver "period" anywhere: it's what you get used to and like best--like Ford & Chevy. Personally, I wouldn't want a Ford pickup. It is an opinion based on my own preferences in drivability and comfort. So, for me, I prefer a Chevy and have driven them for 40 years!

Gadfly

[bbctransport]

I'm sorry about coming across that way. I read my own post and it did sound kind of harsh. Just to mention I also have ran the Texas Bugcatcher and the Original Bandhopper. I will say the Bandhopper with the large loading coil was as good a radiator as the HI-Q. I will also say that any mechanical thing will have problems at some point. I personally have had no mechanical issues with the HI-Q after 350,000 miles and I did with the others. I realize that it is one persons opinion but it is the only opinion I can vouch for, being mine.

KE5BBC

[Passin Thru]

I run a Diamond SG 200 HD and for my 2 meter on a vehicle and a Diamond SG 7900 for dual band 2m/70cm. They are stainless, tough, and talk out real well. You can use a regular mount like the visegrips from J to mirrrors. Same rules apply, get an SWR meter for 2 m. radio. Most Diamonds never need to be set but do need the bugs cleaned off ocasionally to make them receive better. An Icom IC V8000 or an Icom IC 2720 H are great radios. They will get hot operating at 50 watts and have fans in them. Ham radio is self policing and you cant get away with all the (*##&*)(*$#%% as someone will send you a warning letter and if you keep it up you can get your lisc. yanked quite easily. Go to Ham Radio Outlet and get a catalog. The best teaching test guide is W5YI's Ham study CD and the book called The ARRL Technician Class License Manual from HRO or ARRL. Learn it and then ask where they are giving the test, it's 30 Q and easy. KI4BDS Karl

[Gadfly]

Originally Posted by bbctransport

I'm sorry about coming across that way. I read my own post and it did sound kind of harsh. Just to mention I also have ran the Texas Bugcatcher and the Original Bandhopper. I will say the Bandhopper with the large loading coil was as good a radiator as the HI-Q. I will also say that any mechanical thing will have problems at some point. I personally have had no mechanical issues with the HI-Q after 350,000 miles and I did with the others. I realize that it is one persons opinion but it is the only opinion I can vouch for, being mine.

KE5BBC

Howdy,

Naturally, the larger coil (*Q*) will have better efficiency and a bigger signal. That old Texas Bugcatcher can't be beat, really! I run the Carolina Cyclone II with a 3" diameter coil. It is wound with #14 wire at 8 turns per inch. The way the Cyclones are made (not to give away the guy's secrets) is they are machined so as to fit the lower mast precisely. Even when the coil is fully extended, there is NO "flop" or "slop"; it will move less than 3/32 of an inch; actually, barely at ALL. This means that no matter HOW the long the coil is, the integrity and SWR will remain the same.

Some of the builders use tiny transformer wire wound extremely closely on a small form. This, while allows a large range of frequencies, is VERY inefficient, and it takes very little to "match" it; most of your impedance (the radio doesn't CARE where it gets 50 ohms from! ) is in that sloppy loading coil.

I personally don't like the little "mini" screwdrivers. They ARE a compromise--and if that's what one must do and trade off a good signal!---than that's what he has to do.

But there's one thing I always say about HF mobile. "You can have 'PRETTY' or you can have 'Performance'". They don't go together! It takes A BIG, UGLY (?) antenna to get that BIG signal on 40 and 75 Meters.
I prefer the big signal!


73

Gadfly