HAM Radio

Have you called Yaesu and priced a replacement yet? I would be curious to find out the price...

 

The reason all the 2 meter repeaters in my area had to turn on the PL tones back in the late 90’s, was because the wireless internet people started putting their antennas on the same towers that the radio club repeater antennas were on. Still to this day it causes noise problems on some of the repeaters. Even with additional filters. Plus the paging companies added to the problem. Of course the repeaters in my area were basically killed by the introduction of cell phones. Occasionally you’ll hear a short net being held once a week.

 

After doing an ernest search, there is a guy on QRZ For Sale - Yaesu FT 857 control heads. that is/was doing a replacement for 240 (2+ years ago.) I'm not going to bother calling Yaesu just so I can get another crappy display for too much money that WILL crap out again.

There are a couple of software authors writing andoid apps for serial control on the 8XX series radios. So I ordered the BT adapter from ebay (2 actually, the cheap one is going to take a while to arrive from china) and try the software.

 

Yes, the infamous "checking in, no traffic" nets...

 

The solution I came up with for the needed PL Tones is to computer program the radio with a predetermined listing of repeaters. Makes using the IC880 such a breeze.

 

First radio was a Yaesu FT-2900. Monoband, but there’s something to be said for 75W of “Fricken Magic”. Loved the range and I lived on 2M for a few years. I lived in Columbia and had little problem reaching distant repeaters that linked me all over SC.

Then I bought an 857D and installed in my work van. Less power on VHF, but HF was lots of fun.

Left my old job and got into trucking. Have only been on my own in a semi for two months so I haven’t bothered to install the HF rig in it yet. ......But I will....

Probably on the TV stand and play with it at night in the truckstops. Haven’t used that FT-2900 in years but I just can’t part with it. It’s a ###### radio for it’s singular purpose.

 

What's the fuel mileage and year of the Cummins?

 

It's a 2006 ISB300 common fuel rail; on long rides, like NC to Gettysburg, just under 10 mpg, and that's with the 8kw diesel genset running the whole time for the two roof air conditioners. Came with about 45k miles on it and a fresh oil & filter change, new house & chassis batteries, and a new windshield. Sure hope everything keeps running; now that we have it, if the engine or 2500MH tranny goes gunnysack, we're screwed.

 

Just finished installing a Yeasu FT-8900R quad band into the work truck, pulled the MARS diode out. Can't wait to get back to work now.

 

I saw a guy on the interstate in ND last year with his callsign on the back of his motor home. I just got my new truck and didn't have my TM271A mounted yet. I felt so helpless!