Introduction, comments and questions.

Since I didn't see an appropriate thread to add this too, I figured I'd just throw this out. As you may have noticed, I've posted a few times since I joined the forum, but never explained who I am, or why I'm here. I'm an old retired fart, 70 years old. After graduating HS & College, I joined the Navy in '68 as a Cryptologic Technician (R-branch), working for the military arm of the NSA as a CW intercept op, thus my handle/screen name. I got my first ham license in 1963, and my first CB license (KNH8207) back in '65. During college I worked in a Ham/CB radio shop doing sales and installs, and as a dispatcher for the Iowa Highway Patrol (now ISP), as well as the local SO. I stayed active on CB during the '70s craze, but then pretty well let it lapse. In the interim between '72-'87 I was in the banking business, loaning money to farmers and truckers. After that, my wife and I, purchased a RadioShack franchise and I sold CB, along with the typical consumer electronic crap for the next 16 years before retiring in 2006. I'm an old school 20-wpm Extra-class ham with over 300 countries confirmed, mostly on CW. I helped build some of the first 2m repeaters in Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, and here in my hometown. I mention this as history, not to brag on my meagre technical abilities.

Now that we're retired, my wife and I are doing more travelling, and this winter we ran into a situation where I realized I really needed a CB in her Cherokee to stay current with road conditions. I ran across this board, and joined, more out of curiosity than anything else, but have been impressed with most of the knowledge that's being shared.. Some of it's BS, but most is pretty solid. My wife is also a Technician-class ham, and we have matching Alinco DR-638s in our Jeeps. The ham/CB rig in my Wrangler is an Icom 7100 with a Lil'Tarheel screwdriver antenna,where I can keep the SWR matched on any frequency I choose to use, including CH 19. I picked up a Bearcat 880 for the Cherokee,during our most recent bout with an ice storm coming home from AL, but reading the forum has led me to consider updating that to a Stryker 447HPC2. I'm considering mounting a Wilson 2000 on a hood-lip mount opposite the VHF/UHF antenna that's on the passenger side.before we take our next long trip. Any suggestions about a more appropriate combo would be appreciated. I do enjoy getting road reports from as far away as possible while we're out on the slab, heading for our next stop.

My one regret it that I'v never had the chance to spend a couple of days in an 18-wheeler on a run. I've got a BIL by marriage that is hauling cellphone gear for ATT, but I've never managed to work out a ride with him. Around here, most of the 18-wheel traffic I hear is guys hauling grain down to the ADM depot.

Anyway...that's who I am,why I'm here and thanks for the welcome.

Rick

 

The IC-7100 works perfectly in my Wrangler, but I can't afford to duplicate that in her car, thus the thoughts about the 447. Mounting is the issue. I can't stick it in the console. Too much stuff already in there and heat would be a real factor there, so I've got to come up with a mount that 's compatible with her 4'9"'stature, doesn't block her view, and keeps the radio cool. I could just keep tossing the 880 up on the dash in front of me when we go on a trip in her car, but that's an inelegant solution, even though it works quite well. I"m trying to figure out a permanent mount for the 447 that would be out of the way. Dang all these modern 4-wheelers that make no provision for radio gear. I had plenty of room in my '53 Ford Vicky for a tube-type Courier 23. I even had a set of Heathkit Twins on the front center hump of a '64 Buick Electra.

 

Thanks for the welcome. That's actually not such a different type of radio for me. My last job after college, before going into the Navy, was as the 6-midnite DJ at 1330 KWWL-AM in Waterloo, IA....the Johnny Fever shift, prime-time R&R. Opened and closed the show with Jimmy Smith's "Organ Grinder Swing". Getting my new Stryker 447HPC2 at Walcott on Friday and will keep an eye out for you characters out on the slab. I should be wall-to-wall and treetop tall.