By Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 02:52 pm: Edit

OK, I've now seen at least three references to Ham radio installations in Rovers...

How many of us are there, what rigs do you have in your rigs, how do you have your rigs and antennas mounted, and am I the only one doing low-band mobile in my Rover?

I have a Kenwood TS-50S in my Rover, and am running a modified Hustler mast with a custom made mount on my ladder. I'm most often on 80 and 20 meters depending upon time of day and sunspot activity.

73

Paul WD9HRP
'95 Disco

By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 04:24 pm: Edit

IC-706
High Sierra motorized antenna 80-10M
1/4 wave 6-2M
..also use the 706 for trail run CB - shhhhhhh

keith
discosaurus
W9RM

By Erik G. Burrows on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 04:43 pm: Edit

Yaesu FT-817 (backpacker), using a 6m,2m,440mhz Comet antena mounted on one roof rail, and a no-name CB antenna on the other. (The 817 can be hacked for 1mhz-500mhz tx/rx. Shhhh)

I'll probably put a 10m and lower rig in later.

By DaveB on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 04:56 pm: Edit

Paul,
I've been running an ICOM 706IIG in my '98 Discovery LE. I put it in almost two years ago. For VHF/UHF operation I have a Diamond SG7500 mounted on the inside of the spare tire carrier, similar to the CB antenna installations documented in the Tech section on this web site. For HF I went with the Matching ICOM AH4 auto tuner which is mounted in the right rear storage bin. The hot lead for the antenna is fed through a grommet that was conveniently placed inside the floor area below the right rear tail light assembly. The tuner feeds a 102" stainless steel CB whip antenna. The home made mount I have for a firestick antenna bracket is a little whimpy and seriously needs a re-design effort. The firetsick bracket doesn't work to wekk either... It needed better insulation. The HF system works well on 10, 15 and 20 meters, but performance seriously falls off on 40 and 80. The main problem is durring transmition at high power. I think is the high voltage developed at the antenna base is arching through the thin insulating washer on the firestick antenna mount I used. It was intented for a 5W 27MHz CB signl... Not 100W at 7.25MHz! There is a reason the stock ICOM 102" whip antenna that's intended for the AH4 tuner has a huge base insulator and massive mount! If I back the transmit power off to say, 20W or less, I have no problems on 40 or 80, other then being heard!
I went with the auto-tuner system since I didn't want to have to deal with changing antennas or matching issues. I wanted the ham set up to be like the discovery... a go anywhere, anytime.
I have considdered trying a screwdriver antenna, but so far that hasn't happened.
I am planning on installing a second battery to help run the radio. British-Atlantic have a wiring kit that looks ok. Maybe there is someone out here that has some suggestions for adding a 2nd battery??? I am also planning to install new shocks and maybe diff guards and rock sliders... It timer to start beefing up my vehicle since it's not new anymore.
I am a casual off-roader. I do a few trips per year, but given the chance I would do more. Last year I did a week out in death valley and felt secure in knowing I had communications when out in the middle of nowhere, where CB's and cell phones wouldn't be much help if something happened.
73,
Dave - WD6EBC
'98 Disco

By Stephen on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 06:19 pm: Edit

I have yet to put a rig in my truck - but it will eventually happen....
Stephen
VE7AZM

By Gabriel Guay (Gearhead) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 09:15 pm: Edit

2Mtr Yaesu mounted under dash just below fog light switches run to 100 watt amp under drivers seat, Comet multi angle hood mount with Diamond SG7000 VHF ant. No HF in the truck right now but I have been known to run HF in the truck using Yaesu Ft one with same ant mount and Hustler resonators for 40 & 80.

Active on HF at home during winter.

Gabe
KA1WEX