I'M MOBILE RADIOACTIVE!
(Posted 2016-04-18 13:10:10 by corey_reichle)

So, over the past month or so, I ordered all of the things needed to get on
20M HF, while mobile:  A mobile antenna mount (No, a mag mounted 20M
antenna won't cut it), a mobile whip, and I already had the radio (A
FT817ND).

A lot of you are saying,"But, 5W out for HF is nothing!  Come on!"  I do
mostly digital stuff.  SSB voice sometimes (Mostly on 10M), but largely
digital.  Even on VHF, although, I do like chatting on 2M repeaters from
time to time.

The 817 is perfect:  The lower power out is unlikely to cause many of the
issues faced by mobile HF ops:  Interference in car systems.  I do have to
accept some noise, but I had to accept that in my QTH as well.

Also, the 817 gives me 440, 2m, and 6m to play with, should I choose that.
 My VHF antenna is a mag mounted 2M-only antenna, which "works" well enough
on 440.  Haven't tried it on 6, although I don't hold out much hope.

So, for the "shopping list":

 	* Opek AM-204-7-SM20 [
http://smile.amazon.com/OPEK-AM-204-7-SM-Trunk-Antenna-CONNECTOR/dp/B00LH16F4Q
]

 	* 20M HF Mobile Antenna [
http://smile.amazon.com/Meter-Band-Mobile-Stick-Antenna/dp/B00427F78C ]

 	* Yaesu FT-817ND [
http://smile.amazon.com/Yaesu-FT-817ND-Compact-Amateur-Transceiver/dp/B008B8YLIK
]

 	* Car Power Cable [
http://smile.amazon.com/HQRP-Charger-FT-817ND-VXA-150-Transceiver/dp/B00CQ4DAAU
]

 	* LDG-817 Tuner [
http://smile.amazon.com/LDG-Electronics-Z-817-Automatic-Memories/dp/B00K5ZSGHY
]

 	* Hustler 2M 5/8 wave [
http://smile.amazon.com/METER-136-144-WAVE-GAIN-ANTENNA/dp/B006X0OOLC ]

 	* Magnet Mount [
http://smile.amazon.com/Firestik-K-11-Magnet-Mount-Coax/dp/B000RF27A4 ] (I
had one for forever, so I don't know if this is the one or not, but it's
close)

 	* Yaesu CT-39A Packet Cable [
http://smile.amazon.com/Yaesu-CT-39A-Packet-Interface-Cable/dp/B0042AGVRA ]

 	* Non-Yaesu CT-62 CAT Cable [
http://smile.amazon.com/Valley-Enterprises-Two-Way-Programming-FT-817ND/dp/B0035DV1ZM
]


 

I had the tuner and radio for about 2 years now, so I just used it
"because".  I could have installed my 857, which I might in the future, as
QRP at home is always so much easier than when working with compromise
antennas (Every mobile antenna is a compromise antenna, regardless of what
people claim).

But, the whole setup above will quickly get you on 20M mobile, doing rig
control and digital modes (Should you desire) quickly.

--------

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