HAM radio install

[protias]

Here's a link to some more mounts with and without the PL-259 connector installed, in case they prefer one or the other, and to give you some price options.
NMO 3/4 Hole Mounts PL-259 : The Antenna Farm :: , Your Two Way Radio Source!

Ordered it around noon, shipped by 2.

Arrived in the mail today! From MT to IN in 2 days via Priority Mail!

[Motor On]

Sweet I want some photos of the install when it's all said and done.

[protias]

Sweet I want some photos of the install when it's all said and done.

Photos will come, but install probably won't happen until July when I am back home for a couple of weeks.

[protias]

You think this LM-500H will hold my 880H face?

[Motor On]

You think this LM-500H will hold my 880H face?

I think it'll fit.

But I have an aversion to any sort of suction cup and or tension mounting solution in cars, between out midwest ****ty bouncy roads, subzero winters, 100F+ week in the summer and how things work in accidents, so you may be happer ling term with something like this Mounting Solutions For Amateur Radio or this http://www.lidomounts.com/catalog/it...16/936007.htm; as it wouldn't be a matter of if, but when the head would slip out out of the LM-500H tension mount or the suction cup would let loose.

And dammit now I wanna go broke on DSTAR after sifting through all that Icom literature looking for dimensions.

[protias]

You think this LM-500H will hold my 880H face?

I think it'll fit.

But I have an aversion to any sort of suction cup and or tension mounting solution in cars, between out midwest ****ty bouncy roads, subzero winters, 100F+ week in the summer and how things work in accidents, so you may be happer ling term with something like this Mounting Solutions For Amateur Radio or this http://www.lidomounts.com/catalog/it...16/936007.htm; as it wouldn't be a matter of if, but when the head would slip out out of the LM-500H tension mount or the suction cup would let loose.

And dammit now I wanna go broke on DSTAR after sifting through all that Icom literature looking for dimensions.

The only thing is, I may want to mount a laptop there, so how would I do both? I could mount the face plate by my shifter, but I want to see the frequency.

HAM equipment (well, electronics) gets expensive quick. I would love to get my hands on P25, D-Star, HAM, and HF, but I won't have those funds for a very long time.

[Motor On]

The only thing is, I may want to mount a laptop there, so how would I do both? I could mount the face plate by my shifter, but I want to see the frequency.

Could you swing the control head "below" the keyboard? I'll see if I can locate an old photo of your cockpit, and stencil it in like jammer head placement.

HAM equipment (well, electronics) gets expensive quick. I would love to get my hands on P25, D-Star, HAM, and HF, but I won't have those funds for a very long time.

Yup, and toss in countermeasures, cars, photography and firearms; one can go broke quick, esp in this economy.

I live far enough out in the boonies that an HT just really isn't going to cut it (though I made 5 watts stretch 27 miles, it was a net check in, no conversation would work) and if I'm going to be doing a base station it's going to mean cutting back on other plans, it's kind of a rough hobby around here, many hams but none active anywhere near me. And any that are are all on expensive HF gear that's beyond my License right now.

[protias]

I'll post pictures of my current setup later today and where I think my head can go.

[bart99gt]

You think this LM-500H will hold my 880H face?

If it will hold the 706Mk2G in the picture, it will hold the 880H easily.

[bart99gt]

I live far enough out in the boonies that an HT just really isn't going to cut it (though I made 5 watts stretch 27 miles, it was a net check in, no conversation would work) and if I'm going to be doing a base station it's going to mean cutting back on other plans, it's kind of a rough hobby around here, many hams but none active anywhere near me. And any that are are all on expensive HF gear that's beyond my License right now.

Single band 2m mobiles can be had for less than $200.

If you don't insist on buying new or nearly new equipment, you can get on HF for under $500 with a simple wire antenna. I'd just watch out for old vacuum tube gear, they require a little extra attention in order to keep them running properly, not to mention having to replace the tubes. That said, I've found more than a few Icom and Yaesu HF rigs for less than $350 on eBay just doing a quick search. They just lack many of the bells and whistles found on newer gear, which is probably not a bad thing when you're just trying to learn the basics of operation.