From KE4WMF
Let's have some fun in the mobile!
73
Jeff
Let's have some fun in the mobile!
73
Jeff
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Home Mobile DX Rig
- Thread starter AudioShockwav
- Start date
I applaud his efforts. Seems a bit excessive for me..
Have to stay out of the drive thru ATM's for sure.....
73
Jeff
73
Jeff
Makes me feel that my addiction isn't so bad after all 
Not exactly a daily driver. Nice VHF/UHF Rover station however.
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
I like the 4ft hunk of tower in the first picture. I am going to put one on my truck.
I'm talking to the owner of this car on the phone right now. He said he might try to log in here and comment.
BJ radionut
Supporting Member and 6m addict
Roof Rack Functional Failure: An Analysis
Even before I had improved my micro tower, shared here, I recognized that something was not quite right about my roof rack. I couldn’t find any damage, but could see one tiny sign that the re…
ke4wmf.com
BJ radionut
Supporting Member and 6m addict
June 23-27, 2023 Activated Grid FM13 from Fort Fisher NC. During this activation over 300 QSOs were made from this rare Grid. SSB/CW Callsign used was W4MW and FT8 Callsign was W4VHF. See W4VHF on QRZ.com for photos and notes for this Grid Expedition.
I worked Roger both SSB and CW...I think Roger listed on my QSL cards; I was the only 6m contact using both SSB/CW that activation.
Working portable was always cool. I was fortunate to go to many camping weekends/Field Days etc. With Elmers and friends', the radios were always present!
Awesome!
June 23-27, 2023 Activated Grid FM13 from Fort Fisher NC. During this activation over 300 QSOs were made from this rare Grid. SSB/CW Callsign used was W4MW and FT8 Callsign was W4VHF. See W4VHF on QRZ.com for photos and notes for this Grid Expedition.
I worked Roger both SSB and CW...I think Roger listed on my QSL cards; I was the only 6m contact using both SSB/CW that activation.
Working portable was always cool. I was fortunate to go to many camping weekends/Field Days etc. With Elmers and friends', the radios were always present!
73
Jeff
Hello!
Vehicle owner here to address some common questions or comments: First, this is an exhibition setup. I remove the HF antennas when I'm in a VHF contest; I remove the Yagis when I'm not in a VHF contest. Here is photo of how the car looks most of the time...
Even this image is a tad behind since the car is constantly changing. As I was building and sharing photos with friends, one said, "You HAVE to take at least one ridiculous photo with everything mounted." I did; that's what inspired me to share the exhibition setup at shows. The car was a hit at HamCation last year! It was my first hamvention of any sort in over 20 years. I get decent questions at car shows; but most car nuts don't quite understand what they're seeing or what to ask. HamCation blew me away with awesome interaction.
The photo at the top with the Rohn tower section was an "improvement" that was recommended by an engineer acquaintance. She felt that my original "micro-tower," shown in the second photo, lacked structure. While the Rohn piece certainly has structure and is strong, it's simply too tall for my likes. I experimented with the Rohn tower on a trailer during the VHF contest weekend...
It worked and was functional. However, the trailer is VERY difficult to back in the dark. I simply cannot see it or where its wheels are going. Backing is important for a contest rover because of our "grid circling" techniques. Being able to turn around quickly to get across a grid line is beneficial as we pursue points multipliers for working stations from a new grid. So, the trailer saw one contest and will soon see the tower's removal.
I will return to a setup that's very similar to the first photo, but without "all of the antennas," except for exhibitions. ;-) In fact, here's a photo from last June's VHF contest... no loops...
The new setup will look very similar to this, but I will cut about 18 inches from the mast to bring the setup down to 10'2", or about 3m. With the 432 MHz Yagi below 40 inches, I may need to relocate the taller verticals and travel without the loops, the 6m loop for sure. I'm using a smaller caphat on my Scorpion these days; so, perhaps it won't be affected by the 432. We'll see when I get it done. Stop by and see me at HamCation to see how it turned out.
Some answers to common questions or comments: The car is street legal. In the US, most roads must allow for a height of 13'6", or 4.1 meters. Any bridge or tunnel that's shorter is clearly marked, often well in advance to give trucks enough warning to find another way around. The thing that gives me the most trouble is TREES. Most highways have plenty of clearance, but those pesky landscaping trees in cities are problematic. They're cute when they're first planted, but grow into the lanes over time. I catch my 6m Moxon at the sides far more often than anything touches from the top. I completely understand why trucks and RVs travel in the center lane when landscaping trees are present.
YES, I am married... 32+ years to this keeper...
She's not licensed, but is willing to help when needed. Here, I had forgotten to ziptie a coil and coax to the new Moxon. UGH! I was trying to decide between tilting the antenna to fix (time-consuming) or whether the rack could support me when she came home from exercise class. "How would you like to learn how to use a ziptie?"
Here's the operating position, obviously setup for STATIONARY use...
Here's the equipment space...
It features a Yaesu FT-857D (VHF SSB), Icom ID-5100, a D-STAR hotspot, Midland GMRS, Yaesu FT-891, Mirage 160W amp for 2m, and Toptek 80W amp for 70cm. The sign is hiding a hold-down nut for the false floor, which opens to reveal the spare tire well.
For power supply, I have a 100-Ah/1280-Wh LiFePo4 battery with a 120-amp BMS. It's charged by an Orion 360-watt DC-DC charger by Victron. The charger also limits current draw from my alternator to just 30A. There's no way for the system to overdraw from the alternator, even if I key everything at once and draw 80+ amps! I'm looking forward to upgrading to Victron's new 50A charger in a few months.
Okay. I think that about covers it. Let me know if you have questions.
R,
Scott
Vehicle owner here to address some common questions or comments: First, this is an exhibition setup. I remove the HF antennas when I'm in a VHF contest; I remove the Yagis when I'm not in a VHF contest. Here is photo of how the car looks most of the time...
Even this image is a tad behind since the car is constantly changing. As I was building and sharing photos with friends, one said, "You HAVE to take at least one ridiculous photo with everything mounted." I did; that's what inspired me to share the exhibition setup at shows. The car was a hit at HamCation last year! It was my first hamvention of any sort in over 20 years. I get decent questions at car shows; but most car nuts don't quite understand what they're seeing or what to ask. HamCation blew me away with awesome interaction.
The photo at the top with the Rohn tower section was an "improvement" that was recommended by an engineer acquaintance. She felt that my original "micro-tower," shown in the second photo, lacked structure. While the Rohn piece certainly has structure and is strong, it's simply too tall for my likes. I experimented with the Rohn tower on a trailer during the VHF contest weekend...
It worked and was functional. However, the trailer is VERY difficult to back in the dark. I simply cannot see it or where its wheels are going. Backing is important for a contest rover because of our "grid circling" techniques. Being able to turn around quickly to get across a grid line is beneficial as we pursue points multipliers for working stations from a new grid. So, the trailer saw one contest and will soon see the tower's removal.
I will return to a setup that's very similar to the first photo, but without "all of the antennas," except for exhibitions. ;-) In fact, here's a photo from last June's VHF contest... no loops...
The new setup will look very similar to this, but I will cut about 18 inches from the mast to bring the setup down to 10'2", or about 3m. With the 432 MHz Yagi below 40 inches, I may need to relocate the taller verticals and travel without the loops, the 6m loop for sure. I'm using a smaller caphat on my Scorpion these days; so, perhaps it won't be affected by the 432. We'll see when I get it done. Stop by and see me at HamCation to see how it turned out.
Some answers to common questions or comments: The car is street legal. In the US, most roads must allow for a height of 13'6", or 4.1 meters. Any bridge or tunnel that's shorter is clearly marked, often well in advance to give trucks enough warning to find another way around. The thing that gives me the most trouble is TREES. Most highways have plenty of clearance, but those pesky landscaping trees in cities are problematic. They're cute when they're first planted, but grow into the lanes over time. I catch my 6m Moxon at the sides far more often than anything touches from the top. I completely understand why trucks and RVs travel in the center lane when landscaping trees are present.
YES, I am married... 32+ years to this keeper...
She's not licensed, but is willing to help when needed. Here, I had forgotten to ziptie a coil and coax to the new Moxon. UGH! I was trying to decide between tilting the antenna to fix (time-consuming) or whether the rack could support me when she came home from exercise class. "How would you like to learn how to use a ziptie?"
Here's the operating position, obviously setup for STATIONARY use...
Here's the equipment space...
It features a Yaesu FT-857D (VHF SSB), Icom ID-5100, a D-STAR hotspot, Midland GMRS, Yaesu FT-891, Mirage 160W amp for 2m, and Toptek 80W amp for 70cm. The sign is hiding a hold-down nut for the false floor, which opens to reveal the spare tire well.
For power supply, I have a 100-Ah/1280-Wh LiFePo4 battery with a 120-amp BMS. It's charged by an Orion 360-watt DC-DC charger by Victron. The charger also limits current draw from my alternator to just 30A. There's no way for the system to overdraw from the alternator, even if I key everything at once and draw 80+ amps! I'm looking forward to upgrading to Victron's new 50A charger in a few months.
Okay. I think that about covers it. Let me know if you have questions.
R,
Scott