Official Ham install pic thread - post 'em up!

[450 DUDE]

That looks like some nice custom work.
Do you have a pic , close up on the face and one wide angleish on the base?
what model antenna? Comet#?

Thanks,
ken

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by 450 DUDE

That looks like some nice custom work.
Do you have a pic , close up on the face and one wide angleish on the base?
what model antenna? Comet#?

Thanks,
ken

Here's the link to Icom with PDF brochure: http://www.icomamerica.com/products/amateur/208h/


The antenna is a Comet SBB2...jury's still out on the mount and antenna; I may end up going with a longer/taller antenna and installing magnet mount on the roof with zip tie to rack crossbar...but I'm going to use it for awhile to see if it will work OK as is.

Not sure what you mean by anglish on the base; I'll take some more pics tomorrow and post up. FYI: I just welded up angle iron at the top (that I screwed into my AO drawer frame) with 2 straight 'struts' welded onto the angle that the factory 208H unit bolts to.

[Bat Masterson]

Are you having difficulty with rx or tx with that antenna? I'm about to purchase an sbb5nmo that will sit on a k400cnmo on the rear hatch. Hoping that will do well for my needs especially clearance issues.

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by Bat Masterson

Are you having difficulty with rx or tx with that antenna? I'm about to purchase an sbb5nmo that will sit on a k400cnmo on the rear hatch. Hoping that will do well for my needs especially clearance issues.

I need more time communicating with other mobile 2m. Last weekend we had 3-others with handhelds in 40's with bikini tops...I suspect the issues (poor sound quality and short distance communication (for what I have heard about 2m range anyway) was due to the fact that they were handhelds and lots of ambient wind noise from blasting along in the open 40's.

The Norcal guys that are running this combo have said they get very good performance. The other more pressing issue for me is the mount itself. We have a habit of running trails that are overgrown and I am concerned if a thick branch attacks that antenna and mount it would inpart enough force to tweak my rear hatch lip.

[Cruiserdrew]

Dan-You may know this already, but I switch antennas all the time. For on the road, and open country I use an SBB25 for it's range and good gain characteristics. For trail use, I like the SBB1, which is rubbery and flexy so it does not hang up on terrain. Despite it's small size, it does really well.

We had amazing radio coverage this weekend at Wentworth/Rubicon. When we split the group to get the crippled rig off the trail, the two groups were still talking on simplex an hour later. It was only when we came off the trail at Loon Lake, that we had to switch to the 146.805 repeater which has great coverage of the entire area.

Tom posted our experience on the way up-He was on the Richmond-Oakland Bridge, I was in Eldorado Hills, ALvaro was in Georgetown, and Jim was in camp. We were all talking to each other, enough that Ernie heard us in Roseville and joined the conversation. I knew just after leaving town, that Jim had good sites, and there was enough room for all of us, even though I was still 2 1/2 hours out from camp.

[dfmorse]

Here is a link to my system;

http://homepage.mac.com/dfmorse/RigProj/page1.html

...

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Dan-You may know this already, but I switch antennas all the time. For on the road, and open country I use an SBB25 for it's range and good gain characteristics. For trail use, I like the SBB1, which is rubbery and flexy so it does not hang up on terrain. Despite it's small size, it does really well.

We had amazing radio coverage this weekend at Wentworth/Rubicon. When we split the group to get the crippled rig off the trail, the two groups were still talking on simplex an hour later. It was only when we came off the trail at Loon Lake, that we had to switch to the 146.805 repeater which has great coverage of the entire area.

Tom posted our experience on the way up-He was on the Richmond-Oakland Bridge, I was in Eldorado Hills, ALvaro was in Georgetown, and Jim was in camp. We were all talking to each other, enough that Ernie heard us in Roseville and joined the conversation. I knew just after leaving town, that Jim had good sites, and there was enough room for all of us, even though I was still 2 1/2 hours out from camp.

Thanks Andrew...now that you've jogged my memory I do remember you previously stating you ran a longer antenna when in more open trail conditions: I think I'll pick that longer antenna up and give it a try. I have a 5' Larson CB antenna on my front bumper and it has spoiled me!

Have you had any trouble on your 80 with thick branches putting torque on the lid sheetmetal or does the SBB1 effectively absorb those hits?