smokin deal on a great 2m yaesu ft2800m

[jonb96150]

smokin deal on yaesu ft 2800m at gigaparts.com. If you use paypal it is only $107.00!!
Deal ends on 10-7-07.
No affiliation, just ordered one for a friend.

[Cruiserdrew]

That is a good deal, I just bought another.

Thanks!

[tominator]

This does seem like a great deal for someone like me just getting into the hobby...Is this in fact a good radio to start with? Are a lot or most of vehicle to vehicle commnications done on 2M?

I noiced they also have a sale on the 7800...

[Cruiserdrew]

It's an excellent radio, but realize it's 2m only. It's a great, no frills high powered radio. The face plate does not detach, but otherwise it's close to ideal for a trail radio. The screen numbers are large, it's got lots of memory, you can program it with a PC, so lots to like about it. At this price it will be hard to beat, but if you want a dual band radio, buy a different model.


Here is a pic of the radio in my FJ40 (radio is 2 years old, same model) and the antenna mount I just made today for the rollbar. This is my 3rd antenna mount, still looking for the ideal spot. BTW-I learned something yesterday. This is a 1/2 wave antenna. Anyone know why?

[tominator]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

It's an excellent radio, but realize it's 2m only. It's a great, no frills high powered radio. The face plate does not detach, but otherwise it's close to ideal for a trail radio. The screen numbers are large, it's got lots of memory, you can program it with a PC, so lots to like about it. At this price it will be hard to beat, but if you want a dual band radio, buy a different model.


Here is a pic of the radio in my FJ40 which is 2 years old, and the antenna mount I just made today for the rollbar.

So is this typicaly how the NORCAL cruisers communicate on trail runs?? Do you always have to use a repeater when using this radio or will it communicate radio to radio as well??

[Cruiserdrew]

Radio to radio is called simplex-that's what we use on the trail all the time. Search out some of the old posts, but we have talked over 100 miles just truck to truck.

I was talking to a guy in the Bay Area today via a repeater that is 90 miles away on 5 watts. That's basically CB power. To try out the antenna mount I was talking to FJ40-Owner (N6KML) who lives 50 miles away using a repeater that has coverage from the Bay Area to Tahoe. It really is pretty cool.

You'll notice my radio is displaying "NORCAL" that's our home simplex frequency. You can also set the radio to a frequency and monitor another repeater at the same time. Pretty cool if you want to chat while waiting for one of your buds to drive up from home.

[45Kevin]

This is a 1/2 wave antenna. Anyone know why?

It is only 1m long.

Do I win a prize?

Seriously, I don't know jack about hams (this is a ham?) except you need a licence to use one. Do you need a licence to buy one? and what is the penalty for using one without a licence?

[Cruiserdrew]

Originally Posted by 45Kevin

It is only 1m long.

Do I win a prize?

Seriously, I don't know jack about hams (this is a ham?) except you need a licence to use one. Do you need a licence to buy one? and what is the penalty for using one without a licence?

No prize for you. The 5/8 whip length is the same. Good try though. When Jon sees this he will know since he is one of the high powered guys with a general license. I keep threatening to take the general test and will at some point.

Technically, you don't need a license to buy one, but every place that sells them will ask for your call sign. Bandit use will cost you $10,000 if caught! Not worth it when the tech test is trivially easy.

[tominator]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Radio to radio is called simplex-that's what we use on the trail all the time. Search out some of the old posts, but we have talked over 100 miles just truck to truck.

I was talking to a guy in the Bay Area today via a repeater that is 90 miles away on 5 watts. That's basically CB power. To try out the antenna mount I was talking to FJ40-Owner (N6KML) who lives 50 miles away using a repeater that has coverage from the Bay Area to Tahoe. It really is pretty cool.

You'll notice my radio is displaying "NORCAL" that's our home simplex frequency. You can also set the radio to a frequency and monitor another repeater at the same time. Pretty cool if you want to chat while waiting for one of your buds to drive up from home.

Neat...Hmnnn....wish it had the detachable face plate...

[tominator]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

It's an excellent radio, but realize it's 2m only. It's a great, no frills high powered radio. The face plate does not detach, but otherwise it's close to ideal for a trail radio. The screen numbers are large, it's got lots of memory, you can program it with a PC, so lots to like about it. At this price it will be hard to beat, but if you want a dual band radio, buy a different model.


Here is a pic of the radio in my FJ40 (radio is 2 years old, same model) and the antenna mount I just made today for the rollbar. This is my 3rd antenna mount, still looking for the ideal spot. BTW-I learned something yesterday. This is a 1/2 wave antenna. Anyone know why?

Notice you have an 80 series sittin' in the driveway there...do you have one of these radios mounted in that one? If so, how'd you mount that one in that rig?

[FJ40_owner]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

It's an excellent radio, but realize it's 2m only. It's a great, no frills high powered radio. The face plate does not detach, but otherwise it's close to ideal for a trail radio. The screen numbers are large, it's got lots of memory, you can program it with a PC, so lots to like about it. At this price it will be hard to beat, but if you want a dual band radio, buy a different model.


Here is a pic of the radio in my FJ40 (radio is 2 years old, same model) and the antenna mount I just made today for the rollbar. This is my 3rd antenna mount, still looking for the ideal spot. BTW-I learned something yesterday. This is a 1/2 wave antenna. Anyone know why?

That antenna does not appear to be a half wave. Now think back to your tech exam and tell us how long a half wave is at say 146.000 Mhz.

[FJ40_owner]

And the answer is.... as I remember at 146.600 Mhz a half waybe is 38 inches and a quarter wave is 19 inches.

And a 5/8 wave is around 49 - 50 inches.

I think.

JB

[Cruiserdrew]

Jim-It has a base coil. The base coil is different on the 5/8 antenna. The whip is the same on these Larsen antennas. Otherwise, I agree about the length of a simple dipole.

The reason I went to 1/2 wave is because it's basically independent of a ground plane. A 5/8 wave antenna would give better performance IF the FJ40 had an acceptable ground plane/counter poise. The 1/4 wave antenna that I had before on this truck was far from ideal, and Radio Dave at Rubicon was telling me my signal was 1/2 the strength of everyone else running 2m in the group. He was at the start of the trail, when we were past Little Sluice. So, I'd been meaning to address this for some time. I will find the optimum arrangement the week before I sell the 40!

I may remount the antenna lower on the rear rack if the whip bangs into too much stuff. I was chatting with you yesterday on 5w, though I know the repeater is doing 90% of the work.

[Cruiserdrew]

Originally Posted by tominator

Notice you have an 80 series sittin' in the driveway there...do you have one of these radios mounted in that one? If so, how'd you mount that one in that rig?

I made a bracket that attaches to the bolt in the well of the center console. This sort of shows it.

Eventually, the 80 will get a remote mounted dual bander, but for now, this quick and dirty mount has worked really well.

The antenna on the 80 is on a lip mount on the rear hatch. I run a 5/8 wave Comet antenna most of the time, but I have a flexy Comet SBB1 1/4 wave for trail/trips where the longer 5/8 wave would bang on trees and stuff.

[Marc DDS]

Originally Posted by jonb96150

smokin deal on yaesu ft 2800m at gigaparts.com. If you use paypal it is only $107.00!!
Deal ends on 10-7-07.
No affiliation, just ordered one for a friend.

Just ordered a 7800, thanks for the heads up on a good deal.

Free shipping
10% off with paypal
detachable face kit free..

this stuff doens't go on sale often

[FJ40_owner]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Jim-It has a base coil. The base coil is different on the 5/8 antenna. The whip is the same on these Larsen antennas. Otherwise, I agree about the length of a simple dipole.

The reason I went to 1/2 wave is because it's basically independent of a ground plane. A 5/8 wave antenna would give better performance IF the FJ40 had an acceptable ground plane/counter poise. The 1/4 wave antenna that I had before on this truck was far from ideal, and Radio Dave at Rubicon was telling me my signal was 1/2 the strength of everyone else running 2m in the group. He was at the start of the trail, when we were past Little Sluice. So, I'd been meaning to address this for some time. I will find the optimum arrangement the week before I sell the 40!

I may remount the antenna lower on the rear rack if the whip bangs into too much stuff. I was chatting with you yesterday on 5w, though I know the repeater is doing 90% of the work.

How much do you want for the 40? ........

What freq were you using for talking to Reno?

[tominator]

Originally Posted by Marc DDS

Just ordered a 7800, thanks for the heads up on a good deal.

Free shipping
10% off with paypal
detachable face kit free..

this stuff doens't go on sale often

Just had to order one of these myself...just too good of a deal to pass up!! More motivation to study and pass the test...
Thanks for the heads up as well!

[e9999]

I'd get the 1802 over the 2800 myself. But the price is good.

[bj70_guy]

I tried to buy an FT-857 but they don't take paypal from Canada...

[Kofoed]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

The reason I went to 1/2 wave is because it's basically independent of a ground plane. .

A very good choice. Lots of mounting options and not much loss of antenna gain compared to a 5/8..

[jonb96150]

Andrew,
I don't get the prize either. I figured it was the lack of a groundplane that reduced it to 1/2 wave because it looks just like my Wilson 5/8 wave.

As far as my General license, yeah I passed the test but I am sorely lacking in knowlege!