IH8MUD.com - Electronic Toys http://forum.ih8mud.com/ Ham Radio, CB radio, GPS...the electronic communication and navigation necessities for the trail! en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:25:01 GMT vBulletin 15 http://images.ih8mud.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/misc/rss.jpg IH8MUD.com - Electronic Toys http://forum.ih8mud.com/ Ultra portable homemade HDTV antenna? http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/335250-ultra-portable-homemade-hdtv-antenna.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:40:05 GMT Calling the radio McGyvers out there. Purpose: To receive an HDTV broadcast of the Nebraska... Calling the radio McGyvers out there.

Purpose: To receive an HDTV broadcast of the Nebraska football game on 11/27 from the top of a hill 70 miles from the broadcast tower and two miles from my truck - backpacking.

Tivax 7" portable HDTV. Battery operated. The TV came with a magnetic ground plane antenna - cheap little whip style thing.

Weight is a big issue - backpacking trip.

Other equipment that will be there that might help: a 14" spun steel wok. Foil. Beer cans. a 30" diameter cut culvert fire ring. A 36" long 14" wide rusty steel top off of an old stove with 3 10" holes in it. Duct tape can be involved.

My thoughts are to build the antenna on site from other components that will be reused later or are reused from consumed items (beer cans).

Ideas...
1. Flip the wok over, connect the magnetic antenna to the base of it for a ground plane. Cut the tops and bottoms off of 3 beer cans, flatten them out some to form a roughly parabolic reflector strung together with duct tape. Using a couple of sticks and more tape, fix the reflector about 2" from the non-signal side of the antenna. Effort ~ 30 mins.

2. Put the wok right side up, set the magnetic antenna in the center of it. Tilt the set on it's side to use the wok as a quasi-dish reflector. Point at the station's magnetic heading.
Effort ~ 5 mins.

3. Skip the magnetic mount antenna. Cover the old stove top with 1 layer of foil. Run a 2-3" diameter stick down the center and tie it off with duct tape. Use 8 20" long pieces of stripped copper wire bent into 10" V shapes. Duct tape 10" sections of insulated stranded wire between 3 of the 4 V shaped antenna sections on each side, skipping the same one on both sides. Then patching from the non-skipped inside set to the portable TV's antenna port.
Effort ~ 1.5 hrs.

4. Try to build a proportional wave-form dipole and hang it from a tree. The catch with these is getting the length right. Any idea how long it would have to be to optimize channel 7? I could probably string it vertical 20' - but the trees up there aren't much taller than that.

Any other ideas? ]]> Electronic Toys Grench http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/335250-ultra-portable-homemade-hdtv-antenna.html HAM and CB install Questions http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/334244-ham-cb-install-questions.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:13 GMT HAM and CB Setup:

So I know that several people have this setup, and I'm interested in doing it to my rig. I'd love advice and some technical help with it.

I am taking my HAM certification test soon, and anyone can use a CB. Some of the people I offroad with have only HAM or only CB, (mostly the latter, because they're too lazy to take the bloody test), so I want to put both on my rig. Right now I'm looking at this gear: Ideas courtesy of Chaldaean's CB antenna install advice, Alvaro's truck pics, Brentbba's K400C lip mount thread, Brentbba's installation with pics, Brentbba's Uniden 510/520 post. These are a great help.... Now on to the list... This is what I'm looking at putting onto my 1991 FJ80 LandCruiser. Currently I have nothing in the second Din, the ashtray is still stock, and I have the OEM roof rack (custom lightbar coming soon though for the front). I cannot drill holes into the roof (and I have a sunroof), and I don't want a mag mounted unit. What's everyone's opinion on the items on this list? I want to mount the HAM on one side of the hatch and the CB on the other side, running the wires up to (in an ideal world)a single din mounted dual function HAM / CB. I'm actually looking at Christo's mod for the Ashtray. Read through the list and let me know.


HAM:
Yaesu FT 2900R
OR
Yaesu FT 8900
Diamond K400C trunk / hatchback mount
Not sure which antenna yet, but I'm thinking about a Comet SBB25 antenna and an 18 inch dual band antenna (Comet SBB1)

CB:
Uniden 510/520
Firestick 4' CB Antenna
K400SNMO Trunk / hatchback Mount
1 FireStik SS3M Stainless Steel CB Antenna Spring SS-3M
1 FireStik R1A External Locking Quick Antenna Disconnect - to remove the antenna when not offroading, or when going into areas where clearance will be an issue. (like a drivethru :flipoff2:)

How does that setup sound?

Now here are my questions for all you CB and HAM nuts that know way more about any of this than I do. Firstly, I'm working under the assumption that no one manufactures a radio that broadcasts on both HAM and CB frequencies... If that's not right, please speak up.

1. Would Christo's ashtray CB mount work for me, in my 1991 FJ80?

2. What type of coax should I use (specific brands would be appreciated) to get the cables into the cabin, and then to get to the front center console?

3. Can anyone explain how they ran the coax through the hatch and to the console for the console mounts? (Like what kind of coax did you use to prevent pinching of the connection, and where did you run the cable inside the cab?) I'm trying to keep the interior looking nearly stock... (minus having the antenna mounts on the outside and a CB and HAM mounted in the dash....) PICTURES would be wonderful.

Thanks for your helpful advice ]]> Electronic Toys Appolyon http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/334244-ham-cb-install-questions.html Anyone ever install a CB in a Tuffy? http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333965-anyone-ever-install-cb-tuffy.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:23:14 GMT I have the Tuffy model that has the spot for a DIN size stereo and I was wondering if anyone has... I have the Tuffy model that has the spot for a DIN size stereo and I was wondering if anyone has ever installed a Standard sized CB in this DIN slot.

I know the DIN slot is not big enough for the CB, but it looks like that with a Air powered saw, I could get it trimmed enough to get it to fit.

I know someone may say, "Why don't you put your stereo in the DIN slot of the Tuffy and the CB where the stereo goes. I thought of that, but I want to be able to lock BOTH up in the Tuffy. Only the stereo would be safe.

Using this way I could lock the faceplate for the stereo in the Tuffy and the CB would be in the DIN slot of the Tuffy. Get it?

What do you guys think? :hhmm: ]]> Electronic Toys JLH911 http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333965-anyone-ever-install-cb-tuffy.html yaesu 7800 ext. cord http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333795-yaesu-7800-ext-cord.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:48:22 GMT Looking for one and it looks like there are the same as a phone cord...No? If not, does anyone... Looking for one and it looks like there are the same as a phone cord...No?

If not, does anyone have one to sell or can steer me in the direction of a dealer for one? Is there a generic cord that might work? ]]> Electronic Toys copasspupil http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333795-yaesu-7800-ext-cord.html Anybody running a road GPS with free traffic info? Ads obtrusive? How to delete? http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333686-anybody-running-road-gps-free-traffic-info-ads-obtrusive-how-delete.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:11:46 GMT About to pull the trigger on a road GPS, very likely from Costco and very likely a Garmin. Both of... About to pull the trigger on a road GPS, very likely from Costco and very likely a Garmin. Both of the ones they have have the free lifetime traffic info feature. What they fail to advertise widely, of course, if the fact that, IIUC, it comes with ads.

Anybody that has one of these or similar could comment on how obtrusive these ads are? How often do they pop up and how do you close them when they show up? (I believe you can deactivate the feature altogether, thankfully.) ]]> Electronic Toys e9999 http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333686-anybody-running-road-gps-free-traffic-info-ads-obtrusive-how-delete.html Yaesu 7900 install in an 80 http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333676-yaesu-7900-install-80-a.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:47:29 GMT I picked up my ham radio and antenna the other day and was able to complete the install over the... I picked up my ham radio and antenna the other day and was able to complete the install over the weekend. I went with the Yaesu 7900 radio, Comet SBB-5 antenna and used a Diamond K-400 mount.

Besides the benefit of having a dual band I really wanted a radio with a detachable face for more flexibility with where I mounted it and to minimize electronics clutter up front. Since I live in sunny San Diego and have never used or intend to use my rear heater I removed the rear heater switch and mounted the faceplate in it's location and it is a perfect fit. I mounted the body of the radio under the drivers seat and ran the extension cable under the conole and routed it behind the dash and into the faceplate.

So far I love this location as it gives ease of use while driving when I am able to rest my arm on the shifter and work the controls by feel. I am very surprised at how loud the stock radio speaker is and do not think I will need an external speaker.
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]]> Electronic Toys Dan2722 http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333676-yaesu-7900-install-80-a.html Real Time Laptop Help for Newbie? SD Card http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333406-real-time-laptop-help-newbie-sd-card.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:05:21 GMT So I'm a schmo. Bought a nice-ish laptop some years ago, just recently gots the wifi @ home...

Thought I'd pop out the SD card from camera to upload pix ('steada pulln out the cables), and.... mighta screwed the pooch.

How does one remove a mid-size (dont' know the lingo, sorry) SD card from the 'fullish'-size adapter, so as to fit said adapter into the slot?

Nope, bent paper-clip ain't worked so far, n I mite b :hillbilly:, but I still don't wanna poke metal into electric outlets.

















Okay, so I do, but I theoretically know it will end badly, so.... :meh:


Cross posting to chat. ]]> Electronic Toys sirenmoses http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/333406-real-time-laptop-help-newbie-sd-card.html used cheap garmin 276c??? http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/332983-used-cheap-garmin-276c.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:14:02 GMT Some one have any info? THX! www.jeepperu.com (http://www.jeepperu.com) Some one have any info?

THX!

www.jeepperu.com ]]> Electronic Toys jeepperu http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/332983-used-cheap-garmin-276c.html Using a GPS to Find Speed Traps? http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/332519-using-gps-find-speed-traps.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:45:08 GMT ok I have a GPS which is cool, but I found this online and wondered if it works like it says it... ok I have a GPS which is cool, but I found this online and wondered if it works like it says it does, basicly you down load poi maps that are updated as needed. when your moving around in your car, it 'alerts you' to 'known' speed traps and traffic cameras.

Sounds cool ( I want it), does anyone on here use something like this? I think there are a couple of sites that do this. this is the one I was looking at.

http://phantomALERT-review.blogspot.com/ ]]> Electronic Toys jimmayor007 http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/332519-using-gps-find-speed-traps.html Tip: protect your electronics gizmos screens! http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/332495-tip-protect-your-electronics-gizmos-screens.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:58:48 GMT I'll volunteer this as I think it is great.

I've been doing this for a while with a perfect success history.


I've taken to covering all my screens on little electronics gizmos with transparent "scotch" office tape. Basically, I just tape the screen up. My experience has been that the viewing is not adversely affected at all. In fact, it may reduce glare. But more importantly, the tape will protect from scratches on the screen.

I just removed a few minutes ago the tape from my phone and GPS. Had been on for a couple of years and was just now peeling off. Looked ugly. Scratched up. Well, under the (removable) tape the screen was in perfect shape. Like new. Not a scratch. Takes a minute to put new one on, and I'm good for another year or more.


YMMV, you may want to try out a bit of tape first in an inconspicuous area to make sure it comes off OK etc.

IIRC, "glossy" transparent tape worked better than "satin". More transparent.

Very useful for stuff that gets tossed in a pocket or bag or glovebox.

HTH. ]]> Electronic Toys e9999 http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/332495-tip-protect-your-electronics-gizmos-screens.html 35 MM Slide Film Scanner / converter http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/331854-35-mm-slide-film-scanner-converter.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:10:38 GMT Can anyone recommend a good scanner? I purchased one from Costco several years ago and am not at... Can anyone recommend a good scanner? I purchased one from Costco several years ago and am not at all happy with it. The electronic image it makes is lacking in any sharpness or contrast.

I have thousands of slides to convert.

Suggestions for a quality unit.

BigJim ]]> Electronic Toys FJ40_owner http://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/331854-35-mm-slide-film-scanner-converter.html