Antenna Questions

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hntashdjian

hntashdjian

Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Threads
83
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558
Location
Burbank, CA
Tommorow ill be taking the ham technician test and then driving straight to HRO. (Assuming I pass the test :clap:)

Im pretty sure I want the Yaesu 8800.

Now the question is which antenna to get. I searched and couldnt find exactly what I was looking for.

I want to mount it on the rear hatch lip of my 80. Which antenna is the best comprimise between quality, repection and flexibility.

I will be driving in low branch areas, so It would need to be flexible. Last week when I was at HRO, the employee had K400 style mount on his hatch, and I liked that style.


Thanks in advance,


Harry
 
Harry - many of us use the K400 hatch mount - it's worth the $$.

For antennas - I run the Comet SBB-7 on the highway - pretty tall, but great range. For trail use the Comet SBB-1 has lots of fans here on mud! It's short and flexible, but w/o much compromise at all on range from longer antennas. It's a 1/4 wave vs 5/8 wave antenna that the SBB07 is. You should know the basic difference for your test tomorrow. :flipoff2: Best of luck an post up when you've passed tomorrow.

I do run both with my 8800 an am very happy.

Edit - as far as I know Yaesu/HRO is still running the promo that gets you the detachable head unit kit for free on the FT-8800 until 1.31.09
 
Last edited:
Brentbba said:
Harry - many of us use the K400 hatch mount - it's worth the $$.

For antennas - I run the Comet SBB-7 on the highway - pretty tall, but great range. For trail use the Comet SBB-1 has lots of fans here on mud! It's short and flexible, but w/o much compromise at all on range from longer antennas. It's a 1/4 wave vs 5/8 wave antenna that the SBB07 is. You should know the basic difference for your test tomorrow. :flipoff2: Best of luck an post up when you've passed tomorrow.

I do run both with my 8800 an am very happy.
Click to expand...
Brent,

I read the book, but to be honest, I dont think it does a good job explaining details. In my opinion, they made the test toooo easy.

You think the SBB-5 will be ok on the trails? Its foldable, so if it hits a tree, wont it fold back ?
I dont want to have two antennas, unless I have to.


Harry
 
Didn't look at that one. The foldability is just to be able to fold the antenna down for garages, etc. isn't it?

If you run trails frequently enough the SBB-1 would probably be a better choice.

I agree about the test - guy that did the review I attended basically said you could miss all the questions that had anything to do with electronic formulas, frequencies, wave length calc's etc. and STILL pass the test!

I was way, way over prepared and finisned all 35 questions in less than 5 minutes w/o missing one question.

If you're passing the online practice exams in the 90th percentile and above with regularity, don't sweat. You'll be on the air in about two weeks!
 
hntashdjian said:
Brent,

I read the book, but to be honest, I dont think it does a good job explaining details. In my opinion, they made the test toooo easy.

You think the SBB-5 will be ok on the trails? Its foldable, so if it hits a tree, wont it fold back ?
I dont want to have two antennas, unless I have to.


Harry
Click to expand...

Brentbba said:
Didn't look at that one. The foldability is just to be able to fold the antenna down for garages, etc. isn't it?

If you run trails frequently enough the SBB-1 would probably be a better choice.

I agree about the test - guy that did the review I attended basically said you could miss all the questions that had anything to do with electronic formulas, frequencies, wave length calc's etc. and STILL pass the test!

I was way, way over prepared and finisned all 35 questions in less than 5 minutes w/o missing one question.

If you're passing the online practice exams in the 90th percentile and above with regularity, don't sweat. You'll be on the air in about two weeks!
Click to expand...

Harry,
First, congrats as it sounds like you passed the Tech. I agree with Brent that if you score well in the online tests then you will do well. I busted my keester studying for both the Tech and General test and I think that you can see the difficulty level rise progressively. I'm studying for the Extra now and let's just say there is work still to be done before I will feel comfortable sitting for it. The difficulty level is definitely higher.

I am also following this thread to see where you guys end up on trail antennas, most importantly fold over features. Right now I run the Comet SB14 and it just has the spring loaded manul fold over feature, i.e., get out, pull it up and fold it back. I'll be interested in your final choice and its features. Again, congratulations.
John
 
For what you are doing, again the SBB-1. Haven't found anything that comes close as far as compactness for off-roading. You do give up some distance though. It's a trade-off.
 
Harry - how'd you do? Do we have another ham operator?
 
Brentbba said:
Harry - how'd you do? Do we have another ham operator?
Click to expand...
Brent,

YES, we do have a new HAM operator. I missed two questions, which was kinda annoyed me, but oh well. Now the FCC site is the first on my favorates list untill my I get a callsign.

On another note, has anyone ever joined a repeater group ?

The PAPA group organized the test saturday and I got a chance to talk to a coupe of Elmers. They have a nice group of repeaters that covers anywer in California below Santa Barbara all the way to Mexico, and the Arizona border.

Anyone can use one repeater at any given time without fees, but if you want repeater linking, then you would have the join the group and the fee is $120 per year.

The reason I ask is, because both my buddy and I want to be in communication range at all times(dont ask why, we just want to have fun). He has a ranch in Temecula and if he is there, and if im dove hunting in Maricopa, we want to compare bird counts without a cell phone.

Harry
 
hntashdjian said:
Brent,

YES, we do have a new HAM operator. I missed two questions, which was kinda annoyed me, but oh well. Now the FCC site is the first on my favorates list untill my I get a callsign.

On another note, has anyone ever joined a repeater group ?

The PAPA group organized the test saturday and I got a chance to talk to a coupe of Elmers. They have a nice group of repeaters that covers anywer in California below Santa Barbara all the way to Mexico, and the Arizona border.

Anyone can use one repeater at any given time without fees, but if you want repeater linking, then you would have the join the group and the fee is $120 per year.

The reason I ask is, because both my buddy and I want to be in communication range at all times(dont ask why, we just want to have fun). He has a ranch in Temecula and if he is there, and if im dove hunting in Maricopa, we want to compare bird counts without a cell phone.

Harry
Click to expand...

Harry,
Congratulations. Now get out that wallett and get yourself over to the "candy store" and get some gear.:grinpimp:
John
 
Congrats Harry! - Wait about 10 days to two weeks for the FCC database to be updated, then you're good to go.

Most repeaters themselves are 'open'. TASMA has a complete list of SoCal repeaters - both open and private. They provide the code for the open repeaters.

I'm going to go to a meeting of a repeater group down here in south OC that has a few repeaters. Spoken to a few of them. Their repeaters do have IRLP and Echolink. One of the guys privately gave me the code to use for Echolink on their repeaters. IIRC their annual fee is $70. Another popular repeater here in OC is CLARA - Claremont Repeater association. Private repeater with lots of activity, but a fee similar to what the group you've found has. Listen awhile on their repeaters and go to a meeting and meet a few of them.

Once you have your license - look into Echolink - it's easy to download and use. The verification process is a little of a PITA and you'll need your printed copy of your license to get through it, but it's an understandable process to limit it to use by licensed operators. I use it to 'talk' with my old scoutmaster 'Elmer' back in Illinios all the time and you can literally talk around the world via the internet. Bought the cheapest mic for the computer at Best Buy for it and it's great.
 
I got my call sign yesterday :bounce:. Dammm that was fast.

KI6UVZ

Ill be at HRO saturday early morning waiting for them to open. Im probably going to annoy the hell out of them with all my questions.

You guys think the extra bands that is available on the 8900 vs the 8800 will ever be useful ?


Harry
 
That was fast! Already to 'U' Wow!

HRO = Toy Store hams. I didn't look at the 8900. Figured even if someday I went after the General class that I'd predominantly be in the 2M band. The 8800 was highly recommended to me by several here on the board using it and more importantly my Elmer, who's been a ham probably as long as I've been alive. He's a mod on the Yahoo FT-8800 board, helped the guy in England that sells the programming software available on the internet to program the 8800 debug and test the software, etc. You get the idea.

If you end up with the 8800, let me know and perhaps we can get together and I can program your 8800 with the software and cable I've got.

I use the program that HRO sells. You have to purchase a serial to USB adapter to use it! Most think the software on the internet is easier.

Have fun! BTW - the HRO guys here in Anaheim/Orange were very helpful, friendly and patient.
 
As to the usefulness of the extra bands on the 8900 v. 8800 I'm no expert, just got my license myself. More experienced folks told me that the best way to purchase your first rig is to look at your intended use now and what your interests are. Read some in the QST mag and on boards about what in ham radio might interest you in the near future then buy a radio that you can "grow into." Something good for now and a little ways into the future. With all that said I'm looking for a good deal now on an 8900.


Brentbba said:
..... He's a mod on the Yahoo FT-8800 board.....
.
Click to expand...


Brent,
Do you have a link that you can pass on to the board that you are referring to? Is there also one out there for the 8900 and the VX-7?
Thanks,
John
 
Here's the link to the Yahoo 8800 group. Haven't looked to see about an 8900 or VX-7 group.

FT-8800R : FT-8800R
 
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