Evaluate my HAM plan

[Luke84]

I am trying to piece together a HAM setup on my 1996 FZJ80. I'm going to list the parts/items I am purchasing below and would like opinions (point out things I'm forgetting or should do instead) on my plan. Step One will be to get my technician license (planning on it next week).

Radio: Yaesu FT-7900R Radio; I plan to mount the transceiver in the rear passenger side quarter panel behind the ashtray, and run the faceplate up the the center console area ( Is this possible? will I be able to run the microphone & speaker here too?) Power will come from a to-be-installed Blue Sea Circuit block, location TBD. I have a bracket in the works that I am trying to fab up in order to mount the radio. More on that later.

Antenna Setup:
Diamond NR770HB antenna on a YodaTeq mount
Amazon.com: Diamond Original NR770HB 144/440 MHz Dual-Band Mobile Antenna, Black, Gain: 3.0 / 5.5 dBi, Connector: PL-259, Fold Over, Length: 38.5": Sports & Outdoors

Mount:
Rear Antenna / Light Mount PASSENGER SIDE - FJ80 Toyota Land Cruiser Lexus LX450


Will this antenna mount to the YodaTeq Mount? I've seen that it does apparently on the forum, but will i need to purchase anything besides the antenna and the YodaTeq mount to do it? I will also need a cable, but I think I can figure that out after I get the rest set up. If I can mount the transceiver in the rear, I figure I'll need 5-6 feet at most.


Lastly, Any other recommendations? I have an SWR meter from my recent CB install, will that work/be needed with this setup? I'm considering eliminating the kick panel speaker under the steering wheel and wiring in a speaker for the Yaesu (possibly wiring to the CB as well? How could I do this?)

Overall that's about it that I can think of. I don't want to do a magnetic or roof mount. I may do a roof rack mount once I can afford a roof rack, but for now, YodaTeq will be the best I can do.

Thanks!

 

[Random Dan]

You need a little double female adapter. It attaches to the bracket and then antenna and coax thread onto it it. Something like one of these:
http://smile.amazon.com/MPD-Digital-DP-YJHA-7K4X-Connector-Dielectric/dp/B00JK01ZMI/ref=pd_sim_23_6?ie=UTF8&dpID=41BvsA0YZGL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=0B5G4S1GQDH8HF2F9WZ1
or
Amazon.com: RF coaxial coax adapter UHF female to female SO-239 SO239 with panel: Computers & Accessories

When I installed my VHF/UHF I used a noise filter to get rid of alternator whine. This is the one I used but any should do as long as it's rated for high enough current.
Amazon.com: Kenwood Original PG-3B Noise Filter between the mobile transceiver and vehicle battery.: Sports & Outdoors

You should be able to put the faceplate wherever you want if you get a long enough ribbon cable. It seems to me like it would be easier to mount the radio up front. Then you just have to run coax to the back instead of running power, speaker wiring, and ribbon cable.

 

[Luke84]

Thanks! That's exactly what I wanted to know. I'd planned on the rear mount so I could have a short antenna cable, but the trade off of shorter power and faceplate ribbon might be worth it. I wasn't sure how the faceplate was wired.

 

[1911]

I have an SWR meter from my recent CB install, will that work/be needed with this setup?

No, it won't work for 2M/70cm. You need a frequency generator in the band(s) you will be using to measure SWR. You'll need to borrow or buy a ham radio antenna analyzer to set it up right. I use the venerable old MFJ-259B, but there are much better ones on the market nowadays. The 259B won't do 70 cm either, 2 Meters is as high of frequency as it will go.

 

[Dazrin]

Old thread but I am considering the same things right now and have a couple more questions for those in the know...

First, for @Luke84, does this setup work well for you? Does it need anything more? Did you change anything?

Second, how durable is the antenna in this configuration? I am thinking I should get a spring mount between the yodaTEQ mount and the antenna. Around here many of the trails are really narrow. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[rusty_tlc]

Old thread but I am considering the same things right now and have a couple more questions for those in the know...

First, for @Luke84, does this setup work well for you? Does it need anything more? Did you change anything?

Second, how durable is the antenna in this configuration? I am thinking I should get a spring mount between the yodaTEQ mount and the antenna. Around here many of the trails are really narrow. Any thoughts or suggestions?

The antenna in the OP will snap off, been there done that. Get one with a spring mount. I also keep a rubber duck antenna in my trucks for trail use, they work fine for short range and are much more robust.
One thing not mentioned in the thread is that a direct connection to the battery is the best method for power.

 

[ChaseTruck]

I've used the same antenna, first with a magnet mount. It's rather stiff, and doesn't take well to contact with branches/trees, so the magnet solution didn't work out..

I've since ditched the magnet, and built a contraption that incorporates a spring:
Mag mount antenna for a Baofeng HT?

It's ugly, it sits on the fender of my truck, it works, but I'm still concerned about durability.

I'm not saying that my solution is the best way to go (and in fact, the RG8 cable I used won't work for sneaking it inside the truck... that one goes into the "no good deed goes unpunished" pile). I may try to make it look a bit nicer, but for now I just need a sturdy cover for the female 259 connector when the antenna is off the truck.

 

[Dazrin]

Regarding antennas, I spent some time today looking and I think I might go with a Diamond AZ507RSP.

It is 1/2 wavelength for 2M so shouldn't need the good ground plane that a 1/4 or 5/8 wavelength antenna would need, it doesn't have an open coil so it shouldn't snag on branches and stuff as easily, and it has an integral spring for when it does snag things. On the downside, it doesn't have as much gain as the NR770HB and it is only rated for 50W (vs 200W). The power shouldn't be a limitation given that right now I am using a Baofeng HT and I don't see any dual band mobile units (Yaesu, Icom, Alinco, or Kenwood) that exceed 50W anyway.

I really wish someone would make something as durable as a Firestik for a dual band UHF/VHF antenna. The lengths are in the same ballpark as a 1/2 or 5/8 wave antenna. Maybe the manufacturers figure the rubber duckies are close enough for this application and we don't really need more. I am sure there are technical difficulties involved but it doesn't seem impossible.