Ham Radio Installation Pics

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

I'll be running around in the truck some on Saturday. Got to pack for summer camp tho. I'll be on the road Sunday morning at 7:30 headed north on I-5.

Curious questions Dave - did you have to set anything on the radio to access the repeaters? It looks like it's all automatic on the radio (shifts and all).

I'm thinking of monitoring the national simplix on one side and scanning on the other. What's your experience/preference been so far? I'd at least like to get a little set up before next week's trip an perhaps talk to some hams to and from Kernville.
 
No worries on Saturday.. might not even have the radio in by then.

Nope, just repeaters and the PL TONE if the repeaters uses one.. or else you won't be able to use it. Basically the tone kicks the repeater on for use. Yeah the offset is usually pre-programmed in for whatever freq your on.

I usually monitor national simplex... and never really hear much... Last time out someone called me off my license plate on the 395.. that was kind of cool. Another time i noticed another HAM radio user with a built exterra and waived my mic in the window and waited and up came the other user on national simplex. Most of the time i monitor and call out "callsign monitor 146.520 on whatever trail or area im in" for emergency or whatever. Many times when you do that people are listening and key up and say hello.

But yeah, monitor and let them know you are and you can chat with someone on the way up.
 
SOCALFJ said:
Nope, just repeaters and the PL TONE if the repeaters uses one.. or else you won't be able to use it. Basically the tone kicks the repeater on for use. Yeah the offset is usually pre-programmed in for whatever freq your on.
Click to expand...

That's the piece I need to figure out how to do.
 
Brentbba said:
I'll be running around in the truck some on Saturday. Got to pack for summer camp tho. I'll be on the road Sunday morning at 7:30 headed north on I-5.

Curious questions Dave - did you have to set anything on the radio to access the repeaters? It looks like it's all automatic on the radio (shifts and all).

I'm thinking of monitoring the national simplix on one side and scanning on the other. What's your experience/preference been so far? I'd at least like to get a little set up before next week's trip an perhaps talk to some hams to and from Kernville.
Click to expand...

Brent -

You should consider checking in with the guys at Outdoor Adventure.net. http://oausa.net I know you joined a while back, they may be helpful?

BTW Nice install. :)
 
gon2srf said:
Brent -

You should consider checking in with the guys at Outdoor Adventure.net. http://oausa.net I know you joined a while back, they may be helpful?

BTW Nice install. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks - weekly net with other 4x4 enthusiasts- nice! I'll have to watch the site more frequently!
 
Brent,

That looks like a good spot for the control head, well done!
Did you happen to ask at HRO if the backlight of the 8800 can be changed to green? I gotta be green:)
 
boydmick said:
Brent,

That looks like a good spot for the control head, well done!
Did you happen to ask at HRO if the backlight of the 8800 can be changed to green? I gotta be green:)
Click to expand...

Orange is the only color backlight on the 8800. It's really easy on the eyes and has good contrast. But green would be nice. If you want green, you could step up to the kenwood 710.
 
Brent,

looks really good. What antenna are you running? It looks like a comet, but cant tell. I just picked up a comet SBB1NMO for the trail and it works really well. I love that mount too. I may go that route as I am getting tired of the mag mounts.
 
sdnative said:
Orange is the only color backlight on the 8800. It's really easy on the eyes and has good contrast. But green would be nice. If you want green, you could step up to the kenwood 710.
Click to expand...

I like the Kenwood, I was just hoping to save a few $$ if there was an easy way to convert the 8800.
 
boydmick said:
Brent,

That looks like a good spot for the control head, well done!
Did you happen to ask at HRO if the backlight of the 8800 can be changed to green? I gotta be green:)
Click to expand...

Get over it Boyd! hehehe :flipoff2:

sdnative said:
Brent,

looks really good. What antenna are you running? It looks like a comet, but cant tell. I just picked up a comet SBB1NMO for the trail and it works really well. I love that mount too. I may go that route as I am getting tired of the mag mounts.
Click to expand...


SBB1 that several guys here are running. Diamond K400 mount was twice the cost of the antenna, but I do like it. Every axis adjustable. Cruiserdrew (Andy), who know's his stuff loves this antenna for trail use as it's very flexible. HRO said it takes no tuning. Andy suggested in a thread in Electronics that a better antenna for general road use would be better. Even the guys at HRO suggested other antennas for general road use. One the liked was a Larsen that had a coil about half way up the antenna. Simple to switch the antennas - screw on, screw off!

I just don't have the experience yet to know the difference, etc. I haven't even had time to program in three local repeaters.
 
boydmick said:
I like the Kenwood, I was just hoping to save a few $$ if there was an easy way to convert the 8800.
Click to expand...


Hmm...what color with orange makes green? You could put a piece of film of that color over the 8800 orange display and you've got green!
 
Let me get my color wheel:rolleyes:

I think maybe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . blue?

Give it a try and tell me how it turns out:D
 
boydmick said:
Let me get my color wheel:rolleyes:

I think maybe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . blue?

Give it a try and tell me how it turns out:D
Click to expand...

ROTFLMAO! You get the blue film and I'll drive over to your house after work and we'll see if we can satisfy your anal tendencies...for color matching only...the rest is up to you! hehehe :rolleyes:

Seriously, if you can find a piece of blue film, I'd be happy to drop by. You're only 5 minutes from my office.
 
Last edited:
Brentbba said:
we'll see if we can satisfy your anal tendencies...
Click to expand...

What exactly are you proposing?:D

















I was actually thinking that you might be able to pop the faceplate and soldier in some green LEDs.

A radio will have to wait a bit for me, I'm currently aquiring parts for another (couple of) project(s). Hopefully by SNT I'll have time and funds for Ham stuff.
 
It's not a misqoute, just a selective quote. Seriously, you left yourself wide open for that one. :flipoff2:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom