How i do Ham Radio with the 2350

Antennas are always a challenge on any vehicle, and ham radio antennas on PC 2350 is no ex exception.

After successfully getting this antennae system to work properly, comes the problems and issues of mounting the radios in a convenient location.

Below are some pics that show how I did A no holes installation.

The last photo is of a waterproof connection for external dipole.

Denny

What kind of screwdriver are you using and how did you ground it?  Where did you run the coax w/o drilling holes?  Is that a tuner under the radio or the control for the screwdriver?  Is that a ft100d?  I don't do much ham radio anymore since the advent of reliable cell communications, but would like to put a HF unit in my PC in the event we have an emergency that takes down cell service.  Looking for mounting points, all I find is a lot of fiberglass!  Mark

Skipper, the radio is a ft857 and the antenna is the matching ATAS.
Under it is a SCS modem to send Pactor Emails when we don't have any cell bars which is quite frequently.
Ran coax thru the doors.
Grounded antennas both to mirrors, (actually found a bare spot under each mirror), and to a convenient bolt on the door frame.

I can post more pics if u like. 

I don't do a lot of radio, as we are usually quit busy most times, but I like to do pactor and PSK.  Don't like voice so much anymore.  Mostly digital and CW.   

The 2m/440 antenna on the drivers mirror is used mainly for communicate between vehicles when my ham buddy is traveling with us. 

Otherwise the Kenwood D700 is used for GPS Tracking via APRS to show our kids, in real time, where their parents are.   

Denny,

When I looked at a mirror mount like what you did I was dismayed.  The fancy ones on my unit make it impossible.  A ladder mount was not possible because the ladder resonates strongly around 16 MHz  and completly detunes any antenna close by.  I found continuity from the luggage rack to the frame so my mount is a whip to that bar.  For listening, it is a wire over a tree limb or cicumferentially around the roof.  I operate in the space between clothes cabinets in the bedroom - a bit cramped.

Since the Pactor modem goes back a while and internet access is so available these days, I wonder where you go that is so remote.

Dick

Aah yes Dick, its a challenge for sure.

You must have different mirrors than mine.

Pretty easy for us to run out of cell bars as we do mostly national forests, blm other dry camping areas way off hi ways.  The SW is the worse for bars.  Wy mountains not much better.  So for emergencies pactor is a must.

My radio is mounted above the swivel chair. Also small desk for computers there also.
Denny

Denny,
     Where did you get the mirror mounts? I like the looks of them but have never seen any like them. I run a Icom 706MKII, With a Little Tarheel II. Right now I have it on the hood with a Diamond k400 mount, but in high winds it moves to much and comes loose at the base.

Jim KB9OMH

Jim ...  Mirror mounts are regular type that can be had at any hamfest or ham dealer.  I just am using longer "U bolts" which I got at the local hardware store.  To prevent damage to the mirror mount arm, I just simply wound some heavy wire wrap around the  U Bolts.  Here again, one could use his imagination to protect the arm.

Denny

Denny,
      Could you post a picture from the other side of the mirror for me? I think I know what you did but want to be sure

Jim KB9OMH

Will do Jim tomorrow.
Denny

Denny,
       Thanks

Jim

Jim, here you go. 

Jim, now u probably can see where I grounded from the mirror.  But also ran gnd from door frame.  Coax also runs thru door.

Denny

 Denny,
       Thanks again for the picture. I will be going to the Ft. Wayne hamfest in two weeks so I will be looking for the parts I need.

Jim

Jim, suggestion, and u know this already, but I went cheap, but buy a mount that excepts ur antenna.  I didn't and I sometimes have problem with the adapter.

Oh, so I don't mar up the mirror arm, I simply surrounded it with some rubber from bike intertube.  Not grounding the antenna thru the mount so makes no difference.

Your not probably be able to get u-bolts long enuff so I bought those at the local hardware.  As u can See, they are not stainless steel so will have to be replaced frequently.  The ones in pic are about 6 years old but seen very little road salt.
Denny

Denny,
     I going to try and send some pictures of my setup I copied off of yours. Hope they get through. Thanks for all the help. Just got it installed and getting 1.3/1.0 SWR on 40m, not bad, will be tring it out on the way to Palm Springs, CA for a 30 day caravan in the south west. Well here goes

Thank Again
Jim