Posted: 3/9/2008 11:34:49 PM EDT
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I'm looking to put HF in my truck when I upgrade... I'm pretty much set on an IC-7000 though if someone wants to talk me out of it I'm all ears (still trying to do this on an E-4 salary) My question is regarding antennas.... I've been looking at a Hi-Q antenna... Not sure how much I'll be doing 160 but 80-10 is what I'm definitely looking for... I'm thinking of mounting it at the back of the bed of my truck (drivers side) with a fold over mount- this way (I think at least) I can run NVIS while mobile with the antenna laying down (1 ft extension and cap-hat) and when I have the room I can put the whip on top of that and run it vertical.... will this work? from what I understand about NVIS it should but I've never tried it.... also does anyone have a length of say the Hi-Q 3-80 or 4-80 from the bottom to the top of the coil? that way I can see if it will fit in my bed.... on their website it says the military version is only 52" tall... Ideas? suggestions? First thing on my plate is to upgrade but I'm starting to save for the radio/antenna as of now.... I live in the barracks and when/if I get out of the military I'll be in an apartment from what I can see so running mobile is the only way I'll be able to operate. also one more question- If I remote mount the head of the radio... it puts the display in the front but what about where the mic attaches... will I have a mic wire running up to the front of my truck also? I'm sure I'll have plenty of other questions..... thanks in advance -Roth |
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I can't speak from personal experience on the antennas since I still haven't decided if I'll get enough use out of a mobile HF rig. However, I've done some research and have talked to a lot of people. I was almost sold on the High Sierra Sidekick until I talked to some people. I can't remember the specifics but I believe it's the connector that isn't wired very well and is susceptible to breakage. One of my friends bought one to replace his ATAS-120 and had to send it back. Not sure if he's replaced it. fwiw he went through two ATAS antennas also. Those I've talked to with the Tarheel (any variety) have been very pleased. I don't think I've heard anything bad about them from folks I know. A friend of mine is outfitting a 38' RV with the 7000 and the Tarheel 100 or 200 (I forget which). |
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I have been running HF mobile for about a year now. It is a hell of a lot of fun. I am running a Yaesu 857 and I highly recommend it as a mobile rig. The Icom 7000 is without question a better, more feature packed radio; however, I doubt if you will be able to utilize all it has to offer while mobile. If you were going to go back and forth between the house and pickup, then I could see spending the extra money on the 7000 but if it is going to be mobile only, I would go with the much more simple 857. If you remote mount the head, you will need to run a wire for the microphone, and external speaker, and a key. As for antennas, I am using a duel band (UHF/VHF) antenna mounted on the roof, a Yaesu ATAS 120 mounted on the drivers side rear fender, and I have a mount on the passenger side rear fender that I can use with hamsticks or Hustler antennas. The second mount was put in primarily to use for 60, and 75 meters which arn't covered by the ATAS120. As for the ATAS120, I haven't had any problems at all with it. The ease of use and low profile are especially attractive to me. As I posted on another recent thread, in the last 2-3 weeks I have worked Equador, Cuba, Quaduline, the boat taking the guys to Clipperton, Paraquay and a couple other countries. A couple of those were through pretty significant pileups. The ATAS120 may not be the best antenna on the market, but it works quite well. Here is what I am using for antenna mounts on my pickup: http://www.geotool.com/antmount.htm That mount, at least to me, seems to be the best solution for a pickup truck. The Hamstick antennas are cheap, and they work well in my experience. I wouldn't really want to be stuck with them as my only antenna because you can't switch bands without physically getting out and switching antennas, but they work and are cheap. One other note on mounting antennas, and this is where I screwed up. Mount your tallest antenna on the drivers side of the vehicle so you arn't hitting tress, people, etc on the side closest to the edge of the road. |
| Don't have any mobile HF yet, save for 10M, but I plan on putting my Icom 706MkIIG in the truck along with a AH-4 tuner and 102" whip. I have heard good things about that setup on 40-10M, which is all I would want to use anyways. The 102" whip is currently mounted to my rear bumper. |
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I run an IC7000 through a military grade hi-Q 5/80 antenna. I get 5/9 signal reports from Europe driving down the interstate. Hi-Q antennas are the shizz, man. You just gotta keep the coil clean with rain-x. I'm fixing to get a second IC7000 for the shack! You won't be sorry with one. If you are gonna go mobile HF you want a Hi-Q. They are big and heavy, but they actually radiate, unlike most other enlongated dummy loads. Here's a GREAT link on mobile HF, IC-7000, and Hi-Q antennas 73 |
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Sorry but I gotta keep bragging. On the way home from work I worked the Clipperton DXpedition again on 17 meters mobile.  Worked them on two bands, a bunch more to go. I could hear them on 12 meters but didn't try to work them. That will be my mission for tomorrow. I regret that I didn't even attempt to work the Ducie Island DXpedition on any band other than 17 meters. I worked that one from home, QRP, with a piece of wire lying directly on the roof of my single story house (that was my antenna). 5 Watts SSB. 
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Universal Radio has three special offers on the IC7000 thru 03/31/08. Free hat, mounting kit, and a free ARRL Repeater Directory. $1199 with $200 coupon...  See, that's the kind of prices Mrs. Drang was expecting when I told her I was getting into Amateur Radio. I suspect she was expecting me to want a Texas Tower in the backyard, too. ETA: But you're a young E4, just re-up and get yourself two or three... 
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Sorry for the late reply... good to see that the 7000 is coming down in price. As far as the Hi-Q goes.... is it worth the extra money (and space) to grab a 5 inch coil or can I go with a 2.5 or 3 inch- I ask because I was looking at the 3/80 RT-S (short model). But the big question- For HF we take our 33' whip antenna and lay it over with one of these mounts:  That's how we run NVIS off a truck- if I get that mount, and using a caphat and say the 1 foot rod I'd like to be able to lay it down almost along or just above the bedrails of my truck (I have a fiberglass bed)... would that work NVIS mobile? I'd assume it would but I'd like to make sure first  .... I'd have a support to attach the other end of the antenna (reason I'd like to get the short model Hi-Q.... They have a picture of a military model- runs 2.2-32 Mhz and is 52 inches tall.... Thanks again -Roth |
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I went with the 5 inch coil as I believe that with antennas...bigger is better. I also have the long bottom section as you really need to get the coil above whatever constitutes the top of your ground plane. I spent the extra dough and got the military model. Those Shakespear mounts are da bomb!! They ain't cheap though. Did you get that from Charlie? I run my 5/80 with the whip bowed over. It does NVIS real well that way. For DX I just untie it and let it stand up. Your config should work just fine, but I'd use a cap hat as your gonna loose some ground plane with a fiberglass bed. But that's just me. If your frame and all the metal in your truch is well bonded, you should have a hell of a setup!! 73 |