[ADXA] Advice for Mobile Operations

[Comcast]

First, ditch the mag mount and get a lip mount.  When you install the lip mount, make sure the set screws get through to bare metal and your grounding issue is solved.  The little Tarheel a much better antenna than the ATAS. I’ve used both and the Little Tarheel stood up to years of Chicago winters, where I went through two ATAS antennas in two years.  I worked a lot of dx mobile with an 857, a lip mount and a Tarheel. 

Bruce Plantz
K9oz at comcast.net


> On Oct 30, 2020, at 11:10 AM, Trent Fleming <trent.fleming at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Good morning,
> 
> Slightly off-topic, but I do intend to work DX as much as possible from the vehicle.
> 
> I recently upgraded my FT-8900 to an 857D in my Tahoe.  I'm using a mag mount with a 40m ham stick. I have the radio in the back of the unit, with the separation kit using a Lido floor mount (which I'm very happy with, and actually used with my 8900 as well.
> 
>  Earlier this week I drove a big circle from Memphis to Columbus Ohio back through Southern Illinois and on to Memphis.  I was extremely pleased with the performance of this setup from a receiving standpoint.  Sunday afternoon I listened to several contest stations from Europe, South America and the Caribbean working stations in North America, Asia, etc. 40, 20, and 15 were all very readable.
> 
> Monday afternoon and evening, as well as Tuesday afternoon and evening, I listened to domestic stations on 80, 40, and 20.  I was able to listen in on the Arkansas Razorback net at 630pm both nights, hearing not only net control but many of the check ins.
> 
> At this point, in spite of my antenna analyzer showing a good match around 7.2 mhz, I am unable to transmit with any power due to high SWR.  I also have significant noise on 40 and 20 when accelerating, but very little noise at cruising speeds on any band, or while idling.
> 
> So, I have some work to do, but I have these questions for those of you who operate mobile HF
> 
> 1) do you ground the radio to the car body?  If so, how?
> 2) what type of engine noise suppression, if any, have you used?
> 3) is the magnetic mount less than ideal?
> 4) I'm looking at the ATAS-120, versus the Tarheel antenna.  I think the tarheel, with a lip mount on the back lid of the Tahoe looks like a good idea.  I also see much better reviews on the Tarheel vs the ATAS-120
> 5) Thinking about trying my LDG remote tuner (which I used at the base of my 43' vertical antenna) on the hamstick to see how it does
> 
> Thank you for any and all suggestions - I am primarily interested in responses from those who have successfully implemented mobile HF.
> Feel free to respond directly if you feel this is too far off topic for the list.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Trent
> N4DTF
> EM55
> -- 
> Trent Fleming
> 
> 
>  My blog on banking topics:
> 
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> 
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> 
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