[CTSARA] mobile transmitter

Thu Jul 15 22:12:50 EDT 2010

 Jon-

All good points made by others.  The first thing I'll say is that radio brand loyalty is like American car brand loyalty... Many people once they go with ICOM they never buy Yaesu, or vice versa.  I don't think that's right, IMO.

Anyway, Tony makes some good points; if you can spare the money , go for the rig that has it all.  The battery in the back makes it VERY easy to mount (most of us have to run power through the firewall, along the car (to the spare battery) and then back!!

I have a FT-90R mini mobile dual band with remote kit.  I've had some issues with it (mostly heat related.) I've also had it for more than 10 years and it still works.  ICOM makes good rigs, but they (in my experience) are larger.

The remote kit is key.  I REALLY like mine because it looks like a CD-Changer control.  You need an external speaker; check truck stops for some good ones, some not even needing any more power.  Take some time with all the pieces to really lay it out.   Some club members can help you tackle the install if you ask, and, for the price of beer, pizza, etc, you might get someone to spend a half day helping you program it (or spend the little extra money to get the programming kit).

Also, make sure whatever mic you get (even if it's an upgrade) has a DTMF pad, and at LEAST the ability to channel up/down.  Power level, PL, etc are nice features to have as well)

Tony's point on cross band repear is a good one.  There are some great uses for this that the club has been working on.  My favorite "everyday" use is HT-into-repeater.  So you can't hit the W1EE repeater from your house with an HT for the Sunday night net?  Fire up cross band repeat on your mobile, using a simplex UHF frequency.  Then sit comfortably in your house running 1W into your car, which cross bands into the W1EE repeater!  (Mental note... set my Kenwood up to do this!)

Whatever you choose, read the manual and play with it a bunch so you can navigate safely while you are driving.

 Good luck.  I'm sure whatever you choose you will be happy.

'73s
Jonathan

-----Original Message-----
From: O'Connor, Tony <tony.o'connor at credit-suisse.com>
To: CTSARA at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Thu, Jul 15, 2010 3:26 pm
Subject: Re: [CTSARA] mobile transmitter

Jon, 

I have a Yaesu FT-7900R dual bander, which I love.  It was about $260

when I got it about 7 months ago.  It also has a removeable control unit

for remote mounting, and at the time I got mine the remote mounting kit

(a bracket for the control unit and extension cords for the control

cable and speaker -- you'll need an external speaker) was included for

free.  My wife has a Volvo w/ the battery in back, too, so I figured

that when I got it as a hand-me-down (she gets the new cars), I'd

remote-mount the radio.  

One thing you should know is that the FT-7900 does NOT have cross-band

repeat.  The same radio with cross-band repeat is the FT-8800 at about

$320.  The FT-8900 adds 6 and 10 meters and is about $360, I think.  If

I were going to do it again, I would seriously consider spending the

extra $100 for the 8900, although that means another antenna, too!

73,

Tony

KB1SUN

-----Original Message-----

From: ctsara-bounces at mailman.qth.net

[mailto:ctsara-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jon Shapiro

Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 1:48 PM

To: CTSARA at mailman.qth.net

Subject: [CTSARA] mobile transmitter

Dear members,

                I want to purchase a new 2 meter 70 cm  transmitter for

my

car. It must be easy to install. I am considering the ICOM IC-208H which

has

a removable control panel. I want to install it my Volvo wagon.   Put

the

control unit on  the console, and the works in the rear. Battery is in

the

back too.   Price of this unit is moderate, $379.95.  

                If I want to play ham games, it seems I need one. My

IC-80AD

will not reach the repeater from Greenwich, so I need more power

                Is this a good choice. Does any one in SARA own one and

have

something nice to say. It should be reasonable to program. Will

Lentini's

set it up?

                What is your favorite mobile rig.  I  would like HF,

too,

but I don't want to over reach on the installation and cost.

Let me  hear from  you.

Jonathan Shapiro

AB1HI

jon at giciman.com

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