[Elecraft] Taking the K2 in theauto ...

Tue Nov 4 01:47:00 2003

Mike,

Please don't use the cigarette lighter. It will work unreliably at best.

In my case, I went straight to the battery with a #10 stranded RED lead and to 
the battery chassis ground with a #10 BLACK lead. I fused the red lead at the 
battery. I rarely see a fused ground lead done by the commercial radio 
installers and Radio Shops I deal with.

Once inside the passenger compartment, I terminated the wires into anderson 
power poles. This line feeds a 5-port RigRunner 
(http://www.westmountainradio.com/RIGrunner.htm) so that I have multiple ports 
for clean reliable power.

Lastly I made the necessary power cables to connect the K2 and other items to 
the RigRunner. I have done this on both of my vehicles. It is worth the time 
and effort to do things this well so you can spend your time operating instead 
of troubleshooting.

You will have some noise when the engine is running. The good news is that the 
K2 Noise Blanker will deal with most, if not all, of it. I presume the DSP will 
do even better. It would also be worth your while to check out 
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/rficar.html for tips on dealing with RFI in your 
vehicle. It can come from many places you would not expect.

I have a Yaesu ATAS-100 screwdrive antenna on an MFJ 3-magnet mag mount. This 
works well on my Chevy Blazer and Chevy Full Size Truck (a.k.a Mom's Truck). I 
have added an extra ground lead from the frame of the mag mount to the chassis 
ground of my vehicles. Each one has a pigtail with a quick disconnect for this 
line for easy installation and removal of the antenna.

The combination of antenna a vehicle groundplane tends to give me (I suspect) a 
high angle of radiation, so I tend to talk further away and can't usually talk 
too close to my location. Mobile antenna selection and placement for HF is a 
science (and black art) unto itself. Try and play with your setup.

Put together a clip board of some quick reference materials including a pad of 
paper, band plans, etc. Having this info at your fingertips is helpful.

You will want a powered external speaker for the K2 to give you enough clean 
audio in your vehicle. The internal speaker often is not enough.

Lastly, use your best and safest judgment when operating. Mobile HF is a great 
way to pass the time when driving, but can also be a source of unsafe 
distractions. The memory scan function in the K2 does help with this.

HTH,

Chuck - n6dbt
K2 #1924

Note Michael Heit's stunning brilliance and Chuck's apt reply (gack!)

From:           	"Michael Heit" <[email protected]>
Send reply to:  	<[email protected]>
To:             	<[email protected]>
Subject:        	[Elecraft] Taking the K2 in theauto ...
Date sent:      	Mon,  3 Nov 2003 16:25:38 -0800

> For the list memebrs ... I'd like to wire up a connection to plug my K2 into the Cigarette lighter in my car ... has anyone on this list done that and were there any problems with noise?? What kind of antenna would be best on a car set up?? I have an Isuzu Trooper and spend a lot of time in the mountains and back roads of Montana, Washington and Idaho ...
> 73, MIke KD7YLA