[Mobile-Portable] Hybrids

[Ed Harris, KE4SKY / WQAX587]

My agency has 26 Toyota Prius and Ford Escape hybrid vehicles.  When doing equipment installs and pulling current from fuse blocks or the main buss the tech must be VERY familiar with the electrical layout of the vehicle, because numerous circuits carry potentially lethal voltages.   

Our vehicles have GPS, mobile data terminals and 800 Mhz Motorola Smartnet trunking radios in them.  We've been using all glass-mount antennas rather than drilling holes for NMO to preserve the resale value of the vehicles.  All the hybrid vehicles which I am familiat with also have one or more 13.8VDC power ports using cigarette lighter plug adapters which are intended for cell phone mobile chargers, laptops, etc.
I have used these succesfully to power a dual-band VHF/UHF ham rig.  Finding a place where a mag-mount will work reliably on a Prius can be a problem there is so much plastic.  For temporary use I've had the best result using a Radio Shack window clip mount and a Comet CH722A, rigid dual-band whip with BNC connector.  These have been discontinued, but can be found at hamfests.  Another option is a Smiley solid metal 1/4 wave 2m whip, which will work work "acceptably" at UHF.  

--
Ed Harris 
VA RACES, Inc. 
Deputy State Emergency Radio 
Officer for Training and Safety 
(w) 703-324-5224 
(mobile) 703-501-1400 



-------------- Original message from robert t <nodak2000 at yahoo.com>: -------------- 


> Does anyone have any experience of knowledge of ham 
> operation from any of the hybrids that are becoming 
> more numerous and will continue to do so? I do not 
> own one but probably will in the not too distant 
> future. So far I have test driven the: Toyota Prius, 
> Honda Accord, and Ford Escape(SUV). 
> Robert N6OI 
> 
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