[Mobile-Portable] Choices for HF Mobile

[K7fe at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/12/2005 9:56:27 PM Pacific Daylight Time,  
wrseymour at eee.org writes:

WA6MOD


Don't worry about which radio has DSP for Mobil.  None of the work  very 
well.  Do purchase a DSP speaker.  I have ClearSpeech (now  Heil).  I would not 
operate HF mobil without it.
 
Hamstick antennas are almost dummy loads on 40 or 80 meters.  Using a  tuner 
to match an 80M one on other bands would be even worse.  A CB  whip/tuner 
would be better, but still not work as well as a Hustler or other  center loaded 
monoband antennas.  A Bug Catcher or Screwdriver are still  the best and even 
with those, "Bigger is Better".  
 
What you propose will work, just not very well.
 
Grounds and more grounds.  A receiver hitch does not have a good  ground, you 
will need to clip or bolt wide metal braid between it and the car  
body/frame.  I use copper foil about 12" wide from my mount to the car body  to help 
keep a low impedance ground at my antenna base.  Just do the best  you can.
 
You will notice every little electrical noise that your vehicle produces on  
HF.  That is one way the DSP speaker helps.  Don't forget other  vehicles are 
also noise generators as well as power lines etc.  My car has  five 
microprocessors and an electrical fuel pump that talk to me on HF in  addition to 
electronic dimmers and wiper speed controls which buzz.   Again the transceiver DSP 
does not remove the noise - - - the DSP speaker  does. 
 
73
Terry