[Mobile-Portable] Looking for a REAL remote HF rig

[Van van Bergen]

The Icom 706 radios have the remote set up you require. 1 push of a button 
and the head slides off the mount.
It does have HF-VHF and the MK11G also has UHF also.
The Kenwood TS480 rigs are HF only and are Remote Head only. Push of a 
Button and 1 cable( like a telephone) to remove.
The Kenwoods are in up in cost compared to the Icom. ( around $800.00 and up 
used )
The Icoms are going for $450 to $750 used, depending on the model etc.

73
Van
WD6FGB
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Buska" <D.Buska at Advantest.com>
To: <mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 11:12 AM
Subject: [Mobile-Portable] Looking for a REAL remote HF rig



Hi all,

I am looking to replace my current HF mobile rig, a Kenwood TS-120S,
with a more modern unit that is fully remote-able.  What I mean by that
is I want to have the main unit in the trunk of the car and only a
easily removable control head in the passenger area.

More details of my story.  I am currently in a 1998 Saturn SL-2 which
actual is a nice car for rigs.  It has a low dash board with a tray area
that can accommodate a pretty good size radio.  The tray area was a
couple of hidden screws which I use to hold the ends of to 1" wide
Velcro straps.  So it basically takes me about a minute to install or
remove the rig.  The problems are:

1)  The TS-120S is old generation and living in the cold north I spend
most of my 50 minute daily commute tuning and returning SSB signals from
the drift.  This is a capacitor driven pre-synthesized VFO.

2)  Even though the TS-120S is relatively small it doesn't allow for
easy removal to hall into a building with me when I park in those
locations that might not be the safest.  Therefore if I have plans one
being in such a situation during any given day I just don't bother
installing the rig.

So I am looking for a relatively low cost, $600 and down - probably
used, rig that offers a removable head.  The bulk of the rig would
remain in the car trunk where it would be secured against easy removal.
Just recently I started looking at radios.  What I found is that
manufacturers seem to be gearing the so called remote head units as
alternates to the dash board limited cars available today.  This is not
what I had in mind.  I want a control head that can be easily removed or
attached via some form of quick release.  Kind of like they offer for
car stereo systems.  At first I though the Alinco DX-70 was the answer
to my dreams.  However, I just got done talking with a seller and found
out something's that have got me wondering if my quest might be in vain.
The DX-70 provides only a mere six foot cable for the head.  However,
the mic still remains connected to the main unit.  Thus it was basically
designed to have the main unit under the seat with the head mounted
somewhere on the dash.  Plus, the head cables get attached and a screwed
on cover is placed over to protect the cable connections.  Therefore it
is not a quick disconnecting head.

I guess the thought of having to place the main unit under the seat is
not a big problem.  I could live with that.  I could make a rather
secure installation under the seat that would take a person an extensive
period of time and energy to remove.  However, I still want a control
head unit that is easy to remove, i.e. quick disconnect.

So I ask the experts here what should I be looking for?  Does such a
beast exist?  I'm only interested in HF operation.  VHF and UHF are not
mandatory.

What say ye all es 73

Don N9OO

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