I finally took my amateur radio exam yesterday evening. I only planned to take the Technician exam but they were encouraging people to go ahead and try to take the General exam. So I did, and passed. Yay!

So budget permitting (sigh) I'm thinking about buying something like a Yaesu FT-857D radio and a pair of antennas to mount on Dodge Ram style mounts on the two front fenders. On the driver side fender I would have a permanently mounted dual band antenna. On the passenger side fender I might mount something like a Terlin Outbacker HF antenna, see http://www.outbacker.com.au/usa_mobile-154.php. Here's some discussion: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/230. It's too tall to leave on all the time (couldn't get into garage).

It looks beefy enough for off-road use. I found it on my own, but a guy I work with says he has one that he doesn't use and that he would "give me a deal" if I bought his.

Any experience / comments regarding that antenna?

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2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank

For what it's worth, I ended up buying a set of Hamsticks (40m, 20m, 17m and 10m) for HF. Those are going to hook up to quick disconnects to a Firestik Dodge Ram mount on the passenger (?) front fender. Ordered the antennas from the manufacturer and the Firestik mount from Walcott.

For UHF/VHF I ordered a Larsen NMO 2/70 B dual band antenna and their Dodge Ram mount. That's going on the front fender. For a radio I ordered a Yaesu FT-857D with an LDG FT-meter that is specifically for the 857D and 897D radios. The radio will go under the passenger seat, and the faceplate is to be mounted to a Lido LM-300 floormount with gooseneck.

Everything's ordered, just have to wait for parts and then install. Ordered the radio and Larsen parts from hamradio.com and the Lido gooseneck mount from the manufacturer.

Ernie KF7NUC

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2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank

So if they find my bleached bones on the flats of Death Valley someday, they'll say "Hey, at least he had maps and a radio!"

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2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank

I'm thinking about going for my HR license too

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Zack A.
2005 Rocky Mountain Ed.
W4ZWA