Ham Radio Setup

E2 · **Posted:** Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:19 pm

Roof Rack - SBB-5 $60
Antenna - Comet K515s $70

Works great with only 1.5 watts I hit about 100 miles away! Hope to talk to you someday this is KD6TAV saying 73's all

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rickm · **Posted:** Sun Oct 19, 2008 3:21 am

is that Comet antenna made to work without a ground? did you hook a VSWR meter and check it out? The reason I ask all that is because normally, the antenna would want to have a good ground. The roof rack doesn't give it a ground.

Rick, K6SIX

E2 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:03 pm

rickm wrote:

is that Comet antenna made to work without a ground? did you hook a VSWR meter and check it out? The reason I ask all that is because normally, the antenna would want to have a good ground. The roof rack doesn't give it a ground.

Rick, K6SIX

Yes, this comet is ground independant! it states less than 1.5 swr, but if you wish I will borrow a swr meter and check it. I wanted a good gain anntenna and this as I stated is pretty good. I went with a roof rack versus one that would clamp to the edge of the rear tailgate near the rear light as the only better gain anttenna would have been 62" ( great gain 4.5 2meter and 7.2gain 440, I think those were the #'s) but if offroading that location would be prone to catching bushes and moving around a lot and wacking the truck. same if I put it on the edge of the hood. I am really happy with the performance of this antenna. it's mostly line of site as you know. we did a test one two people left both with roof mounted antennas (one drilled thru w/ 50 watts and one mag mount w/ only 5 watts) they both cut out at the same time once the went behind a mt curve. well thanks for asking. what you got? 73's

Sartori · **Posted:** Sun Oct 19, 2008 3:11 pm

Are you guys on 2 meters?

E2 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:50 pm

rickm ur in merced can you hit a repeater in fresno? A winsystem repeater? Is very busy but we could try it?

Fresno CA K6JSI 444.250 (+) 141.3 Meadow Lakes 4,580' + 40' 3847
Fresno CA K6JSI 146.790 (-) 141.3 Meadow Lakes 4,580' + 40' 3847

Sartori - did not find any linked winsystem near you. check them out at winsystem.org

rickm · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:03 pm

Comet makes some nice antennas. I knew they had some that did not require a ground and were made to mount just like you mounted yours.

I don't have any ham radios mounted in my vehicle right now, they are mostly all still packed away from a move a couple of years ago.

I do have a handheld, I'll have to try that Fresno repeater.

Satori - I do not use 2 meters at all... my theory is that the only thing 2 meters is good for is an I.F. strip LOL

:lol:

stwigg · **Posted:** Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:16 am

Hi,
I'm about to add a Yaesu 857D to my KK. And of course I'm looking for a good place to wire the power cable. Any ideas? Is there good access to the engine compartment?
Thanks!
W9SWT

E2 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 14, 2009 7:43 pm

stwigg wrote:

Hi,
I'm about to add a Yaesu 857D to my KK. And of course I'm looking for a good place to wire the power cable. Any ideas? Is there good access to the engine compartment?
Thanks!
W9SWT

Not sure. I have my antenna wire just laying in the truck right now. As I have not yet got my mobile radio and still using a handheld with no need for power. I hope to get one today for V.Day. So you questions is a good one. I'm sure some of the KK owners have punch the firewall to power up their amps for a better stereo system. I'll keep u posted as you keep me posted.

Boblemoche · **Posted:** Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:17 pm

the plastic cover just above your legs when you are driving is very easy to remove. it opens like a glovebox. then you have acess to the engine bay via a 1'' hole that has a rubber cover on it. you can plug your stuff directly on the battery like me or use the fuse box. all my arb cables went there.

E2 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:14 pm

stwigg wrote:

Hi,
I'm about to add a Yaesu 857D to my KK. And of course I'm looking for a good place to wire the power cable. Any ideas? Is there good access to the engine compartment?
Thanks!
W9SWT

Just installed my FT-8800R it was very easy. It fits nicely under the passenger seat and to get to the battery there is a rubber plug at the top of the passenger floor mat. The hardest part is really running the wire along the firewall to the battery on the driver side. And that is not really hard just some ties here and there. The head unit on my I place in the tray above the stereo head unit and it works out very nicely. The additional speaker fits nicely behind the plastic panel for the stereo just behind the a/c controls.

nightdrv · **Posted:** Fri Mar 06, 2009 12:58 pm

E2 wrote:

stwigg wrote:

Hi,
I'm about to add a Yaesu 857D to my KK. And of course I'm looking for a good place to wire the power cable. Any ideas? Is there good access to the engine compartment?
Thanks!
W9SWT

Just installed my FT-8800R it was very easy. It fits nicely under the passenger seat and to get to the battery there is a rubber plug at the top of the passenger floor mat. The hardest part is really running the wire along the firewall to the battery on the driver side. And that is not really hard just some ties here and there. The head unit on my I place in the tray above the stereo head unit and it works out very nicely. The additional speaker fits nicely behind the plastic panel for the stereo just behind the a/c controls.

Do you have an installed pic of the headunit and antenna?

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