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  1. K

    Mobile multi-band antenna for a VX-8R

    Hello all, I did a search and read quite a few discussions, but I didn't find quite what I was looking for, so I thought I'd post a fresh question. I've been using the -8R in my car for about a year, through a Comet 24M. That's worked well enough for hitting a 2m repeater that covers most...
  2. K

    FT-8800/8900 questions

    I know, but I won't be missing those little knobs spaced too closely together or the unlit buttons. How anyone can market a mobile unit without backlit buttons is beyond me. Crossband would be a very nice option to have, but not at the price of the other deficiencies. Of course, I...
  3. K

    FT-8800/8900 questions

    Okay... I ended up getting the FT-7900R. I just didn't like the very small knobs for tuning as well was the concentric knob for the squelch. I think I'll be plenty satisfied with the 7900 until I end up going HF down the road. B
  4. K

    FT-8800/8900 questions

    As I'm narrowing down my selection of what I want to buy, I have just a couple more questions, if you all will indulge me: (8900) - Just how useful is 10 and 6M FM? I know it's only a (relatively) small price increase over the 8800, but that doesn't include the added cost of an antenna...
  5. K

    Targetted DXing

    Thanks, everyone. I'll report back if all this ends up happening. He and his wife will be out for another 18 months or so. As I said, trip of a lifetime. B
  6. K

    Targetted DXing

    Hi... Let me preface by saying that all my ham experience thus far has been U/VHF and I don't even currently own an HF rig, but that may change soon. But, I do have a friend (also a general class ham like me) who is taking a trip of a lifetime with his wife, sailing around the Caribbean...
  7. K

    UHF/VHF pickup truck mounting recommendations

    I have. For the car, I'll use either this, or the K600. I can't figure out how I'd use that kind of mount on a regular cab pickup truck. I thought maybe put it on the lip of the toolbox lid, but then I'd have to drill a hole in the back to route the cable back out. Plus I'd have the antenna...
  8. K

    NMO Mount Roof Installation Question

    I'm going to go with a stake hole mount for my F150. It's a long bed so there's three sets. I'll use the middle driver's side to mount a 5/8 wave 2m/440 dual band. The first set are too close to the cab and are under a toolbox anyway, and I'd rather keep the pair by the tailgate empty because...
  9. K

    my radio is here

    Congrats. J-poles are super easy to make. I want to try out a variant of a J-pole, the Slim Jim. KD8KSX
  10. K

    UHF/VHF pickup truck mounting recommendations

    Doc - Thanks. I currently use a mag mount with my HT, but don't like how the base is leaving little abraded circles in the blue paint of my car. I try to get a coat of wax under there at least monthly and that seems to help, but for the car, a lip mount will happen sooner or later. Haven't...
  11. K

    UHF/VHF pickup truck mounting recommendations

    Hi - I have a pickup ('01 F150) and I want to mount a UHF/VHF antenna. I have a repeater friend who's considering selling me his FT-857, and if that doesn't happen, I'll be getting an FT-7900. Even if I do buy the 857, I will want to run separate U/VHF and HF antennas. As with a lot of...
  12. K

    Future APRS radios displayed on FTM350

    I'm new to APRS... why is this important, or is it just a neat 'nice to know' feature? I'm trying to draw a parallel to computers, which probably doesn't apply well. Does it make any difference to know that I'm writing this post with a Dell D830, but when I post from home it's on an iMac...
  13. K

    First mobile unit recommendations...

    Thanks for all the input. I decided to keep it simple and get an FT-7900. The vast majority of what I do mobile is repeater work. I'm an aviation nut and so I can use the 7900 to can the air band when I'm not on the repeater (my commute takes me half way around Dulles International, so that...
  14. K

    First mobile unit recommendations...

    Amen to that! Sort of like how the price of a dress my wife buys is nearly inconsequential compared to the shoes, purse, matching mani/pedi... Decisions... decisions... Then I have to think about how to mount the antenna to my '01 F150 (regular cab), preferably without drilling a hole in...
  15. K

    First mobile unit recommendations...

    Yeah, I'm aware of that. Figured that for the $50 price differential, having the extra 2 bands might be worth it. 6m might be useful crossbanding with the VX-8, but I'm fighting "capability creep" as much as I can. Thanks for the advice. Moving the other direction (in favor of frugality...
  16. K

    Aircraft HF Help

    Contact Bill Cox via Plane and Pilot Magazine (yes, he does answer emails), or contact an FBO in Gander, Newfoundland (or whatever the preferred jumping off airfield is for Westbound flights over on your side). They surely have every bit of information you need for a temporary ferry-flight...
  17. K

    First mobile unit recommendations...

    While I think that ultimately I'd like that more (better, best?), I think that adding $300 to the radio cost, plus either a duplexer to run all bands from a single ATAS120a (and the cost of that, too), or using 2 antennas. I think I decent set up based on a 857 will end up totaling something in...
  18. K

    First mobile unit recommendations...

    Good day all, What are your thoughts about an FT8900R as a first mobile unit? I've been using a VX-8R for about a year. I pretty much use repeaters to help pass the time during my commute, but I'd like to somewhat expand my capabilities, but I don't want to sink a huge amount of funds into...
  19. K

    VX-8R & APRS questions

    Thanks, Donnie! Yes, it's set on auto and in fact, I must have done something correctly as it finally got through and started txing packets about a third of the way home and kept it up the rest of the way. I had it muted but with the beeps on and it was beeping like crazy at first so I...
  20. K

    VX-8R & APRS questions

    Greetings! New to the site. I've been a HAM for a little less than a year and have had the HT for all of this time. Been nearly exclusively operating on 2m repeaters to pass the 1:30+ commute each way. I commute to the Northern VA area from Charles Town, WV. This week I bought the gps...