Ham Radio Update – Christmas….
So it was a good radio Christmas at KU7M….
I got my copy of the 2010 ARRL Handbook. I can’t believe this, but they actually sold out of the hard back editions. The next time I see Scott, I’ll have to get him to autograph it for me. :-) I have only flipped through it, but they have really improved it since current copy. (Which is actually from 1973, so I’m not surprised it has a little more material in it now. :-)
I also got my automatic antenna tuner for my K3. (And yes, I ordered it for myself and put it under the tree. I thought Rosie did a great job picking it out for me. :-) The only part I’m upset about is that the install took like all of 20 minutes and that was with me watching an episode of TWIG at the same time. It of course worked perfectly the first time I powered it up. I also updated the firmware while I was at it, so my K3 is all happy again. The first thing I did was check to see how it tuned the G5RV on 18 meters, which it did great and then I enabled the transmit side of WSPR. Figured out a couple things at that point. My coordinates had me located out around Port Angles and I don’t have the sound car levels set right. I fixed the coordinates pretty quick, but I haven’t had the quiet 30 minutes to get the sound card right. (Hopefully tonight)
The other good news is that I figured out and bought supplies for installing two sets of radios in the FJ yesterday. I’m creating a mounting plate out of 1×6 pine which will go in the back for the D700 and ID-880. There are two tie mounts which screw into real metal frame, which if I remove the mounts I can screw the mounting plate right into. I found the right crazy metric screws at McClellan’s. I still need to hunt down some of that nice cloth they use to cover sub-woofers boxes, which I’ll wrap the mounting plate in before attaching it. But I’m sure I can buy that at a stereo shop.
The other good news is that I decided to mount the 220 radio in the center console. (sort of like this CB, but not exactly in that position.) I started mapping out the cable runs today and once I get the antenna mounted, I can wire it up. I had thought I had the antenna problem solved, with the fancy Diamond go almost anywhere lip mount. But in the process of test fitting it tonight, I discovered the hood has this weird 90 degree bend at the end, which prevents it from being used. It looks like I’ll be falling back to the old school right angle mount that I’ve used on the last two vehicles. I am going to replace the NMO mount though, so first thing tomorrow I’ll be calling HRO and having them Fed-X me a new one. (sigh)