VHF/UHF Radio Installation Video (Amateur/GMRS)

[HRCC]

Hi All,

I'm a ham radio Youtuber. I also just purchased a 23' in January so of course I needed to get some radios in it. Here is my How-to.

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[HaroldCal]

Thanks for this. I picked up the dual mount back in December and just haven't gotten around to installing it. But your video was a great preview of what I'm in for.

I had heard that using fiberglass or nylon fish rods would remove the need to pull down the headliner at all, so that's my plan. I've already got rods from doing network cable work, so hopefully easy peasy.

 

[metroshot]

Nice to see a video on this topic!

I am a licensed operator since 1985 and have a new QRP HF-VHF-UHF rig installed in my Lightning.

Antenna mounting has been a pain as I don't want to drill holes nor take panels off.
Tried mag mount but body being aluminum that failed.
Thinking of a bed mounted NMO or hood lip mounted NMO...

Other than the 3rd brake light mount, what discrete / non invasive antennas do you all use ?

N6GTU

 

[HaroldCal]

Other than the 3rd brake light mount, what discrete / non invasive antennas do you all use ?

N6GTU

I went through the same process of elimination. I ended up settling on the dual-mount version of the brake light mount.

Another option I've see is a stake pocket mount. There are many companies that make them, but the one that stands out in my mind as being top-shelf was Breedlove.

Breedlovemounts.com

 

[metroshot]

I went through the same process of elimination. I ended up settling on the dual-mount version of the brake light mount.

Another option I've see is a stake pocket mount. There are many companies that make them, but the one that stands out in my mind as being top-shelf was Breedlove.

Breedlovemounts.com

I love the stake pocket mount!

Going to ask about HF compact vertical and a separate VHF/UHF NMO mount on a second stake pocket since my QRP is a wideband rig.

thanks @HaroldCal

So cool to use the stake bed hole that will never get used on my Lightning...

 

[TheBigBezo]

Out of curiosity, what do y'all use VHF and UHF for hobby wise? I use it everyday for normal work, never knew it existed in hobby format. I know HF was a thing, I've hit up MARS Radio before on some longer legs if you ever volunteer with those guys. Cool stuff.

 

[metroshot]

Out of curiosity, what do y'all use VHF and UHF for hobby wise? I use it everyday for normal work, never knew it existed in hobby format. I know HF was a thing, I've hit up MARS Radio before on some longer legs if you ever volunteer with those guys. Cool stuff.

I have been using VHF/UHF FM for over 35 years mainly on repeaters located on hilltops.

Started when I managed my college engineering dept HF SSB/CW stations with a UHF repeater I built from an old Motac radio split band / duplex / dual band antenna repeater for the college campus.

Had the first wireless phone system called autopatch that used touch tones to call up the dial tone and make half duplex phone calls.

Amazed a lot of people who heard me dial a number which then connected me to a landline user using a hand held radio.

It was the precursor to cell phones.

That's how old I am....

 

[HaroldCal]

I dabble in Ham radio and GMRS for hobby and preparedness purposes. I have drafted several of my friends locally to get their licenses and practice their skills under the guise of SHTF preparedness, which is as good an excuse as any.

At least in part it's just due to wanting to keep the hobby alive. And the newer digital stuff is straying into my wheelhouse, so I'm digging that.

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