Communications Systems

Mitch

Mitch

Adventurist
Founding Member
It can include CB (to a limited degree), Ham Radio, FRS, any number of systems...

My personal knowledge involves HAM radios and the antennas, although currently I know a good deal about 2m/70cm setups.

I'm running a Yaesu FT-8800R Dual Band radio
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I have an NMO mount on my roof, permanent mount (drilled through) with a Larsen NMO2/70 tuned to my radio. It fits just in front of my RTT.
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For Extended Cellular range, I'm running the Wilson Electronics 801201 Booster
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The antenna I chose for this one was a Laird Technologies TRAB806/17103, Phantom Low Profile Dual-Band Cellular/PCS Antenna 806-960 MHz, 1710-2500 MHz, it had to fit under my tent!
Photo Oct 31, 6 07 52 PM.jpg



What are you running?
 
My com is completed via 2m/70cm these days. My radio is a Yaesu FTM-350AR:

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Its face plate is mounted were my rearview mirror would typically be.

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The radio itself is mounted on the wall behind the drivers seat.

It's connected to a Larsen NMO-K that is installed in the middle of my roof with all wiring hidden in the headliner and receives/transmits through a Larsen 2/70B antenna.

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The modified Uniden ESP-5 external speaker mounted in my headliner helps me hear everything.

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APRS integration is in the works. Attempts to get the radio and my current Garmin GPSMap 478 "talking" have failed. I'm currently contemplating an Android based tablet (using APRSDroid App) with a Bluetooth adapter from Byonics. The other option is a Garmin Nuvi unit (w/FMI feature) paired with Argent Data Systems Tracker3. With the current lack of ready to go topo maps that integrate with APRSDroid, I'm currently leaning toward the Garmin and adding their topo maps.

I also have an El Cheapo Cobra III CB mounted in my ashtray location that transmits through a 4' Firestik antenna. It’s probably the most useless piece of gear on my truck and survives only because I can't find the motivation to remove all of it.

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Nothing is ever easy with me, including radios, but that's a whole different story.

In my opinion, a handheld is a great radio for a beginner to HAM radios. Several reasons... no complicated install, easy to transfer from one vehicle to another, adequate range for what we generally use them for. (Will beat a CB under most any circumstances). You're not tied to your vehicle when trying to communicate, like when spotting someone through a nasty section of trail.

The guys at the local Ham Radio Outlet set me up with a Yaseu FT-270 with a Diamond SRH77CA antenna. I could hit our race car at 20 miles out with it at last years Baja 1000. (Not a radio geek, had to go get the radio to get that info :)) I think I was $180 or so out the door.

What I have learned about handhelds... The first handheld that I bought had better ratings (7W vs 5W) but I found that it had to be sitting in a charging cradle to charge, even with 12v. That didn't meet my needs at all. I've also found that the standard button style mount (similar to a typical CB mic) works the best. Standard mic clip attached to the dash is all you need to "mount" the radio in your vehicle(s).

I've also got a PCI ICOM two way programmed race radio and a Kenwood TM 271, both using Laird antenna's. I had custom cabling made for the radio-antenna leads. Both radios have enough performance to meet my needs. The PCI Icom radio is pretty much useless for what we do on this forum, but has proven to be valuable in desert racing.
 
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Oh absolutely Handhelds have their place in any comms setup. But I could never give up my 50 watts in my vehicle, so I consider a handheld to be PART of a more complete vehicle solution.

They allow someone in the party to separate from the vehicle but still maintain communications. 5-7 watts with good line of sight will get you some good distance, even more with a larger and higher antenna.

With my 5 watt Yaesu handheld, using a Larsen NMO2/70 antenna mounted on the outside of my car, moving south on I-5, I was able to communicate with a repeater located in Glendale, CA and only begin losing signal around Mission Viejo, CA, 60 miles south of the repeater.

A handheld should be in everyone's comms arsenal!
 
I have the wilson in one of my vehicles. It works! Although it seems to make no difference when you already have good reception, aka it doesn't make it great.

But if you have no reception (NC mountains) with it i've gotten 20%, and when its at 20, i've gotten 40%.

Make sure you get the one for your particular carrier as the frequencies differ. I also have the older wilson and you must literally touch the internal antenna to the phone for it to pick up. Im considering getting a newer model with a better internal that covers the whole vehicle (or so they claim)
 
After having the cellular booster for awhile now, and have had the chance to try it in a lot of varied places...


I am very satisfied with this booster. Some out there aren't. And I have a pretty good idea why they aren't. You just have to understand a few things about the Wilson Electronics Booster.


First, understand how it's designed to work. The interior antenna and the exterior antenna need to have some distance from one another, otherwise they each reduce the effectiveness of the other. I've heard of installs where the interior antenna is placed above the headliner near the driver (theoretically where the driver might hold the phone while talking) but this is close to the installation of the exterior antenna on the roof. Wilson Electronics is also pretty clear that a sheet metal roof is part of the system, helping shield the two antennas from each other.


Second, know the limitations of the interior antenna. It is NO JOKE that the interior antenna has limited range, as I mentioned before, Wilson says up to 24 inches, but it is clearly less than this. My phone sits mounted to the dash in a RAM cradle with the interior antenna no more than 5 inches away. My wife, sitting in the passenger seat, can wind up with a phone that says "NO SERVICE" while mine sits there with 3 to 5 bars, and 3G connection! I can however turn on my wifi hotspot and she can connect through my phone to the internet! :)


Lastly, understand that this device can not create signal out of nothing. I can assure you that you will have signal long after others have lost theirs. It is a signal amplifier. But if you're too far from a tower, nothing is going to help you. Except ham radio :) ...and maybe smoke signals.


Overall: I'm happy with this device, knowing it's limitations, and working within them, it's kept me connected where others have "Searching..." :D
 
Dave, I'm running a Sprint phone, the wife a Verizon. I am constantly dismayed that when we are out away from any medium inhabited area that I have no signal and she does. Would the cell extender help me????? Seriously thinking of switching to Verizon after many years with Sprint. Example....I had no service at Expo.......wife was on internet. Ya...I know......but it keeps the wife happy when I'm yapping! Unless I tell people 'I'm gone"....I need to have connectivity for work......
 
ExpedH3T said:
Dave, I'm running a Sprint phone, the wife a Verizon. I am constantly dismayed that when we are out away from any medium inhabited area that I have no signal and she does. Would the cell extender help me????? Seriously thinking of switching to Verizon after many years with Sprint. Example....I had no service at Expo.......wife was on internet. Ya...I know......but it keeps the wife happy when I'm yapping! Unless I tell people 'I'm gone"....I need to have connectivity for work......
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Dave isn't running the booster yet. Don't know what he's waiting for though. Aside from the fact that he thinks you don't need cell signal "out there" when you're getting away from it all. :D I kind of agree, but I have peace of mind knowing its there if I need it.

If I were you, I would make the switch to Verizon. Sprint has the lowest rated data/voice network out there. Verizon has the best rated LTE network hands down.

As for a booster, make the switch first, if you still think you need one, it can only make a good thing even better.

BE CAREFUL to purchase the correct model for your network. My model does not work with LTE/4G, but it does on 3G. When I upgrade my phone, I'm going to have to get a new booster or just roll the new phone back to 3G when I'm in a remote area.
 
I've been with AT&T since 2005. They have their perks like me being grandfathered in for unlimited data and texting but if I were to sign on today it would be Verizon mainly for their network.

BUT, I'm not bothered by loss of signal. It's actually therapeutic... ;)
 
You do not even want to see the inside on my truck. My RF alone will make your hair stand on end.
 
Has anyone ever seen a CB that would also act as a head unit with am/fm that you could plug an ipod into and run thru the factory speakers?
 
Thinking about that one a bit Al. When I was a kid one of my friends dad had a station wagon, want to say it was a GM product, it had a factory AM/FM/CB (might have even had an 8 track). Car must have been a mid seventies. Seems like someone should still make one.
 
If it will do all of that, will it do any of it very well? I wouldn't think so.
 
Dave said:
I've been with AT&T since 2005. They have their perks like me being grandfathered in for unlimited data and texting but if I were to sign on today it would be Verizon mainly for their network.

BUT, I'm not bothered by loss of signal. It's actually therapeutic... ;)
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I dont feel like Im far enough away from civilization until I loose reception. I planned for loosing comms though. Ill post up the pictures in the Newb section of the forum shortly.

But in the Tacoma, I have an Icom 706MkIIG that I run HF/VHF/UHF and have a Signalink tied to my Toughbook that I can use for Winmor (Email over HF) and Digipan (Text over HF).

They come in handy quite often. Furthest Ive ever talked to so far is Poland which is not too shabby.
 
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