Small race radio

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PaulW
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Small race radio

Post by PaulW »

David -could use some input
I will be multi-purposing the Jeep to include Baja and I would like to find a very small profile VHF radio. I guess a two part unit would work, but the main box would still have to be pretty compact due to my lack of space. What I have now is a very small CB on the shelf above the windshield and would prefer the VHF unit to fit there. Advice requested.

Antenna: Now I have a mount on the tire carrier. How bad will that be for the new radio? Works OK with the CB because the other guys are always close by. The ant in that location is about 50% masked looking fwd. Most of the Jeep VHF guys are using a mag mount on the hood and that may be my best option? As you could guess a hood mount would be at least 50% masked in the rear direction. What about a no ground plane ant mounted on the glass roof?
Advice requested.
Thanks, Paul
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Wrightracing.net
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Small race radio

Post by Wrightracing.net »

Hey Paul,
The Radio, are you looking for a 110 or 50 watt radio. I am a big fan of the Kenwood TK790 and TK730. Both can be setup with a remote head. Even the smaller base of the 50 watt version can be mounted in an out of the way place.

If you want a dual band radio, a small unit is the Yaesu FT-90 which is not remote head and a 50 watt VHF and 35 watt UHF, along with a really easy Mars/cap modification, It will give you TX 130-180 MHz / 410-480 MHz.

http://www.radioaficion.com/HamNews/rev ... aa1gw.html

http://www.radioaficion.com/HamNews/rev ... aa1gw.html

For the antenna, I would definitely go with a Non-ground plane. Mounting, I would mount it on the top with a pair of thin 26 or 28 guage sheet metal plates that can be painted to match the top. Use a 12" to 18" round sheet metal plate on top and a smaller 1/3 the size inside. Use a thick Nmo mount to sandwich the plates.

Image

That setup will become a problem if you take off the top on a Jeep. So the other option is to mount the antenna on the Windshield frame. Still use a Non-ground plane antenna but use a L bracket or something like in the pictures. If you ever wanted to do a LED light bar, welding a antenna tab on that bracket would work well also. Depending on the tab thickness, you may still need a thick Nmo mount like the one above.

Image

Image

Image



I hope that helps a little.

Ps. I am sad you are selling the Stetched Bronco, but I understand.

David...
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PaulW
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Re: Small race radio

Post by PaulW »

David ,
Thanks for the input. Am somewhat handicapped until monday when my home internet becomes alive. Using the library is the pits. I will do the research next week.
I like the roof mount, but the size of the plates is an issue because the thing has ribs on the top side about 7-8" apart. Does size matter on top? could be long and narrow? Bottom of top is smooth because the thing is molded with ribs on top.
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Post by Wrightracing.net »

As long as you run the Non-ground plane antenna, the size will not matter. Just make sure the inside plate and outside plate are different sizes, so the fiberglass does not fatigue around the plate. If they were the same, it would act like a hole punch over time.

David...
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Small race radio

Post by Wrightracing.net »

Hey Paul, I found this quad band radio that has a remote head. The band's it covers would give you a single radio in the Jeep. I am considering it for a secondary radio for trail runs with mixed radio band groups. It is the HYS TC-8900R, the reviews seem good. The only thing I am concerned about it a quad band antenna that is durable for off roading. Maybe a coax splitter with frequency filters going to separate antennas? It would be nice to find a quad band 100 watt radio.

Here are some specifications on it.
Technical Specifications

General 
 Frequency Range
RX: 26.000-33.000MHz 47.000-54.000MHz 
136.000-174.000MHz 400.000-470.000MHz
108.800-180.000MHz (108.800-136.995MHz FM) 
320.000-480.000MHz 700-985MHz(Cellular Blocked)

TX: 26.000-33.000MHz 47.000-54.000MHz  
136.000-174.000MHz 400.000-470.000MHz

RF Power50/20/10/5W(29/50/144MHz) 35/20/10/5W(430MHz)
Operating ModesF3, F2, F1
Frequency Step 5/10/12.5/15/20/25/50kHz
Power Supply13.8V(±15%) Frequency Stability±2.5PPM
Operating Temperature Range-20°C~+60°C
Antenna Impedance 50Ω

Dimensions(W×H×D)
140×41.5×168mm

Weight  1070g

Here is a link to one on ebay with the wider TX coverage
http://www.ebay.com/itm/27-50-144-430Mh ... 2548.l4275

Image


David...
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Re: Small race radio

Post by BDKW1 »

Looks like the same thing as a Yaesu but 1/3 less......

https://www.amazon.com/Yaesu-Ft-8900R-P ... le+antenna

Might have to give up the trusty old Kenwood for one of these in the Samurai where space is at a premium.
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PaulW
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Re: Small race radio

Post by PaulW »

The HYS TC-8900R is pretty neat and I did not discover it. I ran out of time and just did a search and came up with a Yaesu FT-2900R. 5/10/30/75 watt. Same freq bands as my old race radio after the MARS mod to expand the bands.
It fits on the shelf above the windshield beside the CB .
Here are my cost numbers.
Radio with MARS $174. Programming SW & cable $39. Motorola NMO with special connector $9. 18’ coax which I cut to fit $8. Antenna pre-cut from PCI $50. Guide/cheat sheet $15. Ran the SWR at 30 watt and got slightly above 1.0 with very low reflected power. Ran at 75 watt and the reflected is not so good. Probably because my fender mount is too close to the A pillar. SWR was around 2.
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Re: Small race radio

Post by hollandermotorsports »

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My old jeep had it mounted off the windshield frame and it worked great. It did not mess with my view at all cause of the placement it was pretty much hidden behind the frame on the drivers side.
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Re: Small race radio

Post by Wrightracing.net »

BDKW1 wrote:Looks like the same thing as a Yaesu but 1/3 less......

https://www.amazon.com/Yaesu-Ft-8900R-P ... le+antenna

Might have to give up the trusty old Kenwood for one of these in the Samurai where space is at a premium.
I am considering it also. On that off chance a friend comes out and only has a CB in his rig.
I will definitely stick with the Tk790H for Baja.

David...
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robertcrav
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Re: Small race radio

Post by robertcrav »

hollandermotorsports wrote:
11355775_965920750119932_2045306044_n.jpg
11357320_1596887153904005_1610131593_n.jpg
11327316_393648417487941_182571141_n.jpg
My old jeep had it mounted off the windshield frame and it worked great. It did not mess with my view at all cause of the placement it was pretty much hidden behind the frame on the drivers side.
Hey Brandon, do you have any details on that antenna mount... I'm going to be radio shopping here soon as well

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Re: Small race radio

Post by hollandermotorsports »

[/quote]
Hey Brandon, do you have any details on that antenna mount... I'm going to be radio shopping here soon as well

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk[/quote]

It was just something fabbed up real quick. Piece of aluminum angle trimmed to fit. Pretty simple tab but make sure it clears the door and spaces off enough to buy you some clearance for the antenna. If you want and there is a demand you think down the road we can CAD something up so you can laser and sell through Craven MS. Pretty easy part.
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robertcrav
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Post by robertcrav »

Maybe Brandon...most of the JK guys run an antenna mount off the tailgate, but they just run cb antennas...

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PaulW
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Re: Small race radio

Post by PaulW »

Here is a pretty good write up on antenna placement. Not applicable to most Broncos since Broncos have a metal roof. But it is applicable if one has a cabover camper on any truck.
http://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-cb-ha ... ep-227276/
Most CB guys don't care because with a 5 watt radio they are only good for rigs that are in caravan for those short distances. The wrote up applies to any radio install.
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Re: Small race radio

Post by robertcrav »

Paul have you made any more progress on this ? I'm starting to shop...want to get a radio in the Jeep before KOH
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PaulW
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Re: Small race radio

Post by PaulW »

My solution for My LJ.
Yaesu FT-2900R. 5/10/30/75 watt. Same freq bands as my old race radio after the MARS mod to expand the bands.
It fits on the shelf above the windshield beside the CB .
Here are my cost numbers.
Radio with MARS $219 shipped. Programming SW & cable $39. Motorola NMO with special connector $9. 18’ coax which I cut to fit $8. Antenna pre-cut from PCI $50. Guide/cheat sheet $15. Ran the SWR at 30 watt and got slightly above 1.0 with very low reflected power. Ran at 75 watt and the reflected is higher and SWR is higher.

More info
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorola-NMO-Mo ... 1573391220
I made my own bracket and bolted it to the hood/fender lip.

Where to mount your antenna on a Jeep
http://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-cb-ha ... ep-227276/

Radio came from “Houston Amateur Radio supply”
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