New ham setup

[trump]

We'll see how motivated I feel tomorrow to yank the interior out of the truck again. I've got all the supplies I should need to get everything working now.

The mic extension cable went in today... let me tell you, finding the correct cable (RJ12, 6 conductor, w/twisted pair) and the corresponding straight through coupler was not an easy task. Seems unless you shop online those items are made of unobtainium.

Hopefully get this NMO on the roof and the cable put together in one sitting. I'm going to be a nervous wreck when it comes time to drill the hole. I might not have enough time to knock it out tomorrow, but I will try.

 

[trump]

The hole is drilled and NMO mount is in place. Everything went as planned, and the mount doesn't leak. :wings:

I enjoyed removing the lip mount from the hood... Just couldn't get used to it dancing around in my view all the time. Due to my work schedule this week, I ran out of time to finish the job. I'll try to finish up the cable tonight when I get out of work.

I'm not quite sure if I'm even going to know if the APRS is working tonight, we'll see. If this thread doesn't get updated by tommorow night, someone come bail me out of jail. I'm sure I'll be disturbing the peace swearing at the truck late tonight.

:coffeedrink:

 

[4RunAmok]

LOL! Swear quietly!

Nice work on the hole, what did you do to seal it? I used some loc-tite on the threads as I assembled it, and some vaseline on the underside of the top piece.

Can't wait to see it at the next event! Seeing your install inspired me to upgrade my radio to the FTM-350AR, so I started selling a bunch of things to finance it. I sold one of my 8800's and my 1802, and a few other things, almost sold my only remaining radio, another 8800, but life threw me a curve ball, and I have to use the money for other things... I need a better paying job!

So the shiny new radio is on hold for quite some time.

 

[4RunAmok]

by the way, don't forget one of these
http://www.packetradio.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=914

For when you have no antenna up there to protect the insulator from UV and keep the brass in nice shape.

 

[trump]

what did you do to seal it?

I used Vaseline to keep from pinching the o-rings, and didn't feel anything else would be necessary. The Loctite to keep the mount from backing off seems like a good idea. I will add that tonight.

Seeing your install inspired me to upgrade my radio to the FTM-350AR... but life threw me a curve ball, and I have to use the money for other things... So the shiny new radio is on hold for quite some time.

I noticed some of the equipment you had up for sale. I hope everything is ok, and you get the new radio soon.

by the way, don't forget one of these
http://www.packetradio.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=914

For when you have no antenna up there to protect the insulator from UV and keep the brass in nice shape.

I picked one up the other day... As I believe that camp shower setups should be kept outside.:elkgrin: Thanks for the reminder.

 

[4RunAmok]

It dawned on me earlier that it wasn't vaseline I used, but silicone gel lube from Radio Shack... Petroleum Jelly aka vaseline would be bad for the rubber o-ring, albeit great for repelling water

 

[4RunAmok]

You might have heard me mention at Rendezvous that I work for Forest Lawn.. I sell plots and funeral insurance. Sales could be better at a commission only job is all, I'm trying to get another position at the same place..., as well as anywhere else I can look

Otherwise, all is well

 

[trump]

It dawned on me earlier that it wasn't vaseline I used, but silicone gel lube from Radio Shack... Petroleum Jelly aka vaseline would be bad for the rubber o-ring, albeit great for repelling water

Bad for the o-ring? It's basically the same stuff we've used for ages on o-rings for aircraft.

Edit: Sure enough, looks like they degrade the rubber over time. Come to think of it the o-rings on the aircraft I'm referring to deal with jet fuel thus are petroleum compatible.

 

[trump]

Didn't get home until really late last night, so I wasn't able to finish. The cable is almost complete, just need to finish the radio side connector. I'll have to play around with the radio tonight to ensure I've got it right before taking the soldering iron to it. Then, play about an hour of "hide the wires" and another hour wrestling the interior back in place... not my favorite.

Wrap-up pictures to follow...

 

[4RunAmok]

I wish I lived closer, I LOVE doing that stuff, you could either sit back and watch it happen or help out!

And it allows me to get my toy fix without spending my own money! lol!

 

[trump]

I wish you lived closer too! :sombrero:

I really hate wiring, but it appeals to my meticulous nature and I'm good at it. A rats nest of wires triggers OCD in me like nothing else.

 

[4RunAmok]

We must be related! Except for the hating it part.

 

[ScoutII]

The hole is drilled and NMO mount is in place. Everything went as planned, and the mount doesn't leak. :wings:

I enjoyed removing the lip mount from the hood... Just couldn't get used to it dancing around in my view all the time. Due to my work schedule this week, I ran out of time to finish the job. I'll try to finish up the cable tonight when I get out of work.

I'm not quite sure if I'm even going to know if the APRS is working tonight, we'll see. If this thread doesn't get updated by tommorow night, someone come bail me out of jail. I'm sure I'll be disturbing the peace swearing at the truck late tonight.

:coffeedrink:

Drilling a hole is easy to put a plug in too. The lip mount ones bend the sheet metal over time with some antenna's which means you will always see where it was. Need to post the follow up pic's

 

[trump]

Well the interior is back together but the connector at the radio is still just bare wire. During my test sessions I couldn't get the two communicating. After plugging the audio out from the GPS to the external speaker I discovered my problem. The GPS started making all sorts of weird interference to the speaker. I'm suspecting I've got a bad ground. I should be able to focus all my time after I get off work on just troubleshooting this connection since everything else is now wrapped up. I'll get pics up tomorrow when I get some sunlight.

…Hopefully some pictures of the APRS working as well.

 

[4RunAmok]

Well the interior is back together but the connector at the radio is still just bare wire. During my test sessions I couldn't get the two communicating. After plugging the audio out from the GPS to the external speaker I discovered my problem. The GPS started making all sorts of weird interference to the speaker. I'm suspecting I've got a bad ground. I should be able to focus all my time after I get off work on just troubleshooting this connection since everything else is now wrapped up. I'll get pics up tomorrow when I get some sunlight.

…Hopefully some pictures of the APRS working as well.

You should have home runs for both the + and the - straight to the battery, fuses at both ends, both wires.