All Activity

If you give it a try, let me know what you think.

Check your inbox

How many across states under the same call sight? Just curious.

Good idea. And a new voltage regulator should fix it. You definitely don't have to worry about computer modules always on and putting a constant drain on the system with a vehicle of that age.

Ah, you too. My employee number at work is 666. Don’t know if that’s lucky or not.

OK, today was the big day. I got my buddy to bring over the bucket truck. I had already made up the antenna with the cable as you all know. 1st thing to do was get the existing antenna down. So up to the lightning arrestor and cut off the water protection. Used a set of channel locks to undo the N connector. Didn't see anything that would be a water issue in there. So up the mast I went in the bucket clipping off the tie wraps as I gained altitude. Got to the antenna and loosened the nuts on the U bolt and removed the antenna. Back down to the ground. 2nd thing was to put up the guy wire system. I used a triple clamp designed for 1 1/2" mast and attached 1/8" stainless steel cable using loop thimbles and aluminum double barrel sleeves. Crimped them up using 2 sleeves. One tight against the thimble and one about 1 1/2" away where the sleeve hid the end of the cable to make it prick proof. Had 50' of cable on each of the 3 legs which I knew was more than enough. I also knew it wouldn't be too short. Up in the bucket again and mounted it about 2' from the top of the mast and opened up the looped cable and let it hang down. Back to the ground again. 3rd thing was bring up the antenna. All the way to the top this time and mounted the antenna using the U bolts that came with it. And slowly went down to unfurl the cable. Forgot to bring the tie wraps up, crap. Back down to fetch them and back up and tied the coax off about every 10" with two tie wraps at each spacing. Then to the bottom to attach into the lightning arrestor. Put the heat shrink tubing on, ya.. didn't forget LOL. And used the self fusing tape to seal the joint. Slipped the tubing over it and hit it with the heat gun at 700ºF. Back down again. 4th.. Went into the house to pull the trigger. Hit my repeater and it came back with a good signal. Hit the Holyoke repeater which I could barely do lately and I got a response from a friend that I was Lima Charley (loud and clear) which I haven't been in 6 months. SWR on my repeater frequency was 1.01. Switched to Channel 22 and the SWR was 1.00, fantastic. 5th I got the 5/16" stainless steel turnbuckles and crimping equipment and tied off one side to take the slight lean out of the antenna that I've had ever since a wind gust bent my chimney mount a bit. I put 2 more straps on and lengthened the mast 8' and tied it into the chimney with a wood working clamp which stabilized it quite a bit. The guy wire straightened out the slight lean. Had to install a screw eye that I needed the bucket to do (or a ladder, but why I had the bucket truck here) I pulled out one of the long nails holding up my gutter and put a 3/8"x8" eye hook with a PVC ferrule and it hit good. Very secure, I was worried it's be a rotted pc under the aluminum siding. But I hit a roof rafter end. Tied that off with the guy wire and crimped everything up. Time was up for the bucket truck and he went on his merry way. I gave him a pair of the TD-H3s for the help and a bit more. 6th .. One more guy wire to tie off and I just moved my truck into position and stood on my tool box and secured the guy wire and turnbuckle. Pretty much completed the job. Took about 3 hours, 2 1/2 with the bucket truck. Still have to clean up all the little tie wrap clippings. That'll be a job for tomorrow. Have to paint the blocks I put in to secure the eye hooks sometime soon.

Thank You, Sir!

Man oh man what are we going to do with you two. Only 12 donuts and a 24 pack of beer for all of us. Fer shame Fer shame Fer shame.

Thanks everyone for the responses the vehicle in question is a 1994 ford f-150 and I could kick myself in the hind end for not thinking about the voltage regulator, I am also a small engine mechanic and should have figured that one out. I reckon my old age is starting show. Again Thanks to everyone for the help, I'll be getting a voltage regulator tomorrow and putting it on. WSEK643

I have a pair of them which I got as a freebee when I bought some stuff from Temu. I haven't done anything with them, but I had the thought of doing exactly what you did. I probably will at some point.

Some of us pack heat and lie about vacations we never take.

Ok, I'm with you on that one.

Damn, and I only brought a 24 pack of beer.

Good people. I've been dealing with them for years.

I'd have to wonder if the OP's battery is deteriorating and causing the high voltage as the regulator is trying to charget. No matter, the whole system should be checked. Here, we have a "Battery Warehouse" battery store that provides free testing of both the battery and charging system - takes 10 minutes while you wait.

yes but its not clearly written and I was not able to find much as far as setting for the RA87 online. some reviews here and there and some tutorials on how to set two up as a repeater but not much else. @WSHM765 Press the "FUN" button on the face then the "MHZ" button on the face and scroll to "MDF" its "menu #16" press the "MHZ" button on the face again turn the dial to"MN" then press the the "MHZ" button on the face to lock it in. you have to do it to both "sides" of the display.

So far, using CTCSS is working well. I even added a new HT into the mix today and preliminary tests on it were successful. I appreciate everyone's input on this subject.

Bragging rights.

You live on the 1st story, 2nd story, got a balcony, access to an attic? Your unique situation is going to determine if a repeater is going to do you any good.

Exactly my point. I really believe it's the best radio in its class. There are some things more expensive radios can do that it can't, and for those I have more expensive radios, but for an "every day carry", it suits my needs just fine. It's pretty much my "go-to" for grab-and-go.

if you are on a high floor and/or if you are on a hill/above a valley, etc, then all you need is a mobile/car antenna on a cookie-sheet in the window.. I am able to get ~20 miles of farz this way with my repeater. Your farz may vary.

Depends on the landlord. Just talk with him and ask permission. Explain exactly what and how you are going to do it in plain simple English. Back in the 80s my landlord let me put up a 40 meter dipole and run the cable. It helped that I offered to repair any holes I made and paint the apartment. It was a bargain for me.

I’d bet you don’t need a repeater. I’d bet you can’t get a system with an antenna up high enough to make a difference. Why do you think you need a repeater?

Klein is definitely a great entry level meter that are very inexpensive for new techs just leaving trade school, but they find that most have a short lifespan and seek out more accurate and reliable meters. It's great that Home Depot will exchange them, even when past the return period. I agree, buy and use what you like. Gotta admit, it does suck watching techs struggling with UEI and Fieldpiece garbage. Remember those?

Why do you need a mobile relay station? What are you trying to accomplish? What is the make and model of your station, antenna, and duplexer?