Ham radio and your RV

[KennyGolub]

I use a BuddiPole and a Flex Radio 6600 with the Maestro.
The radio itself sits in a floor level cabinet by the dining table. I run the coax thru a hole I drilled under the slide out right where the radio sits. When traveling, I simply pull the wire out and use a cap or plug in the hole.
I can use the Maestro or computer anywhere around the camper since the radio itself is on my local WiFi.
Works great !!


73


.

[RFarley]

I have an Icom 706 MKIIG. Run and automatic tuner and have an Eagle one HF antenna mounted on ladder in the rear. I also have 2 meter and 440 antenna mounted on the ladder.

the eagle one antenna is a push up pole design and I can have it setup and the counterpoise in about 15-20 min and be on the air. Have mounted the rig in the overhead visor area of my 2401ws MBS, seems to work fine. I have run simple 2 meter when driving an has been fun. Not worked a lot of DX as band have been poor.

73
Ron
KG4QIV

[Flybob]

I have not seen any interference. I do not run off the RV 12V supply so that eliminates some noise but as for RF interference on the HF bands, it is considerably less than at home.

[Hogq]

N5VSW , Ken Hittson
I use an Icom 7000 with a buddi-pole setup in my 2014 Forest River fr3 30DS Motorhome.
73 all!
Ken

[Dave Bulkley]

I run a Icon 706 with a Guad band antenna. I have a mental closest metal pole with the mount on the top. I use to sucken cup handicap handles used in the bath room to attach to the sides of the motor home. Antenna will do 2 meters, 440, 6 meter, and 10 meters.

[Camper_Dan]

Sounds like we should plan a Frog Ham Fest. Anyone be interested in attending ?

[Wmixon]

I used hamtestonline.com to study for my entry level (technician) license. Not free but really good study site. KN4ICX. Bill

[wiandt]

I have an Icom 7100 for my radio I’m using a BuddyPole on top of 10 ft of aluminum tubing.(old flagpole). I mount that on the ladder using a “Flagpole Buddy”. That gets the antenna almost 20 ft up.

[RetNavy]

N4PLR

I’ve been a HAM for about two years. We will be picking up our camper in the next week or so and i’ve Never taken an HF rig with us. I always have an HT (Yaesu FT2DR) or my mobile (Yaesu FTM-400DR) unit in the tow vehicle. I just built a spiral wound dipole for use when I need a small footprint, like camping. My HF rig is a Yaesu FT-450D with an MFJ antenna tuner.

To the OP, there are also smart phone apps you can download to help you “study”. They are practice exams, so you don’t learn the background information. I use HRE-Extra to gauge my progress in route to my Extra class ticket.

73 and good luck.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Bearister

I first got my Novice License in 1956. Ham radio is great hobby that provided me with many hours of great fun and new friends around the world. I still enjoy CW and use various QRP rigs in the RV. Wish u all well.

I read all of these posts with a great deal of interest. I wouldn't have believed that there were so many ham's that are also into camping. In my 25+ years of camping, I have run into only a couple of hams camping.

It was very interesting to me to find so many good hams on this thread, especially those using HF gear. I have thought about taking some HF gear along many times, but have never done so. I am active only on two meters and sometimes 440 when camping.

Another thing interested me about this thread and that is the age span of some of the posters and how long they have had a license. That's the reason that I replied to this particular poster. "Old Guy", would you mind saying how old you were when you were first licensed? I was 19 when I was first licensed in 1961 and I don't know many present hams that are that old, although I am sure there are plenty of them. WB4FSN, Roger, says that he first got his ticket in 1958 so he is not far behind.

I just found this interesting and I also note that the hams here are carrying on the old custom of helping new or future hams. I have enjoyed reading these posts.

Ray
W4WNP

[llr]

Ray, In my small (~45 members) club you would not be the oldest but a couple of years over the average age. Also at least 4 of the members camp, not sure if they bring radios or are on this forum. I only bring 2M/440 of course I am just a tech so the 10M I can use makes HF pretty worthless.

My wife and I are the youngsters of the club, I am 60.

I drove golf cart at hamvention while I don't ask ages I would guess about a third of my passengers with around your age.

So you are far from alone.

[Rwgrigg]

WB4KZI

Been a Ham for 50+ years, camping almost as many. Using HF with the Hustler mobile traps with good results. Working the digital modes and also DSTAR and DMR with my Hot Spot, talking to the world! Especially good when I'm at a campground with good WiFi.

[blackfly]

For us that don’t know anything about it, what interests you guys so much about HAM radio?

Sounds to me that the tinkering with the equipment would be the most fun. Reaching out to strangers and talking to them, not so much LOL

[Stank Bait]

Just seeing who I can get the farthest away. More miles the better. Just got Ukraine a few minutes ago. Have India & Indonesia in my log. That's a long ways from Florida. Phone SSB (voice) 100 watts is what I do. Some places are difficult to get. Not many hams in some areas of the world.



If I am tinkering with equipment, then something is not working right. Do make antennas for fun.

[plaso20]

I have been a ham since 2013, and obtained my Extra ticket in 2015. I got interested in ham radio after I retired. I found it can be an expensive hobby, but also a very fun one. I started with a couple of Baofengs and worked my way up to mostly Kenwood equipment. I have a Kenwood TM281A 2 meter in my truck and take my Yaesu FT60 and a Baofeng along when traveling. I have also taken a handheld on a cruise ship a couple of years ago. Had to get clearance from the ship's Captain, but that was easy enough. Made several contacts in Alaska both on land and from the ship. Also listened to the ships radio traffic while on board. That enhanced our cruise experience. I don't operate HF from the TT, I leave that for my home shack, a Kenwood TS480. I also operate a dual band Kenwood TM-V71 from the shack. I will recommend a web study page at www.hamexam.org. It is a free site where you can create an account and they will track your progress. Great tool for learning. I encourage any one who is interested to learn more about this hobby.

[denfireguy]

Like most hams, I am older (71) and got my novice license at 14. Now an extra. Have an ATAS 120 on a FT-857 in the TV. Seldom get on as the camping times are busy in our small family as we have adopted our 5 year old granddaughter.

I also have and get a lot of use out of either a Kenwood TH74 or a Yaesu VX-8 that have APRS capability. They are hooked to a dual band antenna. Look at www.aprs.fi to see where APRS stations local to you are on the air.

My main voice portable radio is an Anytone AT-D868UV DMR portable. Memory on it is huge and you can program an entire states' worth of repeaters on a multi state trip and not make a dent on the memory. It works on analog FM and digital DMR repeaters. DMR around Colorado has more activity than analog these days.

[rfields]

K4rbf use IC 706 and screwdriver antenna that I built several years ago and a couple ht's

[rfields]

Congratulations on your ticket

[BooBoo23]

Originally Posted by blackfly

For us that don’t know anything about it, what interests you guys so much about HAM radio?

Sounds to me that the tinkering with the equipment would be the most fun. Reaching out to strangers and talking to them, not so much LOL

Ham radio is so diverse now. In the old days radio enthusiasts worked on their equipment, changing tubes, capacitors, etc. but now with solid state equipment most hams don't have all the test equipment to do that, components so small that you need a magnifying glass to see it. So, now it comes down to how you communicate. I like DX, there is also worked all states, DXCC, grid squares, counties, some are interested in emergency service, some like digital transmission, a number of hams like to experiment with antenna designs, there is also slow scan TV and many more special interest modes, so many reasons for interest in Ham radio. I am a Amateur Extra. Besides the DX activity I am a Volunteer license examiner, assist with license classes, belong to 2 clubs, participate in the annual Field Exercises and other group activity.

Marv - KT4W

[campkasten]

Originally Posted by Camper_Dan

Sounds like we should plan a Frog Ham Fest. Anyone be interested in attending ?

That might be fun! I should have my ticket soon...