headed to Sedona tomorrow after work.... should I go 20M mobile....

73's
kd5shr

 

20m is ALWAYS the workhorse when it comes to DX'ing. I would go 20 and then 40 for the evenings. Have fun....!!!

 

20M hamstick is all I have right now.
still have RFI at higher power...
Talked to Galvastin TX 100W 5/5 (RFI), western ND 60W 5/9 (No RFI), so I put a few ferrite beads on the COAX (not loops) (I have one at the base of the antenna with 4-5loops) and they didn't seem to help... since AK contact I had RFI at 100W still.
Fairbanks AK KL7LF 100W 5/5 (RFI)
I guess maybe I need another big one with 4-5loops,,, but where?? maybe at the radio...???

given 100W is giving me RFI again (I did change my setup slightly and probably have to much coax--- I ran 18ft of RG8 from my HF antenna mount -tailgate- to the glove box via roll bar where the CB is at and then when I use the HAM radio I barrel it in from there running coax back down the roll bar to the rear of the Jeep to my radio, before I only had coax running along the roll bar once to the glove box, having the barrel splice at the tail gate. I thought I should remove that and only have one solid coax running to the CB. ---- ok did that make sense..?) anyhow I should maybe figure out something different and remove the second coax.... maybe a HAM HF antenna mount separate then the CB antenna mount. I could also add another ground strap to the tub....
I also retuned my 20M antenna to <1.5 SWR, radio likes it even better when I run the SWR sweep... so that's good.

I will be only going with <70W until I fix it.

So this is the first road trip with the Jeep and the head winds going west on I40 were hell on the MPG... Sedona with a Jeep this time....

 

Didn't really follow your cable explanation sounds like one cable feeds two radios split manually with a barrel connector when one or the other radio is to be used.

Re your coax loop/choke, remember to keep the loops a minimum of 3 inches in diameter and don't let the loops cross each other. Also, keep the choke as close to the antenna as possible outside the jeep never inside. I had to use two 5/6 turn chokes through two of the large snap beads. But, that didn't solve my common mode issue alone the other was putting snap beads and loops on my other antenna lines that were also run to the back of the jeep. Once I choked the other lines the common mode issue was gone. If you have a second antenna line, backup camera line etc back there with that antenna you'll need to choke it as well.

Feel your pain on the MPG. We drive along the 10 in the desert a lot I'm lucky to get 8MPG when the wind is up. I try and draft trucks to keep the soft top from flapping and blowing my ears out.

 

Yes, I don't really understand what you have going on there either. But realize, if you have any rf floating around, AND if you have extra coax or lines in there with it, it will find it, and try to radiate, especially if any of the lengths of lines are harmonics. So as was said if you choke those lines as well, it "should" help out.

Oh and btw.......you might want to purchase a good quality, 2 position GROUNDED coax switch,

http://h**p://www.universal-radio.co...itch/1864.html

instead of running barrel connectors. I would think the one mount for either the HAM antenna or cb would be ok. Just run one coax, and use the coax switch to switch between radios. Works great...

 

I know the explanation of the coax was bad.. basically you guys got it though. I have two coax lines, one for the main antenna feed which is choked out side at the antenna (CB or HF),, then another feed line from where the CB is that goes back to my HF radio, no chokes but for clipped ones on that line. meaning no loop choked and there inside the jeep. I use the barrel to feed the HF when I go HF, disconnect the CB barrel it feed to HF... at the point of where the CB is. so basically I have two coax lines in parallel when the CB is in use the other one is not connected to any thing, when I use the HF it's one big coax line and is basically a poor design, but the thought was good it just doesn't work very well..... RF is crazy,,,, I should now better,,,,, but until you try......
so I will either go back to the old way and get a good splitter or install a HF mount for Ham bands only. To be continued.... time for a

 

Makes sense, what's good about the Hamsticks is they work with any CB mount. If i need 80m i'll do basically what you have done. Just unhook from the CB and run it to the transceiver. Using the CB mount for the 75/80m Hamstick. Haven't done it yet but the Hamstick is stored under the seat when i want/need it.

Getting rid of the RF was a major challenge. Took me almost two years off and on to finally get it "right" until something else goes wrong .

 

Just got a used Alpha Delta DX-CC in the mail. No idea how i'm going to get it up 35ft but with the Jeep and truck both bonded and working well it's time to start new project!

 

I knew this was a good idea.... but need to work it out... I am really thinking maybe a second mount.. the antenna's (more the Ham stick, I think) are starting to rub the rear window washer blade...
what we do to prefect our setups..

73's

 

Curious why you went this direction.........limited space?

Some Radio Shacks may still have 50' push-up poles. They have guy rings on them and are really quite nice....albeit a bit spendy.

If not you can use galvanized fence poles that they have at Home Depot. I think they are 10' sections that have swedged ends and will fit one inside the other. Or you can you can make your own push-up poles with them as well, by using larger diameter stuff at the bottom, and put smaller inside as you go up.

Or....I've seen guys come up with great ideas with a few 20' 2X4s.

I take it you have no trees in the yard?...???