Ham Radio HF / VHF
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 157
Likes: 1
From: Houston, TX
So my question is this; what kind of radio would I need to transmit and receive over say a 30 mile radius? I've been reading the posts and what is the differene between 2 m, and 10 meter? What is better vhf or the other one? What kind of wattage would be needed? Assume repeaters are down and out of the equation. What would the antena look like?
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Palmdale, CA
I connected directly to the battery with a pair of 10 AWG stranded wires which currently go directly to this radio but I will add a termination point under the dash with hot and key switched fuses that will allow me to add other equipment. I routed the power wires through the firewall, using an available hole that you can easily access on the passenger side of the JK when you remove the plastic panel on the side of the dash. The hole is factory filled with expanded foam. My wires are in plastic flexible conduit like the factory uses to cover wires.
-Charles (KD5HTU)
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 788
Likes: 0
From: Binghamton, NY
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 265
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
HF rig with 102" stainless whip antenna
[QUOTE=Geko45;677321]Any dual-band 2m/70cm radio will work well as a mobile rig for local commuications. I'm partial to Icom myself and use an Icom 207h in my truck. In my Jeep, however, I use an Icom 706mkIIg. It has comparable capabilities as the IC7000 mentioned above, but is an older model and not quite as likely to get stolen. It gives me the ability to do VHF/UHF and all the HF ham bands (one antenna output for VHF/UHF and one for HF). The HF output feeds into an LDG automatic antenna tuner and then passes on to the 102" whip. The tuner let's me use the whip on most HF bands. The VHF/UHF antenna is a generic dual-bander I found online. It's nice and small and stays out of way for the most part (the 102" whip is removed when top clearance is gonna be tight). Here are some pics of my install.
KB5ASW
Geko45, thanks for the post. Hope all is well with you and your JK since this old post. I was searching through old posts to find someone who is using a 120" whip with a HF Ham rig. I am looking to do the same as I am new to both JK's and Ham. I have an ICOM7000 and an old CB 102" stainless whip antenna. I started out with a CB "waste of time" and moved up to Ham. I just passed the Tech exam yesterday and am movin the rig to the Jeep.
If you can, tell me how the 120" whip works with your rig. Is reception ok? What kind of VSWR do you get on the antenna side of the tuner? I noticed you have no spring in your mount, have you ever had one? I know radio is a lot about the antenna and was just interested in learning from others experiences.
Thanks.
KB5ASW
Geko45, thanks for the post. Hope all is well with you and your JK since this old post. I was searching through old posts to find someone who is using a 120" whip with a HF Ham rig. I am looking to do the same as I am new to both JK's and Ham. I have an ICOM7000 and an old CB 102" stainless whip antenna. I started out with a CB "waste of time" and moved up to Ham. I just passed the Tech exam yesterday and am movin the rig to the Jeep.
If you can, tell me how the 120" whip works with your rig. Is reception ok? What kind of VSWR do you get on the antenna side of the tuner? I noticed you have no spring in your mount, have you ever had one? I know radio is a lot about the antenna and was just interested in learning from others experiences.
Thanks.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 0
From: WI
[QUOTE=maxspongebob;2082391]
Thats my old setup before the screwdriver and you will need a tuner to make a whip work more than one band. I did the hamstick thing for awhile, then I got serious with the screwdriver. For a tuner check on the ones that will be powered directly with the 7000 so you just push a button and go.
Also the whip with no spring basically tunes to 10M with little tuner help.
Check my posts for getting rid of noise in the jeep both for RX and TX which wants to mess up the CAN communications between the ECU's
Any dual-band 2m/70cm radio will work well as a mobile rig for local commuications. I'm partial to Icom myself and use an Icom 207h in my truck. In my Jeep, however, I use an Icom 706mkIIg. It has comparable capabilities as the IC7000 mentioned above, but is an older model and not quite as likely to get stolen. It gives me the ability to do VHF/UHF and all the HF ham bands (one antenna output for VHF/UHF and one for HF). The HF output feeds into an LDG automatic antenna tuner and then passes on to the 102" whip. The tuner let's me use the whip on most HF bands. The VHF/UHF antenna is a generic dual-bander I found online. It's nice and small and stays out of way for the most part (the 102" whip is removed when top clearance is gonna be tight). Here are some pics of my install.
KB5ASW
Geko45, thanks for the post. Hope all is well with you and your JK since this old post. I was searching through old posts to find someone who is using a 120" whip with a HF Ham rig. I am looking to do the same as I am new to both JK's and Ham. I have an ICOM7000 and an old CB 102" stainless whip antenna. I started out with a CB "waste of time" and moved up to Ham. I just passed the Tech exam yesterday and am movin the rig to the Jeep.
If you can, tell me how the 120" whip works with your rig. Is reception ok? What kind of VSWR do you get on the antenna side of the tuner? I noticed you have no spring in your mount, have you ever had one? I know radio is a lot about the antenna and was just interested in learning from others experiences.
Thanks.
KB5ASW
Geko45, thanks for the post. Hope all is well with you and your JK since this old post. I was searching through old posts to find someone who is using a 120" whip with a HF Ham rig. I am looking to do the same as I am new to both JK's and Ham. I have an ICOM7000 and an old CB 102" stainless whip antenna. I started out with a CB "waste of time" and moved up to Ham. I just passed the Tech exam yesterday and am movin the rig to the Jeep.
If you can, tell me how the 120" whip works with your rig. Is reception ok? What kind of VSWR do you get on the antenna side of the tuner? I noticed you have no spring in your mount, have you ever had one? I know radio is a lot about the antenna and was just interested in learning from others experiences.
Thanks.
Thats my old setup before the screwdriver and you will need a tuner to make a whip work more than one band. I did the hamstick thing for awhile, then I got serious with the screwdriver. For a tuner check on the ones that will be powered directly with the 7000 so you just push a button and go.
Also the whip with no spring basically tunes to 10M with little tuner help.
Check my posts for getting rid of noise in the jeep both for RX and TX which wants to mess up the CAN communications between the ECU's
JK Jedi
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,813
Likes: 0
From: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Geko45, thanks for the post. Hope all is well with you and your JK since this old post. I was searching through old posts to find someone who is using a 120" whip with a HF Ham rig. I am looking to do the same as I am new to both JK's and Ham. I have an ICOM7000 and an old CB 102" stainless whip antenna. I started out with a CB "waste of time" and moved up to Ham. I just passed the Tech exam yesterday and am movin the rig to the Jeep.
If you can, tell me how the 120" whip works with your rig. Is reception ok? What kind of VSWR do you get on the antenna side of the tuner? I noticed you have no spring in your mount, have you ever had one? I know radio is a lot about the antenna and was just interested in learning from others experiences.
Thanks.
If you can, tell me how the 120" whip works with your rig. Is reception ok? What kind of VSWR do you get on the antenna side of the tuner? I noticed you have no spring in your mount, have you ever had one? I know radio is a lot about the antenna and was just interested in learning from others experiences.
Thanks.
Note that he didn't say 120" whip. He said 102" whip.....just like your old one you said you have. It will "work" with your IC7K but you'll have to have a tuner inline. If you don't what to get a tuner then you are pretty restricted to 10m with the 102" whip....you may have to clip a little off it for better resonance on 10m. Or if you don't want to put out the expense for some type of screwdriver antenna, then I suggest getting resonant HAM Sticks for the bands you intend to use. The only problem with that is that you will have to go outside the JK and physically switch the antennas when you switch bands.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Northern, MO
Antenna type and height question
Don't know anything about HAM, but have seen vehicles around town with some pretty obnoxious looking antennas. 
(probably 8' tall with a large wire basket about 2/3rds the way up, hope this wasn't one of your guys antennas 
) Are these HAM antennas? Are there some inconspicuous antenna options available?
(probably 8' tall with a large wire basket about 2/3rds the way up, hope this wasn't one of your guys antennas ) Are these HAM antennas? Are there some inconspicuous antenna options available?