HF Mobile - Things to Consider

This is NOT the "end-all be-all" for your mobile instillation as each will be different. This is to get you thinking and to bring attention to what you need to consider if you're interested in HF mobile. I don't like drilling holes where they aren't easily concealed and I like for things to look as factory as I can. These are the bigger challenges, but the biggest task is GROUNDING so this is they approach we take today.
HF Mobile is CRAZY fun! You don't have to worry about running out of range of a repeater, you can get some WAS/DXCC Credits while on the road and, if you like road trips, its a great way to make the time fly by. The first trip after I installed my IC-7100 and Tarheel screwdriver was to the Orlando Hamfest in 2018. I was able to talk with the normal bunch on 75 meters all morning until about noon and had a pretty good signal back into the Carolinas at night (reports of 59+10-20). It made it feel like you were still in touch with home.
I've been doing HF mobile (on and off) for almost 20 years and with the newer radios that do a whole lot more than the TS-50, its even more fun now. As long as you put in some thought and don't mind doing some work its not as hard as you think. Get together with a buddy or two to have even more fun and get an extra set of eyes and ideas on your project.
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Please watch: "Things To Get at Your Local #Hamfest"
• Things To Get at Your ...
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[@SteelWolf13]

LOL "i know a few guys..a couple of guys.. 1 close friend" that owns one.

[@robertj6950]

Good info! Thank you. The Mockingbirds were pretty happy.

[@FromthehamshackwithNJ4Z]

Nicely Done... great info and nice install

[@outbacktraveller58]

GerDay. @1:00 or thereabouts, my belief is that the single most important factor in antenna selection, even over and above price, is your application ……”fit for purpose”. In MY “radio environment”, even though I consider the Tarheel are an excellent antenna, and work very well, because requirements are that robustness is #1 priority, I wouldn’t consider anything BUT either a Codan or a Barrett (if considering an “autotune” style), which are both Aussie made,I know, so harder to source (but not impossible) over there. Most of my mobileering is done on rough, corrugated DIRT (not even gravel) roads in a multi trailer big truck, and,quite honestly, nothing else would last more than a couple of days, quite honestly. The cost of either a Tarheel or a Scorpion, or even a cruddy little ATAS120 is far too high to replace weekly. I have had a Codan 9350 on the bullbar of my truck for some years now and still going strong. I’m still at the start of your video, so I don’t know where else you’re going with it, but I hope you address bonding.

[@outbacktraveller58]

At about @23:00 or so, I see the bonding, with which I agree 100% regarding the flat braid. However, so far I haven’t seen you mention conducive grease between the surfaces and the bonding straps. I have learnt that it is not merely desirable, but indispensable because otherwise, sooner or later you WILL have corrosion between the connections at a minimum. Otherwise, a most excellent video…..particularly as you don’t pretend that it’s a be all and end all…..rather a guide, as each and every installation is different. I’ve installed in 2 separate T909 Kenworths that were supposedly identical, each with their own unique “issues”!!!! Thanks for this. De VK2XB

[@alvarogaitan2529]

another good video thanks very much you number one

[@servicetrucker5564]

Should’ve capped the end of the square tube and the top of the mount. Keeps the water out and looks way better

[@AE4VJ]

True

[@usernamemykel]

Enjoyed the birds!!

[@tonydarnell376]

that's a nice mount, it reminds me I need to get a welder.

[@AE4VJ]

Thanks! Went to a local fab shop to get it done

[@cobrasvt347]

How do you not have more subscribers. KZbin algorithm is #***#*$ you. This is great stuff 👍

[@AE4VJ]

Thank you for that! I have a few videos that hit real nice and some that don’t. Still adding subs every week and learning along the way.

[@cobrasvt347]

@@AE4VJ ok good to know. You have very good content and have hit several things on your channel that resonate with issues or projects I have done or am currently working on. Thanks for the reply.

[@AE4VJ]

That’s great to hear and thank you!

[@MessageinaBottles]

Tarheel 100A-HP HF full coverage antenna . I have this connected to my 4Runner without holes drilled as well . However I ran into a problem with the vehicles computer and running 40 meter and 80 bands it knocks out my computer and throws codes easy to reset i carry a programmer in case. all Body panels are bonded another very important step most do not consider .I need to mention the computer tripping happens while running about 600 watts or more of course my Amp is a very high quality 0-30 mhz Tentec Hercules 2 radio Kenwwod TS480 . all in all its an astoundingly well performing setup and while driving down the HWYs of this country as i do often state to state i am able to have full conversations and most swear im on a base station radio so that being said the obvious issues being able to run the bottom bands . has anyone delt with this and what did you do . P.S I have used ferrites on the coax both ends made a loop in the coax at the antenna end short lead grounds to everything batter connected 200 amp breakers inside for disconnected fused at battery . Sure would love to be able to run 80 meter while rolling .. anyone thats on the fence with a Tarheel ive tried and made ever antenna you can think of including full quarter wave on 10 meter and the tarheel out performs all by a very long lead as i said the reports are always amazed im in a mobile . Thx happy DXing 73

[@AE4VJ]

Grounding and more grounding. That being said, 40 meters may always be an issue. I’ve noticed this from what others say as well. I remember K4JQR (sk) running about 1200w in his Cadillac with a Webster band spanner and he blew up 2 computers before saying, “ok, I’ll stay off 40.” Grounding via bonding is going to be your best bet. It will be extremely difficult to put ferrite on every input signal into the computer.

[@1OFGODSOWN]

On the drivers side you tear them up at every Drive Thru window and not on the right side.I use a Little Tarheel HP so it’s not very tall even mounted on the bed stale on the right side of my Ram 1500 Quad Cab.👍🎙

[@Kellymale]

I use a Chameleon hybrid mini with a 102 inch whip. LDG auto tuner. Working great.

[@rynoryzer]

What bands are you able to tune?

[@hobbiehobbs]

You did a good job on the important details.

[@AE4VJ]

Thanks so much!

[@seeharvester]

Damn! I didn't think I could learn anything new, but damn if I didn't! Antenna on the driver's side to avoid the trees on those country roads. Guess I've lived in the desert too long. Now that I'm back in Carolina, it makes so much sense.

[@1OFGODSOWN]

Hit every drive thru on the left and not on the right.😂🤣

[@seeharvester]

@@1OFGODSOWN That used to be the case, but now-a-days I don't use the drive thru much anymore. I pretty much quit eating all that fast food, and most of my banking is on auto. Can't remember the last time I used a drive thru. I suppose if I did though, I could just take the car instead of the truck, as it has no radio equipment. 😀

[@alvarogaitan2529]

another good and terrific video from ae4vj thanks 73 from kb2uew good job

[@andrewevanoff1192]

Hey buddy! Met you at Mark's when we did the 10m contest several years ago. I just installed a Tarheel Model 75 on my 4Runner. I made a bracket myself and it fits into the existing trailer hitch receiver, so it can be easily removed. I park inside my garage. A quick disconnect for the whip was a must for me. The radio (IC-7000) control head is in exactly the same location as yours and same easy-bend microphone mount extension was attached to the passenger seat mounting bolt. Great minds think alike! The Tarheel works amazingly well, especially on 20 meters. 80 meters is marginal performance because the antenna is just too small and very inefficient, no matter where and how it's installed. Size does matter for antennas. Hope to hear you on the Hoodlums net or see you at the club! 73!

[@AE4VJ]

+Andrew Evanoff excellent! Glad you are enjoying some HF mobile! The shorter ones don’t reall work on 80. I have the 200 model and it’s a lot bigger so it works pretty well on 75/80. And yes...with antennas, size DOES matter!

[@rallypoint1]

Any pics or threads on your set up?

[@AE4VJ]

#HamRadio #Shack #Tour Whats your shack or office like? #HamClutter

[@philipchandler330]

Thanks so much

[@alvarogaitan2529]

great information my friend thanks

[@AE4VJ]

Alvaro Gaitan thanks for watching! It’s greatly appreciated!

[@andyM7XTT]

Great video thankyou 😊 new subscriber

[@AE4VJ]

Thanks Andy! I really appreciate it!

[@alvarogaitan2529]

i liked your videos number one

[@larryjanson4011]

might think rude. but with millions of different ways and thoughts on mounting. if they keep the price down i say worth it.

[@n1kkri]

I own the Little Tarheel 2. Its a great antenna and have used it over 10 years or more. What makes it better is using a longer whip. I have 3 whips. The stock 1m whip a 62 inch whip, and for fixed operation a MFJ 12 foot whip. The 62 inch whip prevents 6m operation but on 80-10m the performance is much better than the 1m whip. The 12 foot whip works on 160 as well as improved performance on 80-15m. I just got a new Toyota Camry and trying to figure out the best way to mount the antenna and run power. Are there any websites showing installs of different types of vehicles?

[@AE4VJ]

The tarheel website had photos at one time.

[@Ei2iP]

So what is the the whip you are using or what is the cap hat?

[@AE4VJ]

One of the tar heel whips. I think it’s 4’. That is a capacitance hat. Friend of mine did some experiments and found that angling them up seemed to help. It does help to keep them from sticking out as far.

[@9999plato]

Drill from the bottom through both top and bottom of the 2x2 hollow square stock.

[@notsure7874]

Wiring direct to the battery is the way to do it - but generally NOT exactly how most makers still recommend. I see a lot of wiring pos and neg straight to batt, with both being fused - and if you have a REALLY old vehicle (usually big rigs, 60's or older) with special install considerations - like a positive chassis ground ... I never recommend that. Direct wiring to battery is an outdated method that the manufacturers basically "grandfathered in" to their instructions, because it will "just work" regardless of these special considerations - as long as nothing else goes wrong. But Murphys Law ... There's just not any compelling reason for them to update their instructions - only downsides for them since there are a few more scenarios to cover, and if your vehicles ground fails and it torches your radio - it's not covered under warranty so no skin off their back! I almost invariably run a waterproof blade fuse from batt + to the radio, and usually very close by is the common ground point - which I attach to without a fuse. You CAN put an appropriately sized relay between the fuse and radio to give it power on ignition, or some radios have an autoswitch built in you can run acc power to. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting negative through a short length of VERY thick wire to the battery. SOMETIMES on newer cars, there is also a POSITIVE common attachment point (jump point), and in those cases I generally use that - again with a fuse. The reason for this - is that if there is a failure of a ground like the engine ground, i'tll now be looking for ground... and it'll find it through your radio since you've just made a parallel ground path. Hit the starter, and now you have a couple hundred amps lighting your radio and that skinny wiring on fire. So if you DO wire the ground to batt - by all means fuse it - but it's not gonna save your radio - just might keep you from also lighting your car on fire. The common ground point is usually very close to the battery, there are generally no noise issues - if there are, your alternator / regulator / rectifier may be passing A/C into the system - or you might have a ground lug on the radio's chassis - which you CAN ground at the installation point with a short piece of wire to a screw into the body. I have no issues drilling through a firewall - know whats on both sides like anything else. Also going through sheet metal, use a rubber grommet so it doesn't cut the insulation and make sparks.

[@1OFGODSOWN]

Blade Fuses are known for corrosion issues even for a base install so I’d never use one in a mobile setup.

[@AngelMartinez-qn9od]

greeting which antenna is that colleague?

[@AE4VJ]

That’s the tarheel 200a

[@danchristopher9483]

Look up the trxcommunications 392M HF antenna

[@biringen]

that soft coating under the car is for protect frame and underbody against rust...

[@AE4VJ]

+biringen correct

[@alessandroconcas]

I do a similar thing: make a plate (cutting board 'cause bit lazy) under the carpet and bolt on the speaker; add a second chinese mike to use handsfree, lock to autotrans stick, a classic 50 bucks with up/dn ptt and mic on sunvisor; I have a lot of stuff so add a "battery guard" (adj at 11.7) that command a relay that power all my addon from a "fused power distributions panel"... 73 de IZ3QVB

[@rufus4779]

Good video. Thanks for your time. Very interesting indeed! 73s N2OWM Jim

[@AE4VJ]

+Rufus477 thanks for taking a look!

[@g4kfjve7kfj34]

listen the cw sending birds

[@snoobiedoo6705]

I was just wondering if that you had a son or younger brother that ran around in a class A RV that makes KZbin videos.

[@AE4VJ]

+Snoobie Doo no kids and no brother. I’m only 39.

[@snoobiedoo6705]

Okay I was just wondering there is a young man on KZbin and the two of you favor a lot in your facial features his channel is called class a living anyway okay from KM4AZy 73s

[@flyingrv6]

I have two words. Zip ties.

[@joeddejohn]

Heard no go on a Prius.

[@AE4VJ]

Haha. I would image not 🤣. I’d bed you’d have a similar problem in a Tesla.

[@joeddejohn]

@@AE4VJ Ham radio crash course did one in his Leaf. Hmm..

[@gordonblank6845]

I have Yaesu 891 and a 300 in my Fire C-Max Energi. Bonding, lots of bonding will be your friend.

[@txpatriot7044]

Turn down the bird chirp sound track :)

[@AE4VJ]

Lol

[@rdaugherty52]

Tell the bird to shut up. Bird language tweet tweeet tweet tweet tweeet.

[@PU2PYC]

Hi there! Congratulations for your video. Could give me directions to get a panel mount like this one you have? Thank you! PU2PYC

[@AE4VJ]

www.lidomounts.com/homepage.html

[@PU2PYC]

@@AE4VJ TKS my friend!

[@PU2PYC]

@@AE4VJ is it this one? www.lidomounts.com/page/subpage/homepage/lm300ext.htm I just want to make sure if is it because I’m in Brazil, and if it’s not, will be difficult to me to send it back to USA. Thanks!

[@wildbill1]

Nice video. I have done the panel bonding to my truck but I have yet to install the radio. One thing I did not do was remove any of the paint or corrosion protection. I just screwed it very tightly down to the existing panels and frame. May not be as good of a contact as the paint removed however, you are opening yourself up to corrosion in those spots. Once I get my screwdriver antenna I will do some testing. Once again, nice video.

[@AE4VJ]

Thanks!