Install new radio in camp trailer

[@miketaylor9231]

Hi Randy. It was a pleasure meeting you at Quartzfest! I'm the guy who was talking to you about reviewing the Mercury 3 amp when you get it. Hope you had a good time, and safe trip back home. I'm going to check out more of your videos for sure. Subscribed and saying 73! Mike W4MWT.

[@K7AGE]

Hope to start the ordering process soon.

[@kenwing6196]

I love my IC7100, a very underrated radio.

[@donaldshields2483]

Very nice Video enjoyed watching it good luck on your trip

[@K7AGE]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@myradiovideos]

Randy,,, Back in the late 60's, I purchased a Channel Master 2-13 TV antenna! I remember when it said on the Box, Color Capable!! Then along came 8VSB for over the air tv, once again the antenna said Digital Ready!!! Some things never change!!!

[@scottgrosch1064]

Nice setup! Wish i was going to oshkosh again. Flew in there for the 2018 show, awesome! I also have a micro mini 210 so thanks for sharing your layout.

[@scottkuhar]

This was helpful with my Micro Minnie. I have a similar floorplan to yours (no slide though). I drilled the side and installed 2 weatherproof BNC connectors, and then a couple of BNC bulkhead connectors right under the dinette bench. I did the same with bulkhead powerpoles and ran it through my low point drain to the camper's battery. I have a telescoping mast mounted to my ladder and I put an Ed Fong J-pole for VHF/UHF, and I also have a Diamond BB7V mounted to the ladder. I use an IC-7000 and this will be great for winter field day.

[@K7AGE]

Glad my video helped you. Have fun operating in your trailer.

[@seanhenriques808]

Nice to see you're still truckin. I've stepped away from radio for a break to explore other things. One of those things is RVing. Our first rig was also a Winnebago Micro Minnie. We loved it and only traded it for a larger one since we had a little one join the family. Good to see you sharing the knowledge on how to equip a camper with an antenna for when I need it! Enjoy Quartzsite! One day I'll get there! 73 de kc2neo

[@K7AGE]

Thanks

[@Tsch6373]

Needed to see an antenna set-up on an RV. Already have, a pass-through hole made for an extension cord and the coax can share it. Should be able to mount the antenna on the ladder and drop a ground from there (have no stinky slinky storage bumper). Since I'm stationary, this should work fine. Thanks for your video! 73s

[@thelandrethfarm4782]

That makes a nice camper install Randy!

[@Sm6ype]

Always so nice to watch your videos Randy. I’m just now thinking of to upgrade from my old IC-706MkIIg to a IC-7100. It’s for sure not the newest model but since I doing remote operation all the time, I need to have a radio with detachable controller. I’m using Remoterig interfaces for the remote connection. They work super good. Best 73s from SM6YPE

[@K7AGE]

Good ole 706!

[@chrispassafiume]

Love the DX Eng. stickers at the end. Because if you shop with DX, you definitely have stickers to put on your radio gear, cups, cars...................... 73 W7DRX Chris

[@K7AGE]

I have lots of stickers

[@MaE-uz8fh]

Have fun. I'm jealous. Can't wait to join you all at Quartzsite one day soon.

[@K7AGE]

I hope so too!

[@1crazynordlander]

I have the IC-7100. It is a nice radio but I had to send mine off for repair. I had corrosion on the circuit board I am sure it was caused by moisture from cold-hot cycles causing condensation in a mobile environment. I like your setup for the RV. This will serve you well.

[@K7AGE]

Thanks for the info

[@DutchCleveland]

Thank you Randy. I got exactly what I need from your Video. Where to put the passthru for the antenna while maintaining the integrity of our 2022 KZ Sportsmen 170MB. I want to operate from the table and have two coax lines that are cleanly installed. The drain for the freshwater tank is a PERFECT passthru! Thank you. That is the only part I dont have figured out. I have been looking for this answer for easily 4 months.

[@USNERDOC]

Absolutely fabulous video Randy! As you know I have enjoyed your content ever since I stumbled upon your channel shortly after getting my ticket.You have been a solid and reliable "cyber Elmer" that has had significant influence in my ham radio journey. I have plans of adding a station in our trailer this summer. As always this was a super helpful video, and quite timely! I hadn't thought of the dual capability of being able to operate with inside and outside the trailer. Makes a lot of sense and was a valuable take away point from your video. I've used a heavy collapsable flagpole on the back of our previous trailer but it was quite unwieldy. I am going to look into the DX Engineering mast. That looks like the perfect solution. Safe travels and I do hope you enjoy Quartzite! Thank you for what you do for the online ham community. 73 de David / KF7ETX

[@K7AGE]

Thanks David. Perhaps a stay at your ranch for a night on my way to Oshkosh in mid July? Hi to Beth!

[@wild-radio7373]

It's wonderful to hear from you Randy!♡♡♡ thank you :)

[@K7AGE]

Thanks

[@KB6YAF]

Randy, I am very impressed with your video on this subject of RV's and ham radio installation. I forwarded it to my friend Ed, KB7ED that came down with me to Quartzfest '22. You just have given me so many good ideas on how to plan a much better radio installation inside my motorhome. In fact, I just got back from our local ham radio club's meeting. Some members have asked about a possible future Zoom meeting with you in the future! Thanks again Randy, ......73 de Russell, KB6YAF...... Oh, did you stay for this year's hootenanny? I hope so. My sound system is a far cry from that year you recorded about 3 hours worth!! My, we have coma a long way.....And OH.....congratulations for earning that cool solar powered hard hat. Heil Mic, etc for being a long distance Contact winner at Qfest.

[@K7AGE]

Hi, zoom, sure. I didn't get to the hootenanny this year. Mike and Natalie from our group played with you all. They played around our campfire one night for about an hour.

[@kicktree]

Its guys like you that make me glad I'm a ham!

[@K7AGE]

Thanks

[@jeffcoulam]

Travel safe! See you at Quartzfest 2022! 73s KI5CBM

[@W7LDT]

Randy, you are living MY dream. I’ll look for you at Quartzfest.

[@K7AGE]

Please do

[@PhilG0BVD]

Randy, good to see tower and antenna finished in the video was a project I was following but you never posted the final video. Have a great time at quartz feast in the modified camp trailer

[@K7AGE]

It isn't finished. I have enough up to use it. I have more work planned.

[@GPSJayDog22]

Thank you Randy. Nice show today :-) Wish I was going to QuartzFest. Cheers, N6WIP

[@K7AGE]

Next time!

[@stevethibodeauxn4sfc257]

Great setup Randy. I'm working on my RV setup as we'll with the Xiegu G90 and a endfed longwire. Hope to catch you on the bands soon. 73 and safe travels.

[@K7AGE]

Sounds great!

[@drillkjh]

Randy with the IC-7100 you wont need to bring the main radio unit outside. It can stay mounted inside and with a long enough cable that connects the control unit to the main unit you can bring the just control unit outside.

[@K7AGE]

True, but if I want to do digital I need USB cable. I could extend that. I'll give that a try .

[@davidxbeats]

Hey Randy! I enjoy all the videos! Thanks! 73 de KG6WID

[@alvarogaitan2529]

fantastic video thanks terrific job 73 from kb2uew

[@hemitj]

Thanks for the info. Just found your channel and subscribed

[@K7AGE]

Thanks

[@captainblacktoe1328]

I've been looking for ideas to add a radio to my Micro Minne and this video came up and gave me some good ideas, thanks. 73 KW5W

[@K7AGE]

Go for it!

[@larrystouffer]

the 7100 is a fine radio. I use one in my shack. I've paired it with a LDG Z-100 Plus tuner. You made a good decision and I'll look to see if you made a follow up video about how it works out for you.

[@K7AGE]

Look for my POTA videos

[@Frank_K4FMH]

Great video, Randy! Hope you're enjoying Quartzfest. Although I have absolutely no plans to get into it, I've been watching some KZbin videos on school bus, old FedEx trucks, and other vehicles being renovated into live-in travel behicles. Some are 4WD. So...if that bug bites you, given your proclivity for camping, you have a leg-up on doing the radio portion, lol. 73 de K4FMH

[@K7AGE]

Thanks Frank

[@tmbgator2]

Have a great trip!!

[@KE6DOA]

Enjoyed watching this video , I’m getting ready to do pretty much the same to my trailer. Also seen you at Pacificon in October which happened to be my birthday weekend 73

[@K7AGE]

cool

[@w2aew]

Have a safe trip! Be sure to say hi to Jeri and Amy for me - it's been many years since I randomly ran into Jeri at PDX and we shared a flight to NJ/NY.

[@K7AGE]

That must have been a neat trip. I'll say hi!

[@BretChilcott]

Randy, thank you for sharing your knowledge. BTW, we should schedule a meet up at OSH. I will be flying in, in our 1947 Stinson camping under the wing for a week. 73, Bret / AC0AE

[@K7AGE]

I'll probably be spending time at the War Birds Special Event station with Ray Novak.

[@brentjohnson6654]

Nice setup in the trailer. Those DX engineering poles look good. I have not seen them put up before. When my wife retires we want to get a small travel trailer and go to quartz fest and Oshkosh (not in the same neighborhood haha). Do you plan on going to Oshkosh this summer?

[@K7AGE]

I just changed the pole that the mast slips into. I got a 3", a little large, for the mast to slide into. If just holding a vertical wire, a less sturdy mast would do. Oshkosh, yes!

[@kittykat999a]

Awesome video! Next winter I will be in AZ. I’m looking at the Mini Winnie family of bumper pulls. I’ll have to get solar and mobil equipment such as you’ve described. Thanks! N5USS

[@K7AGE]

I have portable panels that I set out.

[@TheHellfiremissile]

Thanks for this info Randy. Did you consider using your TS-2000 as a cross band auto repeater. That way you could use a handheld at the table?

[@K7AGE]

I’ve done that a couple of times. I wanted a more up-to-date radio that is smaller than the Kenwood.

[@MisterTwister55]

Where did you get the battery operated LED light you showed while fishing the coax? My dad has a CAT branded light that looks just like that but I can't find them online anywhere under CAT or other brands

[@K7AGE]

Harbor Freight.

[@mrfixit8312]

New ham here KI5ZKW.....I am still learning, but can I use this design without the external tuner and use a built in instead? I just got my first HF, the Xiegu X6100....

[@K7AGE]

I don't think that would work very well. This works great with the non resonant wire right at the wide range antenna tuner. Typically a tuner in a radio only deals with a SWR below 3:1.

[@mrfixit8312]

@@K7AGE With my ongoing research, it's become clear the external tuner is required. Thanks for the response...73s

[@Kq4hcuDan]

I need to do this to my travel trailer to hook up a my mobile radios VHF/UHF, CB, GMRS, HF and police scanner

[@frankmckinley1254]

Seriously thanks for posting.

[@PaulGriffith]

Have you done an episode about power for your radio in a camper?

[@K7AGE]

No. For now just using my 30 AH Bioenno battery. All the DC main wiring is on the other side of the trailer. Not sure what I may do.

[@brianpacchetti5028]

Randy. As usual your project is well thought out. Looking to do something similar and looking forward how 7100 performed on your trip. Particularly using ft8 and Winlik on 40 meters. Are you equipped for DMR? If so, let us know where you would be hanging out. Will you be installing a ground rod when you setup for HF? Hope time at Quartzite allows time for field use episodes. My remote tuner is a SGC, but not confident of it braving winter elements. Looking forward to follow up episode if time is on your side. 73, safe travels. W6DWY Brookings.

[@K7AGE]

Working great on FT8. Haven't fired up Winlink yet. DMR mobile with hotspots, 31075.

[@W9BTM-WQNX906]

any update on 75/80M? Does the tuner and wire take it? 73 DE W9BTM

[@K7AGE]

It works ok on 40. Not very efficient on 80. I think I tried 80 once.

[@AllanBProductions]

What is the advantage of using a remote antenna tuner with the antenna wire connected directly to the tuner as opposed to an antenna tuner which takes the coax feed line in and you use a short jumper to the radio?

[@forgetyourlife]

Big difference. The advantage is the tuner can more directly tune the antenna instead of tuning the antenna and feed line which is less effective and more lossy. More radiated RF out basically.

[@K7AGE]

YES, thanks

[@carlos-i5c1j]

buen video amigo randy

[@buzzsah]

I have the AH4, I've had it for about 25 years. I used it on our boat when using the bow-rail as an antenna. I am using it now on an end-feed on land now. :(

[@K7AGE]

Sorry that you are docked!

[@DK5ONV]

Randy have a safety and comfy drive down to the Quartzfest. Enjoy your time there and have a safety and comfy ride back home again. 73 de Your biggest Fan of the German Frontier, Uncle Guenter

[@Nico_83]

Just... wow

[@jimsanders1707]

I was unable to get my Little Tarheel to tune I grounded the antenna to the frame like you did and would not work. I them ran braid from the back to the front of the class C RV and then back to the rear and still could not get it grounded. Is there a secret to grounding a class C RV? You did not mention radials did you use any? Great videos thanks for producing them.

[@K7AGE]

Not sure about class C motorhomes. You want to bond to the frame. No Radials. I see many guys add a coil of a few turns at the bottom of their screwdriver antennas to help with the match.

[@alanjames4526]

Hi, Randy. Have fun & stay safe! 73 Alan KZ6B

[@K7AGE]

Thanks, will do!

[@joshualee1]

Repeater Ready!!!!! That's funny. Sign me up when you get your hands on a genuine analog antenna... ; ) Have a great time!

[@K7AGE]

Kind of like digital TV antenna.

[@potatoslim2332]

Yeah i'll give you a like : ) have fun on your ham adventures

[@joepeltola52]

Is there going to be more videos on the tower.

[@K7AGE]

Probably round March.

[@sharetherisk7647]

Pretty sure the COMET "marketing dept" is relying on the fact the selected antenna is vertically vs horizontally polarized. Most repeaters and therefore D-Star (surprised they did not list Fusion as well) use vertical antennas. I find a majority of Technician class Hams do not understand the advantages/disadvantages of both types of antennas which can be used interchangeably but with a potential sacrifice if the polarization is mis-matched.

[@milwman1958]

Lucky, I don't got the funds this year to go

[@Davidjb37721]

Looks nice have fun Ke4hpq 73”s

[@mikaliimatainen4241]

Randy! Waiting U for 20mb CW. 73, Mika, OH6NVC

[@K7AGE]

No CW here ☹️

[@mikaliimatainen4241]

@@K7AGE Ok. We need to try 20m SSB. I am almost every day on 20m cw/ssb. 73, Mika oh6nvc

[@2metercrew389]

👍👍👍

[@alanbrockmeier6871]

I put an antenna on my fifth wheel using a 25 foot mast and a ham steak for 75 m. The antenna received and transmitted well but I had so much noise on the radio it was not really a workable system. People smarter than me believe that it was getting the interference from the inverter on the fifth wheel however the company that builds the Inverter said it pure Shane and should not produce RF interference Any idea on what was going on. Thanks 73 NM5SP

[@K7AGE]

Yup, those are switch mode power supplies. I have seen testing plots that they meet FCC requirements, but you can still hear them. My converter's charger is on a breaker, you can always shut that off. Wander around with a portable radio to see if you can located the source. Good luck.

[@jamesharrison2041]

i am fixing to put my 10 meter mobile in my r.v.'' and mount a mobile 10 foot firestick on a spring onto the side my my r.v.'''might go to Quartzfest'''ive never been'''''anybody know if radio/misc dealer's are down there during quarzfest.

[@K7AGE]

No commercial sales on BLM land. Swap meet Saturday morning.

[@ReedAB8AS]

👍🏻

[@MINI-4X4-RADIO]

Whilst they are pushing the limits in marketing... there is some validity Certainly in the UK, some of the UHF DSTAR/Fusion repeaters are now TX right up to the band edge 439.975MHz , RX is 9MHz lower. some(?) mobile antennas SWR at band edges can get over 3:1, so thay have tried flatten the SWR They could have just said "Wideband 430~440MHz"

[@K7AGE]

marketing.....

[@mattpace5982]

Icon 7800 is a good ham radio

[@fridayjoefriday]

Mr. Hall, that Uhf-Vhf antenna claiming repeater d-star, is as frustrating to you as the television antenna manufactures, claiming their antenna has 200 mile range reception and is HD, 4K ready is to me. TV antennas are dumb and even those antenna from the fifty's, sixty's, seventy's can receive HD 4K. I enjoy your videos, seems there are fewer now than back in the day before your exodus from Cal.

[@K7AGE]

I wonder if digital antennas new square elements and analog antennas round elements?

[@fridayjoefriday]

@@K7AGE I currently own a Clear Max 2, VHF element round and just the right lenght for VHF7-13,UHF two loop circles. Works great indoors right now and receive, all be it weak the PBS station from Corvallis Or, here just outside of Eugene. I do believe antenna manufactures are trying to hog wash us with BS claims of doubtful garbage.

[@frankmckinley1254]

What is Quartzfest? Let's give a cheeky answer. A place where moderately wealthy RV'ers with Radio hang out with the poorer Nomad's living in the desert. Just a click above Slab city.🤣

[@K7AGE]

pretty much, retire people with the time to hang out

[@radioactive8245]

They put the repeater and digital info because there are "hams" that do not know better.

[@mattpace5982]

Don't use a ground plane antenna they are junk

[@mondavou9408]

Unsubscribed. Stickers installed crooked. Its like flashing lights for an epileptic, except its for OCD. Except, I have the more severe form... CDO, which is where the letters have to be alphabetized. ROFL