Ham Nation - Updating Your Shack & How To Run Ham Sticks

Join Gordon, Don, Amanda, Randy and Josh on the first Ham Nation on the Ham Radio Crash Course channel!
Tonight Gordon shares his knowledge on the ubiquitous ham stick. We catch up with Ham Radio Newsline, Randy shares his recent shack changes and Amanda rounds out the show taking your questions from the chat.

 

sincerely greeting vy73 DJOAJ ekrem

 

josh greeting amazing antenas system HRCC. vy73 DJOAJ ekrem

 

Please don't think for a minute you can run HF mobile with the advice given here. Just go to the Mobile forum here instead. It's a Crash course alright.

 

Why, what's wrong with the advice?

 

Just try it and see how well it works. Mobile or at least half way decent mobile require a lot in the install. Just read the mobile thread to understand why. This above is just promoting sales, giving new hams a false impression of how simple it is.
They will try it and fail then come to the forums and be told its a lot more than just mounting an antenna on your trunk lid. Then most often they give up.

 

What were they selling? I only listened to the first portion with Gordon before I had to go onto other things, but it sounded to me like a discussion on how to get on the air quickly without a huge investment, not "what is the best installation". They specifically talked about using this with rental vehicles (where you won't be able to do the "proper" install).

My take away was "just get on the air, here's how you can get started". No, it's not the best way, but it's a "toe in the water" approach with minimal outlay of cash and effort.

I'm half tempted to try it with my KX2 just for giggles during our next long trip. If I can get my wife to drive, I can play on the radio (while my kids mock me from the back seat).

Chris

 

Feel free to try. The mount shown requires a bond to work. And in a rental with a poor antenna setup and install you can mess with the onboard electronics.

 

I have great success running a 20m and 10m hamstick. The key to success is bonding the mount and adding a choke balun to the coax.

Conversely 40m hamstick is just OK, 80m is not very good

 

Also, great to see Ham Nation land on the HRCC Chanel. Great job Josh Nass KI6NAZ!