Grumpee,

Yes, the setup is used while driving. One guy drives while the other operates. The back mast extends up another 3 feet while parked. Over the road legal height is 13'6" and we ride at 12', so there is lots of "overhead".

Every rover does it a bit differently based on equipment, vehicle used and expertise in making it all work. I usually finish in the top 10 of the rover category nationally in the VHF contests. Ham radio is lots of fun and VHF, UHF and microwave bands are really cool to operate.

Best regards,
Mark

 

Outside of the fuel door on the wrong side, Us HHR owners can help you with a mod to fix just about anything on the HHR. And trust me, we are working on that 60 mpg engine, it just takes time..

I found how much fun the rentals are and bought my HHR 2 weeks later and that was back in Oct 05...


Remember.... Watch out for the Deer!!!!!!

 

Holy Lord. I thought my friends gave me enough crap about the little SBB-5 I've got hanging on the hatch of my HHR. The nice thing about the HHR is the convenient ways to get a rig going in the car. Battery's in the back in the spare tire well, front seat folds flat to make a good platform to mount a bigger rig (especially for an operator in the back), and the ride height of the car is pretty low to allow use of slightly taller antennas, if needed.

 

hhrcrafty,

Yes, the front seat fold-flat feature has great appeal to me for the reason you mentioned. The K2TER rover with whom we sometimes travel uses the take the passenger seat completely out approach, but I am hesitant to do that given all the electrical issues (airbags, grounds, other controls).

I also would consider putting the head of my FT-100D on a mount that would secure into the dashboard cubby hole. I'd have the cubby for storage of the mike, key, etc., and the radio would be mounted in a good place.

Lastly, I know that the Ecotec engines are SUPERB in the area of RFI. With the coil-on-plug design and good shielding they make good radio platforms. Many guys run HF is Saturns and Cobalts with the 2.2 and are very happy.

BTW, do you have any photos of your /M setup?

73,
K2QO

 

Not much of a setup. Just the Comet antenna on a Comet 730 hatch/trunk mount going up to a little Yaesu VX-2R HT up front. Every time I go to get a decent mobile rig I wind up spending the money on something else. Usually a new tire or a pair of suit pants. But the little HT does fairly well and the intermod from this car IS a lot better than my old Blazer. There's a lot of amateurs who hate the COP ignition systems, but this one is quiet on VHF/UHF. I have yet to use HF mobile in this car yet, but once I pounce on that new IC-7000 and my 102' whip/AH-4 combo, I'll be set.

73,
KD5BFE

 

craftyhhr,

FYI- The FCC database has an expiration date on your licensce of 17 Jun 2007. I trust that you already know this!

73,
Mark

 

Yeah, I need to send in that renewal. I upgraded to General back in February but I still needed to wait to send in the renewal. Thanks for the reminder!

 

You guys understand that most of us have not a clue what you are talking about right?


Goose

 

Yes, I suspect that most are in the dark despite our making no effort whatsoever to keep this conversation secret. This website may help:

www.arrl.org

If you read a hundred pages or so, things will be more clear :-)

Mark

 

So you guys are the one looking for spacemen to talk to

J/K