July - Mike And Key Amateur Radio Club

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July 2010A Portable Radio Box forPublic Service EventsBy George Thornton AE7GI do a lot of public service work, mostly withsporting events. Over the years we have evolved aneed for an ideal combination of radios and peripheraldevices.We work on VHF/UHF, both through repeatersand direct via simplex. We are often in and out ofvehicles, so an HT is helpful. We often work in areaswith poor communication paths, so it is very helpful tocross band our HT to a more powerful mobile rig.APRS is a valuable tool. While laptop APRSmapping software is ideal, using a laptop while drivingis dangerous and cumbersome. GPS plotter devicesthat will directly plot APRS locations on a GPS screenare a plus because they work automatically and do notdistract the driver.We typically work with up to five differentfrequencies and a lot of our operations require 220 mcapable equipment.On top of that, I sometimes have to move myequipment into other vehicles.Here is the equipment I have come to prefer:HT: Kenwood TH-F6a: Tri-Bander with 220.Dual-Bander: Kenwood D700/710: Dual bandand integrated APRS. In this configuration I do notconnect a GPS to the D700 so I do not fully use theKenwood APRS functions.Tri-Bander: Kenwood TM-742/942: These radiosare discontinued but can be found used. They offer fulltriband operation including 220 MH. Moreover, theycan serve as a cross band repeater.APRS: I use the Tracker 2. This device can beused with almost any 2 meter radio to provide fullAPRS capability. Using this device with a Garmin Nuvi350 GPS navigation device opens a whole realm ofnew opportunities. The 350 has a fleet modecapability that will accept APRS plots from the radio asfavorite destinations. These are automatically plotteddirect to the screen and you can even use the 350 toget turn by turn directions to the last plotted location forthat station. You can even use the Nuvi to sendmessages to another APRS station. I have found thiscombination to be reliable, stable and very easy to use.Because I want to be able to use all five bands forthe two mobile stations, I have dedicated a separatetwo meter rig solely for APRS work. I had a spareIcom V8000. This rig is overpowered for APRS work,so it is necessary to lower the power transmit settings.This combination of equipment of course alsorequires connector cables, remote mounting heads,two microphones, AC power for the Garmin and tworemote speakers. The Tri-Bander requires use of aTri-Plexer to connect to a single multiband antenna.Plus, direct connection to the vehicle‘s battery wouldK7LED Relaybe a necessity. Add to all of that three separateantennas and cables.Adapting for Mobile UseSwitching all this equipment between vehiclescould be a nightmare. A need developed for a clean,elegant solution for combining the radios to minimizesetup headaches. With all that equipment there wouldalso be a need for cooling fans to minimize heat duringextended operation.I came up with the idea of using a dual height rackmount computer server case. These can be bought foraround $100 and already include cooling fans.The box is flat and sturdy and protects theequipment well. I was able to install all three radios,the duplexer and the Tracker 2 with plenty of room tospare.Power is brought in using 8 gauge red/black wireconnected with 75 watt Anderson PowerPoleconnectors. Power is distributed through terminalstrips.The two Kenwood radio heads are mounted on aplate that can fit into the cup holder of a vehicle. Imounted a toggle switch to the plate a well.The APRS radio does not have a remote controlhead. We placed a relay in the box that can beactivated by a remote toggle switch. When in the onsetting the dedicated APRS radio, the Tracker 2 andthe fans are all activated.So, in the vehicle I have two radio control headsand a toggle switch, as well as two remote speakersand two microphones. I also have the Garmin 350.To simplify the connection between the box andthe control head, existing radio control cables werereorganized using commonly available modular cableconnections. We now can make all connections usingone D sub 9, one D sub 25 and one eight pin Ethernetcable.Installation in a New VehicleSwitching between vehicles is very simple.The hardest step is accessing power from thevehicle battery. For the first use we connect cabledirectly to the battery, fuse it near the source and runthe cable to the radio box location, installing 75 AMPPower Pole connectors on the end of the wire. Oncethis has been set up in a vehicle, we leave the cable inplace so it can be reused later.The radio box is brought to the vehicle. Weconnect the 25 pin and 8 pin Ethernet between theradio box and the control plate. Plug the speakers andmicrophones into the control head. Plug the Garmin350 into the car‘s AC power adapter and connect thegarmin cable to the 9 pin connector.We of course need antennas, simple mag mountantennas can be put on the roof of the vehicle and thecables run to the radio box, which has three externalPL259 connectors that are patched through to theindividual radios. [Continued on Page 7]6
July 2010K7LED RelayPortable Radio Box… [Continued from Page 6]If we don‘t have to mess with the batteryconnection, this whole setup can be assembled andmade operational in about 20 minutes.Operation Is SimpleOperation is indeed quite simple. Just turn on theindividual radios.The Garmin device has a suction cup and it canbe secured to the windshield. Turning the toggleswitch to on starts the Tracker 2, the APRS radio andthe cooling fans. In a few seconds the tracker 2 willestablish communication paths with the Garmin andthe screen will show connection made. Thecombination has worked flawlessly for me.The box draws NO power when the switch andradios are off.When running I can simultaneously monitor up tofive different frequencies, plus have full APRScapability. I have access to 2 meter, 220 and 440bands with full mobile power.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Special Focus: Elmers' Corner... by Jim Aigner, N7MUPlease visit the Elmer Wiki at http://k7ledelmerwiki.wikispaces.com/.Area Elmer Coordinator Email Phone Also…Homebrew, DX, antennas Jeff Wandling, W7BRS dew7brs@gmail.com 206-605-2278 New Hams, satellite workBeams and Towers Alan Hughes, KB7SVU kb7svu@juno.com 253-840-4947 Beam antennas and towers, safetyContesting Mike Dinkelman, N7WA mwdink@clearwire.net 253-631-3756 Contest operationsCW Mike Dinkelman, N7WA mwdink@clearwire.net 253-631-3756 Learn CW, operating proficiencyDigital Modes Andy Lengenfelder, KE7ZGR ke7zgr@arrl.net 425-430-1804 All digital modes, software, TNC'sD-STAR Steve Hatch, WA7DAD stephen@hatch.net 206-851-8842 D-STAR technology and operationEmergency Comm Tim Kane, K7ANE k7ane@arrl.net 206-251-7467 CERT, ARES, organizations & Eq'tHF Operation Dale Tongue AC7NP dale.tongue@gmail.com 425-432-4254 Equipment, Antennas, and best HFoperating practicesNew Members Dick Radford, WA7NIW wa7niw@arrl.net 425-828-9791 Getting started, equipment selectionand operationQRP Frank Qualls, AB7HA franklin_qualls@hotmail.com 425-802-1837 Low power operation, design andconstructionVHF/UHF Operation Dave Smith, KB7PSN kb7psn@yahoo.com 425-235-5095 6 meters and up; radios, antennas,modes______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Radio Amateur's CODEContributed by Sam Sullivan N7RHECONSIDERATENever knowingly operates in such a way as to lessenthe pleasure of others.LOYALThe operator offers loyalty, encouragement andsupport to other amateurs, local clubs, and the AmericanRadio Relay League, through which Amateur Radio inthe United States is represented nationally andinternationally.PROGRESSIVEWith knowledge abreast of science, well-built andefficient station and operation above reproach.7FRIENDLYSlow and patient operating when requested; friendlyadvice and counsel to the beginner, kindly assistance,cooperation and consideration for the interests ofothers. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.BALANCEDRadio is an avocation, never interfering with dutiesowed to his family, job, school or community.PATRIOTICStation and skill always ready for the service tocountry and community.[The original Amateur's Code was writtenby Paul M. Segal, W9EEA, in 1928]
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