(Was ICOM IC-T7H or IC-W32?)

Thank you to everyone for your continued responses. I'm logging them all to
make my final decision.

Allow me to add a few more details to the aforementioned info...

Although my first thought was a mag mount antenna, I have a '94 Jeep
Wrangler with a fiberglass hardtop. Because of that, it was suggested to me
to get a glass mount for the front window (as the other windows would be
removed by removing the hardtop). I do have a metal lockbox in the back
that a mag could mount to, but then the antenna would be inside and I
understand that's not ideal.

The reason I'm currently looking into a HT is simply finances. While some
day, I hope to have a base station in every room, a mobile in every vehicle,
and a HT for every occasion, I can only afford one radio at this time (and I
have to save for awhile for that!). I'm looking at a HT because of
versatility: I can use it in my home, in my vehicle, or walking down the
road. I'm hoping to extend it's range with the additional antenna and use a
speaker/mic or some sort of headset to facilitate mobile use.

Any further thoughts/ideas/suggestions based on this additional info? I'm
open to any and all comments.

Thank you again for all your help.

Struggling to get back on the air...
--
C. J.
KF6BLN
pipestix AT hotmail DOT com


On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 22:38:59 -0700, "Stix" wrote:

Hey gang...

I've been off the air since my radio was stolen a few years back. Now
I'm
looking to scrape together a little cash, buy myself a handheld and car
antenna, and get back to a little 2M activity.

I went browsing at the local HRO, and spoke to a gentleman who
recommended
for my budget the IC-T7H and a particular glass mount antenna. After
flipping through a few catalogues, I'm thinking I might want to save a
little longer to get the IC-W32.

What are your opinions on this? Any experience with either radio? Is it
worth the extra or should I stick with the T7H? I will be using it in
the
car and the backlit number pad would be very convenient, although I'm
sure
after setting my pre-sets I won't need to fiddle with it much in transit.

Fiberglass topped jeep? There are a couple options. I don't like glass
mount. Personally, I have experienced poor matching or excessive losses
with these. If I had your vehicle, I would consider a 1/2 wave base
loaded antenna for 2M that doesn't require a ground plane. These are
readily available from most decent mobile antenna manufacturers. Also, I
would consider a trunk lip mounted antenna fastened to the edge of your
hood if possible. There's enough metal on the front of the jeep to make
that fairly effective..... more so than a glass mount antenna, in my
opinion. Or if you didn't mind drilling a 3/4" hole on the hood space
between the front windshield and the hood itself, you could mount a decent
NMO type mount there. That, too, would be reasonable effective. I don't
think the Fiberglass top of the jeep would impact any front mounted
antenna enough to be concerned. Only concern is RF radiation to the cab
occupants. If you don't run too high power, or tx too much, that should
not be an issue, either. Good luck.


Ed WB6SAT

Fiberglass topped jeep? There are a couple options. I don't like glass
mount. Personally, I have experienced poor matching or excessive losses
with these. If I had your vehicle, I would consider a 1/2 wave base
loaded antenna for 2M that doesn't require a ground plane. These are
readily available from most decent mobile antenna manufacturers. Also, I
would consider a trunk lip mounted antenna fastened to the edge of your
hood if possible. There's enough metal on the front of the jeep to make
that fairly effective..... more so than a glass mount antenna, in my
opinion. Or if you didn't mind drilling a 3/4" hole on the hood space
between the front windshield and the hood itself, you could mount a decent
NMO type mount there. That, too, would be reasonable effective. I don't
think the Fiberglass top of the jeep would impact any front mounted
antenna enough to be concerned. Only concern is RF radiation to the cab
occupants. If you don't run too high power, or tx too much, that should
not be an issue, either. Good luck.


Ed WB6SAT

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 00:57:16 GMT, "Ed G."
wrote:



Fiberglass topped jeep? There are a couple options. I don't like glass
mount. Personally, I have experienced poor matching or excessive losses
with these. If I had your vehicle, I would consider a 1/2 wave base
loaded antenna for 2M that doesn't require a ground plane. These are
readily available from most decent mobile antenna manufacturers. Also, I
would consider a trunk lip mounted antenna fastened to the edge of your
hood if possible. There's enough metal on the front of the jeep to make
that fairly effective..... more so than a glass mount antenna, in my
opinion. Or if you didn't mind drilling a 3/4" hole on the hood space
between the front windshield and the hood itself, you could mount a decent
NMO type mount there. That, too, would be reasonable effective. I don't
think the Fiberglass top of the jeep would impact any front mounted
antenna enough to be concerned. Only concern is RF radiation to the cab
occupants. If you don't run too high power, or tx too much, that should
not be an issue, either. Good luck.


Ed WB6SAT
I second the motion for mounting on the hood. When not wanting to
drill a hole my new vehicle and also not wanting a mag mount I used a
Diamond K-400 mount with a Larsen 2M/440 antenna (half wave) and have
found it to be suitable. With luck, there's already a hole in the
firewall to pass the coax through. If only using an HT I wouldn't
worry about RF exposure.

Howard KE6MAK

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 00:57:16 GMT, "Ed G."
wrote:



Fiberglass topped jeep? There are a couple options. I don't like glass
mount. Personally, I have experienced poor matching or excessive losses
with these. If I had your vehicle, I would consider a 1/2 wave base
loaded antenna for 2M that doesn't require a ground plane. These are
readily available from most decent mobile antenna manufacturers. Also, I
would consider a trunk lip mounted antenna fastened to the edge of your
hood if possible. There's enough metal on the front of the jeep to make
that fairly effective..... more so than a glass mount antenna, in my
opinion. Or if you didn't mind drilling a 3/4" hole on the hood space
between the front windshield and the hood itself, you could mount a decent
NMO type mount there. That, too, would be reasonable effective. I don't
think the Fiberglass top of the jeep would impact any front mounted
antenna enough to be concerned. Only concern is RF radiation to the cab
occupants. If you don't run too high power, or tx too much, that should
not be an issue, either. Good luck.


Ed WB6SAT
I second the motion for mounting on the hood. When not wanting to
drill a hole my new vehicle and also not wanting a mag mount I used a
Diamond K-400 mount with a Larsen 2M/440 antenna (half wave) and have
found it to be suitable. With luck, there's already a hole in the
firewall to pass the coax through. If only using an HT I wouldn't
worry about RF exposure.

Howard KE6MAK

I second the motion for mounting on the hood. When not wanting to
drill a hole my new vehicle and also not wanting a mag mount I used a
Diamond K-400 mount with a Larsen 2M/440 antenna (half wave) and have
found it to be suitable. With luck, there's already a hole in the
firewall to pass the coax through. If only using an HT I wouldn't
worry about RF exposure.


A Tip for routing cable or DC wiring through the firewall. Most new
vehicles have the large electrical cable bundle coming through the
firewall with a large rubber grommet holding them. There is usually space
enough between the edge of the firewall hole and the cable bundle to punch
or cut a hole in this thin grommet to push the additional wires through.
CAUTION! Be very carefull you don't slip and damage any of the wires in
the cable bundle.

Ed WB6SAT



Ed

I second the motion for mounting on the hood. When not wanting to
drill a hole my new vehicle and also not wanting a mag mount I used a
Diamond K-400 mount with a Larsen 2M/440 antenna (half wave) and have
found it to be suitable. With luck, there's already a hole in the
firewall to pass the coax through. If only using an HT I wouldn't
worry about RF exposure.


A Tip for routing cable or DC wiring through the firewall. Most new
vehicles have the large electrical cable bundle coming through the
firewall with a large rubber grommet holding them. There is usually space
enough between the edge of the firewall hole and the cable bundle to punch
or cut a hole in this thin grommet to push the additional wires through.
CAUTION! Be very carefull you don't slip and damage any of the wires in
the cable bundle.

Ed WB6SAT



Ed

In article ,
"Ed G." wrote:

I second the motion for mounting on the hood. When not wanting to
drill a hole my new vehicle and also not wanting a mag mount I used a
Diamond K-400 mount with a Larsen 2M/440 antenna (half wave) and have
found it to be suitable. With luck, there's already a hole in the
firewall to pass the coax through. If only using an HT I wouldn't
worry about RF exposure.


A Tip for routing cable or DC wiring through the firewall. Most new
vehicles have the large electrical cable bundle coming through the
firewall with a large rubber grommet holding them. There is usually space
enough between the edge of the firewall hole and the cable bundle to punch
or cut a hole in this thin grommet to push the additional wires through.
CAUTION! Be very carefull you don't slip and damage any of the wires in
the cable bundle.

Ed WB6SAT



Ed

I'm following your conversations about installing mobile gear. Anyone
have experiance with a Toyota Sienna, 04 model and installing hf mobile?

73
Dale, K9VUJ
--

In article ,
"Ed G." wrote:

I second the motion for mounting on the hood. When not wanting to
drill a hole my new vehicle and also not wanting a mag mount I used a
Diamond K-400 mount with a Larsen 2M/440 antenna (half wave) and have
found it to be suitable. With luck, there's already a hole in the
firewall to pass the coax through. If only using an HT I wouldn't
worry about RF exposure.


A Tip for routing cable or DC wiring through the firewall. Most new
vehicles have the large electrical cable bundle coming through the
firewall with a large rubber grommet holding them. There is usually space
enough between the edge of the firewall hole and the cable bundle to punch
or cut a hole in this thin grommet to push the additional wires through.
CAUTION! Be very carefull you don't slip and damage any of the wires in
the cable bundle.

Ed WB6SAT



Ed

I'm following your conversations about installing mobile gear. Anyone
have experiance with a Toyota Sienna, 04 model and installing hf mobile?

73
Dale, K9VUJ
--

On Fri, 19 Sep 2003 13:49:13 -0700, "Stix"
wrote:

(Was ICOM IC-T7H or IC-W32?)

Thank you to everyone for your continued responses. I'm logging them all to
make my final decision.

Allow me to add a few more details to the aforementioned info...

Although my first thought was a mag mount antenna, I have a '94 Jeep
Wrangler with a fiberglass hardtop. Because of that, it was suggested to me
to get a glass mount for the front window (as the other windows would be
removed by removing the hardtop). I do have a metal lockbox in the back
that a mag could mount to, but then the antenna would be inside and I
understand that's not ideal.

For mounts, look at

http://www.hamstick.com/mounts.htm

Lots of choices.

Bob
k5qwg