KH6JRM;s Amateur Radio Blog
This has been a busy month in the newsroom, so my time dedicated to amateur radio has been minimal. I will get back in the groove this weekend after some yard work around the radio ranch. Presently, I'm working to equip my Odyssey min-van with a ham radio station. I'm operating on 2 meters with my trusty HT, a set of solar powered gel cells, and a 1/4 wave whip positioned on the van room with a mag mount. For now, the setup meets my immediate needs. I elected to not use the van's electrical system. The set of gel cells in the van coupled with a set of small solar panels mounted on a side window keeps the system active. The power demands of the HT are very small, so I have no problem of running out of juice. Adding HF capability will be a challenge, not the least of which is the low clearance of my garage. Most likely, I'll opt for a mag-mounted "Ham Stick" as a temporary solution. This is not an efficient system, but it will do until I