Buy the "BEST" you can afford!No less than some 9913,213,Flexi 4XL(Wire Man),LMR 400.It is MORE important than the antenna after all.

Clayton
W4KVW

Sounds like what I did with my 2007 DODGE 1500 Quad Cab.I used a piece of 2 X 4 I cut down & power sanded to fit then painted it black.It fits VERY snug in the hole just below my stereo & the seperation kit plate is mounted to it for the ICOM 7000 face.Looks pretty good even if I say so myself!

Clayton
W4KVW

In my opinion a thrust bearing is a GOOD idea in most any installation.It takes ALL of the antenna & mast weight off of the rotor which can only increase the life of the rotor.I have NEVER & would NEVER install a rotor without a thrust bearing installed as well. It's CHEAP insurance & should you ever need to have the rotor replaced or repaired it keeps the mast at the same spot so it will not slide back down inside the tower without the rotor installed.That's my 2 cents worth.

Clayton
W4KVW

K7RNV you are "WRONG" about needing Dual Receive to work split.I work split from my mobile with the ICOM 7000 with NO PROBLEMS what so ever & it does NOT have DUAL RECEIVE.You can NOT listen to TWO frequencies at the same time but MOST any rig will work split by using VFO-A for receive & VFO-B for transmit(SIMPLE). You need only to hear the other stations transmiting frequency NOT your transmiting frequency!It is more FUN having DUAL WATCH or DUAL RECEIVE like in my shack on my 756 PROII but NOT at all REQUIRED for split operation.Buy what rig will make YOU happy.I PREFER ICOM's myself!

73's,
Clayton
W4KVW

KO1D,WHO is limited to 200 watts on 17 meters?Just wondering!I agree that 17 meters is a GREAT band LOTS of DX stations & 60 meters is GREAT mobile band in the mornings & evenings if your mobile that time of the day.

Clayton
W4KVW

Without the mount being grounded the ONLY antennas that would tune without the LDG AT-7000 tuner are 75,60,& 40 meters.The rest(10,& 20)would NOT without the tuner.I changed the mount to the HEAVY DUTY aluminum mount bolted to the bed stake with the SAME ground wires & ALL the antennas now tune WITHOUT the AT-7000 even being used.The ONLY thing I changed was the mount!So tell me why if the mount was NOT the issue then WHAT caused the problem?I am using Hustler antennas(FYI-one band at a time).

Clayton
W4KVW

I have a NEW stake pocket mount which I bought at the 2008 Orlando Hamcation which is "NOT" what you want! I mounted it as it should be but no matter what I did I could "NOT" get a ground on the mount itself.I attached the small ground wire provided with the mount as well as a 1/2 in.wide ground strap directly to the frame of my 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab but when tested it would show NO GROUND on the mount.The braded straps all checked fine as being grounded but ZERO ground showed on the mount.I finally removed the bed stake mount & drilled the inside bed side of the bed stake hole & mounted a HEAVY DUTY aluminum mount to it & it works as it should on ALL bands with the Hustler antennas on a 22 in mast.I do NOT remember the brand of this bed stake mount but it is a very POPULAR brand as I recall.If you use the bed stake mount I hope you have better luck than I.This one is NOT going to be used on my truck "EVER" I PROMISE!

Clayton
W4KVW

Depends on the time of DAY or NIGHT you will be using the bands.I find it's pretty EASY working lots of DX as well as U.S. stations on the 17 meter band with just 100 watts & a Hustler antenna during daytime hours.I also have pretty good success on 20 & 40 during daytime hours.60 meters is VERY good most nights but I don't get out much at night for use of that GREAT band.I have antennas for almost ALL of the bands so I'll take whatever happens to be available & work it.Hope you figure out just what you like & give it a try.Take your time & set the rig up properly so NOISE is NOT an issue or it will make thing VERY tough & take away your FUN which is why your doing it anyway.

73's,
Clayton
W4KVW

If you PISS THEM OFF,then "THEY" should NOT be a VE TEAM anyway!It would be a bunch of IDIOTS that get PISSED OFF anyway since the RULES are VERY plainly written.If you pass them all at one testing  session then GOOD FOR YOU no matter what ANYONE says!I would NOT know why ANYONE would wish to take the test out of order though?

Clayton
W4KVW

Use VFO-A for(receive)& VFO-B for(transmit)then enter the settings with the MW button & it should work just fine!Give it a try & see.Don't forget to set any tones you need as well before pushing MW button.

Clayton
W4KVW

Cal does GREAT work at a GREAT price!See his eham feedback.

Clayton
W4KVW

OK,I solved my seperation kit problem.I now have the BEST HF/VHF/UHF all mode mobile rig in my pickup.The ICOM-7000 facelate takes up almost NO room at all mounted into the dashboard of my Dodge 1500 Quad Cab.Thanks for the imput but I decided NOT to wait on the idea to AGAIN one day catch on.Now I just operate ALL of the best bands & modes from the comfort of my drivers seat.

73's,
Clayton
W4KVW

If they are like the 800SDX & 800DSA they are wired different!Call Yaesu tech support & ask them & they "SHOULD" be able to tell you for sure!

Clayton
W4KVW

1st:BEST antenna system you can afford & have the space for.2nd:Then an amplifier if you think it's still needed!All the output power in the world is useless if you can not hear who's answering you when you call!

Clayton
W4KVW

"IF" you read this in time,6 & 10 meters are WIDE OPEN today during the VHF Contest I have heard BOTH coast this afternoon here in N.Fla.on 10 & 6 meters as well.

Clayton
W4KVW