thanks for the input everyone.. Seems Westmountain radio has exactly what I needed..  

http://www.powerwerx.com/west-mountain-radio/isopwr-auxiliary-battery-isolator.html

I think thats pretty much what I was thinking about.

all in a nifty little thing thats pretty much plug and play.

Im still thinking about running a bigger main line back just for safety and not using the cars wiring.

ok, so I am working a setup for my new Subaru Forester,  I just carried a HT in my mustang so I had no need for a full setup.

However I am looking at a 706 for the Forester, and would like to just tuck everything away in the back and run through the remote head unit.

I have a 12v 120 watt cigarette lighter plug in the back, so heres my idea.

I dont want to run a main line off the battery all the way back,  So i was thinking of strapping down a battery box maybe a 75 amp gel cell, or whatever I can find.  and run the rig off that directly.

I was wondering if there is a 12v type battery charger that I could use safely for this setup.  Use the Cigarette lighter plug for a 12v source or 14.4 when the cars running to trickle charge the 2nd battery and thus keep the two systems seperate.

is there such a device?  any way to safely do what im thinking about?

this way id never have to worry about leaving the radio on and draining the main system out, or put more wear on the alternator by putting that large load on when in use.  

Thanks for the input!
Andrew - K2FR

I climbed MT beacon NY, roughly 1600 feet of elevation and successfully activated the summit for my first activation.

If your interested in learning more about Summits on the air check out

http://www.sota.org.uk/

To find peaks that are in the W2 Area check out

http://www.sota.org.uk/Associations/v...
(Catskills NY, Adirondacks, Hudson, West NY , and Jersey)

W1 area further up North East
http://www.sota.org.uk/Associations/v...


Its not about some contest, or the number of contacts or how many watts you can push out. To me its about having fun with the Ham Radio hobby, being active and staying that way. What better way to do that, then hiking and ham radio. I was running a measly 2.5 watts on 2meter FM and managed to make a contact over 60 miles away.. Bet you cant do 60 miles from your shack running lots of power when your in a valley or terrain affects your signal.


All in all I had a great time. As with everything I do heres the video link =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea3ScC7vlMY

I have made 3 of my major purchases from this website/company.


1st.  My base station FT-450, LDG autotuner and power supply.

All items worked fine, they shipped the day right after the order, and had all the other places I checked beat by a 100+ in savings.

2nd.  my handheld VX-8R + accessories + mirage amp and magmount.

All items worked fine, they shipped promptly and again savings were notable over the other places

3rd.  My Portable  Yaesu FT-817 + programings software cable and accessories.

Shiping was prompt, and everything again was a great savings over the other competitors.

I ran into an issue with a programing cable being a chinese knockoff that did not work with the software for the radio.  Hamcity.com let me return it and is going to be issuing a refund for it.


All in all,  they have been pleasant to deal with and seem on the ball with shipping and having items in stock.

I would recommend them to anyone, just be wary of programing/linking cables as they might not be ligit cables.

*update*

I got a new cable from RT systems and it worked the first time.

Sad to say, but i guess trying to save a buck when it comes to this just wasnt worth it.

As with everything I do, A youtube video to go with =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRDG96TNHOM

73 for now
-Andrew K2FR

I woke up this morning, and felt the need to earn my day. I started out early and hiked hard. make it to the top in no time and hung around fooling with the equipment just kinda enjoying the view and playing with the radios.

I did not get as much time playing with them as I would have liked, but that's ok the PA qso party going on kinda had every frequency filled up, and I just decided to sit around and enjoy the view and not worry so much about calling CQ.

I absolutely CANNOT wait to do this again! Im looking forward to my next adventure

Video of the adventure =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kje8b6AyL0Q



Things ive learned from this trip.

Double.. then Triple check your supplies.. I got to the top of the mountain only to find I forgot a jumper cable for my tuner.   Scratch 1 Dipole I wanted to try.

Plan for the cold,  While I was sweating on the way up heavily.. once I hit the top and was in the clear.. BRRR the wind picked up and I was frozen. At that point, I wish I had worn the next layer.

It was epic fun! and am probably going to be doing this stuff for a long time to come


Till next time.

73's
Andrew
K2FR

75/80 -- 3.790-3.800

60 meters - Channel 5 which i think is 5403.5 kHz USB

20 meters - 14.185 - 14.200

those are the areas I look for DX

Well, it looks like RT systems is pinning the issue on the Knock off CT-62 usb cable I purchased from Hamcity which has them marketed as a Yaesu cable
https://www.hamcity.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=865
 

From RT Systems
"Now I see that you are using what appears to be one of the Chinese USB cables which are know not to work very well."


Ill try returning my cable and getting one directly from RT systems and post an update.

Thanks for the ideas.

I played with the Cat rate and the port speed some more, didnt really notice any difference in getting the "one" to program.

I did contact RT systems, who responded to my email in about an hour, which was awesome!  

They wanted me to get data from the radio which seems to work flawlessly.  then without doing anything else, send it right back to see if it error-ed.  I assumed that was to see if i was using another "Radio file" to open the radio up or something along those lines.

Anyways I made them another youtube video of the issue with their question taped going over the setup.  hopefully they find them to be useful in diagnosing the issue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnfVU8AQD50


What I did try, was removing the blank freqs from my list and making everything all together,  i think that might have reduced the number of trys needed to get the info onto the radio.  So maybe your theory of the data is causing it might have some merit.

well see how it plays out.

I am attempting to program it with the ADMS-4A Software from RT systems.

I am using the CT-62 USB cable for my connection.

I have a video of the issue to make it very clear whats happening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9_MoXKmzrA



Shortly after making this video, my list was uploaded to the radio just fine, but having to try and load them 30-40 times just to get your memories in the radio is a bit ridiculous

Anyone seen anything like it before? I've tried searching the Internet but no luck finding others with the problem. Even the Yahoo group for the FT-817 has nothing about it. which seems very strange.

Could it be my radio not taking the programing correctly? or the cable ? seems odd the cable would TX To the computer no problem, but only has trouble programing into the radio.

I am looking at picking up a Yaesu FT-817nd, and build a nice backpacking kit.

however I also foresee using it on my radio desk hooked up to my 2nd Dipole.

My setup as of now is both dipoles come into the house at opposite ends Via ladderline,  into the attic near my room,  converted Via Baluns to coax and into the room.  From there into my Auto tuner, which I can switch between.


The dipoles are in an X Configuration across the yard.  140 feet of 10g stranded copper up about 85-90 feet in the clear,

64 feet solid copper, up about 65-70 feet.   They do not touch anywhere nor do the feedlines run down together, I put them each towards 1 side of the house to keep them separate on the way down

If I however have a 2nd radio and put it onto the 2nd dipole, would using the main on the big antenna,  Is there a possibility that the 2nd dipole will pickup alot of RF and fry the little 817?


Thoughts and input appreciated

Ever since, I got my VX-8R and set it up to track me..  I have picked up my bike riding.


Aprs.fi

look up K2FR-7  for the day Monday the 7th of September  Hauled my butt up a freaking mountain and tracked it =)

Here I am at a memorial on top of Mount Beacon.


http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab55/Andrew-Mennerich/7528_518602914097_65601225_30993087.jpg



I just throw my radio on my side strap, and off I go..  Its kinda fun seeing how far 5 watts on a HT will go.

I was able to hit a repeater 80 miles west in the Poconos  all with 5 watts FM..  

Shame its such a hard ride, up  maybe as Stronger, ill start carrying more gear with me, maybe an arrow antenna and really push that signal.

When we can only use 1500 watts..  


I have to ask the question..    "why?"


I guess if you have a boatload of disposable income you can say.. im running legal limit and only pushing in 5 watts?


*shrug*

Solid state isnt strong enough for large amps "yet"  Tubes will hold out until a near indestructible solid state amp comes out when they find some new medium that can withstand the heat

makes sense..  how much is the bridge actually going to be pushed that hard.

A couple large power poles should get the job done and be somewhat reasonable on the wallet.

Didn\'t realize Anderson made connectors that big, ill scout the internet for a seller.

I hate projects like this, I can never be happy with what I have.. Always have to change or adjust or build something else to go with it =)

...and it would sound like a ghost moaning in the background.



Might scare people off the repeater....  Lol