WB3HWN HF Mobile

HF Mobile

The following pictures were taken the day after I finished installing a Yaesu FT-900CAT in a Honda Accord. The entire process took several weeks. Mostly because of my busy schedule but also because I took a lot of time to plan the installation and did things one step at a time.

I live in a neighborhood with very restrictive covenants which of course prevent me from installing any sort of outside antenna system. I bought the Outbacker and mount second-hand from a fellow ham on the internet. My original intention for the antenna was for fixed and portable operation. The Outback, being a vertical antenna (and an inefficient one at that) requires a ground plane in order to radiate RF energy. Flat sheets of copper foil or the new 'Outpost' tripod can be used, but both require additional investment and a place to put them. Well, although much more expensive than copper foil, an automobile can also make a decent ground plane and I had the advantage of already having one made by Honda.

I decided to mount the antenna on the car and run the coax into the house. I could then put up the antenna any time I wanted to operate from my house. This worked quite well and thus inspired me to mount a radio in the car as well. My commute is 2+ hours per day so I was missing out on some good HF operating time while driving. We do have several repeaters in the Capital area and I am a member of the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club. The club is a really good group of people and there is always someone to talk to, but local communications are, well, local.

I learned about several pitfalls and specific areas which require close attention when considering HF mobile installations by asking other HF mobilers about their experiences and through research . The most critical thing I learned was that the antenna and car both require good electrical ground. This can be as complex as making sure all body panels are electrically connected to the frame and the exhaust system. An automobile can be a very noisy environment. The better the ground, the less chance the noise can get into the system and the more satisfied you will be with the performance of the antenna system.

I am sure that my ground system could be better, and based on the limited effective size of a Honda Accord, I'm sure the roof of our Ford Expedition would be a real improvement and has the additional advantage of increased height. But for the time being, the system is outperforming my HF mobile expectations. The only thing about amateur radio that I can imagine would be more fun than HF mobile, would be HF mobile in a convertible.

As for the Yaesu FT-900, it is the only HF rig I currently own, and it is a really great piece of equipment. The remote-mountable controller head, combined with its quiet receiver, built-in antenna tuner, notch filter and noise blanker, make it a fantastic mobile rig.

		The operating position The Yaesu FT-900CAT is mounted in the trunk. The Kenwood TM-V7 Dual Bander is under the front passneger seat. Both radios are wired directly to the battery. The wire on the dash is running to an external speaker. The speaker currently sits on the floor while driving.
		The 'Shack'. The other antenna is a Diamond NR-770HB dual-band on a Larsen UHF Trunk mount.
		The Outbacker Perth The Outbacker is mounted to the trunk lip using a Diamond 'Super-Gainer' 3/8" mount, and a Hustler Spring and quick disconnect. The ground strap is visible in the foreground while the coax is visible behind the mount passing through the trunk lid seam.