Amateur Radio Swap Meet

[lars]

So, there's one coming up in Maple Ridge. Should I take the time to go out there and find a mobile unit for my Jeep? Are there real deals to be had?

...lars

[rattle]

I am sure there are deals.

Think my setup new didn't run me over $400.

[mud-dog27]

hey when is this meet im lookin to pick one up aswell

[lars]

Originally posted by mud-dog27
hey when is this meet im lookin to pick one up aswell

Sorry about the formatting:
Event name
Ham & Electronic Swapmeet
Sponsor
Maple Ridge Amateur Radio Club
Start date
2006-11-05 (Sunday, November 5, 2006)
End date
2006-11-05
Closest town
Pitt Meadows
Province or State
BC
Location description
12460 Harris Road Pitt Meadows
one block South of the Lougheed
on Harris Road.
Opening times
Open for vendors at 7:AM Open for public at 9:AM Breakfast 8:AM To 9:AM
Cost
8' Tables $20.00 includes 1 admission Public Admission $3.00
Talkin
146.800 -600 Tone 156.7
Notes

Door Prize ICOM 2200 2mtr Mobile Tranceiver.
NON HAM WILL RECEIVE CASH EQUIVILENT ON Amateur Radio Prizes.

Other ticket sales for 50/50 Draw & Icom IC-V8 Handheld
will be sold during the event

Pancake & Sausage Breakfast will be held from 8AM to 9AM
Concession will be open throughout the event
For more info
Call Mike to Book tables
604 466-2957
604 880-9663

Here's the link to the original:
http://rac.eton.ca/data/racfleas.taf?function=detail&gotcha=14&Layout_0_uid1=33477

...lars

[Lone Ranger]

Just purely Ham equipment or would they be dealing with commercial radios as well? I'm looking for a decent shape 4 channel Midland commercial radio for Lad 1,2,3 and Plateu or Kicker installed on them for the highway truck.

I've found out a couple of things about the setup I'm running (Icom 2100) as it's an opened up Ham radio and is designed to transmit from 144-148 MHz. 99% of the time it sits on Lad 1 (154.100) which is apparently very hard on the finals (but not nearly as bad as Lad 2 which is 158). The guys are Freeway Communications put it on the scope for me and at high power (55 watts) it puts out around 47 watts on Lad 1 and about 35 watts on Lad 2!! I'm currently running a Larsen wide band antenna which helps a little vs my old Maxrad but it's still not what it should be. Both Steve and Jerry were surprised when I mentioned I have had the radio pushing 4 years and am on the second mic so it does see a lot of commercial use. Most of them usually die by now, so I'm assuming that its time to start looking for something newer ;). Basically I keep the radio low power (vs mid) and try to keep it to Lad 1 (or similar lower freq channels). LR

[lars]

Originally posted by Lone Ranger
Just purely Ham equipment or would they be dealing with commercial radios as well?

No idea.

...lars

[Regger]

I went to last years.... I arrived at about 10-11am or so, and by that time.. there was nothing of interst for me... I was looking for a used HAM radio for the girlfriends truck (prefered mobile for the truck, but would have bought a handheld as well) and found nothing... There were the dealers selling new, and all that I saw that was left, was what I would call junk, but what HAMS might call gold...

So unless all the deals were done first thing in the morning and I was too late, or there was nothing there to begin with...

I would suggest getting there first thing, you might have better luck than I...

HTH
Ryan

[Greg]

Larry, just buy an Icom IC-2200H new. $209 at RadioWorld right now with the instant $20 rebate. Usually Burnaby Radio matches their prices, when you factor in no PST plus shipping.
http://radioworld.ca/index.php?cPath=184_74&filter_id=55

Get a Larson WBQ (wide-band quarter wave). It'll do fine for ham and logging freqs, with a proper ground plane. Low physical height and a shock spring means it'll last longer on the trail. Quarter-wave radiation pattern means it'll do good in the mountains.

Note to Lone Ranger: Icom ham mics use a crappy microswitch that dies. That switch costs about $2 from American electronics suppliers. Much cheaper than a new mic; order a few to save on shipping. Can't remember the exact p/n but you can search eHam or similar for the info.

[lars]

Larry, just buy an Icom IC-2200H new. $209 at RadioWorld right now with the instant $20 rebate. Usually Burnaby Radio matches their prices, when you factor in no PST plus shipping.
http://radioworld.ca/index.php?cPath=184_74&filter_id=55

Get a Larson WBQ (wide-band quarter wave). It'll do fine for ham and logging freqs, with a proper ground plane. Low physical height and a shock spring means it'll last longer on the trail. Quarter-wave radiation pattern means it'll do good in the mountains.

Note to Lone Ranger: Icom ham mics use a crappy microswitch that dies. That switch costs about $2 from American electronics suppliers. Much cheaper than a new mic; order a few to save on shipping. Can't remember the exact p/n but you can search eHam or similar for the info.
Greg, thx for the tip. I phoned Stan at Com-West and he agreed to an after-rebate but before-tax price of CAD$199. Just picked it up at lunch hour. He said his cost on it is CAD$190. Given the declining market for amateur radios, he was surprised that RadioWorld.ca was cutting their prices so low.

I also talked to him about an antenna. He said the Larsen WBQ was a good antenna but might not be a great choice for my Jeep. I will probably mount it at the very back, on the tire rack. He thinks a 1/2 wave might be better since it would clear the tire.

BTW, the IC-2200 instructions say not to power it via the cig. lighter. I understand there are possible noise and voltage drop issues but would this also put the radio at risk? I was thinking of a cig. lighter plug w/fuse.

I also picked up a cheapo $30 mag mount antenna so I could use it in the van or put it on my upstairs balcony when I'm playing with it in my home office.

...lars

[rattle]

BTW, the IC-2200 instructions say not to power it via the cig. lighter. I understand there are possible noise and voltage drop issues but would this also put the radio at risk? I was thinking of a cig. lighter plug w/fuse.


Probably not putting the radio at risk but you want the cleanest power comming into it. I think both the ground and positive connectors are fused on the radio?

You want to wire both straight to the battery. You could always use a two wire trailer type plug to have a quick disconnect to swap rides.

[Greg]

The back of your Jeep may not offer a decent ground plane. A half-wave antenna does not require a ground plane, so it may be a better antenna for your situation. You can get a wide-band half wave as well. Ideally you should not mount the antenna next to a reflective surface, such as your tire (steel belts). Also, I recommend you install a shock spring; it will prevent your whip from getting bent on the trail. The WBQ comes with a spring; not sure if the WB half-wave does or not. You'll have to shorten the whip by the length of the spring.

I would wire the power wire directly to your battery. One of the reasons you're installing this radio is for emergency use, right? So install it properly. Not sure how beefy your vehicle's wiring harness is, but I suspect the wires attached to the cig lighter are not nearly as heavy a gauge as your Icom's wiring harness.

I noticed today that RadioWorld is selling that radio for $199.00 as well (after rebate, before GST). Might have to pick one up at that price.

Greg

[lars]

I would wire the power wire directly to your battery. One of the reasons you're installing this radio is for emergency use, right? So install it properly. Not sure how beefy your vehicle's wiring harness is, but I suspect the wires attached to the cig lighter are not nearly as heavy a gauge as your Icom's wiring harness.

After opening the box and looking at the Icom's power wires, I have to concur. A pretty large gauge! But I guess that's required if I want to use 65w.


I noticed today that RadioWorld is selling that radio for $199.00 as well (after rebate, before GST). Might have to pick one up at that price.

Yeah, I saw that, too.

I didn't actually expect Com-West to match their price. I would've been happy to pay $199 + whatever the shipping would've cost.

...lars