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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / August 2004Ham Radio in a Camper Question
Just bought a 26' camper. Anybody got hints or tips on running feedlines? Anybody got a reason why I can't use the TV feedline for VHF and HF QRP (assuming I use a tuner or trim the antenna accordingly)? Anybody experienced RF problems transmitting in a campground even when using a filter? Got an easy solution (other than the obvious "don't transmit")? - ATC ........... I see where AT Commander <atcommander@adventureteam.com> contributed: >Just bought a 26' camper. Anybody got hints or tips on running >feedlines? Anybody got a reason why I can't use the TV feedline for [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >using a filter? Got an easy solution (other than the obvious "don't >transmit")? "Can't" use the TV feedline is too strong but you're better off to use coax with 50 ohm impedance to match your equipment. Never had any whines about transmitting from a CG, but then we don't stay for a week and look for problems. The "easy solution" to RFI problems is simply to make sure your output is clean and that you use no more power than necessary. We operated on both 2m (50w max) and HF (100w max) without difficulty. Will Sill KD3XR I thought about drilling another hole in the wall of my poor camper, but thought if I could use the existing feedline it'd cause less damage. With a 72 ohm feedline, I thought I could just use a tuner and call it good. Mostly will be using 2w on 2m and my trusty HW-7 on HF QRP CW, so we're not talking a lot of power here. Typically I'll just vary the length of my dipole to get a match (I use two camping clothes line reels with a center dipole connector for the antenna, which makes a de facto loading coil at shorter antenna lenghts - it's tricky to tune up, but seems to work ok). How did you handle your feedthrough? Drilling, waterproofing, and all that seems like a major undertaking for such a simple application and occasional use... - ATC >"Can't" use the TV feedline is too strong but you're better off to use >coax with 50 ohm impedance to match your equipment. Never had any [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Will Sill KD3XR ........... I see where AT Commander <atcommander@adventureteam.com> opined: >I thought about drilling another hole in the wall of my poor camper, >but thought if I could use the existing feedline it'd cause less >damage. For occasional use, run the coax out a window. >How did you handle your feedthrough? Various ways - several rigs. Through the floor and up the back with RG-8 on MH's, though I have a semi-permanent spring base for whips on to roof of our class B, with a hole drilled though for the coax w/rubber grommet and sealer. In class C's with fibreglass skin, we left the 2m ant inside. IMO a hole for an antenna and/or feedline is not "damage" if it is done right. Very few of us will keep our RV's exactly as-delivered for display at the Smithsonian, and if the hole(s) are sealed the next owner will not care. Besides, with QRP nobody can hear your anyway, right? Hehehehe! Will Sill FLOOR! Why didn't I think of that? (Sound of hand striking forehead like the V8 commercial) What a great way to run the feedline!!! I can likely find an existing hole (around a pipe somewhere) that I can enlarge enough for RG-58! Then I can give it a shot of expanding foam sealant and it'll be good to go! If I run the line into the storage area behind the dinette cushion, my little coil of coax will be handy (near the table) and easy to get out and put away! Now THAT's a tip I can sure use! Problem solved! Thank, Will! 73, - ATC ........... > Anybody got hints or tips on running feedlines? I have an Icom 706-MKIIG which allows me to put just the small control head (faceplate) at a convenient place inside our 5th-wheel camper and I mount the rest of the radio at a remote location in the "basement" storage area. Now the feedline (this rig has two) routing becomes a lot easier because you don't need to worry any more about "pretty". It also makes access to a good solid 12V connection a lot easier, since you can usually make a direct (fused) connection via heavy guage wire to your house 12VDC battery. > Anybody got a reason why I can't use the TV feedline for > VHF and HF QRP (assuming I use a tuner or trim the antenna > accordingly)? Other than the obvious impedance mismatch, often the TV feedline is wired through a pre-amp which pretty much farkles this solution. > Anybody experienced RF problems transmitting in a campground even when > using a filter? Got an easy solution (other than the obvious "don't > transmit")? I've never run into a problem outside my own camper. On one coach I had to extensively "RFI-proof" the HVAC controls to avoid modulating my AC compressor! 73, de Hans, K0HB -- 2004 Prairie Schooner 34FBR Platinum Edition triple-slide 2003 Silverado 2500HD LT powered by Max and Allie |
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