2 Meter (ham) Radio

GSequoia

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So what are folks doing for radios on bikes? My goal for the S10 is to run a full powered radio on it as I run communications for an annual rally in Death Valley so I kinda need to look the part :). I'd love to find a Yaesu FTM-10R as the remote read head is waterproof but they discontinued the buggers. Are there any other radios out there that fit the bill? I'm not too concerned about the radio unit being waterproof as I can harden that myself.

FYI the plan is a 5/8 wave antenna on a bracket I'll build and the radio head likely in a form of enclosure replacing the rear seat. I'd then run the face plate on the cross bar over the instrument panel (probably...) and run comms either through the Sena headset or wire up a Rugged Radio setup.

Thanks
 

AVGeek

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I haven’t seen too many hams or radio setups on bikes here. And while I have my ticket, I haven’t been active.

I was planning on using a Kenwood TH-D72. I have the Sena SR-10, which was also tied to my Montana, and I was going to connect the D72 to it as well for APRS duty.
 

GearheadGrrrl

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Might want to look at the police bikes for ideas- A lot of times they put the radio in a waterproof box and use a microphone with the controls on it.
 

GSequoia

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I haven’t seen too many hams or radio setups on bikes here. And while I have my ticket, I haven’t been active.

I was planning on using a Kenwood TH-D72. I have the Sena SR-10, which was also tied to my Montana, and I was going to connect the D72 to it as well for APRS duty.
Solid plan. I've used the Sena SR-10 along with handheld radios on my DR350 and it gets the job done. I'd just like to go full-size for this bike since I have the real estate. FYI for hand held I really like using Baofeng UV-5Rs (and their variant model numbers) on bikes off road. This way if you do crash and destroy the radio you're out $40. I then always keep a quality handheld protected in the tank bag as backup (usually my Yaesu VX-7R). For both the Baofeng and the Yaesu the first order of business is to replace the antenna, of course.

Might want to look at the police bikes for ideas- A lot of times they put the radio in a waterproof box and use a microphone with the controls on it.
That's pretty much the plan although I'd love to find a complete detachable face that is waterproof like the old Yaesu FTM-10R. I don't know if any other radios out there fit the bill, though, so I may be kinda screwed unless I can find one on the secondhand market. This would give me full controls and, more importantly, the ability to see what frequency I'm on.

How many watts will it draw? Any plans to beef up it’s power supply? Solar, extra battery ect,,,,?
Taking the FTM-10R radio I'd love to have at receive it draws half an amp. Transmit we're talking 8.5 amps at full power. I'm not concerned about the receive draw but of course full power transmit would overwhelm the bike's charging system. Right now the plan is no upgrades to the electrical system based on the fact that I won't really be transmitting very frequently, I'd mostly be receiving. If I'm on a ride where I'll be using the radio a lot then I can drop TX power down to minimum and the current draw goes down to 2 amp. If I find that my understating of how much I'm transmitting is incorrect my thought was to stick a battery pack in the box with the radio head and let it slowly re-charge off the bike.
 

sumwon

I was told there would be snacks ...
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- Baofeng UV-8R
- Super-Elastic Signal Stick Antenna
- BTECH 2 Pin (K1 Connector) to 3.5MM Adapter with Push-to-Talk Button
- MAXROCK (TM) Unique Total Soft Silicon Sleeping Headphones Earplugs Earbuds with Mic for Cellphones,Tablets and 3.5 mm Jack Plug (Black)

Secondary power source
- BTECH BL-8 Battery Eliminator
 

SkunkWorks

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I have a Baofeng GT-3TP and a Super-Elastic Signal Stick.
I usually take it with me on longer trips for emergency use.
BAOFENG.JPG
 

GSequoia

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FYI I picked up a Yaesu FTM-10R on eBay, I paid more for it than I'd like but it's the exact radio I want. I also got a no ground plane Comet SBB5 antenna that should perform well.

Once all this stuff arrives and I've completed the greater wiring project ahead of it I'll do the installation and outline it here for the record.
 

Kyle_E

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I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide.
I have the "$20" Baofeng in my camping kit with a list of the repeaters in the area we will be in.
I've never turned it on, but good emergency use for locations without cell signal (welcome to all of central NV)
 

madman4049

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I had the full getup a Yaesu VX-6R, signal stick, antenna extender, slim jim antenna on dyneema lash-it throw cord to suspend from trees at camp for range, bottom line though is I hardly heard anything worth listening to if I heard anything at all. Seems like 2M is the new CB, it's great if you want to listen to local fudds talk about what's happening at the local diner, endless discussions on radio equipment, working on their repeater, or how jim bob's sister got pregnant from her cousin and they're gettin a trailer gon settle down on their uncles land raise them a family.

I sold all that it's not worth the space or trouble, for a rally if others are using it ok, but for most things with todays technology a cardo/sena on DMC/MESH, cellphone, gps, and spot or PLB are way better. Have fun mashing all those little buttons while riding though. Or just have everyone on a handheld CB or walkie talkies the learning curve is miles lower. Just my two cents take it or leave it, I got all amped about ham, tried it and realized it was a waste of money.
 
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EricV

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Helping: LINK Two FTM-10R units for sale.
 

SkunkWorks

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Damn......................If I hadn't already got myself a FT-7900R/E for my Jeep, I'd be all over this!
 

GSequoia

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The FTM-10R is a fantastic motorcycle radio. I've got it set up in my S10 and it works great. When I have time I'll outline the installation.


I disagree about the lack of value. I use radios to support my outdoor hobbies (both in my Cherokees and on my motorcycles). I'm not one to go sit on repeaters and bullshit, though. It's all about the mission. For the ADVRider Death Valley Noobs Rally I set a simplex repeater up on a mountaintop and that has rescued a number of people over the years with broken bikes or bodies - this year it helped coordinate swift recovery of a guy on a Tiger that ended up with a broken collarbone and three ribs.
 
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