First introduced in 2002, the 60 meter, or 5 MHz, band was originally only available in a few countries: United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, and Iceland.

Over the years, an increasing number of countries’ telecommunications authorities have permitted amateur radio operations in the 5 MHz band. Allocations range from discrete channels to an entire frequency band.

Currently, radio amateurs in the U.S. have access to five discrete channels on a secondary basis.

Below is the U.S. 60M Band Plan from the ARRL:

Last year the ARRL asked hams to urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to continue the existing use of the 60-meter band. A public comment period open until late November 2023 allowed amateurs to express support for the current 100 W ERP power limit (instead of reducing the power limit to 15 W EIRP) and continuing secondary access to the current channels.

From Wikipedia regarding 60 meters:

“In the United States and its territories and possessions, channelized USB is mandatory. Where channelization is used, the USB suppressed carrier frequency (a.k.a. ‘dial’ frequency) is normally 1.5 kHz below the quoted channel frequency. For example, 5403.5 kHz is the ‘dial’ frequency for the channel centered on 5405 kHz. The ‘center’ of the channel is based on the assumption that the bandwidth of SSB transmissions is 3 kHz, at most. Transmitters that are capable of wider SSB bandwidths should be adjusted for 3 kHz bandwidth or less, so their emissions stay within the allocated channel.”

Modes permitted:

• USB Voice
• CW
• RTTY
• Data: This includes any digital mode modulated in a single sideband transmitter, with a bandwidth of 2.8 kHz or less whose technical characteristics have been documented publicly, per Part 97.309(4) of the FCC Rules. Such modes would include PACTOR I, II or III, 300-baud packet, MFSK, MT63, Contestia, Olivia, DominoEX, FT8, and others

Some 60M Ham Radio History

The ARRL explains why the FCC gave amateur operators channels instead of a band:

“The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which administers spectrum regulated by the federal government, raised eleventh-hour opposition to ARRL’s request and the FCC’s proposal that would have given amateurs a 150-kHz wide band at 5 MHz (5250 to 5400 kHz). The NTIA’s opposition, expressed after the period for comments already had expired, cited ongoing spectrum requirements of federal government licensees having homeland security responsibilities. Following some give and take between the FCC and the NTIA, the latter agency reviewed its assignments in the vicinity of 5 MHz and found five “lightly used” channels it felt could be shared. Contrary to speculation elsewhere, the channels are no harbinger of a new trend in Amateur Radio allocations in general. This is a special case.”

***

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com.

The post Ham Radio 101: What is the 60 Meter Band? appeared first on OnAllBands.

Let’s start with the basics:

• WSPR stands for Weak Signal Propagation Reporter—a protocol implemented in a computer program used for weak-signal radio communication between hams.
• It lets users send and receive low-power transmissions for testing MF and HF propagation paths.
• Pronounced “whisper,” WSPR was designed and written initially by Nobel Prize winner and FT8 creator Joe Taylor, K1JT.
• The software code is now open source and updated by a small team.

If you’ve wondered if a band is open, WSPR can tell you.

As noted by Joe Taylor, K1JT, and Bruce Walker, W1BW, in their November 2010 QST article, “WSPRing Around the World,” WSPR transmits and receives but does not support normal types of on-the-air conversation. It sends and receives specially coded, beacon-like transmissions which establish whether particular propagation paths are open. Transmissions convey a callsign, station location, and power level using a compressed data format with strong forward error correction (FEC) and narrow-band, four-tone frequency-shift-keying (FSK).

K1JT notes that FEC greatly improves chances of copy and reduces errors to an extremely low rate. The signal bandwidth is only 6 Hz. Combined with randomized time-sharing, this assures that dozens of WSPR signals can fit into a 200 Hz segment of each amateur band. The WSPR protocol is effective at signal-to-noise ratios as low as -28 dB in a 2500 Hz bandwidth, about 10 to 15 dB below the threshold of audibility. On most bands, typical WSPR power levels are 5W or less (sometimes significantly less).

As the protocol has evolved, enhancements to WSPR have included upgrades in its decoder’s sensitivity, improved ability to handle larger numbers of signals in crowded sub-bands, and better detection of false decodes.

To take advantage of WSPR on the amateur bands, you’ll need a radio (one with USB audio is preferred) and a computer with an Internet connection. As users have pointed out online, you don’t need to transmit. Your system can still report what it hears.

The standard message is <callsign> + <4 character locator> + <dBm transmit power>. For example, “KE8FMJ EM89 37” is a signal from station KE8FMJ in Maidenhead grid cell “EM89,” sending 37 dBm, or about 5.0W.

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com.

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Last year it became illegal to use or hold a cell phone or electronic device in your hand, lap, or other part of the body while driving on Ohio roads. If an officer sees a violation, they can pull you over. Drivers over 18 years old can make or receive calls via hands-free devices, including a speakerphone.  

Ohio’s new distracted driving law can be found in Section 4511.204 of the Ohio Revised Code. It started in April 2023 with only warnings issued. Full enforcement of the law began in October 2023. Penalties can consist of:

• First offense in two years: two points assessed to driver’s license, up to a $150 fine*
• Second offense in two years: three points assessed to license, up to a $250 fine
• Third or more offenses in two years: four points assessed to license, up to a $500 fine, possible 90-day suspension of driver’s license
• Fines doubled if the violation occurs in a work zone

 * Completion of a distracted driving course can help avoid fines and points.

So how does this affect ham radio? After all, there is an electronic device in your hand when you are talking on a speaker microphone to a mobile transceiver. Well, I present to you:

(1) “Electronic wireless communications device” includes any of the following:

(a) A wireless telephone

(b) A text-messaging device

(c) A personal digital assistant

(d) A computer, including a laptop computer and a computer tablet

(e) Any device capable of displaying a video, movie, broadcast television image, or visual image

(f) Any other substantially similar wireless device that is designed or used to communicate text, initiate or receive communication, or exchange information or data

An “electronic wireless communications device” does not include a two-way radio transmitter or receiver used by a person who is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to participate in the amateur radio service.

-Section (H) (1) from Section 4511.204 of the Ohio Revised Code

The last paragraph in Section (H)(1) specifically calls out amateur radio as an exception!

You might want to keep a copy of your FCC amateur radio license in your vehicle and maybe even a copy of the section above that exempts licensed amateur radio operators. Law enforcement has a lot of rules to remember, and this is just a good way to help yourself if an incident occurs.

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com

Editor’s note: Ohio joins many other states with similar restrictions. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 34 states—along with U.S. territories—prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving; 49 states ban text messaging for all drivers. Mobile operators are advised to check their own state’s driving distraction laws for wording regarding use of ham radio devices.

The post Ohio Driver Distraction Law Exempts Ham Radio Operators appeared first on OnAllBands.

This weekend I was on SSB for a few activities. While scrolling through the frequencies, I heard this conversation after a CQ. I am going to call Ham 1 AB8XXX and Ham 2 AB8YYY to protect those who don’t know better.

            Ham 1: AB8XXX

            Ham 2: No copy. Please come again.

            Ham 1: AB8XXX. Alpha Bravo 8 X-Ray X-Ray X-Ray

            Ham 2: I think that was an “A.” Is someone starting with an “A?”

            Ham 1: Alpha Bravo 8 X-Ray X-Ray X-Ray (louder)

            Ham 2: I got Alpha Bravo 8. I still need the suffix. We’re almost there!

Ham 1: Alpha Bravo 8 X-Ray X-Ray X-Ray. That’s three X-Rays (even louder this time)

Ham 2: Ah! Got you that time, finally. Alpha Bravo 8 X-Ray X-Ray X-Ray, you’re 5 9 into [wherever he was]

Ladies and gentlemen, I can fully assure you that if it takes even more than one time to fully comprehend a call sign, you do NOT have a 5 9 signal.

So, in honor of Ham 1 and Ham 2, and with May finally here, I wish you all a…

HAPPY MAY 9!

The day that everyone is truly 5 9.

So what do these numbers REALLY mean?

The R-S-T system is used by amateur radio operators, shortwave listeners, and other radio hobbyists to exchange information about the quality of a radio signal being received. The three-digit number conveys an assessment of the signal’s readability, strength, and tone. The code was developed in 1934 by Arthur W. Braaten, W2BSR, and was similar to that codified in the ITU Radio Regulations, Cairo, 1938, as noted by online sources.

The R stands for “Readability,” which is a qualitative assessment of how easy or difficult it is to correctly copy the information being sent during the transmission. In a Morse code transmission, readability (measured on a scale from 1 to 5) refers to how easy or difficult it is to distinguish each of the characters in the text of the message being sent; in a voice transmission, this refers to how easy or difficult it is for each spoken word to be understood correctly.

1 = Unreadable
2 = Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable
3 = Readable with considerable difficulty
4 = Readable with practically no difficulty
5 = Perfectly readable

Measured on a scale of 1 to 9, “Strength” (S) is an assessment of how powerful the received signal is at the receiving location. Although an accurate signal strength meter can determine a quantitative value, in practice this portion of the RST code is a qualitative assessment, often made based on the S meter of the radio receiver at the location of signal reception.

1 = Faint, signals barely perceptible
2 = Very weak signals
3 = Weak signals
4 = Fair signals
5 = Fairly good signals
6 = Good signals
7 = Moderately strong signals
8 = Strong signals
9 = Extremely strong signals

Also measured from 1 to 9, “Tone” (T) only applies to Morse code and other digital transmission modes. With modern technology, imperfections in the quality of digital modulation able to be detected by human ears are rare and therefore not focused on in this article. Just be aware that the system exists.

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com.

The post Signal Reporting | Ham Radio 101 appeared first on OnAllBands.

There’s an impressive history of amateur radio operators who have stood on the leading edge of space activities. Examples include the amateur radio moonbounce, or Earth-Moon-Earth (EME), by W4AO and W3GKP back in 1953; OSCAR 1 (Orbiting Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio) launched in 1961; talking with licensed astronauts in space, beginning with Owen Garriott, W5LFL, in 1983 (Space Shuttle mission STS-9 on 2M); and interplanetary communications since 2009 with the Earth-Venus-Earth bounce by German AMSAT-DL.

EME regularly takes place on all amateur bands from 50 MHz up to 47 GHz, with 144 MHz and 1296 MHz by far the most popular bands for activity. Some EME activity has even taken place on the 21 and 28 MHz amateur bands.

Amateur satellites operate primarily in the amateur bands from 21 MHz to 10 GHz. They can be used to provide communications using SSB, FM, or digital modes over long distances at VHF and UHF. Using the moon as a passive reflector for EME also exploits VHF/UHF and higher frequencies that can be transmitted through the ionosphere.

Since the earliest days of the Space Shuttle, many astronauts have become licensed radio amateurs to communicate with stations on Earth while traveling in space and onboard the International Space Station (ISS), which has equipment for amateur radio voice, data, and TV.

Not all licensed astronauts were part of missions that involved active participation in amateur radio activities. In some cases, unlicensed astronauts conducted amateur radio contacts under third-party supervision of licensed astronauts.

As reported by the ARRL in October 2010, the image above shows ISS Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC, speaking to Earth via ham radio from NA1SS. The transceiver control head is just visible on the cluttered bulkhead, with operating instructions posted conveniently adjacent. All gear is secured so it doesn’t float around the cabin.

From nasa.gov:

As of November 2023, students have been talking to astronauts in space for 40 years. Crew members on the space shuttle Columbia first used an amateur radio to communicate with people on Earth in 1983. That program, the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX), ended in 1999.

In October 2000, amateur radio equipment was launched to the space station along with its first crew members, who deployed it on November 13, 2000. ISS Ham Radio, also known as Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), has operated continuously since then. Each year, the program hosts about a hundred contacts. It has now directly connected over 100 crew members with more than one million student participants from 49 U.S. states, 63 countries, and every continent. These experiences encourage interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and help inspire the next generation.

Before a scheduled contact, students study related topics. They have about nine minutes to ask questions, often discussing career choices and scientific activities aboard the orbiting laboratory. Read this OnAllBands article about young hams contacting the ISS last December.

According to amsat-dl.org, on March 25, 2009 at 10:38 UTC, the team of the German space agency AMSAT-DL reached a milestone on the way to Mars with its own probe. The ground and control station at the observatory in Bochum, Germany, sent radio signals to Venus. After traveling almost 100 million kilometers and a runtime of about five minutes, they were received back in Bochum as an echo from the surface of Venus. For the first time in Germany and Western Europe, it was possible to receive echoes from other planets. At the same time, this is the greatest distance ever bridged in amateur radio, over one hundred times farther than EME reflections.

FFT technique with an integration time of five minutes was used in receiving the EVE reflections. After an integration time of two minutes the reflected signals were clearly visible. Despite showery weather, the signals from Venus could be received continuously with the 20M antenna from 10:38 UTC until its setting in the evening.

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com

The post A Brief Look at Amateur Radio in Space | Ham Radio 101 appeared first on OnAllBands.

For most people in the path of totality, the April 8 Great American Eclipse was likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Only residents in southern Illinois were in the path of totality for both the 2017 and 2024 eclipses). In case there is still someone out there who is unfamiliar, a total solar eclipse happens—as it did earlier this month—when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky darkens as if it were dawn or dusk. The next total solar eclipse that will be visible in the U.S. (only in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota) will be in August 2044.

But what does this have to do with amateur radio? Many emergency communication agencies had been planning for the 2024 eclipse for years. I recall first talking about it during the last one in 2017.

From an emergency perspective, the main takeaway from 2017 was to expect a large number of out-of-town viewers to come into the region prior to the start of the event, followed by a mass exodus once the eclipse concluded—also, to expect traffic jams and delays.

The Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) of many Ohio counties staffed for the eclipse along with EMCOMM volunteers who were placed in strategic locations. There were formal and informal nets on many repeaters during the event. Some EMCOMM volunteers did not deploy to any specific location but reported from wherever they happened to be, similar to a SKYWARN activation.

Some of the things the EOCs wanted reports about included:

• Life safety issues: Accidents with injuries, medical incidents, etc. particularly if cell service was disrupted in that area
• Traffic congestion, especially on side roads, as the Department of Transportation would probably track the interstates pretty well. Reports of disabled vehicles (accidents, out of gas/out of charge, mechanical issues) if they were impacting traffic flow
• Infrastructure items such as power outages, water main breaks, etc.
• Any previously undefined incident that should be reported

Total Solar Eclipses: 2017 vs. 2024:

	August 21, 2017	April 8, 2024
Population in path	12 million	32 million
Max Duration	2 min 40.2 secs	4 min 28.1 secs
Path width	71 miles	124 miles

Emergency organizations identified concerns that needed to be addressed:

Community Events

• Areas with increased population
• Allowing access to public restrooms
• Acquiring and distributing viewing glasses

Planning Traffic Flow
Coordination for Critical Infrastructure, including EOC activation to coordinate with response partners

Information Coordination

• Advising residents of recommended actions prior to the eclipse (groceries, gas, etc.)
• Encouraging travelers to have backups for data-dependent services (maps, cash)
• Providing lists of community events, hotels, gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants for visitors

The years of planning in Ohio must have paid off because very few issues were reported, and the Great American Eclipse was a great success!

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com.

The post Emergency Preparedness for the April 8 Total Solar Eclipse appeared first on OnAllBands.

I have written about an amazing program called RadioMail in previous articles. This is an application that allows for Winlink mail to be sent and received on an iPhone or iPad. It’s an amazing application for emergency communications use.

That is all well and good, but what if you don’t have a radio with a Terminal Node Controller (TNC)? VARA is a software program that serves as a “sound card TNC” for use with radios. Basically, the TNC translates certain computer files and commands into sounds that are in code. These coded sounds can then be transmitted via RF. On the receiving side, the TNC translates the coded sounds back into computer commands and/or files where they can be used by the receiving computer. The original TNCs were only hardware devices and can still be found on the market.

From RadioMail: VARA is a type of radio software modem that is used for transmitting and receiving digital data over amateur radio. RadioMail interfaces via TCP/IP with such software modem to connect to stations using the VARA protocol. The VARA software modem listens on two ports for commands and data payload.

Using a network protocol like TCP/IP enables the software modem to run on a radio-connected computer, while applications such as RadioMail can operate on a separate device anywhere on the network. However, since VARA wasn’t designed to function as a service, this setup comes with certain limitations, particularly when you don’t have a mouse, keyboard, or display access to the remote computer.

In order to allow for VARA to run on a headless computer, its lifecycle and configuration needs to be manageable entirely remotely.

Varanny is a command line helper tool that steps in to address these limitations, acting as a “nanny” for VARA. It offers the following capabilities:

• Varanny uses DNS Service Discovery to broadcast the VARA modem services, making it easier for clients to locate an active VARA instance and automatically fetch its IP and port. This is similar to how your printer gets discovered on a network. Give your specific radio configuration a name and select it from the auto discovered list in RadioMail.

• Varanny allows RadioMail to start and stop the VARA program remotely. This is useful for headless applications when VARA FM and VARA HF share the same sound card or radio interface and both should not be open at the same time.
• Since VARA doesn’t provide command line configuration options, Varanny steps in to handle multiple configurations. It switches the .ini configuration file that VARA uses, allowing for smooth configuration changes before each session and restoring default settings afterward.
• Varanny enables RadioMail to display an audio meter reflecting the audio level from the input sound card connected to the remote computer. This helps you set the radio volume at the optimal level.         
• Varanny can launch an instance of hamlib’s rigctld, enabling RadioMail to control PTT and frequency changes via CAT control. This is necessary for VARA HF, where radio control is not directly handled by the VARA modem, or when running VARA under Linux where Windows COM port emulation can be difficult to configure correctly.

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com

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In this installment of Ham Mobile Install, we will talk about what happens when you have followed the mobile radio installation instructions to the letter, but there is still something very wrong with the signal.

Noise is a problem that can originate from many different sources when wiring a mobile radio. Noise is often associated with the HF bands, but it isn’t unheard of to have noise issues in VHF/UHF setups. For instance, a common complaint is vehicle alternators and certain engine types causing a whining noise on VHF radios.

Let’s look at just a couple ways hams have dealt with noise problems. If the noise is getting in through the power wires from the car battery to the radio, a quick fix could be adding some ferrite chokes. If there is still an issue, some have suggested coiling the power cable six times to form a two-inch diameter circle, and cable tying it in place. A larger ferrite choke that can fit over the loop of wire would then be added. Chokes can be added to both power cables and coax cables in case the noise is entering by that method.

Others have reported successfully eliminating noise by taking steps to improve the grounding, such as adding a common ground point for the vehicle’s body, hood, exhaust, and radios. This is usually a good practice in general.

RF signals can emanate from your vehicle ignition system, fuel pump, fans, electric motors, onboard computers, and many other sources. Spark plug noise is generated through ungrounded body panels and the exhaust system, which is normally suspended from rubber vibration dampers, as previously noted in OnAllBands. The rubberized supports insulate the exhaust from ground, essentially creating a radiating spark antenna. To deal with spark noise, use tinned copper braid to electrically connect the hood to the firewall of the vehicle. This will turn your hood into a Faraday shield.

Another form of radio interference is loud static. This issue is often found on the HF frequencies, which are more susceptible to static. Bonding straps can be used for the body, hood, and exhaust to take care of a lot of these issues.

Editor’s note: DX Engineering carries a number of products designed to mitigate these mobile radio noise issues:

• Stainless steel clamps of the proper size may be used to clamp braid to the exhaust system (typically in two places—one near the front and one in the rear), thereby reducing the radiation of noise. DX Engineering DXE-TCB-050 Tinned Copper Braid is a half-inch wide and ideal for this purpose.

• For alternator noise, products like the Kenwood PG-3B Inline DC Noise Filter eliminate noise from DC supply lines in radios up to 100 watts output. As a fringe benefit, noises other than alternator noise, like that of onboard system control computers, will also be reduced. The device is connected between the supplied DC cord and your Kenwood mobile transceiver.

• If you prefer a kit that is specifically designed for exhaust grounding, try DX Engineering Exhaust Grounding Kits. These kits include pre-tinned and terminated braid with stainless exhaust clamps, along with hardware. They are available for two-inch through three-inch exhaust systems.

• DX Engineering carries ferrite RFI suppression kits, including this set of ten Mix-31 snap-on beads (DXE-CSB31-275-10), which one user singled out as “excellent for reducing noise or stray RF coming through power, speaker, or control lines, especially in mobile installations.”

The post Ham Mobile Install–A Few Suggestions for Dealing with Noise Issues appeared first on OnAllBands.

In this installment of Ham Mobile Install, we will discuss powering options for your mobile radios. There are several options to explore, depending on the power of the transceiver and the amount of time it will be in use without the vehicle running.

The first and easiest option would be for very low power radios—say, handhelds or mini mobiles that top out at 20 to 25 watts. HTs can use their built-in battery or you can purchase a cable that powers the radio from the cigarette lighter. Sometimes these cables plug into the charger port and sometimes they are marketed as battery eliminators. Below is a cigarette lighter cable (KWD-PG-3J) for select Kenwood handheld transceivers.

Mini mobile radios rated at 20 or 25 watts typically come with fused cigarette lighter power cords and are safe to use in your car as they don’t draw too many amps from the cigarette lighter adapter.

The next option is to wire your mobile radio directly to your car battery. Run your transceiver power leads directly to your vehicle battery terminals and avoid any use of existing automobile wiring. The wiring used in most car power outlets is not designed to carry the high currents that a full power transmitter can draw and may quickly overheat and start a fire. In addition, you will probably pick up an abundance of electrical noise going that route.

The power leads will need to be routed through the vehicle’s firewall into the engine compartment and to the battery. In older vehicles, this is much more difficult to do and might require some drilling. Most modern automobiles have access ports through the firewall in different locations. They are usually plugged with a rubber grommet and aren’t always in the most convenient locations. You may have to go searching under the hood and/or under the dashboard. The access ports might even be behind engine components or under carpet or trim.

The last option needs to be considered if you plan on operating from your car for long periods of time while it is stationary. You don’t want your car running for hours, wasting gasoline. You also can’t run for hours on battery power with the car off without depleting your battery.

The thing to do in this case is to have another large battery that can be recharged externally. This battery can be stored most anywhere convenient in the vehicle.

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, like those from Bioenno Power, have become a reliable energy storage solution for ham radio operations. Unlike traditional batteries, LiFePO4 batteries offer longer lifespans, better thermal stability, and higher energy density, making them ideal for amateur radio where consistent power is crucial.

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com.

The post Ham Mobile Install—Power Options appeared first on OnAllBands.

In this installment of Ham Mobile Install, it’s all about mounting options for your mobile radio—the where and how of making sure the transceiver or head is in a place good for viewing and operating. Steady and secure are the objectives.

While there are plenty of brands out there, none are better than Lido Mounts, in my opinion. Lido offers no-holes mounting solutions for any type of radio. You can choose from gooseneck, cup holder, seat-bolt-style, suction cup, vent, and other mount options; seat rails for remote heads; microphone hangers; adapters; and additional accessories.

The most basic type of radio in your mobile setup would be an HT. When choosing a mount, ask yourself how you would like to view the HT while driving. With or without a mic, you could do a dashboard mount or a vent mount. You could have that same dashboard mount hold multiple portable handhelds. Another very popular option is the cup holder mount.

Lido cup holder mounts can handle multiple devices with not much movement. The design is based on the 1-inch ball system. The ball and socket design allows the user to tighten the plate in place so it will not move with any vibration. The base expands from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter so it will fit many types of cup holders. Make it a double, as shown above, and you can add your cell phone right beside it!

For my Jeep, one of my very favorite mounts is the Lido Wedge Car Seat Console Mount (LM-WEDGE). The adjustable wedge-style mount fits in the space between your front seat and the console. It features a Robust Mount Series shaft and padded sides that keep the mount in place. The arm of the mount includes two adjustment points, providing flexibility in placing the control head at any angle, including toward the back seat.

You can attach optional remote head brackets with the included hardware, or if you want to mount the entire transceiver, you can attach the mounting brackets that are made for the transceiver to the four-hole AMPS plate with the included hardware. The LM-WEDGE comes with the Lido EXT-01-D Extension Bracket Package.

For weightier heads and radios, there are more robust mounting solutions, such as Lido’s Heavy-Duty Seat Bolt Mounts.

These low-vibration mounts hold heavier control heads with little movement and can be folded out of the way to accommodate passengers. The swivel ball adapter allows 360 degrees of rotation for precise positioning of your device.

Happy mobile radioing!

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com

The post Ham Mobile Install–Mounting Your Radio appeared first on OnAllBands.