AC6DN's HF mobile setup:
Updated on: 3-30-2005-a

 
HF radio:
Yaesu FT-100d, at 100W.

Electrical:
The Yaesu connector was replaced with an ARES standard connection (Anderson Power Pole, 30A).  The radios main DC wire was chopped to about two feet long, because my, "HAM radio fuse box" is near. The 100d's fuses were retained.

HAM Fuse Box.  A three Foot run of #8 Gage (red/black) wire (only) the red wire is fused (40A) at the battery). The ground is connected to the common ground point, that Toyota used to connect the battery, to the chasses ground (I replaced this ground wire too; It's now a #6 (it was a #10).  This all, is connected to a, West Marine 100 AH (700 CCA) Deep cycle (a RV type, not a true deep cycle) battery, fed by a 110 Amp, 14.5 Volt alternator. (The Alternators main (high current) wire was rewired with a red #8 and wired directly to the battery (~3ft long, and with a fusible link. This is similar to the OEM wiring except; ~12ft and #12.) The HAM Fuse box also has, .01, 10, and 4700uF, 50V caps, and a 1kV surge protector.

 

 

Antenna's:

I Now have: Hi-Q-5/160 RT. and a 9 Ft. whip. I have the whip pulled back behind my truck to prevent it from exceeding 13.5 Ft; It's about 18 Ft., otherwise. I plan to reuse the HS CAP HAT. instead of the 9 Ft whip...

 

Originally I had: The antenna is the third version, of the well known "DK-3," made by Don Johnson. I have a "High sierra" capacity hat (HS-110/3 - Cap Hat?). It was located about a foot above the coil, with a 6 ft whip. Now, it mounted on a 12 inch long shaft (with two quick disconnects (top and bottom), and a spring), lifting it to about 2 Ft, above the coil. I also cut off, the extra part of the whip, one foot above the cap hat (leaving about 4 ft). The antenna is mounted on the drivers side, on the top most part of the truck bed, near the tail light. Max height is about, 13 feet...

 

Most of all the other antenna's (HF, VHF, etc.), are DC grounded type antennas.

 

Grounds:
I have lots of grounds.
The radio has a #8, six inches long, directly to the vehicle chassis ground. The antenna is grounded via the coax and the chassis.
I also have a, one inch, braid (about 2 Ft. long) and the coax has a ground. The 2 Ft ground, goes to the frame, and at that location, there is a braid to, near the exhaust pipe tip, and chassis. There are two 1/2 in ground braids connecting the truck bed to the cab (right& left sides). A one inch braid at the mid point on the exhaust pipe, near the CAT. And, several under the hood, connecting the engine, firewall, chassis, and frame. And, two connecting the hood (right& left sides)...

Other stuff:
I Use Ox-Gard on all electrical connections. This prevents rust (oxidation) between my connections...

What Id like to do (HF set up):
I'd add three, 12V SLA 105 AH, Deep cycle batteries, two to the frame rail under the truck bed, near the cab. This to power a Henry (SS)750 Watt liner amp, mounted in the rear (remote mount (SS-Auto&RM). Using a battery isolator, that has a low (forward) voltage drop. The third SLA type battery, is for the main battery. And, I'd replace the, no name, 110A alternator, with a 150A HD, one from Mean Green.  I'd also change to the, Hi-Q-Antenna, that covers 6-160M, the Hi-Q-5/160 RT. This would be equal to about a 20db signal improvement (100 to ~900W (almost 10db), plus at least 10db less antenna loss). I'd like to add lightning (EMP) protection to all the antenna's...