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Jerry Clement  > Ham Radio > VE6AB - On The Move
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Jerry Clement > Radio Stack 

In this photo, I have mounted a Garmin Model 1490 Nuvi in my radio stack, as I have come to realize that there is a place for my two Garmin devices in my radio stack.

The Garmin Nuvi is loaded with North American city maps, and has a built in fm receiver giving updates on traffic, as well as reading out the roads coming up on my mobile, and complements the Garmin Montana running Canadian topo maps, and uploading info from my Kenwood D710.
Jerry Clement > Radio Stack - Rear View

 What your seeing here, is the mechanical-side of the radio stack in my mobile.

 In order from the top down, is the Garmin Montana GPS bi-directional device, and a Garmin Model 1490 Nuvi , and the Kenwood TM-D710A control panel, and the Kenwood TS-480HX control panel.

 This radio stack design came about after various other designs created by me over the years, and this one is my best design to date.

 The complete stack is adustable in all directions, including allowing the passenger side navigator to use the radio stack, if required.

 The complete radio stack assembly may be removed in minutes, if required, as the only cables required to be disconnected from the radio stack, are the three data cables visible in the photo, and the quick-disconnect at the bottom of the radio-stack post, where the 3" stub-adapter is bolted to the center seat mount assembly.

 If desired, the upper control assembly may seperated from the lower post-mount, allowing for service work in a jiffy when required, such as the recent modifications required, when the Garmin Montana GPS bi-directional device was added to the stack.
Jerry Clement > Lost....

As you can see, I have it covered when it comes to navigation with my mobile, as I am running three different mapping devices that consist of from left to right....my Garmin Nuvi 1490 running City Navigator mapping  with a built in fm traffic transceiver, that keeps me up to date as to the happenings on all controlled highways, as well as reading out all up coming roadways.

My Garmin Montana is next in line to the right, and I am running Canadian topo mapping on it, and the Montana is also placing beaconing ham stations on the map, being decoded by the Kenwood D710 mounted just below the Montana.

My computer is running APRSIS, and this moving map display is keeping me informed with a larger view, as to what is happening around my mobile, as well as being message capable for any aprs messages received by my Kenwood D710.
 APRSIS may also be used in Nuvi mode, showing a moving map, and my mobile may be placed on this map as I drive, allowing a birds-eye-view of my mobile in real time, as to my location.

I love having multiple views as to what is happening around my mobile, when I am out and about.
Jerry Clement > Emergency Preparedness Mobile


Here I am checking out some of the modifications that I have made to my mobile lately.

You can see where my DC Powerpack resides when I am mobile, and the powerpack is mounted securely, so that it cannot move. 

It only takes a few moments to remove it from my mobile if I wish to use it away from my mobile.

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-bchwQt6/0/L/6N4A3145-L.jpg

In this photo, the powerpack AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) battery is being charged by the crystalline solar panel mounted on the rear deck of my mobile.

The mount for the solar panel is adjustable, allowing the panel to be positioned for the optimum angle with the sun.

The powerpack is providing power for the Kenwood D72, as well as the computer running APRSIS, while the AGM batteries that reside within the powerpack are being charged by the solar panel.

The solar panel is connected to a charge controller, that is regulating the charge being provided to the DC Powerpack.

If I prefer to charge the powerpack from my mobile, its as simple as connecting  the powerpack to the circuit I installed, that allows the DC powerpack to be connected in parallel with the crank battery of my mobile, allowing the powerpack to be charged by the vehicle alternator.

If for some reason the crank battery for my mobile has been allowed to be discharged to the point that I cannot start the engine, its as simple as carrying the powerpack around to the front, and with the accessory cables that I made up for this purpose, jump start the vehicle.

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-gKkWNp7/0/L/6N4A3149-L.jpg

When operating HF mobile while stationary, and the engine is shut down, the powerpack may be connected to the crank battery for added reserve

Testing continues......


http://ve6ab.blogspot.ca/2013/04/spring-is-in-air.html
Jerry Clement > ARHAB - Amateur Radio High Altitude Ballooning  


The Flight Of ABE 3 

 Amateur Radio High Altitude Ballooning with the Airdrie Space Science Club (ASSC),

 Had a terrific day ballooning with the Airdrie Space Science Club, while out on the backroads of southern Alberta

 In this photo our convoy has pulled over, as we track high altitude balloon ABE 3, that we launched earlier in the day from the Beiseker Airport. 

 At this point in the flight, ABE 3 has passed through 80,000 feet (24 kilometers), as it continues to climb for altitude

 On board ABE 3 are two aprs trackers, VE6JBJ-12 and VE6JBJ-13, that are continuously transmitting in real-time, information being received by the aprs capable transceivers in our mobiles.

 The packet information received by the aprs transceiver is decoded, before then being uploaded to a computer connected to the aprs transceiver, and in my case, in the computer in my mobile.
 http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-wzrJ9p6/0/L/6N4A2178-2%20copy-L.jpg

 The decoded information is then placed on a moving map showing the track for VE6JBJ-12, allowing us to track and get in position to recover the payload module.

 VE6JBJ-12 reached a maximum altitude of 99,239 feet (30 kilometers), before the balloon burst, allowing the parachute to deploy.

 We recovered the payload module just east of Three Hills Alberta.

 Read all about the flight of ABE 3 here
http://ve6ab.blogspot.ca/2013/05/flight-of-abe-3.html

Flight Of ABE 3 Gallery
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/29513462_SPfmjj#!i=2524775048&k=96nD6qf
Jerry Clement > Final Inspection 

 Gearmotor Antenna by VE6AB

Over the years, I have owned and operated many of the gearmotor antennas available in the amateur radio market place. I have always been disappointed with the limiting diameter of the coil in these antennas, due to the limitations of the mast diameter where the coil resides in.
 
For some time, I have been working on a design that would allow me to build an antenna that circumvented this problem. After a lot of thought, I came up with a design that utilizes a coil that has two diameters, the upper working section of the coil that tunes the various bands, could be of any diameter you desired, and the lower tail section of the coil that supports the upper section, would be of a smaller diameter, along with the matching diameter mast that supports the complete antenna.

http://www.jerryclement.ca/photos/i-fW6zDrP/0/L/i-fW6zDrP-L.jpg
 
As you can see, I have built a prototype, and it is proving to be what I have always wanted in a gearmotor antenna, a antenna that is not limited by the size of the coil that can be utilized in its construction, because of the lower mast diameter required to house the coil.  I built this antenna with a 3 inch coilform, proofing my design, but I also had a particular need for a antenna that did not exceed 4"OD, as I wanted to be able to store the coil/mast assembly in one of the side compartments located at the rear of my Avalanche. Still, the design is sound, and the design that I came up with is capable of utilizing a larger diameter coil with the same results. 

It has been some time since I have got as much satisfaction out of one of my projects, as I have gotten from designing and building this gearmotor antenna.
 Everything, from my earliest thoughts on what I had in mind for a new antenna design, to the actual designing & building of this antenna has progressed without a glitch. 

With the antenna mounted on my mobile, and after very stringent testing of the antenna over a period of 6 months, and in temperatures ranging from 28 Celsius in the summer months, and  down to minus 20 Celsius through the winter months, I have proven with test results that the antenna works & performs as I imagined that it could. 

My gearmotor antenna with its one of a kind coil assembly is proving to be a very good design, and the 3 inch coil with the smaller diameter tail section of the coil is wonderful to see in operation. The coil is rock solid with no side to side motion, when extended in the 80 meter position, and will handle the biggest of whips with a included caphat with ease.
 
The design also allows the Delrin tail section to track smoothly and freely in the lower mast housing, due to the tracking keyway that is cut in the lower tail section of the coil, assuring that the coil cannot twist in the housing while being powered along its path by the gearmotor. 

http://www.jerryclement.ca/photos/i-LT2sKpx/0/L/i-LT2sKpx-L.jpg
 
The gearmotor powers the coil assembly without any effort, and draws a milliamp sipping 250 milliamps under load.

Oh...did I forget to mention that the complete coil/mast assembly minus the whip, weighs in at just 6 pounds, and no...thats not a typo!

My antenna design from 2010 with its 4 inch coil seen here, weighs in at 11 pounds,

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-pW9q6wd/1/L/_MG_3568%20copy-1-L.jpg

Link for construction photos of my latest gearmotor antenna

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/VE6AB-Antenna-Werks/25151252_H7Z2nZ#!i=2339840685&k=4bPCTMM
Jerry Clement > Antenna Design & Construction

I get asked all the time by guys wanting to build their own mobile antennas, where to start. The best advice I can give you, is first of all, aquire two of the best books that you can add to your library, those two books being the "ARRL Handbook" and the "ARRL Antenna Book". 

All of the information you need for complete antenna systems—from planning, to design and construction, you will find within the pages of these two books. 

Take the information that you find in these two books, and start building your first antenna, after the first one, take the information you learn't from building and using that first antenna, and then build a second antenna, and by then you will be hooked.

 You will get so much satisfaction out of not only building your own antennas, but then making your first contact with your creation, is a thrill in itself. 

Thats what I did all those years ago, and I continue to get so much satisfaction out of building my own antennas, then putting them on the air.

Construction Photos for the above antenna

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/VE6AB-Antenna-Werks/25151252_H7Z2nZ#!i=2062616905&k=8K4bDJC
Jerry Clement > Listed here with links, are various projects that I have completed, and may be of interest to you
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New 10/80 meter Gearmotor Antenna Design

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=2087964172&k=qNXn5pB
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Emergency Preparedness DC PowerPack go-box

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=2444909214&k=bchwQt6

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Solar Charger 

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=2477434445&k=4MqM3n3

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The Tent Pole Special

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/Handheld-3-Element-Yagi/21249157_zchM9C#!i=1698203440&k=MD4QbSz

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Build yourself a 2 Meter High Performance Antenna - Instructions Included.

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=1839715781&k=P9zxCDB

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Quadrifilar Helix Antenna

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=1689188802&k=qzRGPfR

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Build a Handheld Yagi UHF antenna for your HT

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=1689195577&k=ZX22KLG

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Emergency Preparedness Mobile ElectronicsTool Kit

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=2479406472&k=69WfDgp

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Emergency Preparedness Amateur Radio Go Box

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=1856295188&k=xZMQ8N

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Ford F150 Mobile

If you need ideas for the mobile your assembling, here is my previous mobile that proved to be a terrific mobile for the 9 years that I owned it.

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/VE6AB-F150/29196687_wbd2Tk#!i=1423974908&k=hph9tGG
Jerry Clement > Amateur Radio Emergency Prepardness Go Box

 If you were to google the above line, you would come up with page after page of descriptions of a Amateur Radio Emergency Prepardness Go Box. 

 Some may feel that the go-box should contain a whole lot more than what I have in mine.

 I do have various other companion kits that complement my go-box, and I only wanted my go-box to contain the items that I felt I might possibly need or use on a daily bases, as I have this go-box with me everywhere I go, and that is everyday when I leave home.

 Within this compact go-box shown here and the contents displayed, are some of what I feel I cannot do without.

 Remember that the contents will vary some, although I have not changed much lately, and after using it for over a year, I feel that I have got it right for the most part.

 The contents are

 Kenwood D72 2m/70cm HT with data capablity, and includes aprs and gps.
 Yaesu VX-8R 2m/70cm-6meter/220mhz HT with aprs and gps.
 Wouxun KG-UV3D 2m/220mhz HT.
 Baofeng UV-3R ultra compact 2m/70cm HT- mainly used for cross/banding with my mobile.
 HT handmikes that interchange between radios
 Kestrel 3500 handheld weather station.
 Acer netbook running Windows 7 Pro, and mainly used with Kenwood D72 for operating APRSIS, although has other ham radio software loaded, including Satscape.
 Palm Tungsten running Pocket Sat + 
 Spare batteries for all HT's.
 Selection of adapter cables for any situation that they are required for.
 Large selection of HT antennas.
 Selection of antenna adapters.
 Various other adapters cables for the computer and HT's not detailed here, but stored in the black pouches on the left, in the photo.
 Various power cables with different ends including powerpoles for connecting the HT's to my DC Power box for charging purposes.
 Leatherman multitool and ultra smal screwdriver with various bits
 QuiqLite LED flashlight, selectable between white and red light output, and also functions as a flashing red/white strobelight. The Quiqlite attaches to my chestpack, and is highly recommended.

 Remember, what you see here, is what I feel I need with me on a daily bases, and I use the various components out of my go-box everyday.

 Your needs may differ, but its important that all hams have their own emergency prepardness go-box, and keep it with them.

 Links showing some of the other components that compliment my go box

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-bchwQt6/0/L/6N4A3145-L.jpg

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=2283681997&k=zDJVMzz

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=930069889&k=B2pmSPM
Jerry Clement > Emergency Preparedness - DC Powerpack 

Some of the capabilities of my powerpack are....

Power outlet receptacle
 Binding post power outlet
 30 amp powerpoles power outlet
 Power switch that controls all power outlets
Powerpole quick-disconnect for jump-start cables,
 LED Power meter with charging jack for Genius smart charger
 
For some time I had this battery box with a fully sealed, multi-cell, rechargeable 80 amp-hr AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) battery sitting around in my shack.

At one time or another, I have designed and built variations of something similar, and I have seen portable 12 volt powerpacks put together by other hams..

Having said that, I always felt that the various powerpacks that I have put together, were lacking something, 

For one thing, the last 12 volt powerpack that I built, was lacking in reserve power, as the battery that I had used, limiting the amount of time it could be used before the battery needed recharging, and I also realized that all of the previous portable powerpacks of this sort that I have seen in the past, were lacking another feature that I wanted to include in my next portable powerpack, that being the capability to be able to use the powerpack for jump starting a vehicle, or temporarily used as added capacity to my primary battery in my mobile.

A view of my powerpack shown with jump-cables

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-gKkWNp7/0/L/6N4A3149-L.jpg


Still, I did not want the cables for jump starting permanently attached to the powerpack, as the cables would be a pain when the power pack was being used in the shack or in the field as a power source.

This powerpack allows DC powered devices to be run anywhere, from wilderness to urban environments, and will operate a wide variety of equipment - meaning that spare batteries and chargers don’t need to be carried individually. The 80 Ampere-hour battery capacity will keep equipment running for hours or even days, and when you find that the starting battery in your mobile is dead, this powerpack can be utilized to get your mobile started.

4 gage cables with a 350 amp-hr powerpole quick-disconnect for jump-start cables, and future capabilities requiring high amperage 

Of course it goes without saying, that all outlets are fuse protected, other than the 4 gage cables.


Another cool feature, is the fact that If you are operating field day from your mobile, or maybe working DX from the camp-ground, or what have you, you can utilize this powerpack by running the jump-start cables into the engine-bay, and by temporarily attaching the powerpack to your primary battery with the jump-start cables, allowing for a increase in capacity of the battery in your mobile.


My powerpack is designed to be charged through various methods, that includes my Genius battery charger, or from my mobile, and also from my solar panel allowing me to be off grid indefinitely.


You can buy similar powerpacks from various sources, but all you really need is a in-expensive battery box, a battery, and bits and pieces from your electronics junk box, a couple of hours to assembly it, and you too can own a powerpack go box like this one.


In this photo, my Yaesu VX-8R is being charged by the powerpack, through the 12 volt E-DC-5B Yaesu power outlet adapter plugged in to the side mounted power outlet of the powerpack. 

The VX-8R had a dead battery when I connected it to the powerpack, and 2 hours later it was fully charged.
 
I checked the state of charge in the powerpack before charging the VX-8R, and once the VX-8R was fully charged, I checked the powerpack once more.
 
The powerpack was still near full charge. Goes to show that bigger is better when talking battery size!

Meanwhile my Kenwood D72 is connected and being powered by the powerpack through one of the powerpole outlets, although not being charged, as the battery in the D72 was fully charged at this point.



 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Genius Smart Charger

 I have been using what may be the best battery charger that I have owned and used to date, that being the Genius G3500 smart charger, which I use to charge my powerpack when near a 110 volt mains supply.
 

The Noco Genius G3500 is a smart, 8 Step, fully automatic switch-mode battery charger and maintainer. The G3500 can restore batteries to their original capacity, and recovers slightly sulfated batteries. 

It also can recover drained batteries and provides maintenance charging to increase battery life. This battery charger provides charging modes for both large and small batteries from 1.2-120Ah, that being one of the reasons that I went with the G3500.


http://ve6ab.blogspot.ca/2013/04/spring-is-in-air.html
Jerry Clement > Solar Powered - Badlands Camp

In this photo my camp is being powered by the 12 volt powerpack shown in the link photo, and the powerpack AGM batteries are being maintained by the 20 watt crystalline solar panel.

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-bchwQt6/0/L/6N4A3145-L.jpg

It is important to know when choosing solar panels, that crystalline panels such as the one in this photo, are more efficient than amorphous solar panels used under the same conditions, 

 Make a Crystalline solar panel your first choice when purchasing solar panels, unless you have the need of a flexible panel, then you will have to go with a Amorphous panel such as the one that you can see in the link that I have provided here.

I do like my amorphous roll-up panel, and when the situation requires that the panel be capable of stored away in a packpack for example, then you want the amorphous type of panel.

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-mKL566n/0/L/_MG_9903-L.jpg


When choosing panels, remember to choose a panel sized for the situation at hand, and  you need to know that solar power is not the cure-all for replacing spent energy in batteries.

If you are planning on recharging batteries used in your motorhome, or backwoods cabin,  or maybe the batteries being used on your next field day venture out in the wilds, be aware that it may not happen in the short time you wish for. 

 If you  take a discharged 100-amp hour battery and charge it with a 100 watt solar panel,  it will take several days to recharge the battery completely. Of course it goes without saying that you should not be allowing your battery to be completely discharged before recharging.

Keep in mind that it takes direct sunshine on the surface of the panel to produce the maximum rated power of a solar panel.
 Conditions such as an overcast sky, shadows, improper mounting angle, or short winter days will reduce the actual solar panel output to below the rated values.

So be aware of your requirements for a solar panel or panels, in regards to the amp-per-hour rating of the battery or batteries you will be charging,  and how quickly you wish to replenish the charge in your batteries.

As a rule of thumb, a 50 watt crystalline panel has the capability to produce 3 amps output under full direct sunlight.
Jerry Clement > Emergency Preparedness 

In this photo, my DC powerpack is powering the 12 volt fridge, as well as charging the batteries in the two HT's.

The pwerpack is being charged by the solar panel just out of sight, and as seen on multimeter, the voltage reading 12.94 volts.
Jerry Clement > Solar Charger configuration in the shop 

In this photo, the 20 watt crystalline solar panel is connected to a charge controller, and the charge controller is connected to the gel-cell.

It may interest you to know that solar panels like this very efficient crystalline panel are capable of providing power with the artificial  light provided from the fluorescent lights in my shop, although at a somewhat reduced rate in comparison to the light provided by the sun.

Amorphous solar panels are very inefficient under the same conditions, so make a crystalline solar panel your first choice when purchasing solar panels, unless you have the need of a flexible panel, then you will have to go with a Amorphous panel such as the one that I have pictured here.

Amorphous solar panel

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=1701720934&k=mKL566n

An indication of the efficiency of my crystalline panel, is displayed on the readout of my Fluke multimeter, indicating that the gel-cell is charging and is sitting at 12.71 volts at the moment.

More difficult to see, but if you look close at the left side of the charge controller resting against my Fluke meter, is the fact that the yellow LED charging indicator is glowing softly, as it allows the charging of the gel-cell in a controlled manner.

This 20 watt crystalline solar panel is the charging source for my DC Powerpack Go Box. 

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=2444909214&k=bchwQt6

This panel charges the AGM batteries within my DC Powerpack quite easily, and with the charge controller, the charge is maintained at a proper level, without overcharging the battery. 

I also have used this combination of the solar panel and the charge controller to charge the battery in my mobile, and the solar panel fits quite nicely on the dash of my truck when stationary, although I soon will have a mount at the rear of my mobile, where it will have a place on one of the removeable tonneau covers. 
This will prove handy when I am spending several days or more in the back-country, and the batteries in my mobile need charging due to useage without having the need to start my mobile for charging purposes.

Stay tuned as there are photos coming, with my mobile, this solar panel, my powerpack go-box and more set up in the field.

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On another note, you may have noticed the fact that I had just assembled the components shown here with PowerPole connectors.

I use PowerPoles everywhere, including applications outside of ham radio.

In fact, I just placed a order for another 50 pair of PowerPoles this morning, and I order them in various sizes for various wire sizes.

More and more hams are going the route of PowerPoles, and when hams get together under emergency operating conditions, all our equipment running PowerPoles is not only plug and play, but is also interchangeable, meaning that you can plug your favorite HT into someone elses charger, having forgot to bring your own charger. 

Thats just one example.
PowerPoles are also fool-proof, as you cannot accidently reverse the polarity when making a connection.

Another plus is the fact that PowerPoles of 15, 30, and 45 amp sizes may be interconnected together, as the housings are all the same size. 

So therefore you may plug your 15amp fused PowerPole terminated device, into a 30amp or 45amp power source, and besides the convenience, your various variable fused devices are all protected with the proper sized fuses.

Anderson Powerpoles have been adapted by most RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) organizations and ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) units.
Jerry Clement > Amateur Radio Emergency Prepardness Go Box

For my Go Boxs, I chose a marine dry box, made by Plano, that I purchased at my local sporting goods store, although I recently seen it at Bass Pro Shop also, and I see it is available in a black color as well.

This box is 8” x 10” x 14” (W, H, L) (a larger size is available) with an O-ring seal around the lid. A flip top storage compartment built into the lid can hold small tools, pens and pencils, HT whips, etc. It has a sturdy carrying handle that stows recessed in the lid. The lid hinges are durable plastic and can be released to completely remove the lid from the box.

What's in the box.....

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-QWqnFx6/0/XL/6N4A4056-XL.jpg
Jerry Clement > Emergency Preparedness Mobile ElectronicsTool Kit
 
Here is the electronics tool kit that I assembled some years back, and carry with me in my mobile. With the tools shown here, I am able to service most any of the issues that may arise with the radio equipment and related wiring in my mobile, or any other ham that I can help while I am away from home.
 
This tool kit that I assembled and carry in a tool bag, allows me to make up coax cables in any of the popular combinations one may require, and I am able to assemble them with both crimp connectors, or with solder type connectors.

Tool Bag

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-PpZGhzB/0/L/6N4A3768-001-L.jpg
 
For soldering, I use a butane fired soldering iron shown, and this butane torch is capable of everything from low temperature soldering...through to very high temperature soldering, with a change of soldering tips that are included with this butane soldering iron.
 
The vise is a necessity for holding coax cables, while soldering the ends on, or any multitude of reasons that a third hand is required. 

Of course, it goes without saying that every ham needs a multimeter, and my favorite is the Fluke multimeter. They cost more, but they may last your lifetime, as good tools tend to do. I have two Fluke meters, and I have owned both of them for more than 20 years.
 
Included in my tool bag, is a pair of geared crimping tools shown here, and with these two sets of crimpers and the extra die blocks, I can do perfect crimps on powerpoles, insulated and uninsulated electrical connectors, all the popular sizes of coax, and more. I have several more pairs not shown here, but these are the ones that are included in my toolbag.
 
The various other tools included, such as strippers, sharp-nose-pliers in several sizes, wire-nippers, socket-set with driver and ratchet, various screwdrivers, hex drivers in both inch and metric, small vise grip, files, scissors, and a sheet-metal hole reamer, I believe are self explanatory as to their uses while doing mobile radio work.
 
With this tool kit, I am able to handle 90% of what I may need to service while away from home, and the other 10% will wait till I return home.
 
Not shown in the photo, but also included in my toolbag, is a selection of tape such as self-fusing silicone tape, electrical tape, and canvas tape, as well as extra break off blades for my utility knife.
 
I also have a roll of rosin core solder in 1 milimeter diameter. I normally can get by with that, but if a soldering job requires more finesse, I will wait till I return home, and then I can use the soldering station that resides on my radio bench, and I have various choices of solders in various diameters to choose from.
 
So that about covers it, and a basic tool kit such as this one will serve you well. 

I also carry a companion kit in my mobile, made up of all the other sundries that are required to service your mobile, and those are shown here.

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-dfNRjNs/3/L/_MG_1131-L.jpg
 
That about wraps it up, but remember that this tool kit, or one similar too it, should be on your list of extras required with your Bug Out Kit, when the going gets tough, and when that happens, I have another tool kit that has the mechanical tools one would want along to keep your vehicle working smoothly

Emergency Preparedness Bug Out Kit

http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/10282516_SCgV88#!i=2317977200&k=wWDqP3W
Radio Stack

In this photo, I have mounted a Garmin Model 1490 Nuvi in my radio stack, as I have come to realize that there is a place for my two Garmin devices in my radio stack.

The Garmin Nuvi is loaded with North American city maps, and has a built in fm receiver giving updates on traffic, as well as reading out the roads coming up on my mobile, and complements the Garmin Montana running Canadian topo maps, and uploading info from my Kenwood D710.
Jerry Clement > Radio Stack 

In this photo, I have mounted a Garmin Model 1490 Nuvi in my radio stack, as I have come to realize that there is a place for my two Garmin devices in my radio stack.

The Garmin Nuvi is loaded with North American city maps, and has a built in fm receiver giving updates on traffic, as well as reading out the roads coming up on my mobile, and complements the Garmin Montana running Canadian topo maps, and uploading info from my Kenwood D710.
Radio Stack

In this photo, I have mounted a Garmin Model 1490 Nuvi in my radio stack, as I have come to realize that there is a place for my two Garmin devices in my radio stack.

The Garmin Nuvi is loaded with North American city maps, and has a built in fm receiver giving updates on traffic, as well as reading out the roads coming up on my mobile, and complements the Garmin Montana running Canadian topo maps, and uploading info from my Kenwood D710.
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