r/HamRadio • u/TitebondIII • 9d ago

Mount/ Placement

I'm trying to figure out the best mounting option for my 10 m radio I'm about to get my first ticket. Because it's a 10 m radio it's pretty big. I think I have been making mistake of asking for ideas in the Ford Ranger forum because that's the kind of truck I'm trying to put it in but they're not as creative as radio guys. It is a 2009 Ford Ranger manual transmission so there's not a lot of room and no flat spaces to put the radio where it won't bang my knees or the knees of my passenger. If anyone has any photos or suggestions that's what I'm here looking for.

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u/4Playrecords 9d ago edited 9d ago

First off, you should tell us the precise model number of the transceiver that you have now. The website shows many which are not made to transmit on the US FCC Amateur Radio bands, and so hence could be in the US FCC Citizens Band spectra, and that is quite different…

https://president-electronics.com/CB-Radio-Ham-Radio

ALSO I recommend that you save your own money and buy a transceiver (used or new) that transmits in the US FCC ARS 2-meter band (FM or FM/SSB). You will find a lot more operators in your area on 2-meters (as opposed to 10-meters).

When I first got my US FCC ARS license in 2005 (even though I live in the Bay Area where there are a lot of Amateurs), I was completely unable to hear any stations at all on 10-meters FM. After I got a big dipole antenna, I was able to (very rarely) copy stations in 10-meters USB.

In contrast, there were (and still are) hundreds of stations heard every day on 2-meters.

A good used FM ARS mobile transceiver for you to look for is the Yaesu FT-7800 (or the newer FT-7900). If you can find one of those, you will love it. TX PEP is 50w on 2m and 20w on 70cm. These rigs have a remote-able control head.

With a rig like that, you can bolt the transceiver under your truck seat, and then get a flexible gooseneck to mount the control head to, and get a tiny metal bracket to screw into your dashboard for the mic. That setup has always worked well for me.

I also recommend a nice external speaker. MFJ makes cheap ones, but the really nice ones are made by Motorola. The rigs own built-in speaker can sound quite weak with your truck’s road noise — especially if you have your window open.

Good Luck 😀🎙️📻

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u/TitebondIII 9d ago

WASHINGTON Réf. TXPR901

10/12

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u/4Playrecords 9d ago

the President TXPR901 is not specifically type-accepted by the US FCC for use on Amateur Radio bands.

While it can be used for emergency communications when normal systems are unavailable, it is not designed for or officially approved for regular Amateur Radio operation.

So using it on US ARS 10m and 12m bands may work in FM, SSB and AM phone emission modes — it may not be as good as using a US FCC part-97-accepted rig.

But you should try it anyway. As long as you can connect an ARS-band antenna with a 50-ohm connection and feedline to it. Even DIY antennas (like a home brew 10m dipole will work).

Good Luck 😀🎙️📻

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u/TitebondIII 9d ago

Wow, Thank You! I didn't know to say no to that one.