Wiring up the bike.. a linear for my Kenwood TH-F6

[MojaveSidecar]

Hi ALL

Being new to the ham radio world, I could use some advice about wiring up a linear amp to boost the power of my HT while traveling out in the desert in my motorcycle sidecar or jeep.

What is the best approach given that I have a Kenwood HT now... should I be considering a linear for it or would I be better off with a mobile that I could move from vehicle to vehicle?

Any recommendations as to which linear to use?

And for the bike, is it possible to get a bluetooth speaker/microphone that would work under a motorcycle helmet while underway on the road?

TIA
Randy

[Bob C]

I'd go with a mobile unit. Less hassles. While a linear gives you more transmit power, it doesn't help your receive abilities. 40W from a mobile is plenty.

[Toolman]

Pretty hard to fit a full size mobile radio onto a bike.... I've tried it and ended up using a spare HT mounted under the tail sections. I machined a mount that would accept a moblie antenna that you would typically use on a car.

 Since you are riding with a side car, mounting a mobile radio in the side car shouldn't be to difficult. Mounting an antenna shouldn't be difficult either. Be sure to ground the antenna mount to the chassis of the bike. Not much groundplane to use so the ground helps a bit with that.

 I use an Autocom system on my BMW RT1150 and my BMW GS1200 which enables me to carry on conversation with the passenger, plug an I-Pod in for music and there is a connection for additional accessories as well as a PTT switch and connection.

 The helmet kit includes ear speakers and a microphone that positions in front of your chin. Both are very susceptible to wind noise. But there is a squelch adjustment for the the VOX operated microphone.

 I found the helmet speakers to be totally useless at speeds over 60 MPH. Meanwhile you have no hearing protection from the wind noise generated inside the helmet. I always ride with ear plugs to protect what hearing I have left. Here's my fix for those issues. Go to a hearing specialist and have them make mold impressions of your ear canals. They do this all the time and I have several sets I keep in my range bag and with the bikes so I don't loose them. They run about 75$ a pair so get extras made if you can.

 Now the fun part, you send one set to Earinc.com and have them install their Bose speakers inside the earplugs. Great sound, perfect hearing protection and they don't pull out of your ears when putting on or taking off your helmet. I use them everytime I get on the bike and plug it into my I-pod for music on my rides. The bose installation is about 250 bucks now but worth every penny. Also, the wire gauge they use is very robust unlike typical earbuds.

 Now the difficult part, you tap into the wiring of the helmet set and replace the wiring that went to the helmet speakers that don't work very well. You wire that to a 1/8 female stereo plug and plug you new custom molded Bose earbuds into that. That wire harness comes with the Autocom helmet kit. If you never go over 50 MPH then you'll probably be ok.

 I did this to both my wife's helmet and mine and it's the best set up I've tried to date.

 Blue tooth technoligy is available, just bring $$$

http://www.autocom.co.uk/

Autocom is in the UK and most every BMW dealer sells their products. Try Browns motorworks, or Irv Seaver. Dave at Irv Seaver BMW is the Autocom specialist and he brought out every PTT switching device for my Ham radio and we hooked them up until we found one that worked. He'll install the helmet kit in your helmet while you wait. Watch how he does it so you can make adjustments later.
It's been awhile since I've priced them , expect to spend up to 1k by the time your done.

Good luck, and happy riding.

[Bob C]

Pretty hard to fit a full size mobile radio onto a bike

Yea, I was thinking more along the lines of one of those nice ones with the remote head. Seems like it would be hard to fiddle the the small controls of an HT while riding. Sometimes I think HTs are more suceptible to interference (engine noise, etc).

[Wrightwood]

Mike N7WNO has a lots of experience with Blue Tooth on his bike and I don't believe it was expensive. Mike is on the Table Mtn 2m repeater many afternoons and very helpful guy. I'll also send you his email.

[Toolman]

Yea, I was thinking more along the lines of one of those nice ones with the remote head. Seems like it would be hard to fiddle the the small controls of an HT while riding. Sometimes I think HTs are more suceptible to interference (engine noise, etc).

Yes Bob, your right, but the transceiver still needs to fit somewere. The remote head is the easy part. The way they make bikes now days, there's barely enough room for the crappy tool kit pouch that comes standard.

 I do know guys that have sacrificed a luggage bag for electronic stuff. In fact there is a company that specializes in making tank bags with feedthrough connectors to plug your stuff into including 12 volt power.

 I spent a lot of time getting mine the way I wanted it to perform. It does works great, but then it dawned on me (quickly actually). I really don't want to talk to anyone when I'm riding. Leave me alone, that's why I'm out there, to decompress. I know guys that actually answer the cell phone on the bike.... come on, nothing's that important it can't wait until you stop somewere.

 For me, I plug my Ear-Inc  Bose speaker molded ear plugs into my I-Pod and go get lost for the day. I take an HT with me, cell phone is turned off in the tank bag so I do carry communications just in case. If I'm in the Angeles Forest boundry I'll take the FS radio with me also.

[lagomorphmom]

I really don't want to talk to anyone when I'm riding.

Except, of course, the lovely XYL riding on the back so she can ask you to slow down instead of hitting you upside the head on your helmet. 

If you ride with others that have this capability, it is a really nice tool to keep everyone together, not have to stop to point out turn offs and not have to fuss looking (back in our case) for the rest of the party or worry the Harley folks are broken down or out of gas. 

[Bob C]

Except, of course, the lovely XYL riding on the back so she can ask you to slow ...

[insert sound of Toolman saying "yes, dear" here]

[MojaveSidecar]

Thanks for the great feedback everybody..

Based on what I have heard, I think I am going to have to re-factor my requirements a bit.

One thing I have noticed as a Noobie to Ham Radio is that I don't seem to like to talk as much as I like to listen.... maybe its because I have not made a lot of contacts yet since I'm so new.   I also think I may have to get my wife and kids involved since they are the key folks I would need to communicate with when out on the road with my bikes.

So taking a step back and thinking a bit more about my requirements.....

My ideal use case was to have a ham radio available on my dualsport sidecar while traveling the Mojave desert back dirt roads to Barstow, Death Valley,  Las Vegas, Needles, San Bernardino. Anza, Baja etc. to notify friends and family of my status/progress/problems etc.

I do not think i would need to communicate while riding. I would be making contact at gas stops, rest periods, camp sites etc.

In the sidecar or Jeep, I would have room to carry an external antenna for my HT, but would be limited to HT power source or possibly the 12v batteries of the bike or jeep, plus the backup AA battery pack.

I am hoping there is some sort of 12 linear that would work/help in these situations.

If my wife got her license, I could see putting some sort of base station here in our cabin so she could be listening/monitoring while I'm out and about... OTOH.. I would like for her to be able to take a/the radio with her when she travels down the hill week days for her job. That would imply a "base station" likely another HT, that she could use here in WW and/or her apt in Glendale as a base station and as a mobile while driving between WW and Glendale...

I sold my Valkyrie, so none of the motorcycles I have left are capable of speeds over 60/70 mph. My normal route between WW and Glendale, when I go down the hill is Angeles Crest Highway or "the back way" if ACH is closed.

If I was still into long distance MC touring, Toolman sounds like he has the ideal solution.

So did I clarify things or confuse them?

TIA

Randy

[Bob C]

My ideal use case was to have a ham radio available on my dualsport sidecar while traveling the Mojave desert back dirt roads to Barstow, Death Valley,  Las Vegas, Needles, San Bernardino. Anza, Baja etc. to notify friends and family of my status/progress/problems etc.

Before looking at linears, investigate which repeater systems you'd be using in those areas. Let that dictate the kind of equipment you need. Again, a linear is not going to help your reception, just your transmit capability. If there's no repeaters that both of you can use, then nothing will help. If there is a repeater or linked system available that both of you can use, a linear is probably not even needed.

[Toolman]

Now that (your needs) clears up a lot 

I agree with Bob, They do make 12v amplifiers designed for use with HT's typically 1-5 watts in and 35 watts out. Some, depending on make and price will have a built in preamp that will help boost signal input. My base 2mtr amplifier I use for FM and SSB has it built in and puts out 200 watts. Be aware though it wil also increase noise. I use it when checking into the net while I'm in Hawthorne.

 I think since your sidecar probably has enough real estate inside, you can mount it in the monkey's compartment. You can easily remove it and install it in the Jeep when venturing out with it.

 You can install an antenna mount on each of them and just move the antenna to vehicle of choice.

 I'm a fan of the Kenwood Tri Band radios but they are hard to find now days. I recently added the Kenwood TM -V71A to both base station set up's and am pleased with them.

 It was a wise decision becoming licensed doing what you do adventuring. I use to do a lot of hiking alone and was one of the reasons I got licensed 20yrs ago. It blossomed from there quickly.

 Don't be shy, get on there and talk, someone will listen. I met some of my best friends through this hobby. Not to mention the Mrs. was licensed before me and is how we met while volunteering at Air Shows.

 Ask her about the banner tow sometime.

[ak7v]

Check out the Yaesu FTM-10R.  It's a 2m/440 mobile rig with detachable head and it's quite small.  Has Bluetooth capabilities.  I have one in my car, but from what I've read, it's popular with motorcyclists as well.  Relatively weather-proof and rugged.  Never had any problems with mine.

I'd advise against an HT+amplifier combination.  Good amps are pricey, and cheap amps are bad (and in some cases, illegal -- often with high spurious emissions).  HTs are designed to work with very poor antennas on receive -- they have high sensitivity -- and often succumb to front-end overload when used with decent mobile antennas (you don't need a pre-amp on an HT when using a decent antenna).  HTs usually have SMA antenna connectors that aren't robust and suffer from repeated plugging-in and un-plugging.  A dedicated mobile rig will be more reliable, probably cheaper, and cleaner than an HT+amp setup on your bike.  HTs are great for what they're designed for, but that's about it.

http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=106&encProdID=AF7E08DC3F2467B1B4B2CB4DA49BCF88&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0

[CaptureCom]

....and although harder to find these days, is the Yaesu FTM-10SR.  This unit is smaller than the FTM-10R and has reduced transmit output, yet fully capable.  And it does have Bluetooth capabilities.  Which reminds that one thing I didn't see mentioned in this thread is the power limitations on a bike.  That's a pretty small battery under the seat, along with an alternator designed to run the bike only. Running a 45-watt transmitter is something to consider. The Motorola motorcycle public safety radios have a 15-watt transmitter output.  More to think about as you tackle the motorcycle communications radio challenge.  Take heed to the experiences of Toolman...he's been down the path and back.  I started thinking about this before I bought the bike, which led me to the BMW R1150/1200RT-P.  The police motors are designed to accommodate a radio and more.  They even have a second battery for radios and accessories, and a higher capacity alternator.  And now I'm having so much fun riding the bike, I just carry the handheld in the bag.