Wayne: > On Jul 15, 2017, at 8:53 PM, Wayne Burdick <n...@elecraft.com> wrote: > > I’m dealing with one of the last unsolved problems in amateur radio: how to > operate HF mobile without an antenna. At least not one that, according to > some vehicle co-owners/spouses, would defile your new sedan. > > For 10 bonus points that have only philosophical value, your challenge is to > create an invisible mobile antenna and actually make a QSO on it. For > practical purposes (i.e., not frying the car or passengers) let’s say the > maximum power level is 10 watts. The bands of interest are 40-10 meters.
If the goal is to operate HF while mobile “without an antenna”, why not take an entirely different approach using existing Elecraft product offerings that entirely avoids the issue of trying to mount antennas on vehicles that are becoming less and less “amateur friendly?” My suggestion is to operate an Elecraft base station remotely while mobile using the K3/0-Mini and RemoteRig 1258MKII in the vehicle tethered to an iPhone or other Smartphone. The K3/0-Mini operates superbly with RemoteRig to connect to base stations. The Smartphone acts as a “Wifi hotspot” in the vehicle; use the WiFi option of RemoteRig 1258MKII to connect to the smartphone or use a separate “WAP” (Wireless Access Point) such as the TPLink TL-WR802N ($20.00) that is tied to the RemoteRig 1258MKII via an ethernet connection between the two. Depending upon the types of interfaces incorporated at the base station, one can also control the rotor and KPA500 through the web browser of the smartphone if using the RemoteRig RC-1216H to interface to each device at the home station (one RC-1216H for each device). The ability to operate amateur radio through internet links while mobile has been well established. For example, in the case of DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) offered by various VHF and UHF repeater organizations, I’ve had excellent performance using the RFShark “openSPOT” tied through a TL-802N WAP and connected to the internet via my iPhone 7 “hotspot”. The openSPOT acts as a mini-repeater in the vehicle with RF from a radio (such as a HT) being sent through the internet; likewise, packets received from the internet are broadcast by the openSPOT to the HT in the vehicle. I’ve been able to communicate through two different DMR networks (DMR+ and Brandmeister) while mobile, allowing me to utilize DMR repeater networks while out-of-range of DMR repeaters. This has allowed me to communicate with friends in New England and North Florida/South Georgia when I’m not in repeater coverage within those areas. In essence, the K3/0-Mini coupled to a RemoteRig 1258MKII and linked to a smartphone via Wifi is taking a similar approach, but with the interface between the K3/0-Mini being hardwired to the RemoteRig 1258MKII. The RemoteRig can be placed under a car seat and the K3/0-Mini can be placed anywhere where the operator can access it just as with a mobile rig control head. If a WAP is used, it can also be placed beneath the seat. Are there downsides to operating HF via internet back to the home station (or some other locale)? Providing Grid Squares based upon vehicle location is out since the location of the transmitter is what determines which grid square one is operating from, and not the location of operator. Internet quality through cellular networks can vary while mobile, but overall the throughput of the K3/0-Mini using audio CODECs offered by the RemoteRig equipment that require less bandwidth should still work well. Food for thought, Barry Baines, WD4ASW (Currently in Boston, MA) > > Here are some ideas I’m considering: > > - mag loop in the rear window > - thin wire loop on a roof rack > - gamma match to the entire roof > - surface acoustic waves > - prayer > > Other ideas? > > Yes, I know this violates the laws of physics and bioethics. And I fully > expect the car to generate debilitating levels of RFI. But isn’t this the > least you’d expect from an unsolved problem? > > Thanks in advance, > > Wayne > N6KR > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to bbai...@mac.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
