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Communications
 I received my FCC Amateur Radio license in 1995, callsign KE4WMF. After many years of using a handheld transceiver, I installed a YAESU FT-90R dual-band VHF/UHF micro-transceiver. It's a discontinued transceiver that features a small detachable display which fits perfectly in my "ashtray." The main body mounts out of sight. I normally operate at 10 watts to avoid overheating the small radio. But I have a 100 watt amplifier standing by in case I need more power. The crown jewel of my mobile ham shack is the YAESU FT-857D, a 100 watt "multi-multi" transceiver capable of operating in all modes and on all ten HF/6m ham bands plus VHF/UHF. Its installation isn't quite as stealth as the FT-90R; but it's still pretty slick and it brings the enjoyment of worldwide communications to my roadtrips. My most distant contact to date was from SE Virginia to Serbia (nearly 5000 miles) on 100 watts SSB. My contact from the Delaware Bay to Hawaii was just as far and was made while parked on the deck of a ferry crossing the Delaware Bay. I also monitor the Citizen's Band using a COBRA 75WXST "All-in-Handset" CB radio and I scan the radiowaves with a 1000 channel PC-programmable trunking scanner on longer road trips. I use a variety of antennas depending on how I want to focus my efforts (performance vs. style vs. low-clearance parking garages). I have three Diamond K400 heavy duty mounts which may hold nearly any combination of UHF, VHF, UHF/VHF, CB, or my grand-daddy antenna, an ATAS-120A "Active Tuning Antenna System" for all frequencies between 7 MHz and 450 MHz (antenna height is changed via remote control to match frequency). All radios are easily hidden when I'm not in the car. Click here to see more detailed photos of the communications equipment along with a description of each photo. Interested in
Ham Radio? Visit my Ham Radio
Page. |
 I eventually installed a
PIONEER DEH-P6900UB CD/MP3/WMA head unit with USB input. My favorite music is currently stored on a hidden, but easily accessible, 4 MB flash drive. Having over 48 hours of high quality music on hand, I can easily drive for days without hearing the same song twice. I also installed a DELPHI Roady2 XM satellite radio receiver into the visor. Overall, it's been great for long trips. The low-pass output from the head unit enters
a COUSTIC 190A 125W
RMS stereo amplifier. The amplifier feeds a
DEI COMPETITION 10 inch subwoofer which is enclosed in a tiny 0.4 cubic foot sealed
box. The box is visible when the trunk is open,
but
low profile enough to draw little attention. All equipment is connected
to the battery via a 4 gauge StreetWires Hardware Kit with fuse and grounding blocks. All periferal equipment is completely hidden. The car looks BONE STOCK to a passing thief. |
Instrumentation
 I fabricated a custom gauge panel that mounts in the place of my cupholders. The Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) and Manifold Pressure ("boost") gauges are commercial grade by ISSPRO. There's nothing special about them; so I won't go into details. The SCAN GAUGE II (SGII) is a device that acts similarly to the multifunction trip computers found on today's newer cars. It can display the following gauges (four at a time): Current MPGs, Fuel Rate, Voltage, Coolant Temp, Intake Air Temp, Engine RPM, Vehicle Speed, Manifold Pressure, Engine Load, and Throttle Position. I also have the following trip functions (one at a time): Max Speed, Avg Speed, Max Coolant Temp, Max RPM, Driving Time, Driving Distance, Fuel Used, Trip MPGs, Tank MPGs, Distance to Empty, Time to Empty, and Fuel to Empty. Unlike the standard multifunction computers, the SGII can be calibrated for improved accuracy; plus, it has a scan tool which displays diagnostic trouble codes (OBD2; but not VAG) and can clear the Check Engine Light. Also, the display is programmable to match nearly any dash color. |
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