Getting Out and About..

 It's been a while, and I haven't been much of a ham. Not that my radios have ever been off. 

I've just been busy, I've had COVID-19 (finally) - the few days I had it were less annoying than the couple of weeks of chest infection after it, and I've got a lot to prepare for at work right now.

All at the same time, I've really not been out and about much. In years. Thanks COVID.

It's going to change.

My trusty Ford Falcon is destined for the garage - it needs some work. It's now a decade old, the clear coat isn't healthy and it could really do with a clean. The kids have done little good for it. It's turbo charged and its still low mileage and current going price is more than I paid for it 7 years ago. It's also a lot of fun to drive.

I've decided to get a Mitsubishi Triton through my employers leasing arrangements. It'll cost me a fortune, but at least the diesel is paid for. 

Thoughts abound of travel options - we tend to not travel due to the cost of fuel. With that not being a concern, hopefully we'll get out a bit more. 

I'm also hoping that means that I can actually take a radio with me. 

My screwdriver can go into the tow bar mount - it can't stay there, but it's at least a satisfactory holder for it if we go out camping. Then there's the box of gear I made to drive it. I just need to disconnect the Xiegu G90 and take it. 

For permanent vehicle installation I've decided to go Chinese. Simply due to the installation reality in the vehicle. Specifically I'm planning on a QYT KT-WP12. 

Why? Simply - look at the picture above. It's all in the handset. 

The problem I'm going to have in the Triton is lack of places to mount a radio without putting holes in the vehicle. It's simply not an option. The one place that I could mount a radio takes away the very place that I'd like to be able to throw the mic.. and my phone.

It's a low powered unit - max 25w on VHF. Which is fine when I'm licensed for 10w. I'll fit it the same as most of the 4x4 guys are fitting UHF CBs - the most common of which are models where the radio is controlled from the mic.  

Reality is too that the price is about right. I really can't justify spending good money on a Japanese radio for it. It's there more so for the utility value than it is for me to rag chew. And simply.. I can't afford my 4x4 cake and eat it too. 

The control box is small, and going off what the 4x4 guys are doing with the same model Triton, it can easily be mounted up under the glove compartment. I can then use a fuse tap to hook into an ignition controlled positive line - likely the lighter/accessory fuse given it's 15A rated.

The downsides are - small screen, small screen, multiple buttons to turn the volume down.. and a small screen. 

The only upside is that it can be computer programmed - the channel names are limited to 7 characters, but I can make that work. Even my Falcon's radio only has around 30 repeaters programmed - and that's effectively covering anywhere I'm likely to go.

At some stage I will need to get a power feed to the tub. Likely rated for 100-200A with an isolation switch. I'll mount in a second battery back there which will be useful for running the fridge and perhaps a HF rig. I don't care to put the starter battery at risk by running stuff overnight, so this is a good compromise. Any longer and I'm in generator territory.