Hi, all,

I'm going to want to install a 706 in my Class A and need suggestions on all the parts. Don't worry about the price.

I like HRO for a source, but their online site is cumbersome. I thought perhaps some here might help me with ideas for an antenna, tuner, and mounting suggesions.

So here's my thinking so far. I'd like to mount the radio in a location which will allow me to use the remote head from both the driver's seat and at a table. I know that a cable of the proper length is available. What I don't know is how the remote head can be mounted at the drivers position or used at the table location and not just be a lump lying there with a mic coming out of it. I guess I'm thinking of some kind of stand or box.

Another issue that I don't know about is the use of the 706 on vhf/uhf bands. is there an antenna/tuner combination which will cover all its operating range without having to change antennas? If more than one antenna is required, how can this antenna changeover be made without having to go out and switch cables?

[EDIT] I guess after looking around a bit, it looks like if I want 75 meters and 2 meters, I'll have to have two antennas. And I see that the 706 has seperate antenna connecters for hf and vhf/uhf. I can handle that.

I'm thinking that the easiest/best location for mounting an antenna would be on the front. My rear is going to be encumbered with a motorcycle (scooter) lift and I don't want the complication of an antenna back there also. The front profile of my older coach will make it possible to have a vertical mounted to the bumper and not be too close to the body. And I surely won't mind the sight of a slick ham antenna up there.

So, the fewest number of parts for the widest range of frequences. Your help will be greatly appreciated. I've been a ham for 45 years, and I've done lots of installations over the years - just not in a motorhome with modern equipment.

Thanks,

Brian K7ZRZ - Yakima, WA
1987 30' Holiday Rambler Presidential Class A
2002 Goldwing - Honda Helix Scooter
2000 Miata Silver LS Toad

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Brian Ingoldsby,

For only 75 meters I would look at going with a mono band such as a Hamstick on HF. As from HF tuners take a look at the LDG tuners, especially the AT-100 Pro. If will be using and amp LDG also has some nice tuners that can handle the power. LDG link: LDG Tuners

Hi, Bill

...and thanks for the reply. I didn't mean to suggest that I only want to operate 75. I meant that I also want to operate 75 - as I've seen some mobile antennas that won't tune 75 without another element or coil, or the like, substituted for the standard setup. (I think that's what I was thinking).

I have looked at the lineup of LDG tuners. I don't know how to make a choice, other than the 7000 is quite small. I don't want to have to look at a tuner or fiddle with controls - and it looks like the 7000 doesn't need either. I'll likely have the rig and tuner located out of arms reach and out of sight.

I'm also looking closely at the Tarheel antennas. I like the looks and the mounting hardware that they provide just for their antennas.

One of the things that I don't quite understand is how the screwdriver antenna works. If it's tunable on its own, how is it setup to work with an autotuner - or if it even needs one.

And in looking at the LDG tuners again just now, I see a reference to the Icom 7000 radio. I guess I need to check that one out. I have been thinking that the 706 is the only radio with the small size and mobility that I want.

Thanks again. Still hoping for more input.

The IC-7000 is the replacement for the 706. Same basic size and layout, more bells and whistles, more price.

I love my IC-703. Only 20 watts but usually if I can hear em I can work em. And it has a builtin automatic antenna tuner.

Hi Brian, I am in process of finishing a similar installation in my 2000 Winny Adventurer 35' MH. I have a full-sized tower style computer on board with a LCD panel monitor mounted on a swing out arm from the wall. I mounted the control head for my Icom 7000 to a plate mounted on the bottom of the LCD computer monitor (on its swing arm). My rigs RF chassis is mounted via the remote cable on the lower wall near the doorway. I have the N2VZ turbo-tuner which is controlled by the IC7000 tune ckt. I am still awaiting my Little Tarheel II screwdriver type antenna to arrive. With my installation, I can swing the station control to my sidewall desk for relaxed operation while parked, and swing it towards the front of the coach near the passenger seat upfront for operation on the go. Wife (N3EIH) is good MH driver so I can Ham while underway if I want to, or she can operate from Copilots seat if we need local info etc. The installation has worked out well so far. When parked I use a LDG-1000 tuner for use with wire antennas, dipoles etc. mounted in friendly trees. I have bought the necessary parts to allow me to switch the antenna coax and control line from/to the tuners) without having to replumb the lines. I could send you some pix's if you would like to see the results. 73/ John K3NOQ/W(innebago)5 Lago Vista, TX.

You won't need a tuner with the screwdriver. It tunes itself. I have one 10-80 meters and I built another that will operate 10-160.

Ok, good information. I do like the looks of the 7000 (from what I can determine by a picture).

My plan has been to do about the same as you, John, - with the rig mounted to the wall just behind the passenger front seat. That will give me easy access to the outside for power and coax routing. And the rig will be well out of sight from anyone who shouldn't see it.

I'm unsure of the comment from you, Dan, - "You won't need a tuner with the screwdriver. It tunes itself." Can you please tell me how this is accomplished - and/of if the Tarheel antennas have this feature? I don't believe I read anywhere on their site that the antennas automatically tune themselves.

I'm single, and will be also using this rig occasionally when driving, I suppose, so I'll still have to come up with some way of making mounts for the control head. I see that Icom has something that might work at the driver's position on the dash, but I'll have to find someone who knows if the head is removable from that permanent mouting device. Then there's got to be something that looks like a box that the head can connect to so I can use it on the table. I'm a problem-solver, so I'm sure I'll find a way.

Anyway, the auto-tuner vs Screwdriver antenna is still a curiosity.

Thanks again, all and 73.

Everything I have been able to read (on the net) so far - mostly advertisements - indicates that a screwdriver type antenna doesn't "tune itsself" but requires a manual operation of up/down tuning (while watching an SWR meter) or is tuned by the use of some memory/preset-controller device. Seems to me like one has to do a manual proceedure every time the frequency or band changes. Does this sound like I'm understanding things correctly?

Would it then be possible to set the screwdriver antenna to some fixed tuned position and use an autotuner, such as an LDG, to actually handle the automatic antenna tuning function? Seems plausible to me. Maybe an expensive screwdriver antenna isn't even necessary when using an autotuner - perhaps just a sturdy whip with a coil for 80 meters.

(I feel like I'm talkin' to myself)

I found this device, which looks like just what I need (relating to the above antenna/tuner issues I've been writing about).

Any comments? Thanks, again.

Brian

Brian, In my opinion, a good screwdriver with the turbo tuner would make a great mobile setup for HF. Just remember to make sure and have good grounding, with the screwdrivers I understand grounding is very important.

Hi, Tom,

I have just finished the ordering of an IC-7000, a Tarheel 100 antenna, and the Turbo Tuner. The radio will likely be here tomorrow, and the other stuff will take longer - Dayton, you know.

My MH is an aluminum framed and skinned rig, so I presume grounding will be fairly straight forward and effective.

My last rig was a Yaesu FT101E, with all the trimmings, and the one before that was a Hallicrafters HT32B and SX-101A combination. (Wish I had those back) But this new stuff will be a lot of fun and just right for use in the Motorhome and on the road.

Thanks for the advice.

Brian

The Turbo Tuner works great. I have had great luck with service and dependability on the Tarheel. The screwdriver type antenna really works well. I have also used a Hamstick with an LDG tuner. Those are great tuners but the problem with a Hamstick is that it is very narrow and the tuner can only do so much. The screwdriver/Turbo Tuner combination allows you to switch from band to band easily at the touch of a button. Much better than trying to watch the meter at 55 mph! Good luck guys.

The reports on the Turbo Tuner with a screwdriver have all be glowing. I couldn't find a single negative comment. Makes me feel good I found out about it - quite by accident, I might add.

The radio gets here tomorrow. But the antenna and controller aren't going to arrive until next week sometime, if then. Perhaps I can dust off the ol' tuner and throw up something quick and dirty. Which leads me to another topic - of its own.

Thanks all,

Brian

Brian, If you are still working on your install and can make it to Quartzfest this winter in January you will get a wealth of information. Amateurs from all over the U.S and Canada meet here for a week of seminars and idea trading. One of the events I really enjoy is an antenna 'walkabout'. The moderator spends a couple of days wandering around looking at a variety of antennas. Then for a two or three hour 'walkabout' you talk to the amateur who put together the install and how it works.

Last winter I helped four amateurs get their winlink connectivity. There were a variety of problems.

73 de NB7O

If you buy a bare-bones 706 new, it's cheaper than a 7000. Add a couple filters, or a couple filters and a stability crystal, and you might as well buy the 7000 because the cost will be about the same.

As noted, 7000 has all kinds of bells and whistles. But what got me to buy one was the IF digital signal processing, which runs circles around my 706.

706 is a great rig. But with the options some of us find desirable, it costs as much as the 7000, and the 7000 is superior.