Category Archives: Building

Improving the Micro-Tower

I ran my original micro-tower on and off for about seven months. It had been to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC for exhibitions, roved through seven Maidenhead grid squares for June’s ARRL VHF contest, and been through hundreds of miles … Continue reading

Posted in Building | 2 Comments

Auto Desk Replacement

I assembled the components for my mobile digital amateur radio station in 2021. I started with a RigBlaster PnP by West Mountain Radio and a budget laptop, traveling with it sitting in the passenger seat when not in use. Later, … Continue reading

Posted in Building | 3 Comments

Compact Moxon Module

You may recall reading about my “Contest Module,” used for VHF/UHF contesting and exhibitions. It’s quite large, heavy, and impractical for routine use. So, I built a “compact tower” after being asked to bring a VHF setup to a group … Continue reading

Posted in Building, Product Reviews | 1 Comment

Guying the Tower

I built a road-going “micro-tower“ for my compact contest rover. The complete setup weighs ~75 lbs (34 kg) and extends about 7 feet (2.1 m) over the roof of my VW GTI. The overall height is 11’6″ (3.5 m), which … Continue reading

Posted in Building | 2 Comments

Overhaul Phase 3: Amps, Feed Lines, and January VHF Contest

I had shared that the amplifiers I was shopping had been on perpetual back-order since 2020. The supplier continually moved the availability back another few months each time that their expected ship date approached. I found another brand of amps … Continue reading

Posted in Building | Leave a comment

Rooftop Antenna Tower w/Rotator!

If you’ve been watching my site, then you’re aware that I’ve been slowly building a VHF contest Rover. I’m documenting my process on my new “Rover” page. My coverage there is brief; so, this entry will share more details about … Continue reading

Posted in Building | 3 Comments

Electronics Overhaul!

I receive a lot of compliments regarding the level of detail and workmanship on my electronics panel. However, something interesting happens over the course of time as equipment is either added or changed, in this car as well as two … Continue reading

Posted in Building | 2 Comments

Adapting the Factory Antenna Hole to NMO

When it comes to automobiles and ham radio, there are those who will do whatever it takes to make their radio station operate at its best and those who will compromise the radio’s performance for cosmetic reasons. With my Mk3, … Continue reading

Posted in Building | Leave a comment

Ham Radio Updates

I’ve been neglectful, but busy. I’ve enjoyed making YouTube videos and publishing every week. However, spending so much time making videos meant that the writing on my website had fallen behind; plus, the more time I spend creating, the less … Continue reading

Posted in Building | Leave a comment

Orion-Tr Smart 12|12-30 360-Watt DC-DC Charger

Originally shared at StealthGTI.com on December 9, 2021 A car’s alternator is NOT appropriate for charging LiFePo4 batteries. First, it’s output voltage is not quite correct; nor, is it intended to charge two batteries (starter and aux) with differing chemistries … Continue reading

Posted in Building, Product Reviews | Leave a comment

100-Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Secondary Battery

Originally shared at StealthGTI.com on December 2, 2021 This year is the first time in many years that I spent a lot of time using my ham radios. As much as I like to drive, operating on the HF bands … Continue reading

Posted in Building, Product Reviews | Leave a comment

Scorpion SA-680 Black Widow 10-80m Antenna

Originally shared at StealthGTI.com on July 20, 2020 I had a long weekend commute on quiet highways from 2006-2009. Surfing the HF bands was a great way to help the drive pass. I was using a Yaesu ATAS-120A at the … Continue reading

Posted in Building, Product Reviews | Leave a comment