While I won’t be able to enter the ARRL September VHF contest this year, due to travel plans, I have been spending some time updating the rover vehicle.
The update in the photo above is a RIGrunner 8012. This is primarily a part of my move to Powerpole connectors. Here I’ve used the PP75 connectors to tap into the car battery DC power system. I’m using 8 AWG wire from the battery to the back of the Equinox. I trimmed up the wires a bit to avoid a great deal of loss via the cables.
The second aspect is routing power to the rig, the amplifiers, and the transverters via the distribution box. Not all of that is in place yet, but the power system is ready when the equipment arrives. It will take time and budget for that to happen.
I also replaced the mast, moving from a 1.68″ fence post to a 2″ aluminum tubing section from DX Engineering. No more shims in the rotator and the u-bolts to the antennas should hold things very steady. I also had to get a new mount for the 6m Stressed Moxon. Par Electronics makes that easy by building to your specifications.
Finally, I’ve ordered the 222 MHz rover Yagi from Directive Systems. By the January contest I hope to have a transverter in place.
I’m making progress toward a competitive rover set up for the ARRL Limited Rover category.
Hi Jim !!
looking to upgrade the DC side of the home station and this looked like the best product to fit the bill… and its on the way….
did you have to get a new crimper for the 75amp power pole connectors ?
PS the vee beam is still workind well for me…..
Brad Ko6kL
Hi Brad,
Glad to see that you’re continuing work on your station. I did not purchase the large crimper. Instead I soldered the connections. There’s a few YouTube videos that talk about “pool” soldering for the larger PowerPole connectors. Clamp the connector, heat it up, melt solder in the socket, plunge the wire into the solder, and you’re good to go.
Good work on the Vee Beam. 73, Jim, K5ND
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