Ham Radio 2 Meter Interface

[lnfog]

Hi,

Has any ham radio operator put a 2 meter rig on their bike? I would like to put a 2 meter HT and be able to interface it with my 1988 GL 1500 com system like the CB radio. Any ideas would be welcome.

73's
Michele KE6GRN

[WingAdmin]

Are you looking to put something in PLACE of the CB system?

[WA9FWT]

Hi,

Has any ham radio operator put a 2 meter rig on their bike? I would like to put a 2 meter HT and be able to interface it with my 1988 GL 1500 com system like the CB radio. Any ideas would be welcome.

73's
Michele KE6GRN

Not sure has to just what you are up too here. Are your intentions too talk through repeaters on the 2 meter band.Or just plain simplex to other ham radio ops on cycles. If you are using a HT, the only way I can see that work is with a head set and mic.And that I have done on my cycle. I hit repeaters or simplex with no problem. Thats moving along in the city, but not out on the open road because of the wind noise. I also used the PTT because the HT doesn't have VOX.Thats were that Interface system would work better and safer.Lot of work involved to change the radio from 11 meters to two meters.

WA9FWT Phil

[lnfog]

Hi Phil,

I would want to leave the CB radio alone. I would just want to be able to add the HT in addition to the CB, and you are right it would be safer. I want to be able to hit repeaters and also use echo link and be able to use the helmet headset, and the PTT for the CB. I know there has to be way way, just trying to figure it out is the hard part.

Michele KE6GRN

[WA9FWT]

Hi Phil,

I would want to leave the CB radio alone. I would just want to be able to add the HT in addition to the CB, and you are right it would be safer. I want to be able to hit repeaters and also use echo link and be able to use the helmet headset, and the PTT for the CB. I know there has to be way way, just trying to figure it out is the hard part.

Michele KE6GRN

Well Michele having a system to work like you say sure would be nice.I think that would be a first if you ever get it up and running.My old GW doesn't even have any system, all I have is a Am & Fm radio.So I can't go out and study as to how they have those systems working. I see plenty of guys have problems with some of the features not working, so who knows what you would get into trying to add yet a nother feature. At this point I'm satisfied with something I can add to talk to my passanger and pipe in music to the helmit with a cheap one at that.Good luck on working it out.If you do get it going, let us know.
WA9FWT Phil

[tazman56]

Hi Michele,

I have not but talk to these guys. http://www.marc-hq.org/pages/homepage.htm . This site has a bunch of info and the Chairman (Ray Davis KD6FHN) runs a triband on his wing and is all over the US all summer long. There is a separate PTT but it is integrated in the the wing intercom/headsets etc Might have to get a mobile radio vs an HT though

Good Luck
Randy
KF6HOZ

[lnfog]

Hi Randy,

Thanks for the info. I just sent him an email.

73's

Michele KE6GRN

[WA9FWT]

Hi Michele,

I have not but talk to these guys. http://www.marc-hq.org/pages/homepage.htm . This site has a bunch of info and the Chairman (Ray Davis KD6FHN) runs a triband on his wing and is all over the US all summer long. There is a separate PTT but it is integrated in the the wing intercom/headsets etc Might have to get a mobile radio vs an HT though

Good Luck
Randy
KF6HOZ

My guess is if he can integrate his rig into the headset, I don't see why you would have to get a mobile radio.A HT should also work just fine.I'm sure you will get answers from a group of fellows I saw on that picture.Always some thing new going on out there so Good Luck.I was on PSK31 yesterday and I ran into a first.My first person that is using a speech to text to do his typing.I thought I was first in that mode trying that.Always someone way ahead with everything!! 73
WA9FWT Phil

[salyzyn]

I am getting some experience with the GL2way device from bikemp3.com. This device is meant for the more modern GL1800s and provides a plug-and-play means to integrate radio equipment into the CB control paths on these GoldWings.

They already support a wide variety of Amateur Radio equipment.

For the more advanced, they are currently working on a 38400 Baud CAT interface for my YAESU FT-857D (160M to 70cm). I am their guinea pig, they currently have possession of my rig. The features it looks like it will support once completed:

1) Independent volume control using the CB VOLUME switch on the handlebars. Separate volume control for CB, FRS/GPS and HAM radio
2) Independent channel control using the CB CHANNEL switches on the handlebars. Mapping the 40 CB channels to a switchable bank of 40 memories on the rig.
3) Built-in banks of pre-programmed HAM, CB, FRS & GMRS frequencies (The HAM propagation beacons and the later set for RX-only).
4) General and Priority scanning of the 40 mapped channels.
5) Independent PTT from the handlebar control, or a DSP-based VOX built into the unit that tries to filter out and baseline the bike noise (wind, helmet, engine etc) looking for a voice envelope.
6) Integration into the Audio system, with Carrier Detect muting of other audio sources. Microphone and Audio go through the Audio System and can go to speakers or headsets using the Audio System controls.
7) Switchable NASA-style Roger Beep.

It will co-exist with the rig's remote head, so one can override for the more complicated operations. It will co-exist with the supplied CB radio. I am told first release of thus updated Firmware will support FT-817, FT-857 and FT-897. They already support the FT-8900 and FTM-10 FM rigs and a multitude of others, but without channel controls.

I am waiting for the remote head mounting plate and Antenna (UHV-6) along with the updated GL2way firmware, and will report once installed and operational. I currently have teasers of Roger Beep, Scanning and DSP VOX in my updated Firmware, waiting for the remaining update(s).

73 de AG4YD ex-VE6MGS

[WA9FWT]

Well Mark, (checked u out on QRZ ) I can see were you can get in a lot of ridding living down were it's bike WX all year around.
I do use a YAESU also , but a home unit a FT-847 and only a Ht at times on the old 1982 A.
Keep us updated on the HF equipment. We are in hibernation up here in WIS, all we do is wish
73... WA9FWT Phil

[wa2ddl]

Actually, VHF is really the only way to go on the bike. Problem is that only a small percent of the owners are licensed, sooo.....

I would like to hook up my VX-7 to the bike and operate it with a PTT switch set up for a full-face and a ham version of the Honda CB antenna, only for 2 meters and/or 440. Has anyone tried to load up vhf on the stock CB antenna?

That antenna, an auto tuner, a Mirage amp and, hey, you might be in business!

Steve
WA2DDL

[GHodder]

I am a retired electrical designer and was successful in mounting a 2M/70cm rig on my bike utilizing the CB controls.
The idea was to not modify the bike and keep it as clean as possible… no additional controls on the grips.

Using a CB I monitored the control lines and figured out the protocol and command sequences. With that I designed and built a board to adapt an ICom IC208H rig to my bike. I did ask Honda for the protocol but they were not open to the idea of distributing this information.

The radio is programmed offline with the first 40 channels which would be represented by the channel number on the display.
As an example, the local repeaters were channels 1 thru 8 (as an example), channels 10 thru 17 were simplex frequencies, 20 thru 30 were MURS frequencies and 30 thru 40 were repeaters for on the road.

Eventually rembering the channel numbers to frequency list became second nature, most of the time was spent on the lower 8 or 9 repeaters.

I’ve posted my work on my business website
www.divideresearch.com
Select the “amateur radio” tab and you can look at the modified antenna mount and the first generation radio interface, the second generation interface is on the bench being designed and programmed as I type. The second version will be ready in about 4 weeks and I will post the details at that time.

73s
Gary
VE3NMI

[redial]

We should write for our audience!

When introducing a subject that is a bit off the beaten track, on this forum it is ok to use MPG, MPH, and GW; and they would be fully understood, but some other terms and abbreviations may need to be explained before use.

To follow on, when a subject like "Ham Radio 2 Meter (sic) Interface" is introduced, it would have been wise to introduce the abbreviations that are used. EG what does 2 metre refer to - most USA citizens cannot handle metric measurements except for their medications; what does 73 mean; VOX could be an amalgamation of Volume and Box; and so on. This is an international forum, but I try to do the conversions from Imperial (perish the thought that Americans are Imperialists ), and SI (or metric), with difference between Standards Internationale and Metric being that SI uses units like Pascals for pressure instead of centimeters per cubic centimeters (and I dont think that this relationship is right).

Every technical discussion involves specialists terms, and while they are recognised by those 'in the know', those that are trying to learn about the subject, will spend all of their time looking at Wikipedia to find out what a series of terms mean. So I am asking for correspondents to acknowledge that some may not have all the knowledge that they have, and take the time to explain the terms used in their items.

Thank you for your attention.

[Mag]

I am semi lucky....my dad is WA6AWC, I have heard ham talk for the last 40 years (woop, that sounding old now). He is trying to talk me in to getting my license so he has someone to give all his 2-meter handhelds to, lol.

[ka4yqi]

You can do it, go ahead.

I am semi lucky....my dad is WA6AWC, I have heard ham talk for the last 40 years (woop, that sounding old now). He is trying to talk me in to getting my license so he has someone to give all his 2-meter handhelds to, lol.

[Mag]

We have a Cowlitz County chapter here, contacted the group leader twice, and they have help on the tests. Dad already gave me the book to read and the site to do sample tests, etc. Now just have to get through it