Adequate - Dual Freq or All Freq Mobile Radio For Dort Bike

[Trail Ninja]

I'm looking for an adequate, as is not gold plated, multi frequency mobile radio that I can install on my dual sport motorcycle.
Purpose: relaying ground support messages. And SOTA

* I need more power and range than a handheld.
* Frequency coverage: Receive, 0.03 ? 54 MHz; Receive, 0.100 ? 74 MHz; transmit, 160 ? 6 meter amateur bands.  Or 2m, 70cm, GMRS.
* Currently I only have a GMRS license.
* My plan is to get my general license so that I can use multiple frequencies.
* I say adequate because I don't want to spend more than $300 on the radio.
* What kind of antenna set up would be "adequate"?
* Will be housed in a ventilated box.

* I have the Yaesu FT-891 (Receive, 0.03 ? 54 MHz; Receive, 0.100 ? 74 MHz; transmit, 160 ? 6 meter amateur bands), but would like something smaller and lighter.
*  The mic could have built-in speaker, volume adj, channel adj.
* The radio face could come off and mount near the handlebars.
* Aux audio would be nice.

Thanks in advance.

TN

[Obh]

Goodluck with the mobile radio bike route. It's going to be difficult to use HF on the move, especially on a bike.

You aren't going to get an all band mobile radio for less than $300. The closest you will get is a Xiegu G90, which is HF only.

If trying to relay ground support messages - you don't want an HF vertical. Probably an EFHW 80m antenna set up around 30' for NVIS coverage.

None of these are waterproof, so you'll need a box when not using it.

I would re-evaluate your usage and intent.

[pkveazey]

Sorry Ninja: You're screwed. You can't get all that in one radio and certainly not for less than $300. You might try looking at a QYT KT-8900R which is a 25 watt tri-band radio. 2meters, 220, 440. If they still make it as a wide-open radio, it'll be an "If you can hear it, you can talk to it radio". With that said, in today's world, they might only have it made locked to the Ham Bands. Mine is wide open. I think you can look on AMAZON and maybe still find it there for about $140. Hmmmm.... Maybe more, now that hyperinflation is kicking in. If you can find one that is wide open, then you can use it on Marine band (no license if you are on the water), MURS (no license), FRS (no license), GMRS (license required), Ham (license required). The KT8900R is pretty small but it ain't waterproof. The mike has a lot of controls on it but it's not a speaker mike.
I use my KT-8900R as a Ham base station and it does a great job.

[Trail Ninja]

, I'm going to go back and edit the original post.

[Trail Ninja]

Goodluck with the mobile radio bike route. It's going to be difficult to use HF on the move, especially on a bike.

You aren't going to get an all band mobile radio for less than $300. The closest you will get is a Xiegu G90, which is HF only.

If trying to relay ground support messages - you don't want an HF vertical. Probably an EFHW 80m antenna set up around 30' for NVIS coverage.

None of these are waterproof, so you'll need a box when not using it.

I would re-evaluate your usage and intent.

 Yes I can see I need to re-evaluate.
 I may just need to use the FT891 In a base camp set up.
 I'll double check my frequencies and re-evaluate as you suggested.

[Trail Ninja]

All things considered, I'll prolly use my yaesu FT-981?  I can tap in to my motorcycles battery for power. And I can probably Upgrade my handheld for other freqs and use a better antenna .

 In each case, what are your recommendations for antennas?

[Obh]

What's the battery size on the motorcycle? Need to be careful that you don't kill it. Let's assume its 20Ah and a lead acid battery.

I believe the FT891 draws 1A when powered on - meaning you have less than 20 hours receiving. At 50w, it draws ~12A, assuming its SSB, you get less than 2 hours of continuous transmit. However, that's not likely either, we need to factor in some kind of duty cycle. On a deployment, perhaps we RX 60% of the time and 40% of the time. This leads up to about 5.4Ah consumption.

As far as an antenna, 80m end fed half wave simply because its resonant and you won't need a tuner. It's easy to setup and deploy as well.

For a mobile VHF rig, look at the anytone 778. It's 25W, compact, the mic can do most controls, and its a speaker mic. When I got it, it was ~ $129 and can be unlocked in software.

[Trail Ninja]

Recommendations noted.

A few years ago I picked up the CHAMELEON ANTENNA EMCOMM-III-P Portable HF Antenna. I just revisited some videos that I saved and it turns out that this is probably a really good setup, for the FT891.
https://youtu.be/toHaViMAAow?si=Tf2sca5GwzV1oCdH

What antenna would you recommend for the anytone 778 model that you mentioned earlier? Or, do you have a handheld recommendation that I can hook up a different antenna to?

[Obh]

Roll up slim jim antenna. With VHF, height is might, mounting to a bike is not going to be my recommendation. You can hook up any antenna to your HT, you just need the right adapters.

[Jackalope]

My dual sport bike had a portable radio mount on the handlebars. I usually replaced the rubber duck with an extended whip from signal stuff. I typically didn?t ride with my best portable radio in case the radio was ever dislodged from the mount, but it never happened.  Some of the newer higher end radios have Bluetooth built in which is nice when riding, i.e. Yaesu FT-5DR, and the Kenwood TH-75D are two models that have Bluetooth.

With my Ural, there?s a potential to mount a small mobile radio in the sidecar. I usually didn?t talk much which riding, as I don?t like to be distracted. I concur with Obh regarding a slimjim antenna, I usuaaly have one in my go-bag.  If I was motorcycle camping,I usually carried a FT-817, I guess an IC-705 would be a modern substitute.

[Trail Ninja]

  My plan is changing as comments roll in.

  For on the road local communications, when riding with others, I'll probably use a handheld with an antenna mounted to the bike or on my pack.

  For Hf communications I'm visualizing SOTA or POTA operations, in a OP / communications relaying capacity.  I'll have established a base camp and utilize the chameleon ecomm III, but I'll look into the slim jim antenna.

 The battery...
Obh  Schooled me where I should have known better. I had mentioned using my motorcycle battery for powering up my FT-891. That's just not gonna cut it. On a different project, I was researching lithium jump start packs. Some of them pack a real punch. Small, lightweight and powerful.  With the ability to charge the pack with my motorcycle or solar, I'm wondering if that is a viable solution 🤔   The packs that I was looking at:

1. https://www.walmart.com/ip/GOOLOO-Car-Jump-Starter-4000A-Peak-12V-Battery-Jumper-Pack-All-Gas-Up-10-0L-Diesel-Engine-Portable-Booster-Box-USB-Quick-Charge-Type-C-SuperSafe/335964533

2. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016UG6PWE?maas=maas_adg_F57E8856D17C680FA3273D844D28AAE6_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas&gclid=CjwKCAjw9p24BhB_EiwA8ID5Bp2r5QgUfDE6Nt8yMM9iftJ0gkJ892LHZ3EI75fd0OfAAGrP0Q9ZUBoCjT4QAvD_BwE

 I was looking at building my own lithium iron phosphate battery with solar charge controller, but this might just do the trick. Does anyone have any thoughts on these battery packs? Used for radio operations?

[Obh]

For those jump packs, it's all about the battery capacity. The start current is irrelevant since you won't be using that for the radio.

GOOLOO Car Jump Starter - looking at the specs, this is a 24000mAh battery so 24Ah. The "spec" on the cigarette is 10Ah, so depending on usage, you might get a few hours out of it. The big question is what will it do if you draw more than 10A on the radio when you transmit.

NOCO makes awesome stuff, however this jump pack is tiny. It's only got a 5Ah battery. That'll only run your 891 for about 4 hours in receive only.