Dual Watch mobile HF/2M/440 Rig

[N9JIG]

I have had an Icom 706MkIIG and looked at a couple other mobile HF/2M/440 rigs but passed since they only allow a single channel to be monitored at a time. I have grown used to being able to listen to 2 channels at the same time (V-U, V-V or U-U) on my TM-D700 and DR-635.

Why can't Icom, Yaesu, Alinco or Kenwood come out with an all-band mobile that allows dual watch like their dual-banders do?

I don't want another radio in the car, I have too many already!

 

[gewecke]

They do,but how MUCH do ya wanna spend??

73
n9zas

 

[N9JIG]

They do,but how MUCH do ya wanna spend??

73
n9zas

Who makes such a radio?

 

[wyomingmedic]

The TS-2000 does what you want, and you can get a mobile remote faceplate for it. It will just cost an arm and a leg and take up a LOT of space.

WM

 

[APTN]

Who makes such a radio?

Yaesu Ft-8900.

 

[N9JIG]

Yaesu Ft-8900.

I have considered an FT-8900 but it only does 10M and 6M FM, I would like to be able to do HF SSB as well.

 

[elk2370bruce]

Icom 7000 will do it,

 

[AK9R]

The OP was looking for radio that will receive two frequencies simultaneously and has HF SSB coverage. The Icom IC-7000 will do the latter, but not the former.

 

[Daniel_Boone]

I have considered an FT-8900 but it only does 10M and 6M FM, I would like to be able to do HF SSB as well.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child.
When I became a man, I put aside my childish ways.

When I was a little kid and mom and dad was paying for everything I often spoke - I want, I want, I want.
When I had to physically pick up the bill - my ways changed.

It's nice to say - I want, I want, I want.
But most times those are the same people who doesn't have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of.

I bought a Yaesu 8900 and other then it's little idiosyncrasies - it is a very good radio.
It's not dual band, it is a Quad Band radio.

Yes it only listens to two channels at the same time, but it has the capabilities of being able to do more with a few little modifications.
Hence the modifications voids the warranty.

I would suggest that if you want a radio like that for you to call Ham Radio Outlet and put in your order.
I highly doubt if someone is just going to give you a radio like that.

I love it when someone comes to my house and says that they want something and when I suggest that they buy a used one for X amount of dollars that they balk and they make the remark that if they have to spend that amount of money - they will just go out and buy a brand new one.

Usually that is nothing but them talking big - because they never seem to have enough money to pay for what they already have and the only way they could afford something like that is if they were to put it on their credit card - which is usually near it's credit limit to begin with.

So the answer is that most HF radios made today works with a 12 volt power supply and if you wish to have a mobile unit that you have to spend gobs of money on a power supply that will support those types of communications.

When I competed in car audio competitions I used a 160 amp alternator - which was independent of the automobile charging system and two additional Ultima Red Top 1000 CCA batteries and very expensive wires and terminals to connect it all together.
With a power supply like that - it would be able to over come the limitations of the vehicles antenna with additional amplification and all the bells and whistles that we normally associate with a home ham shack such as a tuner and other peripheral devices.

At some point the system will outgrow the vehicle and you will be forced to drive a larger vehicle or get rid of some of what you accumulate.
In my case, I have boxes of power amplifiers - Orion HCCA and DVC 12 speakers - enough to build a sound system loud enough to use as a PA system for PNC park in Pittsburgh.
You would think that the Grateful Dead came to town.

http://www.termpro.com/showcars/index.asp?Page=20

 

[AK9R]

This diatribe is really uncalled for. N9JIG posed the original question in an effort to find if a particular type of radio was available. Rich is a responsible adult who certainly has a pot to pee in and a window to throw it out of. Rich never said he wanted someone to give him a radio and I'm sure he's quite capable of paying for a radio meeting his request.

Rich is looking for an HF/2m/70cm all-mode (FM and SSB) radio that has the ability to receive two frequencies simultaneously, known by some as "dual watch". If you don't have a suggestion for such a radio, why waste our time?

Oh, for the record, the brand name of the battery you refer to is Optima, not Ultima. My employer, who owns Optima, would appreciate you getting the name correct.

 

[N9JIG]

When I was a child, I spoke as a child.
When I became a man, I put aside my childish ways.

When I was a little kid and mom and dad was paying for everything I often spoke - I want, I want, I want.
When I had to physically pick up the bill - my ways changed.

It's nice to say - I want, I want, I want.
But most times those are the same people who doesn't have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of.

I bought a Yaesu 8900 and other then it's little idiosyncrasies - it is a very good radio.
It's not dual band, it is a Quad Band radio.

Yes it only listens to two channels at the same time, but it has the capabilities of being able to do more with a few little modifications.
Hence the modifications voids the warranty.

I would suggest that if you want a radio like that for you to call Ham Radio Outlet and put in your order.
I highly doubt if someone is just going to give you a radio like that.

I love it when someone comes to my house and says that they want something and when I suggest that they buy a used one for X amount of dollars that they balk and they make the remark that if they have to spend that amount of money - they will just go out and buy a brand new one.

Usually that is nothing but them talking big - because they never seem to have enough money to pay for what they already have and the only way they could afford something like that is if they were to put it on their credit card - which is usually near it's credit limit to begin with.

So the answer is that most HF radios made today works with a 12 volt power supply and if you wish to have a mobile unit that you have to spend gobs of money on a power supply that will support those types of communications.

When I competed in car audio competitions I used a 160 amp alternator - which was independent of the automobile charging system and two additional Ultima Red Top 1000 CCA batteries and very expensive wires and terminals to connect it all together.
With a power supply like that - it would be able to over come the limitations of the vehicles antenna with additional amplification and all the bells and whistles that we normally associate with a home ham shack such as a tuner and other peripheral devices.

At some point the system will outgrow the vehicle and you will be forced to drive a larger vehicle or get rid of some of what you accumulate.
In my case, I have boxes of power amplifiers - Orion HCCA and DVC 12 speakers - enough to build a sound system loud enough to use as a PA system for PNC park in Pittsburgh.
You would think that the Grateful Dead came to town.

Old School SPL Competition Vehicles

Wow! Dunno what to make of all that!

I said I considered the FT-8900, but it doesn't do HF other than 10M and it isn't all-mode. I appreciated the polite suggestion of another on the FT-8900, but again, it isn't quite what I am looking for.

Another poster politely suggested a Kenwood TS-2000. I had not thought of that one before, and I checked it out and it looks like it would fit my requirements nicely. It is a little more radio and more pricey than I anticipated, so I will have to think long and hard before plopping down 2 grand ($1400 for the radio, another $350 for the remote head and add in some for taxes and incidentals) unless I find a used one at a bargain. I also need to rearrange my rear storage area radio rack to make room for the box. I think the electrics I have already will accommodate the TS2000.

The remote head for the TS2000 looks just like the one for my current TM-D700A, so I might be able to at least reuse the connecting cable, making the TS2000 an easier install for me. Even if the TM-D700A head is compatible I will need it to repurpose my existing radio.

Thanks for the suggestions, and the entertaining post!

 

[N9JIG]

Icom 7000 will do it,

I had the IC7000 in hand at Dayton once and was all set to buy it when I realized how much I need the dual watch. I have grown so accustomed to that!

If the IC7000 did dual watch it would be in my truck right now!

Thanks!

 

[canav844]

I had the IC7000 in hand at Dayton once and was all set to buy it when I realized how much I need the dual watch. I have grown so accustomed to that!

If the IC7000 did dual watch it would be in my truck right now!

Thanks!

Just get two :wink: Or one ham one for talking and one receiver for half the cost just to listen with, and I'm betting there's even over the counter products available so you can make them use the same antenna. (IC7000 + RC2500 for example) I think it's something that might be worth looking at given what the TS-2000 would put you out, and you'd get a theoretical third band to listen to, but only doing 50-1200.

What are you looking to accomplish with the dual watch? If you're in the same band, I *think* there's a way to make the Flex Radio SDRs do it, but I'm not sure, I've had them demonstrated to me, never really gotten to poke around inside them.

Just some thoughts, it's not my money so it's easier to spend.:twisted:

 

[kb0nly]

In your first post you only mentioned V-U V-V U-U, you didn't mention HF as being part of the dual watch. In that case there is many dual band radios that can do this, FT-8800, FT-8900, FTM-350AR.....

But since you want HF too that messes it all up. Your better off getting a side by side dual band radio for VHF/UHF and then a seperate radio for HF. If you went with something with a remote head then you just have two remote heads up front. I know plenty of guys with a 8800 and 857 to do what your wanting.