Radio & Wheelchairs

[ThomasMcKean]

Has anyone here found a way to mount a radio to wheels? I was thinking along the lines of Baofeng or maybe a Kenwood TH-F6A.

I have made one attempt so far and failed. I tried using a standard belt holster and the balance was way off. To be expected.

 

[xxdanielt3]

Mount a radio to wheels? Wouldn't that be a little difficult seeing the wheel has to spin?

Are you in a power chair or a normal wheelchair? I'm sure we could help you come up with something.

 

[ThomasMcKean]

Mount a radio to wheels? Wouldn't that be a little difficult seeing the wheel has to spin?

Are you in a power chair or a normal wheelchair? I'm sure we could help you come up with something.

Manual. I posted a pic of what I tried to Facebook, but when I tried to upload it here, it FAILED. I know I am on the right track, just gotta figure a way to make it work. How can I upload photos?

 

[jaymatt1978]

Almost ALL electric wheelchairs companies have big warnings against using ham eqquipment near electric wheelchairs and scooters. They warn the wheelchair will malfunction when you keyup the radio Although I have use portable scanners and don't have any problems with my scooters

 

[ThomasMcKean]

They warn the wheelchair will malfunction when you keyup the radio Although I have use portable scanners and don't have any problems with my scooters

Obvious, but good to post! A lot of people miss the obvious.

What about the Lido LM 1000EXP? That looks like it has real possibilities. I am new to wheels, so I don't know? I am curious about it... The descriptions on all the sites say it works with buttons or belt clips, but the pics would indicate only buttons? How do they attach?

It looks like it may be what I want. Has anyone had any experience with it?

 

[N2AL]

Almost ALL electric wheelchairs companies have big warnings against using ham eqquipment near electric wheelchairs and scooters. They warn the wheelchair will malfunction when you keyup the radio Although I have use portable scanners and don't have any problems with my scooters

I commend you trying to run ham radio while mobile. I once QSO'd with a ham in NYC who uses a wheelchair. He found a way to run ham radio while mobile, although I am not sure how.

Regarding the electric wheelchair companies advising not to use ham radio gear while hooked to the chair, I can understand that. Even on low power while transmitting the radio draw on the battery, and the RF, would have the possibility to damage the electronics in the chair.

If I can find the call sign and contact information for the ham in NY I will send it to you in a direct message.



Andrew | N2AL
www.n4awl.com

 

[mmckenna]

How about either a Ram Mount or a PanaVise type mount?

Both make products designed to mount electronics to motorcycle handle bars, ATV's, UTV, etc. Would be pretty simple to mount something to the chair.
Not sure what your limitations are, if you need to do slide transfers involving pulling the side off, you may have to get creative. There are some "gooseneck" type mounts that might allow you to mount somewhere else other than the sides.

PanaVise Products, Inc.
RAM Mounts - Mobile Mounting Solutions for Phones, Tablets, Laptops, Camera & more

 

[N4DES]

If the tubing is circular you might want to research motorcycle/bicycle mounts as the initial attachment configuration.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

HFpack. HF Wheelchair Mobile Systems. Portable High Frequency Communication

 

[ThomasMcKean]

HFpack. HF Wheelchair Mobile Systems. Portable High Frequency Communication

Love that link. It is a bit "over the top" for what I am looking for, but I have to say I have great admiration for those guys making it work.

 

[ThomasMcKean]

How about either a Ram Mount or a PanaVise type mount?

Both make products designed to mount electronics to motorcycle handle bars, ATV's, UTV, etc. Would be pretty simple to mount something to the chair.
Not sure what your limitations are, if you need to do slide transfers involving pulling the side off, you may have to get creative. There are some "gooseneck" type mounts that might allow you to mount somewhere else other than the sides.

PanaVise Products, Inc.
RAM Mounts - Mobile Mounting Solutions for Phones, Tablets, Laptops, Camera & more

I have been looking at both the RAM mounts and the Lido LM-1000EXP. I was not aware of the PanaVise? I will check that link!

As for my "limitations," I am very fortunate. I can walk. I'll always be able to walk (I hope?). Just not very well. Muscles are kinda weak. I have fallen a few times. *bonk* Arms are stronger than legs.

 

[mmckenna]

I have been looking at both the RAM mounts and the Lido LM-1000EXP. I was not aware of the PanaVise? I will check that link!

As for my "limitations," I am very fortunate. I can walk. I'll always be able to walk (I hope?). Just not very well. Muscles are kinda weak. I have fallen a few times. *bonk* Arms are stronger than legs.

OK, that's good. I was in a wheel chair for a while after a severe illness. First an electric controlled by tilting my head, then eventually a manual. Had to learn how to do slide transfers in/out of bed. Taught me a lot about how difficult it is and how much of the world is not accessible.

I think the Ram mount might be a good choice. I know someone who uses one of those to hold a GPS unit on his ATV handle bars. Has stood up well to a lot of abuse. A lot of options, too, if you ever decide to change radios.

 

[N2AL]

Almost ALL electric wheelchairs companies have big warnings against using ham eqquipment near electric wheelchairs and scooters. They warn the wheelchair will malfunction when you keyup the radio Although I have use portable scanners and don't have any problems with my scooters

I commend you trying to run ham radio while mobile. I once QSO'd with a ham in NYC who uses a wheelchair. He found a way to run ham radio while mobile, although I am not sure how.

Regarding the electric wheelchair companies advising not to use ham radio gear while hooked to the chair, I can understand that. Even on low power while transmitting the radio draw on the battery, and the RF, would have the possibility to damage the electronics in the chair.

If I can find the call sign and contact information for the ham in NY I will send it to you in a direct message.



Andrew | N2AL
N2AL | Amateur Extra Class Operator – November Two Alpha Lima

I was able to find the ham radio operator who has experience using radio communications with wheelchairs. N2FRB is from NY and when he and I QSO'd, he spoke about using radios while wheelchair mobile. I found him online at QRZ.com where you can contact him. If you are unable to locate his contact information and need his email address, let me know.

 

[DaveNF2G]

HI tried using a standard belt holster and the balance was way off. To be expected.

I have a mental picture of what happened when Fred Flintstone tried to drive his car with bronto ribs in it.

 

[ThomasMcKean]

K I ordered both the RAM mount and the Lido mount. I will let yew guys know how it works out. If I could figure how to post pics here, I would do that as well? But I always get the upload FAILED.

 

[N4GIX]

Tom, the handiest program I've ever found for posting screenshots is puush / home

It is a tiny TSR (terminate and stay resident) utility that allows for taking and posting screenshots. For example, I push Ctrl-Shift-4 and use the 'rubber band tool' with my mouse to select the screen area I want to capture, the simply paste the link using Ctrl-V... Bang! It's done!

Best of all, it is totally FREE! :lol:

 

[aliciahelifan]

I wanted a simple box that allowed me to plug straight into all of my five wheelchairs. The easiest way to do this wasn't the cheapest. I used a thing called the Omni plus Because all of my 5 chairs use the same Penny and Giles (Now PG Drives) control systems. Namely the popular PILOT PLUS system with an oval joystick pod.So I acquired the device called an Omni plus for my Medical Equipments.

 

[SCPD]

3 wire ties..Why would it fall off?A baofeng is $25 so no loss if it falls......I doubt it will if you use enough wire ties.......You want to get fancy get a holster for the radio and then wire tie it.

 

[wrath]

I had an ICOM 7000 on my chair until just recently when I swapped it out for a Kenwood 710g, I drive an Amy systems and they have a device holder that fits right into the armrest (Co produced by RAM) it holds my tablet and control head nicely , Army's are also one of the 2 chairs made that can accommodate a third battery in the tray without being any longer or wider, no more playing radio on my mobility batteries, my radios and computers and such have there own battery ( this way I don't void the chair warranty either) the key to a good install is lots of ferrite on the control lines, I used the 7000 with a tarheels hp screwdriver antenna for HF and a diamond nr770 for 2/70. I also pack the F6A's big brother the 74a.
Wheelchairs and radio are not that big a deal .

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

 

[jonwienke]

3 wire ties..Why would it fall off?A baofeng is $25 so no loss if it falls......I doubt it will if you use enough wire ties...

And how exactly do you charge the radio battery if the radio is attached with wire ties, without cutting the wire ties?

A Ram Mount solves that issue and looks much less craptastic.