Amateur radio installation trolling for ideas

[north]

Sure would like to hear from any hams that have installed radios and antennas on their camper, truck, or are using portable antennas, about their installations. I am just about to start installing an Icom 706miig hf and vhf rig. Also would be interested in hearing about any RFI or interference problems. I tried to find the "quitest" solar controller and put a switch on it so I can shut it off when operating, ditto for the Dometic AC/DC fridge which is really noisy. A bit worrying is the prospect of RFI getting into the camper or truck electrical systems. Anyone have experience with this?

 

[brianjwilson]

I haven't installed my dual band mobile rig, but tried using a HT in or near the camper. Any time the dometic fridge came on it broke squelch.

My dad was working HF about 50 feet away, and my fridge caused all kinds of noisie for him too. I don't know if my solar controller contributed at all on the HF side, most of the noise was just when the compressor fridge was on.

On another forum, a few guys had the same complaints about their ARB fridges and their mobile rigs. They were trying all kinds of things but I haven't checked in a while to see if they ever succeeded in quieting them down.

 

[craig333]

I don't know why there is so much variation. I don't have rfi issues with my installation. I even took my HT and waved it around my electrical devices and never broke squelch.

 

[north]

A while back, I called Dometic several times and we tried connecting up the fridge several ways, AC, separate battery, etc. I tried snap on ferrite cores, the half dozen I had. I don't know what mix. Nothing helped. It sounds like random CW at regular intervals up and down the spectrum, lots of harmonics. They sent me out a DC only power supply that they said might help as it was shielded somewhat. However I have to pull the fridge and then I loose some charging capacity running on 120v. In the end I just put a switch on the fridge.

I really appreciate comments regarding this, RFI and installation suggestions, antenna locations etc. Thank you all for the comments so far.

 

[K6ON]

I'm lucky and have a diesel powered truck so no problem with ignition noise. When the camper is on the truck, my HF antenna is mounted on the front of the truck, and when camper is off, it goes to the rear. The VHF/UHF antenna is permanently mounted on the left front fender. I run a full KW in the truck on HF and have no problems with RF getting into the truck electrical system. It's all about having the VSWR low and getting all the RF into the antenna. Look me up on QRZ.com for a complete description and pictures of the mobile install. My fridge is a Engel 45 two-way compressor fridge that does not generate any noise, nor does my solar controller. My only noise issue is with the LED lighting in the camper. It's so bad, I can't use a handi-talkie while in the camper. It only effects the VHF spectrum, UHF and HF are not bothered. The noise is very local as it doesn't effect the rig in the truck with the antennas on the front. If you have any questions, or if I can be any help, PM me.

K6ON