This is why I run 10 watts mobile with the KX2 or KX3 :) Last time I tried
this, using 10 W into a Hustler 40-m whip, I worked JA1NUT on CW and had no
trouble checking into a statewide net on SSB. Also had quite a few SSB QSOs on
17 m.
So if you find all this excellent information about mobile/QRO overwhelming,
try mobile/QRP.
Wayne
N6KR
http://www.elecraft.com
> On Apr 15, 2017, at 8:55 AM, Colin Brench via Elecraft
> wrote:
>
> Greetings to all,
> I thought I would start a separate thread to expand this topic is a slightly
> different direction as this topic touches on a number of areas.
> The exposure discussion is very valid especially in today's vehicles that
> often contain composites rather than metal panels, but I will leave this to
> others. My expertise is in EMI control and so I can provide some background
> to how unexpected things happen.
> The DC issues are clear - you need to provide enough power cleanly to an
> inverter. Well over 100 Amps peak with acceptable drop. This is all very
> low resistance but not necessarily low impedance at the high frequencies
> being used. So some serious EMI filtering may be needed to keep things
> stable.
> RF fields around the antenna will be high and most mobile antennas have a low
> input impedance. To fully understand EMI risk you need to understand where
> the RF current will go, and simply put you need to consider the antenna as
> every conductor in the vicinity of the actual radiator. The one rule of
> antennas is that current goes to zero/reflect back from an end. This is how
> NEC works - it solves for the current distribution over the entire structure
> be it a dipole or frigate, these currents are then used to calculate the
> antenna effect. Now for a vehicle the antenna and car body are the most
> obvious conductors to consider and may be OK for the antenna analysis.
> However, considering all conductors is essential for EMI analysis, so add in
> all the cables, door slots (well insulated breaks in the 'Faraday cage'), all
> other antennas, engine and mounts ground straps etc. Picking which can be
> ignored in a given situation requires serious expertise.
> For QRO operation these directly induced currents are very critical.
> Unwanted high current on any electronically controlled function can have
> unexpected and potentially unpleasant results. The addition of the ham
> antenna, DC wiring, other control wires combined with the possible positions
> for each part of the system may drastically change the results of the system
> analysis performed by the vehicle designers. So caution is certainly called
> for.
> EMI testing has a number of aspects, using a radiated field of 200V/m is one
> typical test for remote EMI risks. Direct current injection is used to
> simulate near effects such as cells phones of an on-board transceiver of
> 'moderate' power. If you can find out how the vehicle you have was tested,
> then it is possible to get an idea of how much risk there might be (using NEC
> to guesstimate the induced currents on each band). this is not easy
> Today's vehicles have so many safety critical electronic circuits that
> manufacturers do go to extremes to keep everything bullet proof, but 1kW to a
> (by necessity poor) antenna is most likely outside their considerations. EMI
> issues won't show all the time, as effects can interact, there is a stream of
> data being passed at all times and upsetting some data patterns can be easier
> than others. Because of this testing takes a long time to get a high
> confidence that vehicle performance is reliable or at least will fail to a
> safe mode
> OK. all said what is practical here? First I would consider how much power I
> really want to use as the problems grow rapidly with higher power. Seek the
> advice of someone familiar with both QRO operation and your specific vehicle
> if possible (as was done on this list). Be cautious and aware of the vehicle
> behavior until you are sure all is well. I would happily run a 1kW in my
> 1969 vehicle, but would be extremely cautious abut that in my 2015 minivan!
> Though ensuring good general RF design consideration I would not worry about
> 100W in the minivan, maybe 200W, after that I would be in caution zone.
> A call to the vehicle manufacturer might shed light on what they consider
> reasonable or possible (though they might just say don't do that :-/ )
> Very 73,
> Colin.. WDJR
>
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