Radios
Yaesu FTM-300D
Yaesu FTM-300D Photos
This radio was purchased November 27th 2021. I wanted a decent dual band radio that I can use for both mobile and as a base unit. I live in a HOA restricted area so my setup needs to be minimal and unobtrusive.
I'm running a Tram 1477-B dual band antenna on a tripod. So this setup is not a permanent solution but more a means to an end to keep myself out of trouble with HOA. I could put the antenna in my attic however, I'd have to run coax and I am not comfortable doing that here because we don't plan to live in this house much longer.
Photos of the box and packaging
Photos of the radio and power supply
Photos of the Antenna
The Tram 1477-B antenna is mounted on a heavy duty photo studio tripod. It came with everything needed to attach it to the tripod. I can raise it up to 15 feet if I wish. It works perfectly for my situation with the HOA. When I want to work the repeaters I can just take it outside and deploy it.
Yaesu FTM-300D Manual
See the attached PDF file for the Yaesu FTM-300D or you can view the manual here. Yaesu FTM-300D Manual.
Yaesu VX-8
Yaesu VX-8 Photos
I've had this Yaesu VX-8 handheld transceiver for about 7 years. It's a fantastic little HT! This charging dock is an aftermarket product I bought on Amazon.
Yaesu VX-8 Manual
See the attached PDF manual for the Yaesu VX-8. Or you can view it here. Yaesu VX-8 Manual.
Yaesu FT-5D and ZumSpot Elite 3.5
This little bugger is quite the HT! I bought this almost exclusively for working digital using a Zumspot hotspot.
Beautiful display on the Zumspot 3.5. You can see activity even when you're not connected and your radio is off.
Pi-Star on the Zumspot. I modified the CSS to dark mode so it's easier on my eyes. See how I did that here.
Pi-Star:4.1.6 / Dashboard: 20211111
Stubby Comet SMA501 antenna works fantastic for working digital on the hotspot while in the house. This allows me to put the HT on my belt without snagging it or easily slip it into my pocket. Tested on all 3 floors of the house and in the garage with no issues and a very good 0.2 to 0.3 BER!
My little stubby holding the HT with the stubby 😀
Quick video demo of the HT and Zumspot. VERY simple to setup.