Mobile Hamming #2

Grounding straps can be as confusing as ground radials at times. I have yet to have a day off in order to dedicate time to installing this pieces of copper braid on the truck, but have intentions of starting tomorrow. I continue to search for information from other ATAS-120A users, hams on the FT-857D Yahoo Group as well as K0BG.com. Luck being what it is I have 1? copper braid at home I picked up at HRO a few months back. Not all of was used, so I should be able to construct a few ground straps. I have been looking for pre-made straps, but damn, they are expensive. I should have gone to HRO today and picked up some half inch braid, but decided against it. For the most part the 1? braid should work, but I would like thinner straps on the hood and the doors.

I continue to tune around 20M while driving in over the engine noise, which I expected. Still have not made any contacts and I receive a HIGH SWR reading when I tune 20M. Most of this I am not worried about at this point and assume once the ground straps are installed I should have better SWR.

I was able to hear K4T (NA-079) today on 17M, but I did not even try to work them. I also hear a few nets where some operators had booming signals yet others could not be heard. With any luck I will make a few QSOs tomorrow after a few straps are installed.