Bongo Fury

Hello Fellow Bongo users !

Not sure if there are any other amateur radio operators and bongo owners, but I'm off out tomorrow with my Bongo and QRP (low power) radio. I'll also have my handheld 2m/70cm with me as the location I'm going to is quite high up !

I done a test-run with the radio and antenna which is in the Bongo pop-up roof at home first and the setup works ! So tomorrow I get away from the 'noise' of the urban environment and head out to the Dorset countryside to (hopefully) make some contacts.

Here is my first video on using a magnetic-loop antenna in the Mazda Bongo roof and how comfy it is to operate from the Bongo with no need for wires/cables to come out of the Bongo. I think this is a unique advantage of the Mazda Bongo AFT design, in that the fibre glass roof and fabric surround provide a excellent space for an antenna whilst keeping the operator in the warm and dry.

https://youtu.be/FR3up3X8Mnc

Be happy to know of any other fellow amateur radio operators using their Bongo and sharing experiences of how it went.

Kind Regards / 73

Alan / 2E0FWE

Hi, Yes there are a few of us about with rigs in the van, not particularly active these days but I am running 2m/70cms from the van.
I have the rig mounted at the rear below the aerial and head unit cabled back to the front.

G0RMH, Haven't actually got any gear set up now and haven't been active in a long while.

Hi G8DHE and G0RMH !

Many thanks for your posts ! Hope you can get back on the air Bob, its fairly active across the radio spectrum as we (slowly) come out of the solar minimum, get quite good lift on the VHF/UHF more these days (still sporadic, but makes it more fun !)

Thats a fantastic setup you have there G8DHE ! A very neat install and a great way to get the antenna on there. The transceiver looks fantastic !

I wasnt able to make any HF qso's with the loop in the van, but am making plans to make HF operation but still using the bongo as a 'base' possible, hopefully I'll be out running low power mid-Janurary. Was glad to make some contacts on 2m and 70cm, I feel particuarly lucky to have GB3IW 'in range' - do you operate on that repeater at all g8dhe ?

I went out the following day to Whiteways which is very high (and very windy at the time !) and had a lovely time. Made a video https://youtu.be/ggELgB5i9lY and some pictures http://alz0r.stoatopic.net/a/dd35bbf4-a ... 466381c5a1 - i wasnt the only 'ham' up there

Thanks again for replying, hopefully 2022 continues to bring good conditions - i'm certianly looking forward to using my Bongo to do more /M operation !

Kind Regards / 73,
Alan / 2E0FWE

Hi Alan, Its an old IC28800H which has the video screen display which is handy as I do still have some ATV gear and involved with the video repeaters up on a Race Hill @ Brighton GB3VR/VV/RV etc. Currently more involved with the High Altitude Balloon field and tracking on https://tracker.habhub.org/
Were in the same part of the country as well as I often pass Whiteways Lodge on my travels and my son 2E1GHZ lives down in Poole now, so another place I often stop off at is Mill Hill on Portsdown https://goo.gl/maps/iJHbL8JbLFfvzkeb9 you will also be able to see me on https://aprs.fi as most of the bits are tracked! Ah ha Just spotted you on aprs.fi and the van on Google street view! You can see my van on the Satellite view but its an old image on Streetview

That is a lovely old rig ! I am learning about ATV, i'm slightly frustrated the IC9700 doesnt carry the ATV repeater outputs in the UK. I have contacted ICOM UK and they have passed this onto Japan, so who knows, hopefully its something they can unlock in a firmware update. I can see the output in the SDR, I just cant tune to it on 23cm (there is a ATV repeater in Bournemouth I was hoping to use)

Really glad to hear of another local operator, I've kept away from the local club since covid kicked in, i have to be very careful due to the XYL being very high risk (Kidney transplant recipiant), but I'm to go back when this current wave calms down.
Glad you can see me on APRS.FI - I'm playing with a UV5R and Direwolf on a Raspberry Pi. I'm only seeing the very strongest signals on the smaller Diamond X30 antenna, (picture here - but the mast wont take too much weight, the IC9700 has a D7000 tribander on it and I still have to keep the mast to 30ft as its so heavy! its on the webcam https://webtechnologies.alanknipmeyer.s ... ml/Webcam/

Will good to know when you are in town, drop us a line and always nice to have a cuppa Our garden tents go up Easter time when the better weather arrives, so lets keep fingers crossed ! (Although I will need to re-route my 80m end fed..)
I dare say you can teach me alot both about bongos and radio !
Kind Regards / 73

Alan / 2E0FWE