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Talk-In radio:


I'm using a Juentai JT-6188 Mini I got at a hamfest as a talk-in radio. It's a bit of an odd radio, originally
purchased to install in the lid of a battery box as a go-box. It's dual band, dual VFO, and pretty rugged, and it
was only $60 new in box, great deal. I've programmed in simplex and several of the local repeaters.

I went with an extendable "window cleaner" pole for the antenna mast. It's an aluminum pole with latches on
three extensions, and has a height that can range from 8-24 feet. At the top it has a locking connector, designed
for quick-connection of a variety of attachments. I got a sponge/squeegee attachment and cut off the end, leaving
just the quick-connect, to which I hose-clamped a short dual-band fiberglass antenna. This makes the antenna
very quick and easy to set up - I just press on and lock the antenna to the end, extend the pole as tall as I want
it, and lean it up against a nearby support. I just lean it against whatever is available, sometimes using a bungie
cord to secure it down if it's windy.

Lastly, I got two 25ft lengths of LMR-240 "superflex", which is UHF-rated coax that's about as thick as RG-8X
but only slightly less flexible. I've added UHF/BNC adapters on the radio and antenna, and the coax is BNC.
So the whole setup is very quick to set up and take down, with no tools required.



Juentai JT-6188 Mini (in Juentai)


KMR-240 BNC (25ft for $24)


LMR-240 Ultraflex BNC (25ft for $58)


Unger 24 ft Aluminum Telescoping Pole ($54 at Home Depot)


2023.06.24 14.48.46 talk-in antenna:


2024.06.22 12.05.28 talk-in antenna:



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