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| The RV Radio Network (RVRN) is an ARRL affiliated association of Amateur Radio Operators who share an interest Recreational Vehicles. Watch this website for information about rallies, hamfests, radio nets, and other activities of interest to the members of our club. | RVRN now has ham radio nets for every class of license, and even one net that does not require an FCC license. The list of club sponsored nets is below and a large list of RV/Ham nets is available by clicking the "RV/Travel Nets" button on the menu bar at the top of most pages. | Net Control Operators KK4WP, KA2HPG, N0ROB, W8TJT, N3YRZ, W9WRM, WA5FFL, K7SWS, N5IL, K4HM, KI6HOB, W1IK, & KC9OO want to talk to you. If you would like to help us as an NCO or Relay station please contact our Communications Manager Fred, KA2HPG. |
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Latest Bulletin Board Posts
Posted by KK4WP - 7-13-2026 _ 9:50 PM CDT Jan, first of all, that's a heck of Sable Antelope. Congratulations. RFI is no joke and can play havoc on your radio gear. But, setting off the alarm, that's funny. My wife has one of those fancy touch to turn on/off kitchen faucets. The water only runs if the valve is in the on position. Sometimes, when on a certain portion of the 20-meter band, I make the faucet click on and off. Not a big deal if the water is off. One day while she was cooking, I kept turning the water on and off. You know I heard about that one. Now she keeps the water off (lol). I've tried to remedy the RFI but, to no avail. Palomar-Engineers.com offer some great RFI solutions and often radio specific. Jose, KK4WP Posted by KK4WP - 7-13-2026 _ 9:08 PM CDT Good evening, Dennis. Sorry to hear about the fire and sure glad that no one was hurt and sorry about the loss of their dog. Also, glad to hear other RV'rs helped them out. I was the person that posted that things happen in threes. An RV fire and total loss is for sure the big one. I don't have any personal experience with your equipment mounting solution but, I know where there is will, there is a way. Good luck and safe travels. Jose, KK4WP Posted by N9WDQ - 7-8-2026 _ 12:34 AM CDT We have found a replacement rig but I am curious. Forthose of you who have their stations in the rig - do you leave it set up and if so, how do you secure it .Our new rig has a desk and I would like to possibly have both the radio and computer there permanently. Just not sure ofthe best method of securing them from the jostling and bouncing of travel. TX for hints, etc Posted by N9WDQ - 7-8-2026 _ 12:31 AM CDT Someone recently commented on how things come in 3's. Well, we just had a big number 1. As some of you know, we are a Boondockers Welcome host site. Recently one of our guests, two sisters, living and travelling full time in their class A had some serious misfortune that also involved us. Their rig burned completely. They lost everything and one of their dogs ( a very sweet girl ). The fire also totalled our travel trailer due to heat damage. Fortunately neither the propane or gas tank exploded. Also, we discovered that we have some very special neighbors who jumped in to help the gals. Just remember to always secure your rig when you leave it. AND make sure that you have good insurance. Posted by N5IL - 6-18-2026 _ 3:47 PM CDT Do we have any NASCAR fans in the RVRN? Talladega in late Oct might be a great place for tailgate dogs and beer. Just thinking. Posted by N5IL - 6-16-2026 _ 9:34 AM CDT *******Rally appreciation ****** Anyone using PayPal to pay for a rally be sure to check the box for payment to FRIENDS and FAMILY , otherwise PayPal will charge a fee for the transaction. Posted by WA8JAN - 5-27-2026 _ 2:51 PM CDT Sorry to hear about the front end on your 991 Jose. Curious as to what happened. Bit I am also very curious about RF and the remote door lock and security on many rigs. I have a Class A diesel pusher and one time while parked I was using my 710 and a portable vertical attached to the picnic table with meandering radials. I am fairly certain I was on 40 meters and I keyed the mic and the alarm went off. Honestly I don't know if the alarm was RFI or not... but I remain curious. I want to mount a Tarheel up top with one the motorized up/down fixtures. But before I spend that kind of money I want to eliminate the possibility of RFI on my bus electronics. Any ideas from anyone? WA8JAN Posted by KK4WP - 5-25-2026 _ 2:28 PM CDT You know how some say that bad things happen in threes? Well, they do. Our microwave took a dive, the truck is going to Ford for a new transmission and the FT991’s front end took a hit. But, the good news is that we’re getting a new microwave, new transmission and a new IC-7300 MK2. Well, I’m getting a new IC-7300. lol There’s always a bright side of things. Posted by N5IL - 5-20-2026 _ 1:25 PM CDT The Spring Rally in Florence In. was really great supported by W1IK , Jim and his audio and video systems. Thanks Jim. Posted by N5IL - 5-20-2026 _ 1:18 PM CDT We really enjoyed the Spring Rally hosted by Tim and Jo Anne Fox. If you couldn’t be there sorry we missed you. They are already planning a repeat event next year. On a different note, when prepaying for the Fall rally by PayPal be sure to mark the payment for friends and family to prevent fees for the host. Posted by N5IL - 4-24-2026 _ 1:03 PM CDT On my recent trip to East Texas we noticed unique town names such as Point Blank Tx. where I ducked and didn’t stop anywhere. Or Soso Ms. didn’t think I would find anything there either. So I’m asking you all to take note of any unique or unusual town names and email them to me. I know it’s easy to look the names online but I it will mean more if you actually travel through the town. Email: hbell2209@gmail.com I hope this can become an article in the RVRN newsletter. Posted by KK4WP - 4-19-2026 _ 7:43 PM CDT Thank you WILLIAM, N8SA... Will listed on the special edition. Jose KK4WP Posted by N8SA - 4-14-2026 _ 10:50 AM CDT This is motorhome antenna I have used for several years with great success. I use a 33 ft fiberglass push up pole. The one I use is no longer available, but I have found several suppliers of the fiberglass pole. There are also some that have the wire inside, which is very convenient. It is attached to an auto tuner at the base of the antenna. The tuner ground is connected to the motorhome frame. I attach the tuner and the pole to the back ladder with a Buddy Bracket These are for holding flag poles to the ladder, but lots of hams use them for verticals. You could e (continued on the Members Only page.) |
RVRN NETS
40m Nightly Net: Sun - Fri 7 PM CT 7.264 Mhz +/- 10Mhz "Congratulations to Jim Wikstrom W1IK who was chosen as our RV Radio Network Spirit on the net recipient for the 1st quarter of 2026!"  CLUB AWARDS Information Click here
UPCOMING EVENTS
 RVRN Video Net on Tuesday July 14 special program from Karin Thompson KD4DXX on Amateur Radio Programming from RT Systems. Join the Zoom meeting by clicking HERE Tuesday 9pm ET, 8pm CT, 7pm MT & 6pm PT  FALL RALLY 2026 Unhitched/Milton,  QUARTZFEST 2027 January 17 - 23, 2027  HAMCATION 2027 February 12 - 14, 2027 Ask the RVRN Tech Guy HERE (we are back after fixing some interference) (7/14/25) Why does my power level keep dropping?.
Hello, I have a question for RVRN. I have a Yaesu FTM 400 which I really like it, but I am having an issue. When I key up on full power, the radio automatically drops back to medium power level and I’m not sure what’s happening?
Thank you very much for your question. This is interesting and it could be caused by two issues, one or the other. I would first check and be sure that your power supply is maintaining it’s full voltage on transmit. If there is a loose or poor connection anywhere in the DC powerline it could starve the radio from sufficient power. Another possibility is you may have a High SWR from your antenna or coax run and the radio could be protecting itself from this poor SWR and reducing power from the radio. Check your power line connections, and your antenna and you’ll likely find the problem. Hope this helps you. Tim K5TGS Best Regards (7/11/25) Jan asked about RF setting of his alarm.
Strange happening!
I have a 2015 Entegra Aspire and while setup in our site I had my FT-710 connected to an MP1 Super Antenna that was mounted on the picnic table that was about 25 feet from the front of the bus. Fairly certain I was operating on 40 meters and probably using 100 watts. What happened was... my coach alarm got activated. So... could it have been activated by the RF I was radiating? I don't know the frequency used for the remotes... but I have been troubled with this for some time... considering I would like to operate while mobile (using an ATAS-120A). Hi Jan Thank you for the question here! This is interesting and could be caused by a few issues. First, you are rather close to the coach and are likely to have interference created by what is called the near-field radiation from the antenna. This energy can create havoc on nearby electronics. Second, if you do not have a low SWR you could also have energy coming back down the coax braid, which will radiate energy in close by electronics. If you are able, I would first try a different antenna location relative to the coach. Putting the antenna at a greater distance should help out . Also, get access to a Nano VNA or antenna analyzer to check your SWR on 40M. Hope this helps you! Tim K5TGS (11/14) Should I solder or crimp my PL-259 connectors?.
Excellent question. Times have dramatically changed in this area over the past decade for good reason. Many of us have issues soldering the barrel onto the outside braid without melting the internal insulation. Crimping has the advantage of providing a very good electrical connection without harming the integrity of the coax. The disadvantage of crimping however is that there is a cost to purchase a quality crimping set.
An alternative for many, including me, is to purchase pre-cut assemblies with the connectors professionally installed. Most of the ham radio retailers sell these assemblies in many different lengths. Best Regards (11/12) Can I use the TV wiring in my RV for my HF antenna.
Is it possible to use the pre-wired satellite connection on my RV as a entry point to connect my external HF antenna to my station inside? The RV is wired with F-type connectors on (presumably) 75 ohm wire and runs parallel with the pre-wired cable TV connector.
Thank you very much for contacting RVRN with your question. If I understand your question you would like to use your satellite 75 ohm coax for your HF antenna. Without knowing the electrical characteristics of your coax it is difficult to say. I am not worried about the 75 ohm impedance but question the power rating. If you can, find the cable number and look up on the internet to confirm both the impedance and power rating. There are F connector adapters to be able to use the standard PL-259 connector. Tim K5TGS (11/9) Larry asks about grounding for his antenna.
I'm trying to install a HAM radio in my 40' Class-A motorhome. It's skinned entirely with fiberglass. I think I have found a mirror antenna mount for the antenna. My concern is about the ground plane requirement to make antenna work. If I can get it to work and install the antenna on the mirror, will that connection to the entire frame of the motorcoach act as the ground plane and give me good coms?
Hello Larry, Thank you for reaching out to RVRN with your question! Yes, if there is an electrical connection to the frame that can be a big help. One drawback could be the HF antenna size and drag on the mirror while driving. I suggest you get access to an antenna analyzer and check the SWR for this setup as you may need a tuner. An alternate setup RVers use is the hitch on the back of the coach with a mast going upward. Either setup will need to be tested for actual performance as each is a bit of a compromise. Let us know how it goes. Tim K5TGS (11/4) Gary asks about voltage and current phase.
Gary asks: Will a non-resonant vertical antenna with a set tuner at its feed point have the voltage and current at its feed point in phase? No lengthy discussion please: only yes, no, or I don't know.
Gary, This is a good question. If your tuner can tune the non-resonant antenna to 1:1 it will be purely resistive, and voltage and current are in phase. Tim K5TGS (9/30) Randy asks about the pre-wired coax cables in an RV
Randy asks: Looking for an answer on whether it is possible to use the pre wired coax cables in a Rv, for the tv, as a means to connect your antenna and base unit. I don’t have a unit in my camper yet but was wanting to eliminate any drilled holes through the camper floors or walls.
Hello Randy, This is an excellent question. I suppose the most typical impedance of TV coax is 75 ohms. This will introduce a little bit higher SWR for you but certainly something you can work with. Theoretically, this mismatch should only introduce an SWR of 1.5 to 1. Depending on your antenna, it may be useful to have a tuner to compensate for the slight mismatch. In fact, many hams do use 75 ohm coax because it is so much cheaper. The only other consideration would be the power level if you are using an amplifier. If so, I would look up the actual specs for your coax to make sure you don’t exceed the power rating. Best Regards (9/2) Jeff asks what antenna analyzer to use
This question comes to us from Jeff in Ohio. I am considering buying an antenna analyzer, but they seem very expensive. One option I did come across is the nano VNA. These seem to have the same functions but are far less expensive. What do you think?
Well, Jeff, you have this down correctly. The nano VNA’s are, in general, less expensive, and in fact, will do much more. With the improvement in technology, the nano VNA has become a great option for many hams. They are very flexible and have enormous capability. The major drawback I have found is that unless a ham is very technically inclined, the learning curve is very steep and many hams get frustrated trying to figure out how the VNA works. I would first recommend watching several YouTube’s about the nano VNA. Many of these are well done, and will give you great insight into the complexity of the VNA. The ARRL also has some very good publications about the VNA so check that out as well. If you feel comfortable, then you might invest in a VNA and get used to its capability. Best Regards (12/11) Do I need an Isolator/choke for my inverted VEE?
Jeff from North Carolina asks, what is an Isolator/choke and do I need to use one with my center fed inverted VEE dipole?
Jeff, this is a very good question and one I often get asked. The short answer is, perhaps. I tend to not add or use things in the hobby that aren’t really needed. Now, an isolator or 1:1 balun is useful when we have an issue with SWR or noise interference in the shack. This can occur when we have common mode currents coming back down the outside braid of the coax, which can radiate interference into our shack and home. Generally a center fed dipole has a feed point impedance in the area of 50 ohms so common currents are not an issue. However, there are installations that have external factors effecting one’s antenna. I have had dipoles up for years without the need for a choke balun but not all hams are as fortunate. When there are currents coming back down the coax and causing issues in the shack a choke is called for. They provide a very high impedance path for the coax braid and will eliminate the currents. Many manufacturers make these and are available on their websites. A quick note on the ugly balun, the homemade version constructed with several turns of coax. While these may be effective they tend to have a very high Q and thus suffer from bandwidth issues. Better to get a commercial brand and solve the issue. Tim K5TGS Best Regards (12/13) Elliot asks about HT replacement antennas.?
Elliot from California asks, I see company’s like Comet and Diamond sell many HT replacement antennas. Is this a good idea to replace a stock antenna?
Elliot, I tend to stay away from these unless I have a broken or lost HT antenna. I don’t see much advantage, for the cost, to replace the original one. First, the stock antenna has been designed along with the radio so there is a good electrical and mechanical match for the radio. The bigger reason I do not go with these is often the base of the replacement antenna does not seat completely down on the radio case which places a lot of stress on the SMA connector and the circuit board inside the radio. This could also permit moisture to enter the radio. However, these replacement antennas are popular and have good sales, so you decide for yourself. Best Regards FCC Topics of interestFCC to Require 2FA for CORES Users March 22, 2024
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced an upcoming change to the Commission Registration System (CORES) that licensees use to pay any application or regulatory fees, manage or reset a password on an existing FRN, or request a new FRN. Beginning March 29, 2024, multifactor authentication will be implemented. Users will be prompted to request a six-digit secondary verification code, which will be sent to the email address(es) associated with each username. The user will then need to enter the code into CORES before they can continue.
In a public notice, the FCC said this change will make the system more secure. "This additional layer of security will further safeguard against unauthorized access, thereby enhancing the overall integrity of information contained within the CORES system and improving the security of user data," it read. The FCC recommends that users confirm they have access to their username account email and to add a secondary email address, if need be. Resources are available for those who need assistance with the system. For inquiries or assistance regarding the implementation of multifactor authentication on CORES, submit a help request at https://www.fcc.gov/wtbhelp, or call the FCC at 877-480-3201 (Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM ET). Source: ARRL News 03/22/2024 Bandwidth Limits Replace Symbol Rates 12/08/2023
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published new rules adopted last month that replace the symbol rate restrictions on the HF bands with a bandwidth limit of 2.8 kHz. The new rules go into effect January 8, 2024.
The bands and band segments affected by the rules change are those authorized for data transmission between 160 and 10 meters, exclusive of 60 meters (where no change was made). Source: ARRL NEWS 12/08/2023 $35 Amateur Application Fee Effective April 19,2022
Source: arrl.org/fcc-application-fee
The FCC released a Public Notice on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on April 19, 2022. The Federal Communications Commission's authority to impose and collect fees is mandated by Congress. The $35 application fee, when it becomes effective on April 19, will apply to new, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. The fee will be per application. Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, will be exempt from fees. Read full story at arrl.org/fcc-application-fee FRN required on Appplications effective 5/20/2021
Amateur Radio Applications may no longer use your Social Security Number. As of May 20,2021 the application must include the applicants FRN number for submission. This means you must register with the FCC and get your FRN before your application can be submitted.
The FCC has provided a CORES Registration Vdeo describing the process of registering with the FCC and obtaining your FRN. New RF Exposure Rules Effective on May 3, 2021
4/12/2021
The FCC has announced that rule changes detailed in a lengthy 2019 Report and Order governing RF exposure standards go into effect on May 3, 2021. The new rules do not change existing RF exposure (RFE) limits but do require that stations in all services, including amateur radio, be evaluated against existing limits, unless they are exempted.
Ref: ARRL News (News article contains important information and useful references.) Note: Here are some links to RF Exposure information that may be of use: ARRL RF Exposure ARRL's coverage of this subject. RF Exposure and You ARRL Pdf by Ed Hare, W1RF, ARRL Lab Supervisor RF Exposure Calculator v2.2 (2021-05-07) by Paul Evans, VP9KF , Hintlink Technology. RF Exposure Calculator from Lake Wasington Ham Club RF Exposure Calculator Spreadseet" From Ham Radio School | |