[TowerTalk] Toyota RF Problems (was Honda HF antennas)

[Jim Brown]

On Wed, 24 May 2006 17:39:46 +0000, Jim Jarvis wrote:

>On 20m cw, the cruise control would trip off.  

Consider yourself lucky. The computer that runs my 2006 Toyota 
Sequoia locked up when I tried to run 100 watts on 20m SSB, reducing 
my maximum speed to about 10 miles per hour (I was driving through 
the desert in eastern Nevada at the time). Luckily I was able to get 
running again by pulling the power leads off the battery, then 
restoring them, to reboot the computer.  

The HF antenna was a Hamstick mounted to the luggage rack, with the 
coax shield bonded to the body adjacent to the antenna. It radiated 
great -- when I called the first CQ that locked the computer, I had 
three guys coming back to me, and the previous day worked a lot of 
17 meters.  

The Toyota Sequoia is an RF DOG -- the body is virtually unbonded to 
itself, thanks to lots of paint between all of the hardware that 
bolts it together. Once I get settled in after a cross country move, 
I'm going to tackle a serious suppression job. I don't expect it to 
be easy!

73,
Jim Brown K9YC