Yaesu FRG-7 Used Mobile?

[NMC_EXP]

Does anyone have experience with a vehicle mounted Yaesu FRG-7 receiver?

Specifically, if placed on a GI radio shock mount is this radio durable enough for mobile use?

A HAM license is on my to-do list. Until then a receiver will do.

Thanks

Jim

 

[southdave]

I s that russian unit?

 

[Irv]

The Yaesu FRG-7 has an analog VFO, as I recall. Hence, it will jiggle and wander in freq unless there is a dial lock, which I doubt. Might sound funny on rough roads too, if you're listening to ssb and the VFO coils are jiggling around. It also lacks an effective noise blanker. It might have a noise limiter, but they aren't worth much. Ignition and/or alternator whine might be an issue, too. Is your vehicle a diesel? If so, forget what I said about ignition noise. Irv

 

[NMC_EXP]

The Yaesu FRG-7 has an analog VFO, as I recall. Hence, it will jiggle and wander in freq unless there is a dial lock, which I doubt. Might sound funny on rough roads too, if you're listening to ssb and the VFO coils are jiggling around. It also lacks an effective noise blanker. It might have a noise limiter, but they aren't worth much. Ignition and/or alternator whine might be an issue, too. Is your vehicle a diesel? If so, forget what I said about ignition noise. Irv

Irv

Thanks for the input.

The unit does not have a mechanical lock on the tuner so I'm sure you're right - it would drift while the vehicle was moving.

I have the receiver. I have an M1009. The M1009 has this large, empty radio shelf and an empty antenna bracket.....

I wonder how effective the military anti-vibration radio mounts are. The M1009 CUCV rides well but I'd hate to shake this unit apart.

Regards

Jim

 

[NMC_EXP]

I s that russian unit?

Sounds Russkie but its Japanese.

From Wikipedia:

FRG-7 is the designation given to a HF communications receiver designed and built by Yaesu of Japan in the late 1970s.

Popularly known as the 'Frog Seven', it was one of the first commercial SWL receivers to utilise a triple-conversion superhet circuit with the 'Wadley Loop' system - although such an architecture had been seen in earlier tube radios manufactured for government use, most notably in the Racal RA-17L.

Owing to its 'Wadley Loop' circuitry, the FRG-7 has outstanding frequency stability and proved vastly superior to most other comparable radios of that time.

It has a frequency coverage of 500 kHz to 29.99 MHz. It is analogue tuned and it may be powered by D batteries or from mains electricity.

The earlier FRG-7 that appeared in Europe were marketed under the Sommerkamp brand.

The Yaesu FRG-7 receiver has a large following of enthusiastic owners with many sets still in daily use worldwide.

Regards

Jim

 

[n1bnc]

If you are intent on using the radio in the truck it might be a good idea to wrap it in a foam blanket and then strap the unit down on the mount. A preselector/preamp will help when it comes to shortwave listening on the external whip.

Hurry up and get a license and then look for one of those DC to daylight radios such as the icom 706mk 2, IC 7000, or a yaesu ft857, which I have and have used in a base environment for a while. They cover most of the bands and get you on with reasonable power. They also have the benefit of shortwave coverage between the ham bands...

 

[NMC_EXP]

Thanks for the input and please define "DC to daylight radios".

Regards

Jim

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

I liked mine when I had one but wouldn't think of hard-mounting it in my M1009 even if I'd wrapped it in a few feet of cotton wool much less a mil-style shock mount. The original designers pictured you spending your money on a nice receiver with nice styling that would easily withstand the rigors of sitting on a desk for 20 years but that was about it, IMO. My RT-524 moves around like it's strapped to a paint-shaker when I'm out on logging roads (or worse), and picturing anything I've seen made by Yaesu in that environment...oi.

 

[NMC_EXP]

I liked mine when I had one but wouldn't think of hard-mounting it in my M1009 even if I'd wrapped it in a few feet of cotton wool much less a mil-style shock mount. The original designers pictured you spending your money on a nice receiver with nice styling that would easily withstand the rigors of sitting on a desk for 20 years but that was about it, IMO. My RT-524 moves around like it's strapped to a paint-shaker when I'm out on logging roads (or worse), and picturing anything I've seen made by Yaesu in that environment...oi.

The FRG-7 is set up for 12V so I hoped it was built to handle some vibes.

Probably a bad idea...sigh.

I'll get a license and purpose built mobile unit someday.

Thanks

Jim

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

The FRG-7 is set up for 12V so I hoped it was built to handle some vibes.

Jim

Yes, it has the 12V jack, but you can also picture the Yaesu glossy brochure from 1977 showing a guy on top of a mountain staring out at the sunset with the Yaesu sitting on the hood of his brand-new Dodge Ramcharger hooked up to the cigarette lighter. A lot of Radio Shack stuff had 12V plugins too, and I was afraid to even toss that stuff in my ruck.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Yes, it has the 12V jack, but you can also picture the Yaesu glossy brochure from 1977 showing a guy on top of a mountain staring out at the sunset with the Yaesu sitting on the hood of his brand-new Dodge Ramcharger hooked up to the cigarette lighter. A lot of Radio Shack stuff had 12V plugins too, and I was afraid to even toss that stuff in my ruck.

<bleep> marketing weasels.