$25,000 of Communications Gear In a $500 Car

In perhaps one of the finest displays of technological excess in automotive communications gear, one "enthusiast" has managed to cram over $25,000 worth of gear into a $500 car. The car is rigged for just about every conceivable communications band including FM, UHF, VHF, HF, and WTF. What other amazing displays of technological excess have others seen? "The equipment seems to cover an amazing array of technologies, many of which seem to be redundant. For instance, just how many handheld 144 MHz radios do you need? It seems like the owner of the Ham Car is capable of listening to every police/fire/ems/military channel in the world. Simultaneously. There's a laptop and we assume there's some form of cellular or satellite communication setup for that, too."

Comments

Can it be driven?

[icebike]

There is no leg room in the drivers side.

There is windshield obstruction illegal in most states.

The power requirements would probably exceed engine capacity.

So, question: Can it actually be driven, or is it a joke, sort of a flea-market grave yard for broken gear?

Re:Can it be driven?

[Falc0n]

Oh its no joke. You really haven't been to an Amateur Radio meetup before... ;-)
Hams make the Slashdot community look normal!
73
-KF7FJM

Bigger Com/Car ratio

[Anonymous Coward]

I think this might have a bigger Com/Car value ratio.

2009 Hamvention:
http://scottrharris.blogspot.com/2009/12/bad-reception.html

Less antennas:
http://wa0kgu.110mb.com/

hamsexy!

[foog]

Lots of that kind of amusement at http://www.hamsexy.com/

Re:hamsexy!

[kent_eh]

I thought it looked familiar.
They refer to this type of car as a porcupine.

and yes, other hams laugh at the guys who do this too.

Re:Obligatory...

[JWSmythe]

    Really....

    What does he expect he's going to do with that? Not drive it. I'm pretty sure he's exceeded the carrying capacity of it. He doesn't have room to get his legs in to work the pedals. There's too much equipment too close to the steering wheel to be able to drive safely.

    and.....

    There's no way he's running that much gear simultaneously on the available power in that vehicle. I counted at least 50 distinct pieces of equipment. I'm pretty sure that's a 1988 Dodge Colt, so it should have something like a 75A 12V alternator on it. That'd give 1.5A per unit average, not including incidentals like running the engine and lights.

    I'm fairly confident that a lot of that stuff could be reduced down to one handheld transceiver. I'm pretty sure there are two or three regular CB radios in there too.

    It looks like he went to every junk sale he could, and strapped anything resembling a radio into his car. For example, the VOM and LCD TV on the drivers door, and the gold-like plated PA microphone on the passenger door.

    If he did run it all, *and* he didn't kill off his battery and alternator, he still wouldn't be able to figure out what any of the noise coming in was. It would be so much chatter, that it would be white noise. ... and I thought I had a lot of gear, with a roll cage, fire extinguisher, stereo equalizer, CB, and radar detector. :) At least I could sit in my car without damaging myself.

Re:That's a lot of rigs dude!

[AK Marc]

Protip: Don't join emergency medical services because you like the shiny gadgets, or the ability to run lights and sirens, either in an emergency vehicle or a private one. I don't want you responding when I call 911.

I know a lot of guys that joined volunteer fire departments for that reason. Sure, they weren't the best at putting the fires out, but if you needed someone to share a beer with watching your life burn, they'd get there quick.

free conversion van + tech

[CAIMLAS]

Well, I got a free E350 conversion van (with the raised roof) a while back in pretty good condition (good interior, no frame rust, minimal body rust). So I put a diesel engine in it (Cumins 4BT) with a second electrical (alternator + batteries) in the 'free' engine compartment space. (Then, I got some new tires. Oy those are getting pricey.) A full-size diesel van for about $3500 investment which gets around 32mpg average (highway/town)? Not bad!

And I then geeked the hell out of it. Shortwave radio with remote-operable antenna which is mounted in the driver's area next to the CB. Radar jammer.

There's a 17" LCD in the overhead area with a decent sound system, connected to a BeagleBoard. Plugged into the BB is a Wii for the kids. The BB is running QTembedded.

I also replaced the dashboard CD player (not a bad model) with a hacked up FriendlyARM 7" touchscreen computer. The FriendlyARM controls all accessories now, as well as the rear-view bumper webcams and the controls for the antenna. It's got 802.11b/g connectivity and (and a 3G GSM modem, which I've yet to get working - and have no decent local service for).

Total 'investment' is under $5k, I'd guess. I'm thinking of installing solar panels on the roof to trickle charge the accessories battery, but I've got to find some good/cheap ones. I'll probably be putting one of those Humvee heaters in it, or maybe a multifuel milsurp (vented) space heater, since we've got long winters here.

I should take pictures.