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Re: MTT4BT Installation on ATV/Motorcycle
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Okay, It's a little early here in California, but I am a little unclear on the install concept. Is the plan to use the non-waterproof Byonics cable's mini-din connector? outside the waterproof ( There is no such thing of course) enclosure? So the general idea is that you want a waterproof chassis mount din on the box, with the also-not-waterproof DB-9 connector and not-waterproof-at-all Anderson PowerPole connectors also outside the enclosure??
Any chance the GPS? would have a view of the sky if left inside the enclosure? This would mean that you would only need to bring DC power and and the RF out of the box through waterproof connectors. The GPS will generally provide good position reports even in really horrible locations. I frequently test them on the floor boards of my car. They just take a little longer to acquire a valid position after power-up. The trunk of a car is not a good place, but I have even installed these under dashboards with good results.?
Mini-DIN's are not ideal for mobile installations, although they are however used in car audio and other electronic gear all the time. Their chief fault is that they are not capable of handling a great number of operation-cycles ( Plug-unplug-repeat) Their spring tension will fatigue with a lot of cycles and they get loose and occasionally intermittent. Using Zip ties to hold them in place often creates an off-axis stress that prematurely fatigues the springiness of the interference fit.?
The main problem I see in motorcycle and other light vehicle installations comes from the problems associated with compromise antennas. The MTT4BT will tolerate a lot of "badness" ( There is more to RF antenna badness than just SWR!) with compromise antennas. Rubber duck antennas ( Which any RF engineer and scientist will tell you are the work of Satan) will just not work at all, and will probably smoke your MTT4BT's power amp or worse. The higher power MTT4BT-40 internally weighs a couple ounces. The Mass of a motorcycle will not provide enough of a counterpoise to load the antenna unless you really go "Whole Hog" ( See what I did there with the Harley allusion"? ) and weld a tab onto your chassis/frame/fuselage for a "real" mobile antenna, optimally, a 5/8ths wave whip. If you remove that whip with the device transmitting, dark things may happen. You can of course, turn the RF power down in either flavor of MTT4BT's to accommodate antennas that are less than optimal.?
If you opt to install the higher power MTT4BT-40 on a motorcycle with anything short of a serious mobile antenna, I suggest you also leave room on your bike for a fire extinguisher...
73,
Allen AF6OF -----Original Message-----
From: Rob Giuliano via groups.io <kb8rco@...> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Thu, Sep 16, 2021 7:35 pm Subject: Re: [TinyTrak] MTT4BT Installation on ATV/Motorcycle Couldn't disagree more!
The worse connecter ever designed was not really a connector at all - automotive cigarette lighter.
To this day, teh automotive industry uses the HUGE circular (inefficient) plug for powering all kinds of devices.? Lots of devices using the DB9 (actually DE9 - TT4 included), but that isn't waterproof either.
That said, there aren't many waterproof connectors designed for computers (in house devices).? Your best bet is to remove the mini-DIN and replace it with something "in-line".? I always liked the round AMP connectors.? They make a good variety with panel mount, or about any combination, even with different sized pins.? Harder to find now.
Uxcell makes a very similar connector: .
Robert Giuliano
KB8RCO
On Thursday, September 16, 2021, 09:44:42 PM EDT, Cliff Sojourner <cls@...> wrote:
Ha, yeah, arguably the mini DIN 6 was the worst choice for a device intended to go mobile.
I've had good results putting the unit in a good Tupperware container. I zip tie the mini DIN cable to the TT box. Consider foam etc to pack the TT, and how to grommet the cables going out of the plastic box. Cliff K6CLS CM87 On September 16, 2021 3:29:51 PM PDT, toy4trax@... wrote:
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