This article is to introduce you to The BACKBONE, a product by Ernie KG4YNI of Ham Radio Innovations. The BACKBONE is a heavy duty articulating mount for use with remote control head type transceivers such as my Icom IC-7000. The BACKBONE is innovative in that there is only one knob to tighten once you have the mount set up as you want it. To quote Ernie: “When you tighten the knob it extends a wedge against the balls in each joint resulting in serious rigidity”. “Serious rigidity” is right.

Mounting plates for various make/model transceivers are available and listed at the website.

The BACKBONE arrived via USPS Priority Mail. Included are the articulating arm, transceiver specific mounting plate for the remote head, mounting base, and associated hardware. Ernie KG4YNI has even included the proper drill bit for the base mounting screws. (Way to go Ernie!)

The arm weighs in at 1lb 9.6oz. The mounting plate is 6.1oz and the bag with the base mount is 2.5oz. (A big Thank You to our friendly local USPS branch for weighing these for me on a slow Friday morning).

The remote head mounting plate has a textured black epoxy finish. Both the mounting plate and base mount are machined from 6061-T6 aluminum. The arm is steel and has a smooth black finish.

This picture shows the nuts and bolts of the design. Notice the two beveled operating “pistons” (top and bottom left of large knob) and the two beveled operating “rods” inside of the articulating arms. The pistons are actuated by the knob, which then operates the rods and tensions the upper and lower knuckles. The spacer (center) provides tensioning between the two arms. The whole operation happens simultaneously.

Close up views of the upper and lower knuckles.

Here is the setup with the Icom IC-7000 remote head and MB-105 mount. I have mounted the BACKBONE on a piece of shelf material for demo purposes. (Much cooler inside than doing all of this in the Silverado).

Notice that the holes in the BACKBONE mounting plate are specifically drilled for the make/model of remote head. (Stainless hardware in the mounting plate supplied with the BACKBONE).

To coin an aviation term, here is where I “depart the fix”. Although the BACKBONE is designed for the mounting of the remote control head of a transceiver, I thought I would try a little experiment.

I did a quick mount of the Icom MB-62 mobile bracket via two of the predrilled holes, and mounted the whole IC-7000. The BACKBONE certainly lived up to its name.

The BACKBONE can be ordered as a kit for a specific transceiver or can be ordered as separate parts. According to the website, Ernie will also quote custom modifications.

The BACKBONE kit for my IC-7000 was $179 plus shipping and can be ordered via the website http://www.hamradioinnovations.com/.

PayPal is accepted.

(DISCLAIMER: I have no personal or financial interests in Icom or Ham Radio Innovations. Opinions are my own).

I can be reached via this website.

 Photo credit to WD7DX.