Official Ham install pic thread - post 'em up!

[nakman]

Hey, in celebration of the newly created "electronic toys" forum, let's see some installs of your Ham radios in your Cruisers...




Ok I'll start: Yaesu FT-8800, purchased at the recommendation of several. So far very happy with what it does, but still have a lot to learn. Put the main unit under the cup holder on the center console, ran the remote wire under the console and t-case hump then mounted the faceplate under the ashtray, more or less.

[nakman]

both power & ground are fused (comes like that), always hot. Antenna is a Comet SBB5, using a lip mount on the edge of the hood.

[nakman]

And using my special powers of fabrication I have made myself some custom handset holders for the console..

yes I can also make you one, not now, but soon.. but please don't ask for them yet, or here.. but this is what they look like:

[450 DUDE]

Dang ! nackman looking good!

Here is a similar set up.
7800 mounted in left aft cargo panel.
Remote speaker on left aft hand hold.
Comet antenna on a diamond hatch mount.
Face mounted on center pedistal.

[450 DUDE]

More;

[offroad_nomad]

A while back I needed to get my VHF up and running quickly, so I temporarily mounted it to the top of my dash with Velcro. Once I go to get my new Alpine stereo installed, the VHF will be remounted in the dash below the new stereo:

[hatfieldcb]

Originally Posted by 450 DUDE

Comet antenna on a diamond hatch mount.
Face mounted on center pedistal.

Nice. How did you mount the face on the pedestal?

[450 DUDE]

Originally Posted by hatfieldcb

Nice. How did you mount the face on the pedestal?

Through the magic of velcro, I opted not to use the faceplate mount and stuck it right to the pedistal. works great so far.


ken

[ginericLC]

Garmin GPS V on sand bag mount on dash

Sony XPlod 5500 MP3 Changer

Midland Weather Band CB 115

Icom IC28H 2 Meter rig w/ a Wilson 2MTR mag mount 5/8 wave whip
(soon to be replaced by a Kenwood TMV7A dual band and some sort of lip mount foldable antenna)

You can't see the laptop mount in the picture. It comes up from the console and swings side to side and forward to back. I'm thinking of getting another ball for it and making it mount in the rear seat too. I'm thinking a full length center console with 4 bucket seats.

[nakman]

Wow, sweet stuff! 450Ken, you worried about airflow with the main unit tucked in the corner back there? probably nbd..

and I like that wood t-case knob, Eric.


more! more! more!

[450 DUDE]

[quote=nakman;2013787]Wow, sweet stuff! 450Ken, you worried about airflow with the main unit tucked in the corner back there? probably nbd..




There should be enough space in there for circulation, I put some small holes through the wall @ the mount location. Some air can get through the removable panel as well. I think when it really starts to warm up Im going to throw some thermo barrier on top of the Dynamat and Install a 1 1/2 " hole @ the fan inlet location though the cargo wall. Plus I have some really cool Aluminum grate material I need to use.




ken

[PKP80]

Originally Posted by ginericfj80

Garmin GPS V on sand bag mount on dash

Sony XPlod 5500 MP3 Changer

Midland Weather Band CB 115

Icom IC28H 2 Meter rig w/ a Wilson 2MTR mag mount 5/8 wave whip
(soon to be replaced by a Kenwood TMV7A dual band and some sort of lip mount foldable antenna)

You can't see the laptop mount in the picture. It comes up from the console and swings side to side and forward to back. I'm thinking of getting another ball for it and making it mount in the rear seat too. I'm thinking a full length center console with 4 bucket seats.

Gin, I've been looking into the Kenwood tmv7va and everyone complains that you can't see shit when it comes to day time use in the truck b/c of the same cool blue illumination that I want to buy it for...it's functions are great too.lol

[ginericLC]

Originally Posted by PKP80

Gin, I've been looking into the Kenwood tmv7va and everyone complains that you can't see shit when it comes to day time use in the truck b/c of the same cool blue illumination that I want to buy it for...it's functions are great too.lol

I think I'm going to mount the controller up by the mirror. I think I'm going to do the same with my GPS. I don't have the radio yet, it is supposed to be here this week. I believe the TMV7A's replacement is going to have an amber screen. I really didn't want this radio, but it has lots of options and was a good deal. I wanted the 700AG but I was having a bit of a rough time justifying spending $500 on a radio for somebody who doesn't really know what they are doing. I still have yet to talk to somebody and it has been almost 2 months since I got my license. Also on the TMV7A there are two versions. One has a black bezel and one has a purple bezel. The ones with the purple bezel supposedly have a better display.

[hatfieldcb]

Here are a couple of pics of my antenna. Otherwise my radio looks the same as Nakman's.

[Romer]

I installed my setup after passing my test today. I still need to clean up the cable routing a bit and put clips for the mic in.

I installed the radio on top of the Safari Drawers and am tthinking I don't need to run an external speaker, but I ran the cable to the front just in case. I can always plug headphones into it as well





I velcroed the Head Unit to the bottom of the CB with the bottom resting on the CB external speaker.






I have anough antenna cable that I don't need an extension.



Here is the stuff I bought. And thanks to firsttoy on the heads up not to buy the seperation kit when you can buy the cables for $15 on ebay.

FT-7800R -- Yaesu FT-7800R 2M/70CM Dual Band FM Transceiver. Wide Receive of 108-520MHz and 700-999MHz (Cell Blocked). NOAA Weather Alert. Illuminated keypad & microphone.

K400CNMO -- NMO Deluxe mount. w/6.5' RG-316 Teflon coax & PL259.

SBB-5NMO -- Comet 2M/70cm Mobile Antenna (Black), 3.0/5.5 Gain, 38" Length, NMO Connector

[nakman]

Looks good, Romer! One thing with the external speaker jack it it's either or.. so either you don't have a cable plugged into the main unit and the main speaker works, or you do have something plugged in and the speaker in the main unit is disabled. Remember it's mono too...

[Romer]

Originally Posted by nakman

Looks good, Romer! One thing with the external speaker jack it it's either or.. so either you don't have a cable plugged into the main unit and the main speaker works, or you do have something plugged in and the speaker in the main unit is disabled. Remember it's mono too...

Thanks, I currently have the cable routed and sitting next to the unit. I turned it on to see if I could hear anything. Sounds like it should be ok with the existing speaker, but I will have to wait until I can transmitt to really see.

Or weds, you can play with it. Now I have the radio installed and I have no clue how to operate it, yet

[george_tlc]

Time to install a 2m rig in my 80.

FT1802 - cheap decent starter unit to play with while camping in a week's time. Got to keep the kids happy
Nice having all yaesu rigs, I can transfer the same frequency setups using a PC to my HT's and the mobile unit - consistency is a good thing!

First hook up an antenna - similar to the many of the other installs on this site.



Hole to run the cable. Popped off the tail light cluster and found a spot to drill that would line up with a spot to fish the cable thru (big hole and then sealed it).



I have 3 cig lighter outlets with 3 separate power feeds back to the aux battery (fused in the engine bay). I re-used one of the outlets to run dedicated power to the rig. The outlets come out at the bottom rear of the console, which is where I mounted the rig.



My older son checking out the install.



Yep, looking good and best thing it's accessible to both of my (licensed) kids
Easy enough for me to access it too.



cheers,
george.

[KLF]

Originally Posted by nakman

Looks good, Romer! One thing with the external speaker jack it it's either or.. so either you don't have a cable plugged into the main unit and the main speaker works, or you do have something plugged in and the speaker in the main unit is disabled. Remember it's mono too...

Dunno about the 7800, but I just installed an FT-8800R in my truck, there is a config setting that you can override the default action, force both internal and external speakers on. I think it would be useful in this install, have one speaker up front on the dash and the other back at the tailgate.

[kb3gun]

The installs look good.
Here's mine in the FJC. Icom 2720 dual-bans and the 706MKIIG...

I have full details of the install here. It's a little outdated as I've since installed the Bandi antenna mount and a Little Tarheel II with a TurboTuner.

Good to see fellow hams on the board.
73!

[haryv]

me personally I would keep the radios tucked away 99% of the time and keep the astetics of the vehicle looking original. To many distractions inside the truck to beging with. I dont use mine unless absolutly nessesary. I dont talk to people in general that I dont know. I have a yeau ft100d and its been sitting on my self for a year now not touched dont need it in the city and will only take it with me in the event that I am in the woods and need help otherwise it is safe inside my place free from theft.

[alvarorb]

Here are pics of my setup:









I also did a little write up of my installation here

Regards

Alvaro

[alvarorb]

Here are pics of my setup:





I also did a little write up of my installation here

Regards

Alvaro