describe your ham radio install: help me plan mine

[hatchethead]

If you have a ham radio installed in your rig's cabin, share a pic of how you are set up.

I just got my hands on an ic-706, and I'm thinking of putting it on my dashboard. This means I need to think about how to fish cleanly power and antenna coax (HF & UHF/VHF) through the dashboard surface. If I had a cable that would allow me to detach the face, all that wouldn't be an issue! But I don't. I'll also have a controller for a screw-drive HF antenna ... hadn't thought about how to run that cable to the radio. Hmmmm.

I also want to be able to move my ic-706 to the rear of the rig where I can use the tailgate as a desk and do POTA/SOTA or emcomm. So clean connectors on the dashboard are important to me.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

I have a whole ham tech thread going, link in my signature.

When I had my 100 I had my Yaesu FTM 400 with the head unit in the center console, face plate mounted bottom right of windshield with a magnet ram ball. Antenna mounted on driverside hood with a massive metal mount from @reznunt.

 

[SoCal_80]

 

[SoCal_80]

I popped out the existing pocket and mounted a RAM ball at the bottom of it, and attached the remote face plate…

 

[hatchethead]

That looks like a Kenwood. Where do you have the transceiver body? Where do you run the faceplate separation cable? Where do you tap into the power? (I'm full of questions!)

EDIT: I do like that location, though. I haven't considered that.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

That looks like a Kenwood. Where do you have the transceiver body? Where do you run the faceplate separation cable? Where do you tap into the power? (I'm full of questions!)

EDIT: I do like that location, though. I haven't considered that.

You should be running a dedicate power and ground line to the battery for any HAM radio install. You need the cleanest power you can get. also plan on a ferrite choke or two on the ground wire.

Transceiver body will fit in the center console fine.

There is plenty of space to run wire along the trans hump and under the carpet.

 

[JJ_SC]

I have a Kenwood installed in the center console next to the CD changer. I have the face plate mounted in the overhead cluster where the goofy glasses holder used to be.

 

[krice118]

Handheld radio…

 

[Somebodyelse5]

Handheld radio…

That works great for car to car, but these mobile rigs typically have 10x the power and a much bigger antenna

 

[hatchethead]

I have a Kenwood installed in the center console next to the CD changer. I have the face plate mounted in the overhead cluster where the goofy glasses holder used to be.

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Nice! I'd forgotten about that over-the-head option. Makes me want to build a separation kit for my radio. (Icom doesn't sell it any more.). I'm not sure if I want to put the rig in the center console (not much air circulation), under the driver's seat (relatively easy to access), or in a go box in the cargo area where I could use the tailgate and a stool to create a comms station (e.g., when doing POTA or something).

 

[87warrior]

Kenwood TM-V71A. Radio body is mounted under the passenger seat using the factory radio amplifier brackets. Remote head is mounted to a Cruiser Garage ashtray mount. Mic is plugged into a RJ45 next to the cigarette lighter. Remote speaker is mounted above the accelerator pedal. Mobilinkd TNC is in the center console. Coax is routed through the driver side wire grommet to an antenna on the fender using a Gamiviti antenna mount.

 

[J1000]

Put my display up above and the radio in the center console. Gutted the DVD player etc and put my CB there too.

 

[JJ_SC]

Nice! I'd forgotten about that over-the-head option. Makes me want to build a separation kit for my radio. (Icom doesn't sell it any more.). I'm not sure if I want to put the rig in the center console (not much air circulation), under the driver's seat (relatively easy to access), or in a go box in the cargo area where I could use the tailgate and a stool to create a comms station (e.g., when doing POTA or something).

I was worried about heat/circulation with installing the radio in the console, but it hasn’t been a problem. Lots of hot days in Death Valley, Arizona and southern Utah and no problems so far.

 

[KliersLC]

Here is mine--One thing to note here. I have the whole radio in the dash, which you won't likely be able to do with the 706 without some trimming. My dash vents are somewhat leaky near the radio, which I assessed as a potential positive during install, as I live in Virginia beach and run the AC way more often than the heat....and it was hot when I installed the radio. However, we went wheeling this past December in the mountains and I was running the heater--this caused my radio to overheat and shut down. Switching to floor heat fixed the problem. I had this same radio in my 80 and my tacoma, with the head remote mounted, and it worked just fine with the radio body under the seat in both cases. I also have my speaker stuffed inside the dash and the audio is acceptable.

 

[hatchethead]

Kenwood TM-V71A. Radio body is mounted under the passenger seat using the factory radio amplifier brackets. Remote head is mounted to a Cruiser Garage ashtray mount. Mic is plugged into a RJ45 next to the cigarette lighter. Remote speaker is mounted above the accelerator pedal. Mobilinkd TNC is in the center console. Coax is routed through the driver side wire grommet to an antenna on the fender using a Gamiviti antenna mount.

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Nice. I like the RJ45 plug in the dash. I assume there's an extension to the main radio body, or does it go to the faceplate? (I don't know how the TM-V71A is wired.) I also like the location of the speaker. Its out of the way. And you can hear every thing OK?

 

[hatchethead]

Put my display up above and the radio in the center console. Gutted the DVD player etc and put my CB there too.

I'd like to put my faceplate up there or down by the change tray in front of the e-brake. But first I need to find a separation kit for. my ic-706 or figure out how to make one. As for that DVD system, yeah, I think putting the radio in the rig will give me more motivation to gut that. I think there's someone who makes (3D prints) inserts for gutting consoles .... I need to track that down again.

 

[87warrior]

Nice. I like the RJ45 plug in the dash. I assume there's an extension to the main radio body, or does it go to the faceplate? (I don't know how the TM-V71A is wired.) I also like the location of the speaker. Its out of the way. And you can hear every thing OK?

Yep There is a cable from the RJ45 panel mount to the radio body under the passenger seat. I also have a second cable that connects the remote head to the radio body. The speaker above the accelerator pedal works well. My passenger has trouble hearing the voice clearly, but I have no issues from the drivers seat. Obviously it is not as clear as a speaker pointed at your face. Trades offs.