Ham Radio Installation w/pics

[Brentbba]

Got around to installing the Yaesu FT-8800 this weekend. I ended up mounting it to the side of my storage drawer in the rear. Nice thing about it there is that the 6.5' cable from the antenna mount reaches w/o an extension. Well protected and plenty of ventilation under the cover.

Mounted the speaker on the center console and built a little mounting bracket for the head unit of the radio that bolts into the cubby hole in the center console. Used 16 guage steel from Home Despot because I coulde cut it with a jig saw and bend it fairly easily with a hammer and vise. Primered and painted it black. Turned out pretty well for a quick fab mount.

 

[Brentbba]

Here are pics of the install up front.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Nice! I just got an Icom radio, similar to the Yaesu you've got, I've got to figure out mounting. I'd like to be able to pull it out and use it in the house without a huge amount of difficulty. Where'd you get the antenna mount?

 

[Brentbba]

Antenna mount is a Diamond K400C purchased at Ham Radio Outlet.

 

[Beowulf]

I like that location for the head unit Brent. Nice install.
-B-

 

[Slomo]

That is a slick mounting bracket Brent. Very clean.

 

[Brentbba]

I like that location for the head unit Brent. Nice install.
-B-

That is a slick mounting bracket Brent. Very clean.

Thans guys!

I add the Streetpilot GPF up top with the windshield mount and I've almost got a cockpit of 'stuff' there now!

 

[Beowulf]

... and I've almost got a cockpit of 'stuff' there now!

I remember the old Brent that would stress out if he found non-OEM valve stem caps on the tyres.

That truck has had quite the transformation since the day you bought it off the showroom floor. Do you ever take it in for service at the dealer that sold it to you ~15 years ago?



-B-

 

[Brentbba]

I remember the old Brent that would stress out if he found non-OEM valve stem caps on the tyres.

That truck has had quite the transformation since the day you bought it off the showroom floor. Do you ever take it in for service at the dealer that sold it to you ~15 years ago?



-B-

LOL! All this transformation has occured since visiting SnT in 2004 with a stock truck!

I might be returning to the dealer that's done most of the service after a bad experience at the local shop f'ed up on a service of mine and really f'ed up on a fellow LC owner's truck as well. Too bad as the manager is a LC owner a well.

 

[Slomo]

I remember the old Brent that would stress out if he found non-OEM valve stem caps on the tyres.

I might be returning to the dealer that's done most of the service after a bad experience at the local shop f'ed up on a service of mine and really f'ed up on a fellow LC owner's truck as well. Too bad as the manager is a LC owner a well.

That is a bummer. I know of who you speak and I will make sure not to refer anyone there anymore.

 

[Dynosoar]

I like that radio. Report back to us on its real world performance. It looks great on paper but sometimes that doesn't translate to the real world.

Thanks

Dynosoar

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I like that radio. Report back to us on its real world performance. It looks great on paper but sometimes that doesn't translate to the real world.

Thanks

Dynosoar

The 8800 is a GREAT radio. The best feature of a true dual band like that is to have a primary simplex frequency to chat on, while you listen to a distant repeater for other group members that are not in yet. The 8800 is cool because it can do VHF/VHF, VHF/UHF, or UHF/UHF. It can also cross band repeat which would be useful in certain circumstances. It's kind of complex for starter radio, but definitely a good one to grow into.

Brett--You'll probably want an antenna with better performance. That one makes a good trail antenna, not quite as good on the open road.

 

[Brentbba]

Brett--You'll probably want an antenna with better performance. That one makes a good trail antenna, not quite as good on the open road.

Had that discussion with the HRO folks and I may do so in the near future, but this one has had good reviews. The antenna itself is cheaper than the darned mount!

BTW - it's Brent. I know you get that spelling mixed up with your urge to type 'intern'.

 

[Miescha]

Definitely a nice radio and nice install. I'm looking to mount the head of my Icom 7000 in a similar fashion, but haven't decided just yet.

I'm using a Larsen 2/70 for the vhf/uhf and so far I'm impressed. I just have a firestick for the HF side (10-12m only) with the AT-7000 tuner. Works well enough for my needs.

Sadly, Icom offers nothing with cross-band repeat (far as I can find anyway and HRO says the same). I've always liked the Yaesu 8800/8900 so maybe that will be a reason to buy and mount yet another radio in the cruiser (with even more antennas)!

 

[Miescha]

Brett--You'll probably want an antenna with better performance. That one makes a good trail antenna, not quite as good on the open road.

Had that discussion with the HRO folks and I may do so in the near future, but this one has had good reviews. The antenna itself is cheaper than the darned mount!

So what antenna is that you have mounted Brent?

And Cruiserdrew (and anyone else who wants to offer an opinion), what do you recommend for the open road that will fit the 3/8ths tab on my front ARB? I have a spare Larsen NMO 2/70 that I like, but I don't want to enlarge the hole in the upper ARB tab.

I'm not opposed to drilling through the roof for the ground plane benefits, but a full roof rack prevents using that location. I have several hood channel bracket mounts on other vehicles so I'm not opposed to that either, but I think the front ARB tab mount will result in an equally good ground plane (I've done a lot of vehicle bonding) and offer a more sturdy mount (and look better). I just need a recommendation on a 2/70 antenna that will mount there and take some trail abuse.

 

[alvarorb]

Brent,

Very nice install. I have the same antenna and like it a lot in tight trails. Like Andy said, on the open road you'll probably want something with more gain.
I always carry both antennas with me on La Cabra.

The other day coming back home from Dusy, Andy and Rick stayed at Kaiser pass, while Brett and I drove home. We kept in touch using simple for many miles. Last conversation took place as I drove past Merced. That's over 80 miles in a streight line.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[rusty_tlc]

So what antenna is that you have mounted Brent?

And Cruiserdrew (and anyone else who wants to offer an opinion), what do you recommend for the open road that will fit the 3/8ths tab on my front ARB? I have a spare Larsen NMO 2/70 that I like, but I don't want to enlarge the hole in the upper ARB tab.

I'm not opposed to drilling through the roof for the ground plane benefits, but a full roof rack prevents using that location. I have several hood channel bracket mounts on other vehicles so I'm not opposed to that either, but I think the front ARB tab mount will result in an equally good ground plane (I've done a lot of vehicle bonding) and offer a more sturdy mount (and look better). I just need a recommendation on a 2/70 antenna that will mount there and take some trail abuse.

You only need about 1/4 wavelength of ground plane, more than that really doesn't help. For 2M that maens about 20" so you may be able to go with a roof mount in front of or behind your rack.

 

[Miescha]

You only need about 1/4 wavelength of ground plane, more than that really doesn't help. For 2M that maens about 20" so you may be able to go with a roof mount in front of or behind your rack.

But my planned rack is the full top rack with a cutout for the sun roof so that leaves nothing for an NMO mount. And with the full rack fully loaded, I think the antenna pattern would be less than ideal. Good to know the 1/4 wavelength of ground plane is all that is needed.

From my other research, it sounds like a 1/2 wave antenna would be better than a 5/8 wave when ground plane is limited - such as on my planned front ARB mounting tab (even with great bonding).

But I'm still not sure what is available (and recommended) for a 3/8 stud mount - I can't find anything by Larsen, but I may just not be looking correctly. Anyone?

 

[rusty_tlc]

But my planned rack is the full top rack with a cutout for the sun roof so that leaves nothing for an NMO mount. And with the full rack fully loaded, I think the antenna pattern would be less than ideal. Good to know the 1/4 wavelength of ground plane is all that is needed.

From my other research, it sounds like a 1/2 wave antenna would be better than a 5/8 wave when ground plane is limited - such as on my planned front ARB mounting tab (even with great bonding).

But I'm still not sure what is available (and recommended) for a 3/8 stud mount - I can't find anything by Larsen, but I may just not be looking correctly. Anyone?

If you get into the hobby pick up a copy of the ARRL antenna book. There is a ton of information in it. A lot of it is a titch technical but there is plenty of stuff that is easy to understand.

 

[Brentbba]

So what antenna is that you have mounted Brent?

Comet SSB1 IIRC HRO guys also recommended a Larsen that had a coil exposed in the middle of the antenna as another alternative. Don't remember the model tho.