Where did you mount your Ham Radio Transceiver in your 80?

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COS80

Thread 'Midland GMRS Radio Installation in LX450'

I got tired of asking people to repeat themselves, because my handheld radios are not loud enough, so I installed a permanent GMRS radio in my LX450. I decided to use the idiotic factory “subwoofer” location for an external speaker, and make actual use of the provision.

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COS80 said:
COS80

Thread 'Midland GMRS Radio Installation in LX450'

I got tired of asking people to repeat themselves, because my handheld radios are not loud enough, so I installed a permanent GMRS radio in my LX450. I decided to use the idiotic factory “subwoofer” location for an external speaker, and make actual use of the provision.

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Click to expand...
nice...for an LX450 :)

i don't have that sub speaker to repurpose. you bring up a good point about ohm-matching. a couple of the mobile radio's i looked at didn't mention the impedance specs for an external speaker or what type of connector...3.5" mono or stereo for example.
 
jht3 said:
nice...for an LX450 :)

i don't have that sub speaker to repurpose. you bring up a good point about ohm-matching. a couple of the mobile radio's i looked at didn't mention the impedance specs for an external speaker or what type of connector...3.5" mono or stereo for example.
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Buy an LX450 console.
 
jht3 said:
FYI, i used a hatch mounted antenna bracket kit that included the thin RG316 coax wire and PL-259 adapter. very easy to run. like this: DIAMOND K400SNMO - https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-006519
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Using the same mount with a variety of antennae. Had a custom length of RG316 with SMA M-F made to fit nicely under the carpet. They weren't offering the "kit" at that time.
That's a very robust mount and the RG316 makes it super easy to run into the cab.

Diamond K400SNMO.webp

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I wire mine through the taillight in a similar way, but I bought the rear light/antenna mount from YotaTEQ, probably could go with RAGO or a number of them that have a similar design. They sell individual mounts so you don't have to buy both. I wanted to be able to fit the antenna and still fit in the garage. I run a much taller antenna if I'm in an area like moab that I won't have a ton of trees.
 
Bigtoepfer said:
I wire mine through the taillight in a similar way, but I bought the rear light/antenna mount from YotaTEQ, probably could go with RAGO or a number of them that have a similar design. They sell individual mounts so you don't have to buy both. I wanted to be able to fit the antenna and still fit in the garage. I run a much taller antenna if I'm in an area like moab that I won't have a ton of trees.
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Yea, that's my dual band stubby. I run that for the trees. I switch between a couple of antennae depending on the situation.
Fwiw, I sold those mounts that bolt to the hatch rests. They sit too low and will fold into the body if hit.
 
jht3 said:
anyone ever tried using the 4" speakers in the lower dash for a remote speaker? i'm only using the door speakers so have been considering using those...but the factory 4" speakers are long gone so have nothing to test out w/o an outlay of cash. i know some HAM units support sending audio out the left or right channel depending on what freq is being received
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I bought a remote speaker and I'm going to rig it to fit into that spot. Great idea!
 
LLTB said:
Prob should have gone with the FTM500… oh well. I did get a remote speaker. Installing everything today.
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Turns out my FTM-150T has a speaker in the remote faceplate! Still going to do the remote speaker tho.
 
Bigtoepfer said:
I wire mine through the taillight in a similar way, but I bought the rear light/antenna mount from YotaTEQ, probably could go with RAGO or a number of them that have a similar design. They sell individual mounts so you don't have to buy both. I wanted to be able to fit the antenna and still fit in the garage. I run a much taller antenna if I'm in an area like moab that I won't have a ton of trees.
Click to expand...
I'm going with the frontrunner antenna mount, right on my rack. It has a spring so it can be collapsed 90 degrees and lay down flat when not in use.

I am *not* using a magnetic antenna, so I'll drill a 3/4" hole for my NMO mount and then run the coax down the back hatch and into the rear right quarter panel.

 
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