Yaesu FTM-500 going in my 100

[NearJetties]

Documenting this project. I’ve had my Ham license for about 5 years but this is my first foray beyond a HT. Here are the details:

-Yaesu FTM-500DR
-Comet CK-3nmo
-Compactenna 2M/440PLUS
-Gamiviti fender mount antenna bracket
-BenCC ram mount
-power from house battery via a Blue Sea fuse panel.

I garage park so need to be low profile most of the time. I’ll probably add a roof mount and Comet SBB antenna for longer trips.

I might eventually send the faceplate to BenCC so he can prototype an overhead console mount or modify a Cruiser Garage ashtray mount.

Open to suggestions as this is my first rodeo.

 

[Kofoed]

Is the speaker on the faceplate? If so, I may be getting one

 

[NearJetties]

Yes, there is a speaker on the faceplate and body. You can adjust them to be on/off and also to give a surround sound effect

 

[Kofoed]

Is the factory faceplate speaker loud enough to be in a loud vehicle?

 

[NearJetties]

No idea

 

[LJE]

I made a pretty swanky (IMO) ashtray mount for my KG1000 GMRS radio faceplate - still let's me use the tray:

 

[nakman]

Open to suggestions as this is my first rodeo.

One is consider a short antenna like SBB-1 that you can swap out if you're in the woods on a trail. I have broken a couple antennas flexing them on trees... they don't actually break, but just don't work as well... like can't hit the repeater I used to hit, can't seem to hear that one guy as well as I did before, etc. a new antenna seems to fix the issue. you can slide the longer one under the back seat while you rock the short one.

second is I don't like overhead mounts, I think they're too cumbersome to use, I'd suggest down below the ashtray like shown above. Reason is when you're trying to manipulate the radio while driving, your arm is bouncing all over the place and you have terrible dexterity. Much easier when you can rest your palm on a nearby shifter... that's been my experience at least I'm sure others will disagree! but looks like you're not going down that path...

also is the power going to be always hot? or switched on with accessory? big vote for always hot.. and from the second battery, if you have one.

 

[NearJetties]

One is consider a short antenna like SBB-1 that you can swap out if you're in the woods on a trail. I have broken a couple antennas flexing them on trees... they don't actually break, but just don't work as well... like can't hit the repeater I used to hit, can't seem to hear that one guy as well as I did before, etc. a new antenna seems to fix the issue. you can slide the longer one under the back seat while you rock the short one.

second is I don't like overhead mounts, I think they're too cumbersome to use, I'd suggest down below the ashtray like shown above. Reason is when you're trying to manipulate the radio while driving, your arm is bouncing all over the place and you have terrible dexterity. Much easier when you can rest your palm on a nearby shifter... that's been my experience at least I'm sure others will disagree! but looks like you're not going down that path...

also is the power going to be always hot? or switched on with accessory? big vote for always hot.. and from the second battery, if you have one.

My thoughts exactly. Yes, always hot from
2nd battery.

 

[Land Shark]

My thoughts exactly. Yes, always hot from
2nd battery.

Did you get this installed? I installed a Wouxun KG1000G in my 100 and mounted the detachable face just underneath the ashtray. I also install a remote speaker because it was hard to hear even when the mic was up near my ear.

 

[NearJetties]

Did you get this installed? I installed a Wouxun KG1000G in my 100 and mounted the detachable face just underneath the ashtray. I also install a remote speaker because it was hard to hear even when the mic was up near my ear.
View attachment 3826620

It’s not fully installed yet but I have it mocked up. May end up putting it there or mount in the ashtray area somehow.

 

[Land Shark]

It’s not fully installed yet but I have it mocked up. May end up putting it there or mount in the ashtray area somehow.View attachment 3827805View attachment 3827806View attachment 3827807

The RAM mount idea looks pretty good especially if you dont want/need your comms all the time. You could easily remove it and stow it away in the glove box/center console.

 

[NearJetties]

Made some more progress last night. Got the radio mounted under the passenger seat. I re-used the factory amp bracket.

I’m deleting the amp since I have an alpine CarPlay head unit: Stereo Wiring: Land Cruiser / LX 470 (1998-02) - https://tlcfaq.com/main/2012/05/land-cruiser-lx-470-stereo-wiring/

Also found some interesting trinkets which I’m going to keep under there for good vibes. I have little kids but the dog is giving me 90s 101 Dalmatian vibes so maybe from the original owner’s kids

Edit: gotta put some time into getting that spill out

 

[NearJetties]

 

[Land Shark]

Made some more progress last night. Got the radio mounted under the passenger seat. I re-used the factory amp bracket.

I’m deleting the amp since I have an alpine CarPlay head unit: Stereo Wiring: Land Cruiser / LX 470 (1998-02) - https://tlcfaq.com/main/2012/05/land-cruiser-lx-470-stereo-wiring/

Also found some interesting trinkets which I’m going to keep under there for good vibes. I have little kids but the dog is giving me 90s 101 Dalmatian vibes so maybe from the original owner’s kids

Edit: gotta put some time into getting that spill out

View attachment 3828106View attachment 3828107View attachment 3828108View attachment 3828109

That's exactly where I put the brains of my GMRS. Made a bracket and added a remote speaker because I couldn't hear it well at all.

 

[NearJetties]

Finally took the time to run the ham radio antenna wire, a power cable for front fuse box (supply the ham radio itself and have expandability), and the high speed charger for my EcoFlow delta 3 power bank charger. Had to pull the auxiliary lifePo4 battery out to do this so took the opportunity to clean up the dual battery and Redarc BCDC stuff.

Think I am going to sub out these:
Blue Sea Systems Systems 7720 Safety Fuse Block for AMI or MIDI fuses

For this:
Blue Sea Systems 7725 Fuse Block Safety Hub 100

I need to add one more midi fuse and the 7720 were much bigger than I realized when I ordered them.

 

[NearJetties]

Also some more pictures of the amp bypass. Sound quality is much improved.

Don’t worry, I cleaned the stain too

 

[Nad Aitch]

So how do you like the radio?

 

[YotaBuck]

Documenting this project. I’ve had my Ham license for about 5 years but this is my first foray beyond a HT. Here are the details:

-Yaesu FTM-500DR
-Comet CK-3nmo
-Compactenna 2M/440PLUS
-Gamiviti fender mount antenna bracket
-BenCC ram mount
-power from house battery via a Blue Sea fuse panel.

I garage park so need to be low profile most of the time. I’ll probably add a roof mount and Comet SBB antenna for longer trips.

I might eventually send the faceplate to BenCC so he can prototype an overhead console mount or modify a Cruiser Garage ashtray mount.

Open to suggestions as this is my first rodeo.

View attachment 3786272View attachment 3786273

I just installed it in my 4Runner. I used a Diamond antenna motor to raise the antenna up and down

 

[NearJetties]

For those here about the battery setup I had to move the bcdc because it was heat soaking now that we’ve had sustained temps near 100 in DC. It was throttling output.

Used the Redarc bracket.