HAM install - running coax in to the cab

@imtaconico @Redfive11 what HAM radio do you guys use out of curiosity?

 

Anyone using DMR?

 

Yaesu 50w ftm-100dr

 

Yaesu FT- 2800M , Wouxon UV3D handheld and just ordered a Kenwood TM-D710GA less than 10 minutes ago from Amazon.

Edit: I have the FT- 2800M in the Tacoma and also one in my Crawler

 

That's a nice chunk of change. I did a little googling of the detachable plate hams and they definitely are all pricy. I got the kenwood TM 281A. It'll do for now. I've been thinking about putting it in the center console as well. I've got a full day of work ahead of me on Saturday that's for sure

 

It was certainly an investment. I wanted aprs capability and liked the detachable faceplate. I’m also certain I was upsold. Lol!

 

I remember reading about the aprs thing but I don't know enough about it or remember what exactly it does. I might upgrade in some time but we'll see. Happy with how this performed so far.

 

Awesome! So you ended up going through the grommet?

 

It's currently through my sliding window hard running the wire will happen on Saturday. I'll be going under through that grommet. I'll be sure to post a detailed guide of my install in here

 

I purchased the Kenwood radio this morning solely for the APRS function. Some of the capabilities of APRS is sending SMS messaging and email via radio frequency.

http://aprs.org/

http://smsgte.wixsite.com/smsgte

 

Hey!

 

Drilled and filled the hole with shmooo when the cable was through it.

 

Hot damn. I just read the bottom link. That is some really cool technology. Definitely will have to pick up an APRS capable radio at some point.

 

Yaesu.

 

In the middle of the install right now. Trying to remember to take pictures throughout the process. I've got the coax ran from the rear to the grommet. Have my seat taken out and carpet pulled up. The rubber grommet just pops out. I'm thinking I'm going to cut a hole in the center of it and then seal it with silicon. Ive for a few feet of coax in the cab so I need to decide where I'm going to run it. I'd really like to put it in the center console but not sure how to take that thing apart, also not sure if the coax will be long enough. May end up mounting it under the seat somehow.

 

Sweet radio mount for 2nd gens and the Kenwood TM-281A radio. Sorry 3rd gens. No mount for you yet. Unless you volunteer to be a guinea pig and use your truck as a test truck @uhplifted .... He needs a truck to take measurements and figure out what kind of bracket would work.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-ham-radio-bracket-feeler.498882/

 

Here's my quick write up on the install with some pictures.

I have my antenna connected to my TC bed stiffeners. I then ran the coax in between the bed rails and my bed bars as there was just enough room to be able to slide it through. This runs to the end of the bed and is then dropped behind the cab and ran parallel with other wire harnesses down there.



Next I removed my driver seat (there are four 14mm bolts), the floor trim, and lifted the carpet. There's 3 harnesses that need to be unclipped under your seat before removal. (Yellow, white, off white)


Also removed the B pillar trim and bottom of the seatbelt (plastic cover and then a 14mm bolt)



Once all that's been removed you can lift the carpet up easily. Underneath you'll find the rubber grommet that just pops out easily

With grommet out

I then pulled the coax up through here and then through the insulation and carpet where there was already a cutout. (Forgot to get a picture of this)


I then ran the power line from the battery through the firewall grommet, under the carpet and up the same opening the coax comes out of (also forgot to take a picture of that). I then attached the radio to its mount, put on some sticky velcro and placed it under the seat as close to the front as possible.

As you can see the seat adjustment handle is very close to the radio but not touching. I would have liked to run it in to the center console box but that would involve removing almost the entire center console panel and likely would have to drill a hole which I didn't want to do. I can access the power and volume knob easily enough where it's at now. Just need to figure out where to keep the handheld mic at.

Hopefully this helps anyone who will be running coax in to the cab the same route I did.

 

What antenna are you using? Can I see a pic or 2?

 

I'm running the Firestik 2m-4 black 4 foot antenna.

$36 FireStik 2m-4 Bk 4' Black 2 Meter Fiberglass Antenna

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000SA4DK0/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1