Clean VHF/CB radio installs

Right now I’m using a Tacoma specific NMO mount with a 3/8/24 adapter and using multiple single band ham sticks. As of last night, I punched the order in for an ATAS 120a and a Diamond K400c mount. I’ll be returning the NMO mount a uhf/vhf antenna , and mounting the atas on the right side of the hood/ fender.

 

That's a lot of metal. What bands do you use this setup on?

 

Not sure where you made the wrong turn , but
this is the “ clean” vhf/ cb install thread.

 

Sorry to upset you, bro.

CB is HF.....

Carry on.

 

The operative word here is “ CLEAN”

 

Some scrap Al strapped to Rhino rack.10-40m with hamsticks.

I only use mobile HF for CW contests, so it's more convenient to have a temporary install.

 

Confuscius say, cleanliness is in the eye of the beholder.

 

Who makes this speaker? I want to do this also

 

It's the Uniden Bearcat 7 external speaker. I found it at Amazon, of course.

$19 Uniden (BC7) Bearcat 7-Watt External Communications Speaker. Durable Rugged Design, Perfect for Amplifying Uniden Scanners, CB Radios, and Other Communications Receivers.,Black

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009PIRQ6E/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Generic white taco, black vans in convoy, grey weather. Looks like something you'd see in Ossetia up to no good.

 

The Area 51 welcoming committee???

 

I also have a Uniden Bearcat, and a 3d printer... where did you find the STL fire for the radio box/sleeve to hold the radio on the side of the center console? I can print my own.

 

Made a switch panel to install this Icom unit in the 2nd gen center console cubby. The Up/Down Switch is for the motorized antenna mount (see end of post)






Polarizer filter is messing with the screen, I assure you it works fine!










The full post is in my build thread with more pics from the install process.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ripcords-spruce-mica-build.552033/page-12#post-21089938

 

Clean baby, clean.
Nice!

 

Ok. 85% clean (will be working on cables). This is in the rear seat back compartment. The transceiver (center) for my ham unit and a new 7.5 Ah auxiliary SLA battery. (Left side).

When truck is running, the battery is being charged. When truck is off, power is solely from the auxiliary driven by the relay switch.

While my rig has an auto shut off feature. I like to monitor for long periods sometimes.

The rest of the cables are clean and encased. Working on an in box solution to allow for ample slack.

 

I used the old school method - took the factory mount for the FTM-400 faceplate and stuck it to the trim above the driver's air vent. So far has withstood 100+ temps, bouncing up and down roads, and hasn't loosened a bit. Cable runs down behind the trim of the door, then through the door sill, under the carpet and out at the main unit (mounted under the driver's seat). So far pretty happy with it.





Antenna mount from Rago - trimmed a bit to get past the topper

 

I will be using the new rago fabrication bridge to mount the head unit and mic of my yaesu

(Stock photo from rago's website)

 

Adding post here now it’s clean.
I installed a secondary SLA 7.5 Ah battery and auxiliary DC/DC charger in the rear seat compartment to support an always-on capability for my Icom Radio.

When the truck is running, and if the auxiliary battery is in need, it charges in isolation from the main battery. This solves the problems of parallel cross drain and more importantly overcharging risk associated with dual mismatched batteries. I added a relay to allow for [future] remote disconnection of the charger when the truck is in aux/ignition but not running mode.

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I built a bottom panel to protect the battery and wires better:

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At current I have the Icom in 2 hour auto shutdown but that’s an easy menu option if I want to monitor until the auxiliary battery gets to low power shutdown. ​