Clean VHF/CB radio installs

I am like 2 months late but tried to input some stuff. I added comments below each question I could answer so that I could keep track of it all.














In my truck I am running a baofeng ham radio bootlegged onto gmrs gmrs radio. I have a speaker mic and an external antenna, battery eliminator but also have an extendo-battery and USB charging (that’s what I typically use if I need to have it plugged in while driving, otherwise I charge it with that overnight, usually lasts a whole day easy). Just swapped out the red 5R+ for a regular 5R thanks to another member here. The chrome face plate on the red one is cool, but when I put it into my radio vest for volunteering and stuff it gets caught up. All my stuff shoves into the center console, but I do want to get my antenna game like 25% more serious than what I have right now.

 

Bit late, but I'm running that exact Bingfu antenna paired with a Baofeng "8" watt radio programmed for GMRS and local repeaters. I have it mounted directly on top of my Martin Off Road (Prinsu-copy) roof rack, front passenger side. I don't have any specific grounding plane or anything like that, I'm still quite the noob with radios.

The antenna is surprisingly good in my configuration. I can hit my local GMRS repeater and a buddy gets me crystal clear 25 miles away, straight through the city.

Also, it's very durable. It's hit many branches on the trail. Only became bent when I forgot about it when I parked under a friend's carport, gave it a little kink but still works perfectly fine.

 

Cool beans! I was planning to get a hard mount/dash mount but will probably stick with my legal baofeng setup for now - but will likely look to get this antenna. I have a cali-raised roof rack, same idea. Did you need adapters to get it to the baofeng? I have a “5”W

$40 UV-5R 8Watt Ham Radio Handheld Long Range UHF/VHF Radio with 2 Rechargeable Battery, Portable Radio for Adults with Earpiece, GV-771 Antenna, Programming Cable (3rd Gen)

UV-5R

 

I picked up a set of adaptors for the SMA to PL259. Actually a mix of them, so I'll have plenty of options in the future.
Basically this:

$9 onelinkmore SMA to UHF RF Coaxial Extension Converter CB Connector kit SMA PL259 SO239 VHF Crimp Coax Adapter for Ham Radio Antenna Walkie Talkie Radio Pack of 4

https://www.amazon.com/SMA-UHF-Conn...qid=1654710111&sprefix=sma+to+,aps,172&sr=8-3

The naming convention for the external antenna connectors is a bit weird. The Male end is PL259 and the Female is SO239. The BFs use SMA, both M and F. I have tested on both my UVS9 and UV5R+ and are same.

I have the BF HT mounted on a Taco Garage DMM using RAM ball mounts and a BF/HT mount that works with the belt clip, found on Amazon (

Rugged Radios MT-5R Single Side Radio Mount for Rugged V3, RH5R, RDH & Baofeng Handheld Radios

https://www.amazon.com/Rugged-Radio...o+mou,aps,176&sr=8-1-spons&smid=AMJNHH8IAK3KS). I glued on some tool drawer liner to give it some thickness and eliminate rattle. Works perfectly, has survived every off road trip. I just need to tear apart the dash and stow the wire. I thought I had some pics on hand, but will have to post some after I get off work.

It's a solid, inexpensive set up that works perfectly fine for most off roading/overlanding purposes IMO.

 

Yeah that’s basically what I do but I added a volume control mic because I couldn’t hear shit from that thing on the highway. I’ll probably get a second one since from the ham side it’s nice to have a second, AND if I get out and need to use it externally, it’d be a pain in the bee-hind. for 25$ I’ll probably grab a second.

Only thing I want is a better external antenna, but I have one in the meantime at least.

Don’t worry about pictures, all set. Right now i have mine hooked onto a phone holder thing on the side of the center console, but usually stuff it all into the console itself, all the cables, etc and just turn the mic on and off throughout the day as I need to. I have a vent mount I might hook up since I will need to flip A/B and opening the console to do that can get annoying.

 

I also run a handset, forgot to mention. It's just a cheap BF version, no extra feature. I had to drill out the mic pinhole to be heard better. Do you happen to have a link to your version? Sounds interesting.

 

Retevis HK008 Shoulder Speaker Mic, Volume Adjustable Handheld Mic for Retevis RT22 RT21 RT19 H-777 H-777S RT15 RT22S RT68 RB18 RT27 RB35 RT21V Baofeng UV-5R Arcshell AR-5 Walkie Talkies (1 Pack) https://a.co/d/cFCwOx


It has another battery to charge. Obnoxious if I was using it on the daily but for like 5-7 trips a year I'll just charge it up for now.

Edit to add - at full volume this thing puts out capital V Volume. I went from unable to hear it with road noise to it being too loud when I forgot to turn it down.

 

Thanks, pinned that one. Appreciate it!

 

How important it is to not run antenna cable along other power wires? I have a dual battery located on passenger side of engine bay nearest the windshield and want to mount my antenna on that side, the other side has my Spod and wires from compressor/light bar/bed aux power, etc. There is basically no way to avoid power wires in my engine bay.

GarlicFarts: Why not driver side? Just curious, typically any bridges or anything are sloped toward the center of the road, low hanging branches, etc - that’s why myself and most people run single whip style antennas on the driver side. I got rid of mine, but still, it’s just a general practice. No rule written in stone though.

I have no issue with the driver side, it's just that running the cable through the drivers side firewall already has my Spod ethernet cable and I read to not route the antenna cable through any holes that already have power wires or to not to run the antenna along side of any power wires (My SPod is mounted on my drivers side engine bay). Basically, I'm concerned that I don't have anywhere to run my antenna wire where there isn't already some sort of power wire.

Also, you're correct, shortening wires is expensive. I found a guy who will do it at (formally RadioShack, now called something else) for $75. I'm not sure where to search or what to search for regarding a shorter cable, but I'm assuming you're right and there has to a way to purchase a cable that is less than 6 meters which came with my radio.

 

Avoid bundling the wires together when they run parallel. You can get some separation by ducking into the air intake chase behind the firewall.

 

I ran my 12v power next to the coax and through the firewall to the aux battery. No interference. If it was 110v romex or something, no.

 

If you use shielded coax, it's not.

Depending on where in CA you are, I can help you out when I'm working.

 

Thanks, man. I'm in Atascadero, CA just north of San Luis Obispo (Central Coast) I'd be happy to have any help I can get.

 

Atascabama? I'll PM you.

 

More like Atrashcadero, but obviously you know the place. Moved here a year a ago after being in Cayucos for 12 years.

 

Ended up getting that Wouxun KG-1000G after all. And, came up with a reasonably decent mounting location, I think.

It's not 100% in the drivers' line of vision, because of the steering wheel. But, it'll do.

Required shifting around a couple switches on the side panel, leaving 2 switches that I don't use out of the panel, and dremelling the panel to fit the ethernet-like plug on the back radio's detachable faceplate and to also allow the re-arranged switches to fit in their new slots.

I took the faceplate back panel off (not the mounting panel, but the panel attached to the faceplate to which the mounting panel normally affixes) and used the removed screws to mount the faceplate to the Tacoma switch panel. The switch panel now serves as the faceplate's back panel.

Will save the mounting of the radio itself under the seat to a cooler time of the day. Or, better yet, to another day altogether.

If I end up deciding I want the functionality back of the 2 removed OEM switches (AC power toggle and the not-so-good auto high beam toggle, I suppose getting a pair of those 2-in-1 switch replacements might be an option later on.

 

Purty clean.

 

Icom IC-7200, AH-4 tuner, and a 102" whip.

 

That's not VHF.

They don't make a remote or HHCH for that one? Check out the F8101, it's a fun radio.

 

Slick antenna/tuner setup! The Mil-look rig goes well with Army Green.