Ham Radio Install

I searched, but everything vie seen was kind of dated..


What does everyones ham install look like, where did you mount to radio?

 

I have an Icom 2720 Dual Dand that I mounted under the Drivers seat with the face plate double side tape just under the heater/air switches. My antenna is mounted on the left front fender and the coax comes in through the fire wall. then under the inner panel the door sill and under the seat. I always try to have as little coax showing as I can. There is nothing like a clean install. My SWR is Flat trrough both bands. Good Luck 73

 

I have 3 rigs so far mounted along with a High Sierra Screwdriver type antenna, 1.2 GHz whip, 900 MHz whip and a 144, 220, 440 MHz whip. The 900 MHz rig is waiting to be installed. Have an IC-7000, Yaesu FTM-350 and Icom ID-1 in the 2009 Toyota Tacoma right now. I removed the plactios behing the seat on the drivers side and replaced it with some 1/4 inch ABS sheet to mount two radios onto.
I get some photos up loaded by this weekend. I will be changing the control head mounting so its a bit more stable using bit and parts of a laptop mounting system in a few weeks once it arrives the mics need a home too.

 

Writeup: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-06-taco-expo-build-thread-2.html#post1429365

 

mparker,

I have not forgot you. I just installed a modified RAM laptop mount to hold my radios control heads. Actually bought the floor mounting, telescopic poles and a different pwice other than the laptop tray seems to be pretty sturdy and does not impede my lady friends legs when she rides along. If it did then she would tell me to go play with my radio and not her that would be no good.

I want to change out the ABS the heads are machine screwed onto and dress it up a bit. I'll get some pictures here. One thing I did was to purchase a remote controled relay. Thats way with the press of a key fob i can turn on or off the radios. I have that remote controled relay switch two 40 amp relays which provide power to the rigs. http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/RC-10/KEYCHAIN-REMOTE-CONTROL-12VDC-6-AMP//1.html

More to come.

 

Aren't you worried about excessive heat behind that head?

 

Take a look at the writeup, that is just the face, it does not produce heat..all the guts are under the seat (now in a sealed box incase I get water in)

 

I had a remote face system with the main body mounted behind the driver side rear seat. If you search you will find some pictures of my install.

 

Yeah I know it's "just the face" that's why I called it "the head"-what I was thinking about is the blazing heat from the sun beating down on the roof just behind that head. I assume you removed some insulation to set it in there. Even if you didn't I would at least try to shield the back of that head from heat. You know how hot that roof can get?

 

Ohh I see what you are saying..ok....essentially, the mount that I made holds the face about an inch and half off the roof, so there is a large void of air between any radiated heat from the roof and the back of the radio. I also did add some insulation between the mount and the roof. This also act so pad the radio if I hit the head line too hard and push it up into the roof (haven’t done it yet, but it was a concern I addressed during the build).

The radio has been there for quite a while in the so cal sun and still works like a champ, so I think it is ok. Good question though.

 

Sweet and clean-and ya manned up and drilled that hole I don't have the nerve...yet

 

There is no insualtion behind the head liner. I installed some 1/8 closed cell foam to correct this. Gotta say that install is the cleanest I have ever seen. Hope to copy it one day.

 

Where do you guys hook in at? my Taco has a 24v battery and my Kenwood TM 281 takes 13.8 at 15 amps. my old ford focus had convenient posts to put some eyelets on but my new truck just has the big ol battery posts.

 

24V?

 

Your battery is 12 volts hook it on the bolts that hold the cables on.