Clean VHF/CB radio installs

I am about to purchase a Tacoma. You guys have done all the hard work for me. The only challenge is which radio, old or newer Kenwood. The antenna placement will be easy. Dead center of the cab. No drilling for me so I'll stay with a mag mount. There, bookmarked!

 

No, gramps. Tell us.

Posing with pelican cases and Amazon boefangs for instagram shots isn't "pushing the envelope of technology".

 

Nah. That was way before wardriving.

BBS baby. And VHF packetclusters!

 

Nothing too crazy here.

$165 Midland mxt275 MicroMobile® GMRS Radio – 15 watts Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone – Overland Caravanning Tractors – Detachable External Magnetic Mount Antenna - 8 Repeater Channels

Midland mxt275 mounted on driver kick panel (speaker facing out) with a rj45 jack on the center console (where the useless qi charger button was) and a ram mount mic holder.

 

Nice until you get eaten by a TOW or jdam

 

Nice until you grasp the concepts of COMSEC, and various TTPs and SOPs that can be put in place when using various technologies with any level of RF signature in a non-permissive or semi-permissive environment.

Who knew so many people would get so upset about posting pictures of radios in vehicles in a forum thread dedicated to installing radios in vehicles?

 

I've been paid to upfit plenty of vehicles and fit the majority of my units vehicles as well as serving as a reserve communications (radio/microwave/satellite) technician.

I use gear in the field on a biweekly basis at minimum, i don't have the time or energy to play dress up. Race trucks are always a work in progress. Our vehicles sit at ready and need to perform without failure. I've had my plum case in service for weeks at a time in disaster conditions multiple times in a year, several years back to back. I've got the gear in my rig currently to deal with the blizzard warnings, flooding and other incidents in the state at present. Our rigs go through the forest not just across the desert, and they don't leak dust or water. They also have functional hvac.

 

It’s cool. Just not practical if things went to shit. One giant ass thermal signature looks sus. It’s a cool setup.

 

Total radio novice here. I’m retired military here and do contract work at areas in the western states doing “ site” inspections. The secure mil radio I’m given works great when I’m around each site as they all have repeaters. I’m looking for a decent radio setup that I can use when I’m on my own in Wyoming and Montana that has decent range. Sure I have an iridium phone but that is point to point. Looking for something that if I get in a jam I can put out a decent broadcast signal for a decent range that might get picked up.

Thanks in advance.

 

If I were out in the middle of no where, I wouldn't rely on CB or any other consumer level radio for critical communications. If it were me, I'd invest in a satellite phone. If your iridium security doesn't allow personal calls and web surfiing (which I presume it doesn't) then you want a "regular" sat phone.

 

What distances are you working with? What is the general geography of the area? Is there a robust repeater network in the area? Who would you be trying to contact in case of emergency, and are they well versed in radio use? These variables will & should factor into the decision.

 

NEVER underestimate how grouchy hams can get.

I think it's cool but, meh. I'd rather spend the space on a fridge than a radio.

You can have THE BEST radio in the world. You can hit satellites with a ham radio (actually pretty cheap/easy). But this all requires two things:

1. Knowing where the satellites are/when they'll be overhead, when, etc. This isn't too bad, websites do all this for you nowadays. The antennas are a bit goofy looking but you can hit them with a handheld and a solid antenna.

But most importantly, with a sat phone, HAM radio, CB radio, GMRS radio, smoke signal, beacon, etc - it only works if there's...

2. Someone on the other end


You can get a HAM radio, find the local repeaters (if you can even hit them), program them in ahead of time (since doing it on the fly is probably a pain in the balls), send a CQ, and get....nobody there. Mobile, on the .52 chances are you're getting about 10 mile range or so. Same for repeaters - you'd have to be within 10-15 ish miles of the repeater in order to get your signal in. But then, you also need someone on the out to receive your TX. Otherwise you're just bellowing into the abyss.

Bueller.... Bueller....

What do you have for licenses? Do you have your amateur radio (HAM)? GMRS? Nothing?

 

We could start a Tacomaworld N.E. BS 2 meter net.

I kid.

 

I can only speak about how my antennas work but I have a CB mount on the rear pass side and I run my NMO mount for GMRS on the pass side front bumper about a foot ahead of the factory radio antenna on my 2000 short bed Taco and the performance of both is exceptional. You will never have an "ideal" antenna install on a vehicle so compromise in the ways that fit your setup best.

 

just make sure its omni-directional and grounded very well. I wish kenwood still sold the d710, I have had two of those radios and the v71a as well. both are good. I do not use any digital modes, just analog. My suggestion is a mount on the roof rack if you do not have one already or, you could go with a "ditch light" type mount on the hood. many options for no drill for sure.

 

yee yee I worked AO-51 with a 5 watt HT and a DIY ghetto ass antenna I made LOL . got a ISS qso card in the mail too! I wish the ISS was still doing voice!!!!!!!!!

 

Or an 80 meter net.

 

not a bad idea dude. need to get yo Ham radio lic tho.

 

I am very fond of mag mounts. They are portable and get an RF ground through the paint. So far as Kenwood, who knows? They seem to be abandoning the Ham market. I have a V7, 707 and the 71. All are in good working order.

 

another with red lights, I like.

That's a GMRS radio only needs the GMRS license 35$/10 years now. I got mine last year and have immediately since forgotten my GMRS call sign.