San Diego BS Thread.

Little project I worked on yesterday. I FINALLY decided to install this setup. I've had this sitting for over a year and a half but it hasn't been on the priority list. I'm very excited! For those of you who have installed a hard mount HAM, how did you route the antenna cable?

Trimming the plastic on the shifter housing.

 

Trimming the bezel and rough fitment.

 

Mine was run through a grommet under the driver floorboard, run along the frame, up into the driver tail light housing and then out to a tailgate mount.

 

Through the roof lol

 

@desertjunkie760 mine is routed through the main grommet on the drivers side firewall, up and under the windshield cowl, along the windshield, and along the rain gutter to a mag mount at the rear of the roof.

 

I was thinking of just running it under the "b-pillar" cowl and through the door. At least temporarily as I'm imagining my antenna mount will change in the near future.

 

What I did before the roof was under the passenger seat. Fairly large grommet there.

 

That’s how I ran the CB antenna wire

 

Serious question. How did you route yours via the roof?

there's a couple grommets under the cab. I was hoping to retain somewhat of a water seal if possible.

 

I did the roof on my first gen, a little scary but once its done its done! haha I believe I ran mine up the A pillar, between the headliner and roof. Been there for a few years and no leaks. Its the best place for most antennas (ground plane). Nice part is you can remove the whip with one allen key and then its only 2" above the roof. Also, I have the same radio, works great!

 

Most just punch a hole in the existing grommet. It will close back up enough to block 95% of water. If that's not up to your liking, there are always other options.

$12 Mission Automotive Universal Firewall Boot Pack of 2, For Wire Bundles 3/8" to 1", Quick & Easy Grommet for Running Cable Through Firewalls & Bulkheads Safely, Compatible with Any Vehicle

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Firewall-Firewalls-Bulkheads-Compatible/dp/B089158CM8/ref=sr_1_53?crid=1ZEIXZAUAGY7A&dchild=1&keywords=bulkhead+grommet&qid=1597083952&sprefix=bulkhead+gr%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-53

$10 GiBot Cable Glands - 25 Pack Plastic Waterproof 3.5-13mm Cable Glands Joints Wire Protectors, PG 7/9/11/13.5/16, Black

https://www.amazon.com/GiBot-Cable-Glands-Waterproof-Protectors/dp/B0748JLNR4/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1ZEIXZAUAGY7A&dchild=1&keywords=bulkhead+grommet&qid=1597083952&sprefix=bulkhead+gr%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-4

 

I've heard good things about this radio. I'm by no means knowledgeable on these setups. I just want a better option than the Boefang hand helds I'm currently using. The 65 watt power will be nice to have available if needed.

The guy I bought the radio from gave me a wall transformer so I was playing with the setup last night. I'm pretty excited about it. I can easily adjust squelch and save up to 100 named memory channels which I'll be saving the known "Race" channels to start.

I like the second option as a fall back plan. Thanks! I'm not shoving more wires through the firewall grommet. Already have enough going through there.

 

Lies, its never enough. We'll all eventually find something else to add. Like some heated cupholders....

 

I prewired 5 switches when I did my fuse block so all I have to do is add the accessory and switch later on. It was a big project at the time but the "plug and play is nice now." I'm only using two of the switches at the moment.

 

Yeah HAM is way clearer than a mojority of CB setups since they are usually not tuned correctly. I have the one in the truck, then 2 UV-8R's for other people.

 

You do t see a lot of CB setups on the west coast. They were big when I live on the East Coast but I rarely see them out here.

That’ll be my exact setup. I have my current UV-8R and a spare for CYA. With the hard mount I’ll have two “loaners” and/or a backup.

 

What antennas are you guys using for this Kenwood?

ideally I'd like to mount a half wave on the driver fender to mirror the radio antenna, but more realistically a quarter wave for the 2m

 

What HRO told me to grab when I bought the setup
Larsen
NMO 150 (2m)
Frequency: 144-174 MHz
Gain: 3dBd / 5.2dBi
Electrical: 5/8 wave
Height: 49"
Power Rating: 200 Watts

 

3/4 NMO Cables are under headliner