Clean VHF/CB radio installs

Started with a DMM ( ). Control head is held on by the miracle that is industrial Velcro. Mic is held by the DMM Mighty Magnet pad accessory (no need for a u-hook, mic mount at the back of it is ferrous). Bonus, I can drop the mic to the center console and slap an old iPad on the mount (with a mag sticker pad on it) running GaiaGPS:



Like many others, plopped the brains on the right side under the center console:



Used this CBI Off-road hood hinge mount for antenna. It's great and antenna clears window when hood is open. Not using it at the moment because I did something stupid and ripped the connector off the coax:



So, in the interim, I'm back to using a Tram mag mount on the roof (and that thing has a really solid magnet):



And I have a rear mount I haven't decided what to do with yet. Build it, and they will come:



One big consideration I had with all this is that I live in a city where anything remotely valuable looking will get your window broken and it snatched. I can easily put this stuff out of sight when not using.

 

For the 2nd Gen guys, I will be mounting my Cb under the that cover on the left side that gives access to the fuses. How many self tappers did you use to secure the bracket, and what size self tappers?

 

where did you get that RJ faceplate?

nvm found link at bottom of page
thanks

 

One like this from ebay

RJ45 UHF Radio Switch Panel Dash Socket For Toyota Prado Hilux Landcruiser Black | eBay

 

My apologies for resurrection an old part of this thread, but I'm looking at possibly doing a similar installation for a RF scanner. Does the Victory 4x4 antenna mount obstruct opening/closing your hood?

 

Not totally on topic but the NMO cap, would you recommend it? I have a 3/4" hole in my roof with a NMO mount on a truck I just bought an it doesn't have a cap and I'm worried about its leak potential.

 

Most likely the NMO mount has an O-ring seal to the roof but I'd recommend a cap for extra insurance and to protect the mount. Lots of caps out there but this is the one I use which has a nice rubber seal

$14 Larsen Black Plastic Rain Cap for NMO Antenna Mount

https://www.amazon.com/Larsen-Plast...mo&qid=1663004069&sprefix=nmo,aps,145&sr=8-16

 

The Victory 4x4 works fine when opening/closing the hood. Two notes on that bracket, though, that I mentioned earlier somewhere in this thread: 1) The cable will probably get pinched a bit; there isn't really any clearance between the bracket and the cowl. A better design would have put a couple of bends in the bracket to give it some clearance. 2) Be careful which antenna mount you buy for it. One of the ones they recommend on their site (BMATM3) actually doesn't work.

 

Tech Tips for whoever needs info for NMO Connectors / Mounting

 

My Kenwood is mounted on the back side of the console. Fused power comes from the battery. Mic lives right above it in the cupholder, so there is no need for a clip. The control head is on a gooseneck attached to the passenger side seat bolt. The gooseneck seems not to interfere at all with the seat moving. I did drill a hole in the roof for an NMO connector (do spring for a cap). The antenna cable snakes from there down to the door sill and under the seat.

Unless you are looking for it, nothing is visible.

I have forgotten a time or two to turn the rig off, only to find a day or two later that the truck started right up again.

 

For those who are interested, here is what antennas look like on the Victory 4x4 hood bracket.

I used a Laird MABVTO NMO mount from eBay on the Victory bracket.

I spent a bit of time bending the bracket until the antenna stood vertical. It leans a bit if un-bent. Would be nice if the bracket came pre-bent as this was the most difficult part of the job. The result looks and works well however.

Tram 1181 2m/70cm ham antenna:


Larsen NMO2/70B:



note: the Larsen hears a lot better than the Tram. Where I live the repeaters are close enough so the improvement is not really needed. The Tram looks like an AM/FM antenna and is on most of the time. SWR of both are acceptable out of the box.

 

Midlan mxt275 mounted in the cubby under the stereo in a Crutchfield stereo mount kit.

 

where did u get that antenna mount

 

The antenna mount I used:
https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VT3CB-BARE.html

 

Icom 2730. This faceplate has a magnetic adapter to be easily removed for theft protection. Main box is under the passenger seat. Brackets are from Home Depot, and I have a small wood backer on the inside of that center switch panel for extra support. Seems pretty solid.

 

For folks mounting the main unit under the seats, how are you attaching it? To the floor or to the seat? Velcro? Custom mounts?

 

Attached to the seat itself.

Mounting bracket that came with unit secured with zip ties to the metal support wires under the seat.

Then, radio mounted into said bracket.

 

Mine did not come with a mount so I went with heavy duty velcro to the carpet.

 

Plexi sheet with aux speaker and unit mounted to it;


Flipped upside down and cable-tied to the bottom of the seat;

 

Radio is an Icom IC-880H, still waiting on parts to finish control head install and not sure where I’m putting the microphone yet, but here are some pictures of the power cabling, antenna mount, and main radio under the seat. I’m pretty happy with it, thanks to all who posted already for the ideas.

I am curious as I’ve seen some posts here where people appear to have added a nub to the back of an Icom microphone instead of the hook thing they come with, can anyone shed some light on what pieces I need to do that?