Ham Radio Install 2012 Taco

Hello everyone, I have a recent mod to my truck. I apologize for not detailing this as I normally do; however, we were rushed to finish this all in 2 days before a trip to Coco Beach FL for a wedding. We got there a few days early and toured KSC. I love the real space stuff, and I got a kick ass T-shirt that simply says, “Occupy Mars”.





So, I have had an amateur radio license for several years after some convincing from all my Army Ranger brothers. The Bat boys feel that an alternate form of communication is required in this day and age of terrorism, and I agree. CB does not have the reach and functionality we want, so amateur radio was the logical choice.


For the longest time I have been happy with my handheld radio but where we go camping in North GA it is very mountainous and the desire to work on simplex (line of sight radio to radio with no public repeater) is difficult to do. The solution is to have a vehicle radio that can act as a repeater. Park the truck on a hilltop and have comms for a usable distance in all directions similar to a retrains site in the military. Many of my brothers have such radios and I have been dragging my butt to do the same.


So, I finally decided to bite the bullet. I purchased a Yaesu FTM-400XDR for the hefty price of ~$800.00 with some rebates from Ham Radio Outlet (HRO). This is a C4FM FDMA/ FM 144/440 MHz Dual Ban Transceiver that can pump 50 watts. I also got a ½ wave antenna, wiring, and an aux speaker. The radio specifications are here:


https://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?c...EFF8482F3367495319&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0





Since I have 2 open slots in the fuse panel, I installed for my lights back in 2012 (see my build) I used one of those slots to power the radio. We ran the wiring from the engine compartment through the fire wall using the existing wire harness boot located under the dash above the parking brake.








This radio has a main body and a separate head unit. I mounted the main body to the side of the center console on the passenger side. We ran all the wiring under the dash against the firewall and zip tied it in place. I added an auxiliary speaker and mounted it in the cubby to the right of the steering wheel where my arm is.








If the stereo looks dirty, it is, My Rhodesian Ridgeback sheds, and I drive with the windows down so his hair gets everywhere.





We mounted the head unit next to the driver’s side A pillar. The head unit has an internal GPS, so it needs to be in view of the windshield. It is also touch screen and I did not want it to sit in the sunlight, so the A pillar was the perfect location for it. The mount that it came with was bent and forced into the head liner and it holds the face plate perfectly. It does not interfere with my field of view and is accessible.





The antenna is 38” tall and I wanted it as high as possible, so I mounted it to the roof rack and ran the wiring under the carpet along the passenger side. The issue with mounting it on the roof rack is that it is susceptible to being broken by a low hanging branch or even in a drive through. I mounted it on the passenger side to minimize some of this and the antenna can fold over when not in use but in the woods, it would only be a matter of time before it broke and $50.00 for a new antenna is not cheap.











For some reason the ham radio community in the US is not as interested in ruggedized antennas and mounts as they are in Australia. I can get a heavy-duty spring mount from California or Australia for $350.00 but I was not interested in spending that kind of money. So, we welded up a spring mount and painted it with KG metal coating 2400 gun coat and cooked it at 350 for 1 hour.








I really needed the spring mount to keep from snapping the antenna in the woods. Well, that’s it and now I can talk to Germany, the UK, hell even the International Space Station all from my truck.


I look forward to your comments and questions.

 

Exactly which antenna are you running? Is it half or quarter wave. I have a quarter wave comet but not to crazy about it

 

Nice install I have a dual band yaesu I put the radio under the front seat and the face on the console. I used the Larsen thru the window antenna and it works great> a radio in the truck is nice, enjoy Topcathr N1GYM

 

clloewe24, Its a 1/2 wave. DIAMOND NR-770HB 144 / 440 MHz Dualband Vertical Mobile Antenna - 40 Inches tall - UHF Connector - Black from HRO, I love the antenna. Great all around antenna, I dont think I would be happy with anything shorter. Most of my brothers are running full wave antenna but thats a lot of antenna to slap around in the woods. I may get one to put on once im sitting on a hill but the 1/2 wave works great so far.

Topcathr, what Yaesu rig do you have? The FT 8800? you can do cross band with it and for some unknown reason Yaesu stopped making it...

 

nice install details

 

Thanks for the info. I have a yaesu 7800 with a comet 1/4 wave. I think I would rather have a 1/2 wave.

 

I have the 7800 great radio.....

 

I need to make the move from CB to HAM. Seeing this setup makes me realize I just need to do it.

Nice thread OP!! Enjoyed reading!

 

CB is a zoo, ham radio is for gentlemen and ladies listen in you will see the difference right away. get a club near by and study online practice test, when I got my extra I had to do 20 words per minute morse code. I don't think its required for technicians license. good luck

 

Morse code is not required now.

 

Well guys, I will be honest and say that I was a CB guy in my Jeep in the early 90s but once I went to Ham, its been a whole new world. Check out this guys video of APRS with the Yaesu FTM 400XR. This is basically an open source Blue Force Tracker (for the military guys who know what one is). This kind of stuff is being employeed by search and rescue units around the country and its available to everyone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZhlaPADnSg

And that is just one aspect of Ham that is growing in popularity. You can hit repeaters that link to the internet and talk digitally around the world. The Ham community is really growing and the technology is better everyday. For those interested, study the online tests and go get your Technician License. the test is not rocket science and a basic understanding of electronics and signals is all that required. Once you get your license, get a hand held and join a club. In no time you will know if you like it or not and then you can look for how to apply Ham to offroading and other activities.

The 7800 is a great rig BTW.

Also guys check out repeaterbook.com and see the lists of reapters in your area. They can be divided by type, band, features, etc... With today's radios you can program a ton of repeaters and have reliable communication from the woods, hills, or deserts, back to you home. It comes in handy if you frequent places where cell communications is sketchy at best.

Making the move to Ham extends range and capability over CB by an exponential value.

 

Is there a band preference? Looking at HRO website, I see single, dual transceivers, etc.

 

@Molon Labe have you been to the HRO store in Atlanta? I'm heading down to see my parents in Athens in a few weeks, if the HRO store is worth visiting, I'll go check it out.

 

I need to heck it out also if it's worth it.

 

Guys HRO is a small but great store. I consider it the best Ham radio retail store I have been to. Gigaparts.com is the online superstore but HRO has always had what I was looking for and the staff is very knowledgeable. I suggest speaking to the younger guys as they are less geeky and more personable. As far as brands, I prefer Yaesu but Kenwood is good as well. I am not a fan of Icon. Think about what you want to do with your radio then decide what you may be interested in the future. For a simple hand held 2meter and 440mhz dual band should be a great stater. Whatever you get, you aslo want the programing software and the cable if needed. You may want a linger flexible antenna. For vehicle radios the cost is considerable and you will need antennas cabling etc...

There is a ton of new stuff out there that you can do with ham like GPS, APRS, texting, transmitting picture, cross band, etc.. for these reasons you want to have similar systems to your friends to ensure compatibility with the higher end functions like C4FM. For these reasons and more its well worth you time to get involved with a club or other hams local to you so that you can make good decisions. Also I do not recommend that you blow a ton on your first radio as I am sure you will out grow it and purchase more capable radios in the future but to get one with all the bells and whistles now will seem overwhelming.

Also there are a ton of cheap Chinese knock offs that you can get later on and keep them in bug out bags etc.. as they are around 60.00 but a good handheld will cost about 200.00. I do see that the Yaesu FT2DR is on sale for 299.00 and that is a flagship of handhelds at this time.

I hope this helps. Also I recommends finding a Ham radio forum like tacoma forum. The ham community is just as into modification as we are with our trucks.


Good luck

 

Yaesu 857D With ATAS120A antenna

 

Awesome setup, OP.

 

My 7800 and new diamond antenna. The diamond looks to be better quality than my coment.

 

Nice install,
I've got the FT-2900 installed in my truck, remote face is a must.
73

 

cllowe24, I have my 7800 located in the same spot its really a perfect spot....In ham radio you can get started with a little dual band ht and talk to folks many miles away with 1 watt. Great hobby very small amount of cash. I would tell newbies to find a hamfest (like a flea market for ham radio equipment) and talk to some locals and join a club.........73s lol N1gym