PICTURE THREAD: Post up your Mobile HAM setups

[Rezarf <><]

I am diving into the HAM world with both feet and taking my exam next week. I have already bought a radio for my old FJ40 Land Cruiser (Yaesu m2800) and my 100 series as well (Kenwood TM-707a). I was hoping we could create a thread that might stir the imagination for installing different HAM radios into different vehicles.

If you want to play please include the following:
(Ya

• Relevant Pictures of your Mobile setup, especially anything "custom" to your rig
• What vehicle your using
• What brand and model radio
• What brand and model Antenna
• What method/parts you used for mounting
• Why you mounted it in the position you did
• Anything particular you wish to highlight

I'll post up pics as soon as I get everything mounted up and in place.

 

[Josie'slandcruiser]

Hi all,

I have Yaesu 2M radios in both my FJ40 and my Tacoma, using front fender mounts for the 5/8ths wave antennas.

An used 2800 is installed in the dashboard of the 40 where the radio/tape deck originally sat.

The 1600 in the Tacoma is mounted to a piece of 2 by 6 inch lumber, which is crammed into the space between the center console and the passenger's seat.
No cutting allowed!!

Regards,

Alan

 

[highdesertranger]

I wish this thread would have had more responses. I am a future ham and would like to see the antenna mounting configurations. com'on guys let's see some pics. how do you guys deal with trees and brush. with my CB I have a spring on the antenna but I really don't see that with hams. highdesertranger

 

[BettysNephew]

Too busy today to take and post pix, but I use an Austin Antenna 500c for normal use and it has a spring on the bottom. If I will be encountering branches etc., I switch to a 500c Soft Top by the same maker. The upper portion of the mast is extremely flexible and I doubt it can be broken by a branch as it can be bent down to touch the load coil assembly without breaking. Austin makes antennas for .mil so they make things that can hold up to Soldiers and Marines. Paul is also a great guy to deal with.

 

[Finlay]

I have a yaesu 857D. For VHF/UHF, I installed a couple of NMO mounts in the roof of the truck. I've been running a COMET SS-680SB - it has a spring in it, and has held up really well to the abuse so far, and peforms OK decent.

You can see my radio installation in my build thread starting here.

 

[AaronK]

I have a 5/8 wave whip on my Tundra. As you can see it handles trees okay.

Sent from my OnePlus One using Tapatalk.

 

[highdesertranger]

thanks guys, I have heard about Austin Antenna but can't find their website. anybody got a link? highdesertranger

 

[lowrider_rt2000]

I'm not sure what radio I have. All I know is it a cobra that was my buddies from inside his 18 wheeler. I have an 8ft whip mounted on a dodge dakota/ram fender mount. I have it mounted above my driver side tail light. I mounted it there so tree branches wouldn't catch it. So far I'm very pleased with everything.

sent from inside my Wj

 

[Chris Boyd]

Ok, I'll go.

KJ4EST
Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series
Kenwood D-710
Green Light Labs GPS APRS interface

Custom installation, the photos should show the concept. I'm sure that some folks will find the location a little inconvenient, but for the way I use the rig, it works for me. I don't rag chew or scan around on different repeaters (anymore). If I want to rag chew, I get on HF/stationary.

I mostly leave the left side on simplex 146.46, I have the call button for 146.52 and have some repeaters in the memory. I leave the right side in APRS mode so I have actual track records and family can peek in on where I might be. I use an inReach for official "position reporting" when it comes to life safety issues, but two is one, one is none.

I mostly have the 710 head unit button locations and functions memorized, and don't want anything down low in the cockpit. I dedicate most of my view to out the windshield and on moving map applications on the iPad. The Ham rig is mostly for talking in convoys or along the way to simplex. I also use the WX receive for weather conditions.

A couple of the photos of the installation:

710 mounted under the side wing of my rear drawers. Head unit and speakers remotes to cockpit

Hidden under the side wing.

The head unit installed in the overhead console:

The Green Light Labs GPS for APRS

The "cockpit" with custom iPad and inReach mount

Comet antenna on Labrak Mount

labRak antenna/flag mount on Rear door.

 

[BettysNephew]

Go here:
http://www.rfwiz.com/AustinAntenna/AustinAntenna_InfoDat.htm
The 500c is about 1/2 way down the page.

 

[highdesertranger]

thanks BettysNephew. highdesertranger

 

[leucadiacruiser]

Ok, I'll go.

KJ4EST
Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series
Kenwood D-710
Green Light Labs GPS APRS interface

Custom installation, the photos should show the concept. I'm sure that some folks will find the location a little inconvenient, but for the way I use the rig, it works for me. I don't rag chew or scan around on different repeaters (anymore). If I want to rag chew, I get on HF/stationary.

I mostly leave the left side on simplex 146.46, I have the call button for 146.52 and have some repeaters in the memory. I leave the right side in APRS mode so I have actual track records and family can peek in on where I might be. I use an inReach for official "position reporting" when it comes to life safety issues, but two is one, one is none.

I mostly have the 710 head unit button locations and functions memorized, and don't want anything down low in the cockpit. I dedicate most of my view to out the windshield and on moving map applications on the iPad. The Ham rig is mostly for talking in convoys or along the way to simplex. I also use the WX receive for weather conditions.

A couple of the photos of the installation:

710 mounted under the side wing of my rear drawers. Head unit and speakers remotes to cockpit

Hidden under the side wing.

The head unit installed in the overhead console:

The Green Light Labs GPS for APRS

The "cockpit" with custom iPad and inReach mount

Comet antenna on Labrak Mount

labRak antenna/flag mount on Rear door.

That is exactly the setup I had been thinking about for my 2003 UZJ100 but had never seen completed. I knew that sunglass holder would work for something :wings: Also that's the second LabRak mount I've seen used for an NMO. Did you also have to drill that out?

 

[Comanche Scott]

Wonderific radio stack...lol

Here is my setup in a Wrangler:

Baofeng UV-B5
Cobra CB
InReach SE (sits on backside of bracket)
Verizon/Galaxy Note4 (on windshield mount).

I got the hand talkie first for a few reasons.
1). Cheap way to get into ham.
2). I can practice with it while walking the dog, or out on a local hike, or while pulling weeds in the yard (yuck!).
3). When I put the mobile radio in the Jeep, I can carry the hand talkie when hiking and use the mobile like a repeater.

I program it with Chirp, and use Repeater Book app for smart phone. Same thing I'd do for a mobile, so I'm getting practice with all that as well.
Figure better to be comfortable with usage before I'm in a stressful situation and *need* to use it.

Wrangler has a fiberglass, cloth, or no top, so just the stock antenna gets out pretty good. If I had a steel roof, I'd probably run an external magnetic mount antenna.

 

[Chris Boyd]

That is exactly the setup I had been thinking about for my 2003 UZJ100 but had never seen completed. I knew that sunglass holder would work for something :wings: Also that's the second LabRak mount I've seen used for an NMO. Did you also have to drill that out?

It's not really an NMO. It's a PL259 common to the Comet and other style antennas. No, don't recall having to drill it.

Fortunately, mine didn't have the sunglasses holder, the 99 has just the garage door holder, but shouldn't matter on the newer style. Might be an issue if you have homelink, but easy enough to check.

As I mentioned, for me it works. But visibility to the screen in not good, and I wouldn't dare look at it in-motion. I don't look at it most times for how I use it in this truck. Set it and forget it. YMMV.

 

[MANUCHAO]

I gots a Yaesu 2900 2m radio.
in my FZJ60 installed inside the tuffy console to keep out of sight.
No it does not overheat... (not yet anyways)...
Mic is on the front dash, using RJ12 wire, and a 4 pin jack.
Aux speaker is under the dash on pass side right where the OEM radio dash speaker used to be.
The idea is to keep the stock look and feel as much as possible...
Antenna is a Comet NCG-SBB25 Mounted on a DIY bracket on the rear hatch...
Has been there for about 2 years trouble free.