Amateur Radio (ham) install

[GROCKSHD]

Found this antenna mounting bracket that mounts to the third brake light. Anyone use this yet? https://www.larsonelectronics.com/p...21mXvAyXRCjLDJPG1IKZfAyZMjWhY7MhoC-jcQAvD_BwE

 

[A. W. Hobs]

View attachment 7074 View attachment 7074

What mount. Wife and I are lookin at the 2019 Rebel and I need a clean install just like this

 

[edrclark]

What mount. Wife and I are lookin at the 2019 Rebel and I need a clean install just like this

It’s actually just a piece of scrap plastic that was laying around

 

[GROCKSHD]

What mount. Wife and I are lookin at the 2019 Rebel and I need a clean install just like this

Proclips makes one that screws into existing holes.

 

[-Nightwind-]

Found this antenna mounting bracket that mounts to the third brake light. Anyone use this yet? https://www.larsonelectronics.com/p...21mXvAyXRCjLDJPG1IKZfAyZMjWhY7MhoC-jcQAvD_BwE

Wow, I like that! I want to get my antenna up over the roof, but wasn’t looking forward to drilling holes. This looks like a good option!


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[ClayFire2]

In my previous truck I put the radio base in one of the underfloor storage bin. That worked ok, but I was always a bit worried about the heat.

I love tha compact antennas, mine is mounted on a mag mount, and yes the wire looks dorky

View attachment 19208

What is the antenna you have? I've been looking at something exactly like this but haven't found anything I like. Any issues with it and what radio are you running with it. Been looking st an Icom 5100 and running it with and antenna setup like that but doing a permanent mount on the roof. Thanks!

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

 

[edrclark]

I am using the icon 5100 with this antenna with no issues

COMPACtenna COMPACtenna 2M/440 Antenna Mobile Dual Band 2m-70cm, COMPACtenna 2M/440

COMPACtenna COMPACtenna 2M/440 Compact High Performance 2M/440 Mobile Antenna 7.5 In. NMO Connector

www.hamradio.com

 

[ClayFire2]

I am using the icon 5100 with this antenna with no issues

COMPACtenna COMPACtenna 2M/440 Antenna Mobile Dual Band 2m-70cm, COMPACtenna 2M/440

COMPACtenna COMPACtenna 2M/440 Compact High Performance 2M/440 Mobile Antenna 7.5 In. NMO Connector

www.hamradio.com

Thank you!

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

 

[ClayFire2]

My dithering continues... quick pictures and then a question for you.

The hood mount worked, but I don't love having it in view and felt with the compactenna it sat a little low. Went ahead and ordered the folding antenna mount - a bit of a splurge for a mount but I like the idea that I can move it around as needed, and I can fold it down out of the way for things like going through the carwash. I might even leave it folded down whenever I'm not on a longer trip, as I don't really use my radio on short trips around town.

Playing around with the placement now. I can basically put it anywhere along the side of the bed. I think in the rear would give the best possible signal, but I like it tucked a little closer to the truck. I wonder how much it will affect signal being closer to the cab. I can't put it on the roof or I won't fit in the garage.

Here's the setup so far.

View attachment 21315

View attachment 21316

The mount is a lot bigger than I was expecting, but it's very solid, so I can also choose to go for a bigger antenna if I want, and fold it down as needed, but not sure I want to do that.

Here's my question:

Next I need to run the cable. I was thinking of going in by the storage bin in the floor, but I also noticed this plastic piece under the truck - has anybody gone up through this by drilling a small hole and then sealing it? Either way I can then run the cable under my seat which is where the radio body is located.

View attachment 21320

View attachment 21321

I'll probably end up running the cable through the stake hole then under the truck and up.

What is the folding antenna mount you used? Have been looking around but haven't had much luck. Im going to use the Larson third brake light mount but will need the folding mounts to fit in the garage. Kind of a pain in the *** but will but a lot better with the antennas for me in that location. So far awesome information on your install!

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

 

[ClayFire2]

Wow, I like that! I want to get my antenna up over the roof, but wasn’t looking forward to drilling holes. This looks like a good option!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did you by chance get this mount? If so how did you run the coax? I'd like to run it so its hidden but not sure how to go about that, thought about trying to feed through the back of the third brake light down to behind the rear seats but didn't know what difficulty I'd run into. Thanks!

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

 

[brdima]

anyone who mounted their radio in the center console, how did you run antenna/power cables into the console? I've got power and antenna already in the cab, but I don't see an easy way to get into the console under the arm rest.

 

[Tred's]

While I was having my VIOFO A129 Pro Duo Dash Cam installed at the car audio shop, I talked the guys into running the ant. cable, power wires, control head & mic cables for me. It cost me a few dollars more, but saved me the headache & I know it was done right. I went around it like this.




Everything is under the carpet & console.

 

[PhilBilly]

anyone who mounted their radio in the center console, how did you run antenna/power cables into the console? I've got power and antenna already in the cab, but I don't see an easy way to get into the console under the arm rest.

Well I mounted the control head in the center console in front of the cd player with the main unit of my tyt th9800 under the driver seat with a clip mount on the lip of the hood for the antenna and the coax in between the fender panels and power through a firewall grommet

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

 

[GROCKSHD]

Just installed mine today after procrastinating for 6 months

 

[PHFT]

My dithering continues... quick pictures and then a question for you.

The hood mount worked, but I don't love having it in view and felt with the compactenna it sat a little low. Went ahead and ordered the folding antenna mount - a bit of a splurge for a mount but I like the idea that I can move it around as needed, and I can fold it down out of the way for things like going through the carwash. I might even leave it folded down whenever I'm not on a longer trip, as I don't really use my radio on short trips around town.

Playing around with the placement now. I can basically put it anywhere along the side of the bed. I think in the rear would give the best possible signal, but I like it tucked a little closer to the truck. I wonder how much it will affect signal being closer to the cab. I can't put it on the roof or I won't fit in the garage.

Here's the setup so far.

View attachment 21315

View attachment 21316

The mount is a lot bigger than I was expecting, but it's very solid, so I can also choose to go for a bigger antenna if I want, and fold it down as needed, but not sure I want to do that.

Here's my question:

Next I need to run the cable. I was thinking of going in by the storage bin in the floor, but I also noticed this plastic piece under the truck - has anybody gone up through this by drilling a small hole and then sealing it? Either way I can then run the cable under my seat which is where the radio body is located.

View attachment 21320

View attachment 21321

I'll probably end up running the cable through the stake hole then under the truck and up.

Way too late now but figured I'd post incase anyone else is doing the same install.

I was able to pop that plastic bit out from inside the cab by removing some trim on the bottom of the door and the storage bin and lifting up the carpet, after that's removed its actually just a circular hole that a 25.4mm rubber grommet fits in nicely.

 

[brdima]

Way too late now but figured I'd post incase anyone else is doing the same install.

I was able to pop that plastic bit out from inside the cab by removing some trim on the bottom of the door and the storage bin and lifting up the carpet, after that's removed its actually just a circular hole that a 25.4mm rubber grommet fits in nicely.

Where was this hole located? What trim level truck do you have? My big horn has the grommet on the drivers side, in the rear of the cab. Worst part is my grommet is oval. Finding a replacement grommet was impossible.

 

[PHFT]

Where was this hole located? What trim level truck do you have? My big horn has the grommet on the drivers side, in the rear of the cab. Worst part is my grommet is oval. Finding a replacement grommet was impossible.

Yeah its that same one, plastic oval grommet just behind the floor storage bin its on both the driver and passenger sides of the truck, if you remove the storage bin and lift the carpet you can use a pry tool to pop it off, its just glued, for what ever reason the plastic grommet is oval but the actual hole in the truck is circular.

And I have a 2020 Ram Rebel EcoDiesel

 

[brdima]

Yeah its that same one, plastic oval grommet just behind the floor storage bin its on both the driver and passenger sides of the truck, if you remove the storage bin and lift the carpet you can use a pry tool to pop it off, its just glued, for what ever reason the plastic grommet is oval but the actual hole in the truck is circular.

And I have a 2020 Ram Rebel EcoDiesel

weird! mine is def oval. That’s the underside view from outside

 

[PHFT]

weird! mine is def oval. That’s the underside view from outside

Yeah thats it, mine was the same, just pop it out from the top inside the cab and you'll see the hole is circular, if for what ever reason its not you can always glue it back in. The first picture is the one under the driver side, the others are the one I removed under the passenger side but its the same oval shape in the same spot. The big round top is what you'll see under the carpet inside the cab.

 

[brdima]

Yeah its that same one, plastic oval grommet just behind the floor storage bin its on both the driver and passenger sides of the truck, if you remove the storage bin and lift the carpet you can use a pry tool to pop it off, its just glued, for what ever reason the plastic grommet is oval but the actual hole in the truck is circular.

And I have a 2020 Ram Rebel EcoDiesel

weird! mine is def oval. for sur

Yeah thats it, mine was the same, just pop it out from the top inside the cab and you'll see the hole is circular, if for what ever reason its not you can always glue it back in. The first picture is the one under the driver side, the others are the one I removed under the passenger side but its the same oval shape in the same spot. The big round top is what you'll see under the carpet inside the cab.

this makes no sense. The top is round, yes. The actual metal opening is oval. That’s the Part that makes me cringe. Replacing an oval grommet is way harder than a round one.