Amateur Radio (ham) install

[squid013]

It doesnt have the center console, just the tray below the middle seat. Im toying with fashioning my own mount to bolt to the seat studs

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[mountainmonkey]

I don't believe so. This is the model I bought. Breedlove #930

How did you end up grounding this mount? I just mounted mine and appear to not have a solid ground from the mount to the chassis. Did you have to remove paint from inside the stake pocket before installing the mount? Did you utilize the ground screw on the mount clamp? If so where did you route the ground wire to on the vehicle?

 

[rebel70]

Hey all! Just joined. Thanks for all the great ideas. Here's a couple shots of my install. I am using the newly released "bulletproof diesel no drill antenna mount" which mounts between the body and third brake light assembly! It works incredibly well and gives you an NMO mount and plenty of cable which I ran through the existing 3rd brake light hole and down the pillar right to my radio brick. Didn't have to mess with any of the upholstery and just fished the cable through from the exterior. The gasket on the mount is solid and has stood up to the elements quite well. I am planning on slapping an all band antenna on to go with my all band radio that's coming in. I am using the Proclip heavy duty mount with a standard mic lip to hold the control head/mic.

 

[securityguy]

Hey all! Just joined. Thanks for all the great ideas. Here's a couple shots of my install. I am using the newly released "bulletproof diesel no drill antenna mount" which mounts between the body and third brake light assembly! It works incredibly well and gives you an NMO mount and plenty of cable which I ran through the existing 3rd brake light hole and down the pillar right to my radio brick. Didn't have to mess with any of the upholstery and just fished the cable through from the exterior. The gasket on the mount is solid and has stood up to the elements quite well. I am planning on slapping an all band antenna on to go with my all band radio that's coming in. I am using the Proclip heavy duty mount with a standard mic lip to hold the control head/mic.

You have great taste in equipment. Motorola is my old almamatter...my first job as an Engineer out of college. Great stuff!

 

[rebel70]

You have great taste in equipment. Motorola is my old almamatter...my first job as an Engineer out of college. Great stuff!

Thanks! APX8500 all band going in very shortly love that I can just slap the all band antenna on my single mount and play. Used to have holes all over my last truck... I could not be happier with the mount bulletproof diesel makes. Highly, highly reccomend. Go Moto.

 

[funtrucker]

I have a kenwood uhf/vhf under the passenger seat and the head is on an arm bolted to the floor bolt. I use a short magnetic dual band antenna mounted the cab.

 

[funtrucker]

need to find a place to run the antenna cable out of the cab without drilling. Any suggestions?

 

[brdima]

need to find a place to run the antenna cable out of the cab without drilling. Any suggestions?

There is a removable plug under the carpet in the rear cab driver side. I used that and sealed with some flex seal.

 

[Cheezer]

Just installed mine today after procrastinating for 6 months

What antenna are you using? How's it working out? I am looking to do a hood mount as well.

 

[N3CAL]

Just finished my install on 2020 1500 Bighorn. The antenna is Diamond CR-320ANMO Tri-Band. The radio is Anytone AT-D578 Tri-Band DMR. Coax and power cable from battery comes in through firewall rubber boot on drivers side. Found the fender mount online at "The Antenna Farm" website. NCG model number DG3ANTNCG for Ram 1500,2500,3500 (2019-2021) Very clean and easy install. SWR on all three bands (2m, 1.2m and 70 cm) are all below 1.3 to 1. The radio has built in Bluetooth and it connects to 1500 radio without any issues both TX and RX through the stereo is nice!

 

[deanathpc]

This thread is very helpful. I'll have to see what I can do to find a way out of the cab for power and antenna. Thanks for everyone who posted locations of grommets etc.

 

[Eddie]

I have been putting off this install quite a while. Passed Technician test Jan 2020. Purchased 1500 Eco Diesel May 2020. Installed Compactenna and 3RD Light Bracket. Ran antenna cable down along rear window, it sits in nicely and up thru grommet beside rear floor storage box.



Recently purchased a Yaesu FTM-300DR and yesterday went searching for a place to hide it in truck. I decided to hide it in the space reserved for the CD player. Removed the plastic storage cubby there and using a dremel made the open ever so slightly larger.






I added a few cable ties and drilled some holes in the plastic underneath to secure it.

Drilled a hole on drivers side for mic


There was an existing access hole in bulkhead grommet I just had to cut the end of it on the engine side.


I used the supplied cable from Yaesu and pushed it thru this grommet. Landed the ground under an existing ground point in engine bay near battery. Installed the hot on a spare lug in main fuse box, this is temporary until i get a chance to install a relay that is operated by ignition on. Right now its always hot.




Finished product, now I just need to learn how to use it.

 

[brdima]

I have been putting off this install quite a while. Passed Technician test Jan 2020. Purchased 1500 Eco Diesel May 2020. Installed Compactenna and 3RD Light Bracket. Ran antenna cable down along rear window, it sits in nicely and up thru grommet beside rear floor storage box.

View attachment 102970

Recently purchased a Yaesu FTM-300DR and yesterday went searching for a place to hide it in truck. I decided to hide it in the space reserved for the CD player. Removed the plastic storage cubby there and using a dremel made the open ever so slightly larger.



View attachment 102963

View attachment 102964View attachment 102976
I added a few cable ties and drilled some holes in the plastic underneath to secure it.
View attachment 102966
Drilled a hole on drivers side for mic
View attachment 102967

There was an existing access hole in bulkhead grommet I just had to cut the end of it on the engine side.
View attachment 102969

I used the supplied cable from Yaesu and pushed it thru this grommet. Landed the ground under an existing ground point in engine bay near battery. Installed the hot on a spare lug in main fuse box, this is temporary until i get a chance to install a relay that is operated by ignition on. Right now its always hot.
View attachment 102971

View attachment 102972

Finished product, now I just need to learn how to use it.



View attachment 102974

View attachment 102976

Very cool but did you know this radio has a detachable face? So you could separate the radio body from the control face.

 

[LocoMorty]

Here's my install:

Icom 7100 custom marine mount (eBay): https://www.ebay.com/itm/154551317981
Dashboard mount from Midwesttrx: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttrx/

Ram Mounts Short Double socket arm and base: https://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-B-201U-A
3rd Brake light NMO mount from Bulletproof Diesel https://bulletproofdiesel.com/collections/antenna-mounts

Stake bed mount from Breedlove Mounts https://breedlovemounts.com/store/ols/all

Rig is mounted under the rear seat and I'm using an LDG 200 antenna tuner into the 102" whip. Why a whip? Because I don't drive very much and just can't justify the cost of a $1.5K plus screwdriver antenna and associated mount for as little as I'll be using the antenna. Regardless, I made a contact into Costa Rica on 17 mtrs while testing it out.

It'll do for my needs.

73

 

[Vision]

I broke my brain figuring this out.
This is my military style 2m antenna. Mounted to the rail with the nuts im showing part number for.
Just got done with it. Will run cable tomorrow.

 

[Vision]

I broke my brain figuring this out.
This is my military style 2m antenna. Mounted to the rail with the nuts im showing part number for.
Just got done with it. Will run cable tomorrow.

Lil bitty 5ish watt hand held got BIG EARS now. Das all i need for the truck for now.

 

[darokis]

Radio base is on left side underneath dashboard. This is not a good picture, but it gives you an idea.

View attachment 7164

Can you take a better picture of the radio mount. I am trying to do the same.
I have ftm-300DR

 

[darokis]

Okay, I decided on doing a trunk mount just to test it out. Not 100% sold, seems like it's very low on the truck. I'm either going to need a taller antenna, or move this one back to where I was originally planning.

View attachment 20453

The faceplate of the FTM-400XDR is so light, I just ended up using velcro to put it in position. I can also take it off whenever I want and store it away. It allows for the center console to easily slide fully forward, but it does block the bottom buttons. Leaves plenty of space for me to use the right side of the compartment for my phone when I want to use it for CarPlay and plug it in. For now I'm just letting the hand mic sit in the side store compartment, I think that will be good enough.

View attachment 20454

As for where I put the radio, I ended up making a custom mount under the driver seat to secure it. So much electronic stuff down there with the motors, heaters, amps, that it was hard to fit it in.

I do think I'm going to move the antenna to the rear of the truck. Maybe I will spend the cash on the folding antenna bracket.

When you move the chair does it hit the radio mounted underneath ?

 

[edrclark]

Can you take a better picture of the radio mount. I am trying to do the same.
I have ftm-300DR

Actually am in the process of moving the radio to another truck. In process of getting a 2022 ram 2500. Love my ram 1500 but bigger boat needs a bigger truck

 

[LBTRS]

Got my Yaesu FTM-300D installed in the truck finally. I'm happy with it and it came out really clean. Radio body is up under the dash on the drivers side right above my left foot.