Just wanted to get some feedback and group wisdom on a good place to mount my HAM radio and run the antenna wire. I was thinking of using large velcro patches and mounting it in the full acre of dash board. I used the velcro before and it holds tight. The issue then is where to run the wires. Anyway...what are your ideas?

 

What kind of rig do you want to install? Most modern VHF/UHF and a lot of HF rigs will remote mount and the head will fit nicely in the pocket at the bottom of the radio/HVAC stack.


I have my remote head scanner (BCD-996XT) and Kenwood TM-V71A VHF/UHF rig there and it's great. I put two small screws in the bottom edge of the center panel to hold the scanner bracket and the Kenwood is simply Scotch super industrial two sided tape stuck to the bottom of the scanner. This may not be too clear - I have only the remote heads up front, the actual rigs are in the rear storage compartment.

 

Wow! That's awesome! I have a Yaesu 2900 for 2M. I'm pretty new to HAM and unfortunately have had little time to learn more. I used to have it mounted in a Landcruiser and made a couple contacts but sold the LC due to blue smoke and have not yet had a chance to hook my Yaesu up in the Durango.

I think the Yaesu would fit there but it would be tilted at a downward angle. I might have to do some cutting.

Anyway...where did you run all your wires? 2nd battery in the back?

KD0SFT is my call sign but I'm apparently not ready for communication yet.

 

The Yaesu is only one-tenth of an inch wider than the scanner I have in the hole. I'd not be at all surprised if you couldn't mount the bracket in the opening and tilt the rig any way you want. Dodge gave us the perfect spot for radios!

The transmitter is powered by +12V coming from the battery, through the firewall, along the passenger side floor trim to the rear under-floor cargo area. The only difficult part was finding a way through the firewall.

 

AZC:
I have my dual band Kenwood mounted vertically to the side of the console just to the left of where the equipment is mounted in these pics.
I routed the antenna wire under the floor mats all the way to the back hatch, and then up and out each side to separate mag mounts on the roof.

There is also adequate room to mount external power amps under the rear seats if needed.

Don

 

Thanks all. I might need to remount mine so this information will be helpful. For not I just used some velcro strips and mounted the unit on top of the dash, by the left pillar. I had to slide it back just a bit so that it would not obstruct my view when I'm sitting in the driving position.

The problem with the velcro at first is that in the heat the sticky stuff kind of gets slippery. It's holding fine now though.

I ran the power wires on the left side of the dash, down, around and out the rubber plug that sits back in by the door hinge. I ran power to the red wire that feeds the fuze box and black to the ground by the fuze box. I do have it seperately fuzed.

My antenna wire, for now, is just folded into the top rubber door mouldings and up and over the roof rack to a mag mount. I added some left over copper wire "twist ties" to secure the cable to the roof rack in a couple spots to keep if from flopping around.

Neat thing is, with the mag mount, if I put it right over the DVD player, the DVD player won't work. Don't tell my kids though. heh heh

I probably won't post a pic. Well, not any time soon. But will if I get the chance.