Ham Rig Install and Cockpit w/ Pics

[fuelxc]

I recently went ahead and took my ham license exam again so that I could have some good comm and aprs. I took some photos as I went but frustrated with not having all my tools (we are in an AirBNB until our house is ready) I didn't take pics the whole way.

JeepUniq I ordered at the same time and got an email saying things are delayed. Fair enough, though everywhere else disclaims that BEFORE you order. They did not. I got an email 3 days later. I have since responded, asked questions, etc with no response in over a week. So, unfortunately I am not able to review that product but their customer care/support is terrible at this point.

Gear:

• Yaesu FTM-300DR
• Yaesu extension kit for the FTM-300DR
• Comet 2x4SR NMO Dual Band Antennae
• Comet coax with NMO mount
• CoolTECH JL NMO Mount
• Kraken Off-road overhead molle
• 67 Designs arms and amps mount
• Lido amps mount for Yaesu FTM-300
• JeepUniq 67 designs mic mount (someday maybe?)

I started off by installing the antennae mount and running the coax to the front. I snaked the coax under trims panels on the roll cage all the way to the front. The only problem I had with this path so far is when I have the rear view camera on it interferes with the reception.

Next I ran the power from the battery using the supplied leads that came the the Yaesu. Removing the grab handle requires unbolting two bolts under the the covers on each end of the handle then it just pops off. I also removed the speaker cover to ease installation. I also removed the catches for the sun visors and unscrewed both of the visors and let them dangle. This allowed for the trim panel that runs across the front windscreen rollbar to pop off easily. The supplied leads were perfect length to fish then through the corner panel, up the rollbar behind the trim and out above the rear view mirror.

I wanted to make sure I had options to mount the display for the radio. I worried if I had the roof off and it was mounted by the rearview mirror it could be hard to see. The extension kit came with a long display and mic cable though any cat6 cable should work. Not having any of my tools I would of had to pay more for the tools to make the cables than it cost to buy their kit so I ponied up for the yaesu kit. I ran the mic and display down the driver side away from the power and antennae (though I would suggest getting a longer coax and run it across the roll bar and up the the middle of the molle panel which I will probably do in the future). The flat cable for the display worked perfectly to slip it in the weather stripping of the windscreen until I got it to the center of the dash.

The microphone cable went through the dash and out under the steering wheel. I used a coat hanger to fish it down the trim panel to where the door connection is. Then just zip tied across to the center console.

I then buttoned everything up, zip tied the cables and placed the supplied connector and double sided sticky tape to mount it just in front of the 4wd selector. I had to cut little notches in the trim above the mirror to allow for the cables to exit.

Now with all the stuff ran, car put together (and tested before I button things up) I installed the overhead MOLLE panel and attached the mount that came with the FTM-300.

Here is the cockpit view:

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[Voodoobones]

What is the dash mount? It looks like a slider bar to mount various devices.

 

[Abramovich]

What is the dash mount? It looks like a slider bar to mount various devices.

It looks like the 67 Designs Rail Mount for the JL.

 

[fuelxc]

What is the dash mount? It looks like a slider bar to mount various devices.

It is the 67 Designs rail

 

[Renhilio]

What is your SWR with the tailgate antenna mount? Are you getting lots of feedback through the radio?

 

[tonygiotta]

Opened this thread to see the molle panel / overhead radio mount. We got the cockpit view of the display, where's the rest of the radio?

 

[MichaelAnthony]

I am also interested in the rest of the set up if you wouldn't mind. I would like to see the back of the mount for the ham display on the rail system, (I am thinking about a vector rail mount for 67 designs and ram mounts). I also have the exact same CoVid 19 set up for mask storage, .

 

[fuelxc]

Here is the only pic I have right now that shows the overhead. I will get better ones ASAP.

 

[Renhilio]

I hasten to add I really like your installation. A buddy and I are looking to do jeep mounted radio installations and reaaaalllly want to go tailgate antenna mount, but its hard to figure out the signal integrity and feedback loop penalty (and potential radio damage) from mounting the antenna between the spare and the rear tailgate.

 

[fuelxc]

I hasten to add I really like your installation. A buddy and I are looking to do jeep mounted radio installations and reaaaalllly want to go tailgate antenna mount, but its hard to figure out the signal integrity and feedback loop penalty (and potential radio damage) from mounting the antenna between the spare and the rear tailgate.

I got a 5/8 wave and haven't had any problems.. The only part beyond the mount that is metal is the rim which is not close enough that I worry. I have had really good signal. I chose to put the antenna back there to be as far away as possible and still have a good ground. I placed distance from antenna as the top priority so I didn't worry about the rest (unless it was terrible signal but I did not find that at all)

edit: I will also note that the antenna isn't behind the tire right now (with the stock 33")

 

[Voodoobones]

I hasten to add I really like your installation. A buddy and I are looking to do jeep mounted radio installations and reaaaalllly want to go tailgate antenna mount, but its hard to figure out the signal integrity and feedback loop penalty (and potential radio damage) from mounting the antenna between the spare and the rear tailgate.

What is the rack that you have going between your front window and the soundbar?

 

[fuelxc]

What is the rack that you have going between your front window and the soundbar?

I wanted the JCR but they were too slow so I got this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08H8WG27L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I might still get the JCR

 

[Renhilio]

I got a 5/8 wave and haven't had any problems.. The only part beyond the mount that is metal is the rim which is not close enough that I worry. I have had really good signal. I chose to put the antenna back there to be as far away as possible and still have a good ground. I placed distance from antenna as the top priority so I didn't worry about the rest (unless it was terrible signal but I did not find that at all)

edit: I will also note that the antenna isn't behind the tire right now (with the stock 33")

Looking closer at your pictures, I see what you mean, and I really like that antenna mounting on the factory hinge bolts. Do you only run the hard top? The other concern I had was if the soft top when retracted would it contact the antenna. Needy, I know, but I'm trying to consider all angles.

 

[fuelxc]

Looking closer at your pictures, I see what you mean, and I really like that antenna mounting on the factory hinge bolts. Do you only run the hard top? The other concern I had was if the soft top when retracted would it contact the antenna. Needy, I know, but I'm trying to consider all angles.

I don't have a soft top. I only run hard or no top. The only thing I wish was that I could mount the radio farther back so when I run it with the faceplate on the radio, I can see it better. I might rotate it a bit to face me more but I only run it up top when daily driving and not really using it.

 

[fuelxc]

Here are the closer pics.

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