Sponsored

Just another Ham Radio install (with pics)

New2Jeep

Member
First Name
Craig
Joined
Sep 18, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
7
Reaction score
16
Location
All Over (travel for work)
Vehicle(s)
2018 JLUS; 2018 HD Heritage Classic Softail; 2012 Victory Vegas 8-Ball; 2003 Monaco Windsor
I just got around to getting the Yaesu FTM-400XDR installed in my Jeep (2018 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara). Still need to put in a good speaker.

I used aluminum bar stock (1/16" x 1") and cut to size then painted to match as closely as possible to the interior trim. This stuff is easy to work with: bend, drill, etc. and not so expensive that you can make several brackets until you get it right!

The radio separation cable was just barely long enough to reach from the control head to under the front passenger seat. I ran it along the front to the A pillar, then along the roll bar to the B pillar, then down to the under seat radio. I will have to get an extension cable for the microphone and an external speaker.

I may get the bluetooth module for the radio, just haven't decided yet.

The antenna and power cable ran through the famous grommet on the driver's side firewall. I made my own power cable (using thicker wire; 12 instead of 14 gauge). The antenna is a lip mount (Comet CP-5M) and the antenna is a Comet CA-2x4SR. SWR is less then 1:1.5 across the 2M ham band and into the commercial band. 70cm is even better, running 1:1-1.2 across the entire band.

Bracket.jpg


HamRadio1.jpg


RadioHead.jpg
Sponsored

 

Bilymac

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bill
Joined
Oct 23, 2018
Threads
9
Messages
348
Reaction score
209
Location
Auburn, CA
Vehicle(s)
2006 Ram 2500, 2017 Chevy Tahoe, 2017 Harley Street Glide Special, 2019 Jeep JLRU
Looks good, nice job. I wish my FTM400 would get here.
 

JonW

Active Member
First Name
Jon
Joined
Jan 10, 2019
Threads
2
Messages
43
Reaction score
53
Location
Huntington Beach, CA
Website
www.socallx.com
Vehicle(s)
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2006 Toyota PreRunner, Researching a JL
Any issues with GPS reception with that location?
I was going to ask the same thing, but then saw the satellite icon and APRS active, so I figured it must be working fine there. Pretty much only fiberglass above it.
 

Martindfletcher

Well-Known Member
First Name
Martin
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Threads
34
Messages
1,548
Reaction score
1,334
Location
San Diego
Vehicle(s)
Ducati 1299s, 2018 JLUR
5C00FEC2-9154-4713-B0F3-AAFE26DB4845.jpeg
Finally found a spot to mount my ham auxiliary speaker, on the bestop rear bracket.

Just made new and slotted holes in the yeasu bracket and added longer Allen bolts.
 

Sponsored

OP
OP

New2Jeep

Member
First Name
Craig
Joined
Sep 18, 2018
Threads
1
Messages
7
Reaction score
16
Location
All Over (travel for work)
Vehicle(s)
2018 JLUS; 2018 HD Heritage Classic Softail; 2012 Victory Vegas 8-Ball; 2003 Monaco Windsor
No problems with GPS reception. It's just the fiberglass top above the radio head, so not really anything to interfere with the reception.

I like the speaker on the cross bar, I may have to see if I can rig up something similar.
 

dgriffin1671

Well-Known Member
First Name
Darrell
Joined
Dec 26, 2017
Threads
9
Messages
121
Reaction score
109
Location
Knoxville, TN
Vehicle(s)
2018 Jeep JLU Rubicon
I just got around to getting the Yaesu FTM-400XDR installed in my Jeep (2018 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara). Still need to put in a good speaker.

I used aluminum bar stock (1/16" x 1") and cut to size then painted to match as closely as possible to the interior trim. This stuff is easy to work with: bend, drill, etc. and not so expensive that you can make several brackets until you get it right!

The radio separation cable was just barely long enough to reach from the control head to under the front passenger seat. I ran it along the front to the A pillar, then along the roll bar to the B pillar, then down to the under seat radio. I will have to get an extension cable for the microphone and an external speaker.

I may get the bluetooth module for the radio, just haven't decided yet.

The antenna and power cable ran through the famous grommet on the driver's side firewall. I made my own power cable (using thicker wire; 12 instead of 14 gauge). The antenna is a lip mount (Comet CP-5M) and the antenna is a Comet CA-2x4SR. SWR is less then 1:1.5 across the 2M ham band and into the commercial band. 70cm is even better, running 1:1-1.2 across the entire band.

Jeep Wrangler JL Just another Ham Radio install (with pics) 5C00FEC2-9154-4713-B0F3-AAFE26DB4845


Jeep Wrangler JL Just another Ham Radio install (with pics) 5C00FEC2-9154-4713-B0F3-AAFE26DB4845


Jeep Wrangler JL Just another Ham Radio install (with pics) 5C00FEC2-9154-4713-B0F3-AAFE26DB4845
What antenna setup are you using?
 

Bobby Boucher

Active Member
First Name
Bob
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Threads
2
Messages
34
Reaction score
53
Location
Central VA
Vehicle(s)
2019 Wrangler 2-Door JL
Just finished installing the Yaesu FTM-300 using the Carbon Fiber Arms & 5mm Offset Mount from 67 Designs and the Grab Bar Ball Mount from Carolina Metal Masters to mount the control head.

Jeep Wrangler JL Just another Ham Radio install (with pics) IMG_2753.JPG

Jeep Wrangler JL Just another Ham Radio install (with pics) IMG_2754.JPG
 

dgriffin1671

Well-Known Member
First Name
Darrell
Joined
Dec 26, 2017
Threads
9
Messages
121
Reaction score
109
Location
Knoxville, TN
Vehicle(s)
2018 Jeep JLU Rubicon
Needing some ideas for a good antenna mount setup for the spare tire area. @Bobby Boucher just ordered those parts for my Yaesu 400. I like that set up
 

Sponsored

Tim Huff

Member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Sep 28, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
9
Reaction score
1
Location
Huntsville AL
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Wrangler JL
Just finished installing the Yaesu FTM-300 using the Carbon Fiber Arms & 5mm Offset Mount from 67 Designs and the Grab Bar Ball Mount from Carolina Metal Masters to mount the control head.

Jeep Wrangler JL Just another Ham Radio install (with pics) IMG_2359.JPG

Jeep Wrangler JL Just another Ham Radio install (with pics) IMG_2359.JPG
I like this for a nice install of the FTM-300. Where did you put the mic and body of the radio?
 

Tim Huff

Member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Sep 28, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
9
Reaction score
1
Location
Huntsville AL
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Wrangler JL
I like the mount for your antenna. It looks to be NMO and if so did you have to make the hole larger?
 

dgriffin1671

Well-Known Member
First Name
Darrell
Joined
Dec 26, 2017
Threads
9
Messages
121
Reaction score
109
Location
Knoxville, TN
Vehicle(s)
2018 Jeep JLU Rubicon

Bobby Boucher

Active Member
First Name
Bob
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Threads
2
Messages
34
Reaction score
53
Location
Central VA
Vehicle(s)
2019 Wrangler 2-Door JL
Where did you put the mic and body of the radio?
Tim ... I put the body of the radio under the passenger seat. The mic extension box is mounted to the side of the shift selector. I did not secure the mic. A small extension speaker is fastened (hot glue) to the front of the storage console.

Jeep Wrangler JL Just another Ham Radio install (with pics) IMG_2822.JPG
Sponsored

 
 



Top