Pictures of my ham radio install

[Bumbo]

Nice install OP! I like it, and I like the FT-7800. I had one and sold it, and still miss it.
[MENTION=157339]Coyotegray[/MENTION]

Is that an HF rig? I need to stop being lazy and get past my Technician licence. Last trip in Yellowstone, there wasn't a single 2meter or 70cm repeater to be had.

 

[LT Ambrose 26]

The radio is....

How do you like it so far in this configuration? Like how's the ease use while in motion/caravanning?

 

[Coyotegray]

Nice install OP! I like it, and I like the FT-7800. I had one and sold it, and still miss it.

[MENTION=157339]Coyotegray[/MENTION]

Is that an HF rig? I need to stop being lazy and get past my Technician licence. Last trip in Yellowstone, there wasn't a single 2meter or 70cm repeater to be had.

Yes. Its connected to an ATAS-120 antenna for HF and works surprising well. I have had the best success on 40 meters.

ETA: I used Comet Antennas RS-660U mounts for both antennas. This allows me to easily lower them if I'm driving into a parking garage, etc. Since I took the pictures I have swapped the antennas. Unless I'm using it I usually leave the ATAS down anyway and having the VHF/UHF antenna on the drivers side makes it much quicker to get out and lower it if I need to..

ETA again, After I passed my technician I kept studying and was able to pass general and extra.
I used https://hamstudy.org/ and the "Fast Track" audio books on Audible.com by Michael Burnette.
Do it!!!

 

[Coyotegray]

How do you like it so far in this configuration? Like how's the ease use while in motion/caravanning?

For VHF/UHF it works fine. Its easy to glance up at the radio. As I use it more I can almost work the controls on it by touch. I use the mic controls mostly. I don't see my self working HF unless I was stopped somewhere. Now, If I was going to be on it constantly I would mount it where I have my cell phone magnetic mount in the cubby hole picture but my cell phone is primary and the radio is secondary.. 4Runners only a limited amount of room to put stuff.

 

[proimion]

I finally found a microphone mounting solution I like. This has worked well for me even on rough roads and trails. It is just a cheap microphone hanger jammed down the console under the airbag light and secured with heavy duty double-sided tape.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[plumm]

Apologies for bumping such an old thread, but I have not met the post count requirements for starting a new one.

Thanks [MENTION=139232]proimion[/MENTION] for documenting this -- really good stuff. I'm looking to install my radio and this is the best guide I've found so far. I'm a bit nervous however about messing with the headliner... I've never done it before and would like to avoid looking at wrinkles. Is it plausible to route through the floor panels to the passenger seat, and is there a relevant guide for removing the side floor panels/back "storage" side panels (not sure what these are called)?

If you live in a salty / snowy region you will likely have some rust with the K400 / hatch mount location. FYI.

This is a good callout and was also something I was considering since I live in the Seattle area. Anyone have better suggestions?

 

[proimion]

I'm glad the info is still useful. 5-6 years is old for a thread, but not for a 4Runner!

I recently installed a rear security camera and didn't want to pull the headliner again because it is a pain. So I ran the cable in the bottom of the door sills under the plastic liner, which is easy to pull off. Then I found a way to press the cable underneath other plastic trim pieces along the door and rear window. It doesn't look as good, and it did require a lot more cable. And the cable needs to be very thin for this approach. Plus, not sure how it will get routed through the door opening. So it worked for the camera which is inside the door opening. You could try it this way and if it doesn't work, then go the headliner route.

Also, in the years since I did the initial install, I've learned that the firewall port on the driver's side is much easier than the passenger side for routing the electrical cable from the battery. If you look at a thread on how to install "raptor lights" you'll see what I mean.

As for rust at the antenna mount, yeah I've got a couple of tiny spots. I don't think you'll find a better solution. Just remember to take off the mount and fix any rust every couple years or so. Also, keep the cap for that mount in your glove box. You'll want it for the car wash--definitely remove your antenna first!

This install is holding up well over the years. still works great. With a large antenna I've been able to communicate over hundreds of miles using the Colorado Connection linked repeater network.

 

[plumm]

Thanks for the additional tips! I'll be sure to check out the Raptor lights install guide.

With regards to the antenna, I was browsing through this thread as well and some of the rack mounts caught my eye: https://www.toyota-4runner.org/2533801-post92.html

I'm considering either that style of rack mount or a mag mount as I figure the top of the car would provide a better ground plane. Rust on the hatch I think would be the least of my problems long-term and seems easy to service every now and then but and I'm just being a bit pedantic since this is the first time I've bought a brand new car. I'll pull the trigger on some solution before the summer's over and report back with what worked.

 

[plumm]

Ok, so I just got things installed and man was the firewall a doozy. Never run stuff through there before. Sorry for the long post but someone may find this interesting.


I originally tried the plug to the left of the main harness grommet but quickly ran into issues. My radio's power wires have a fuse on the positive/negative ends that are pretty thicc. It's already 14 gauge wire and now we're throwing bulky plastic into the mix. I didn't see an easy way to route that downward through the smaller hole, and putting a hole in the interior rubber seemed to complicate things.

So I instead looked at the main grommet and noticed there's a "nipple"/dome that has a sort of hollow rubber conduit on the other side. I sliced off the head of the dome, found some aluminum wire laying around my house, attached one end to the ring terminal of the power cable and fished it through from the interior to the engine bay. You'll notice from the attached photo that this resulted in a less-than-attractive inside-out conduit thing I just described that I'll have to correct and seal tomorrow. The first cable was a pain with the plastic thing but eventually I got it, the second cable was even more of a pain with the first cable taking up some space, but I got it through.

Finally I had to fish the antenna wire through. What I was working with is basically this (C101 with mini UHF connectors): DIAMOND C211 Antenna Accessories Mobile, C211

At this point I realized my mistake of deciding to route the thinnest cable last. In the future, definitely start with this one first. I ended up tying a loose knot in the cable and wrapping my aluminum wire around that, then fishing it through. Once it was through I pulled hard on the female end of the extension wire, praying I wasn't going to damage the cable. Finally got the female side through and we were in the home stretch!

From here I ran the cable up the windscreen gap to the roof weather stripping gap, and finally to my Diamond K550 (DIAMOND K550 Antenna Accessories Mounts Luggage, K550) antenna mount on the roof (neither of these gaps is a tight fit fwiw, I Gorilla used tape for now).

 

[Bluemonday]

Thank you

Love this thread! I carry two 5 watt HT's in my 4RUNNER, but have been wanting to install a dedicated mobile rig. Thank you.