Radio Communications - HAM... MURS and CB guys also welcome

[Bumbo]

Ever since I was a little kid I was fascinated with "walkie talkies"... probably not surprising I am a licenced HAM / amateur radio operator today...

Just curious if there are any other HAMs on this forum who have setups inside their 4Runners. If so, what type of coms equipment are you running?

Most people I meet on the trail are using CB radios... I still dont have one in my 4Runner as I much prefer VHF and UHF radios as their performance is substantially better but it seems like I may need to "get with the program"...

Also curious if anyone is using the MURS bands for off-road coms... Type accepted equipment is pretty easy to find these days and you dont need a licence to operate on this frequencies.

 

[Boconnor303]

I have always had the same interest, but am just now getting around to getting my Technician's license. Because of this.. I cant give any input on running a mobile setup yet, but figured I'd post and bump the thread due to interest.

I've seen a bunch of mobile VHF/UHF setups on here though....cant remember any users, but hopefully they'll chime in

 

[Shoeman]

I've been scratching my head since I bought my 4Gen two months ago on how to mount my Yaesu 2M. My old XJ had plenty of room, but not the 4R. Sw has SO much range compared to the CB it's not even funny, as you already know. I've been in the backwoods of Maine on logging roads talking to people 130 miles away from me. Not a great benefit in a group ride like a CB, but I don't do that kind of thing. I like knowing that if something serious goes wrong out of cell range my chances of contacting help are greatly increased by the SW radio, especially if I can hit one of the linked repeaters we have up here.
I've got a Baeofung (or however you spell it) handheld that does MURS and I can see how that could take the place of a CB for short range comms easy enough cuz with 2W (legally) that's all your going to be able to do.
I'd really like to see peoples radio installs, especially when they don't compromise passenger leg room as my wife and I always adventure together.

Geoff
KC1BPO

 

[Bumbo]

I end up putting my 2 meter Yaesu in the dash, along with a new head unit. I had to change the head unit anyways so it was a good excuse to go out and get myself a new radio for the 4th Gen. I am a big fan of these single band VHF radios... the FT-2900 is an absolute tank, and makes the perfect "drivers radio".

I removed the old radio using instructions / videos I found on YouTube, then used the factory cage to mount both the Pioneer and the FT-2900.

There is a little gap, I didn't care to use a face plate. Aesthetics are a secondary thing for me, I just need functional, serviceable, and rugged. I suspect those gaps also help audio carry though as the Yaesu has an internal speaker. I am not using anything external. I could have wired it to the AUX of the headunit, but my 4Runner isn't that loud. Has not been a problem so far.

Still looks good to me... the lights are pretty bright in the picture, but I have since dimmed both the Yaesu and the Pionner via their menu options.

For those rare emergency situations... I also have a folding solar panel incase I need it. Its a 60 Watt folding panel, I have a charge controller in a small case along with a spare radio and a battery so I can operate that 100% independent of the vehicle. It is man portable. That is more part of my emergency communions kit that has nothing to do with the 4Runner. I also have some basic electrical tools, fuses, and some handhelds. The Kenwood in the case can also act as a repeater.

 

[CWO4CNO]

Nice go Kit

I'm awaiting options to be installed into a new 2016 SR5 Premium I purchased and am thinking through my ham radio installation. I'm looking into a new FTM-400 as a single solution for VHF/UHF/APRS. I also have a spare FT857 but am not sure about placing HF into the vehicle.
The challenge is where to mount the control heads as not to block visibility of interfere with the fit/form/function of the vehicle equipment. There are a couple of opportunities either using the upper eye glass storage and/or the storage area at the bottom center of the console. I hope that my new vehicle won't need extra DC filtering to cut down noise.
Antenna installs should be fairly easy as long as I can figure out the disassembly of the interior trim.
Has anyone done direct DC from the battery, and it so, how did you route it?

Thanks!

 

[Bumbo]

Nice, I really like the FTM-400... if I finally get around to getting an APRS capable radio that is on the top of my list right now.

Regarding mounting the control head for the FTM-400... the GPS receiver is on the control head, so on the dash or on the windshield would be an ideal location...

I would just use a suction cup Ram Mount and throw it up on the windshield in the top or bottom left corner on the drivers side...

I ended up putting my Kenwood control head in the glove box... its more of an emergency radio, and for crossband so I dont need access to the control panel all the time.

I wired mine "direct to battery" via an AUX fuse panel I installed under the hood. It has its own independent fused run, and its not tapping to sharing power from any factory circuits.

So basically if you wanted to go direct to battery, you would need to push some wire though one of the grommets on the firewall.

You can get away tapping the CIG or ACC a circuit in the cab for lower power operations... but a dedicated line of 12AWG - 10AWG will give you the best performance and minimize voltage drop during transmit.

 

[WI4Runnin]

Very cool stuff. I think the 2 radios in the dash came out pretty damn good. interesting thread..