Two-Way Radio (Ham Radio) Installation Is Dangerous

Toyota's response is just CYA. Like all modern cars, the Prius is full of expensive electronics. Without specific testing and engineering studies, Toyota isn't going to endorse a transmitter getting anywhere near these ECUs or the power systems supplying them. It would be unreasonable to expect them to.

Several PC members have successfully installed radio equipment in Prius without any harm. A quick search will give you more information.

Tom

 

The salesman didn't know squat, I have had a radio in my Gen II for the last 3 +years, absolutly NO PROBLEMS! As Tom stated, there are a bunch of us Amateurs. I would bet the Salesman, A, did NOT have a Amateur license, B, did not even know what Amateur radio is, and C, just read a line in a book and took it as verse!

P.S. There is nothing "Dangerous" about Amateur Radio. Unless you install it wrong!

 

After having taken part in conducted and radiated RF susceptibility testing during new product development with my former employer decades ago (an unnamed maker of High-Priced Test & Measurement equipment), I also recognize that response as CYA.

EMP from consumer equipment is completely bogus. Other EMI / EMC susceptibility problems do happen -- search for 'Blackhawk helicopter EMI' and find tragic lists such as this and this. But the car's electrical equipment should already be protected from any consumer equipment you may use or encounter nearby. If not, the fault is with the car maker for inadequate product development, not with the consumer for adding a ham radio.

 

Well, I wouldn't run a kW on 20 meters in a Prius, besides there is significant QRM generated in the HF bands. 2 meters and beyond, no problems. There is a member out here who just did a great pic and description of a HF install in a Prius. He added quite a bit of shielding to harnesses and other components of his car.
So it all depends on what band you are interested in working. If I can find it, I will edit in a link!

Here is a like to give you an intro to some of the hams out here... still can't find the HF Rig...yet...
Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) Operators on this forum? | PriusChat

 

you would think they are reasonably protected, or else there would be warnings to avoid cell phone use, pace makers, etc. so dont mount the antenna next to the frequency drive...mount ittoward the rear of the vehicle, use proper grounding, etc. etc.

 

Bullcrap.
I have an ICOM 706 in my 2006. I put it in the first day I owned the car. I use it with an AH-4 tuner installed in the left rear fender. I have an antenna mount welded to the tow lugs in the back and a gutter mount VHF UHF antenna on the hatch.
I use this all the time.
HF reception is horrible due to the inverter noise. VHF-UHF works ok but the squelch has to be set kind of high to keep the car noise from keying the receiver.
I use HF when the car is turned off.
I never had a problem with the car of any kind due to radio. I do make an effort to keep the RF away from the engine compartment and I have good grounds all around.

Rich N6YVW

 

I have a 2006 Prius (with navigation, HID headlights ...). I have used an IC-7000 on 20 M during long trips running around 50 to 100 watts into a screwdriver. I use 90 Ah batteries sitting on the floor in passenger area. Antenna mounted on hatch with ground straps to body. I have had extended contacts while driving without problem including contact with W1AW on 20 m while driving on interstate 95 in the state of Georgia near Florida (Digital noise reduction, notch, etc control inverter noise to tolerable levels; Noise would be impossible with the 706!). Heavy acceleration or braking increase converter noise but can still be managed most of the time.

The only thing I noticed regarding intererference with the Prius was a change in engine performance. At highway speed (75 mph) while driving up a mountain in the rain and transmitting full power (about 100 w) on 20 M SSB. I got some hesitation and slight loss of power. It resolved when I reduced power to about 50 to 60 w. I was in PA at the time chatting with a station in CO (mobile to mobile).

I also run 2 m with no problem.

Currently not on the air due to multiple issues. Hope to get back on the air soon! 73, Paul, KA1CSU

PS - Hx of HID Autolevel sensor problems !!! Oh well ...

 

my 2010 has had a 5 watt for over one yr,,, some law enforcement use the prius.
kr4va

 

I run 5W on Yaesu FT-60 to roof mag antenna. So far my Prius still runs fine, no mysterious quirks when I key up. Do have the squelch set higher to overcome the cars electrical noise. Toyota just CYA and repeating the party line.
Think about this, you come close to public safety vehicles, business band trucks/cars and cabs etc with high power transmitters every day. When they transmit, your Prius doesn't suddenly "roll over and die" due to adjacent vehicle's transmitter RF pinging the Prius computers.

Sam KC0TKF

 

I have been running an FT 100 for 11 months. My 2010 has 48000 miles now no problem K9zsq

 

I have a Yaesu FT-8900 (quad band) mobile in my Prius V. I used the remote head and cable to separate the radio from the control head. The radio itself is on the left rear under the rear deck cover. Power comes from the 12 volt battery through a relay activated by the nearby accessory socket. Antenna is a mag-mount in the middle of the roof and runs through the rear hatch gasket along the bottom edge.

No problems in the 2 months I've owned it and this Prius V is MUCH quieter (RF interference-wise) than my previous 2004 Prius five with 226,000 miles on it. I feel like I might even be able to try HF in the new V. You never know - after 3 generations Toyota may have figured out how to properly shield all the inverter and computer hash.

 

The center console comes out by popping the power/economy button panel off and releasing the harness from some clips. Then remove the 10 mm bolts under the carpeted pads in the center console and inside the storage compartment. Pull the console to the rear till it comes away from the dash.

I ran the cables down the driver's side by threading them under the cargo area and removed the plastic door-sill covers to get the wires up to the dashboard area. Pretty easy; though the blue plastic clips are fragile. I broke only 1 though.

I recommend using RAM mount hardware to attach the control head etc. It's secure and time-tested. Mt FT-8900 control head is mounted to a short RAM arm with a ball under the center control stack. The scanner is on the floor of the center console on a RAM ball and the external speaker for the ham radio is on the forward face of the center console's front shelf below the "iPod ledge".

Any antenna requiring a ground-plane will not work well on the hatch or side of the vehicle. You may want to look into one of the auto-lowering (powered tilt-over) mounts instead and keep the antenna placed in the middle of the roof. I imagine the head-liner will be pretty easy to remove or lower if you take off the supporting plastic parts and door gaskets. Wear gloves though as the crushed velour surface is easily marred.

Bob - KB1VUA

 

On a slightly different subject, if you do decide you want to install a radio in a Prius, and you don't find the EMI shielding too daunting, you CAN run a KW on 20M. I put together some modules that give you hundreds or thousands of watts at 12V, powered from the traction battery. In fact, you can get pretty much any DC voltage by series-connecting the proper Vicor modules, for, say, a solid state amp. Vicor modules frequently pop up on eBay for a few bucks each. Here are some examples;

More 12VDC From the Prius
More 12VDC From the Prius

Unfortunately, as many have noted, the noise level on HF is unbearable without a lot of shielding work. It's too bad that Toyota doesn't offer a kit or option of some sort, but I guess the sales volume wouldn't make it worth their while.

Richard

 

I have been running 2M in my 2011 since I got it and I have had zero problems. The radio sits in the rear drivers side compartment and the contro head is mounted with Velcro to the left of the steering wheel. The radio is connected directly to the 12v battery. I have never operated hf in my car. I really have no interest in doing that.
James
N3ZY

 

I would think a very careful radio and antenna install should work fine. Just be very careful and check the antenna matching. Too great a mismatch and you'll get RF energy radiating off the coax shield, acting like an antenna. Not good because this energy will couple onto Unshielded wiring harnesses, generating EMF and who knows what problems that will cause (read post above of guy who notice performance issue until he reduce his transmit power).

 

Great, this thread had me worried but I need a radio in my car. I'll try it with the lowest transmit power possible.

 

One more thing that may ease your concerns: Any decent manufacturer whose product contains electronic systems that are used by the general public should have their equipment tested for Electronic Magnetic Compatability (EMC). These test illustrate the susceptability of the equipment to malfunction when subjected to an electromagnetic field with an intensity that will produce 20 volts of energy in a wire at at distance of 1 meter. The test is run across a range of RF frequencies from about 2MHz to 2GHz (I forget the exact range because it's been over 25 years since I worked in an EMI/EMC lab).The equipment should not malfunction at these levels. The test is only required on 1 production sample, not on every item that leaves the assembly line. It is especially important...no vital... on automobiles (could you imagine your car going nuts as you drive past an antenna tower?).
So, I'm sure Toyota does this test on their design evaluation autos. That said, if you do a proper radio installation, ground the radio and antenna to the body, use filters on the DC power cables, even feed the radio right off the battery and not through the fuse box, and assure your antenna is properly matched... you should not have any problems. I used to drive a Toyota truck and ran 100W transmitters all the time and never had any problems.
Have fun.