Two-way radio installation: Any hams here?

There is an ongoing thread about radio installations...try a search.

Pat NQ7M

 

Hi Hamsailor, first welcome to the forum.
We are almost in the same boat, as we just bought 2 baofeng uv-5r's. We looked quickly at a permanent ant. mount but are going to use the vox headset and put the units in the cupholder.
I am just learning about hams and we are taking our Prius and our Outback down through Spokane next month on our trip down close to Las Vegas. We will use a FRS frequency on low power and think we should get close to 1 mile range with the stock antenna inside the cars. Infact we both will be pulling small trailers with our cars. I figured these radios would be better than the toy ones sold at Walmart etc. If we like them using them as a ham will be in our future. So for now just simplix mode so we know if each other needs gas or pit stop etc.
I will post how they work from car to car. I will post how the Prius pulls a small tent trailer (kamparoo) which weighs 520lbs.
You will love your Prius.

 

a 2mtr rig will work just fine...i would go directly to 12v with a fused + and fused-...i run 50w Icom with no trouble with a diamond antenna on hatch...cable route was under carpet for me...and up the sides for antenna...i wouldnt run off any 12v source but direct to 12v battery terminal...i have had no rf issues ...everything works fine...wb9tyj

 

A few ideas to work from... I wonder what his roof looks like???

 

The generator he has to tow must really cut down on his mileage.

 

It has one (1) big whip, and a 1 in 50 out RF splitter and mp!.....

Sad part I either have at one time or still own many of the items pictured here!

 

Actually, I kinda had a view of an upside down centipede on the roof... Maybe even a stabilized yagi with gps controlled rotator...

Back in high school there was this guy who ran a kilowatt mobile on 75 meters. They didn't have inverters in those days, so he used a motor/generator to power it. Antenna was a center loaded inch diameter pole about 5 feet long, then the coil, then another maybe 4 feet of whip. That thing would light up a three foot fluorescent at several feet from the antenna - no wires! The 75 meter setup was just local, but he could also adjust it for 20 meters which was useful when he drove cross country. No satellite relays, inverters, transistors ... Just ionize a path & barrel through...

 

I am guessing that you do not have the urge to carry them around with you...or maybe.....

 

I have a Dual Bander, and a BCD996XT in the car! One antenna. I split the FM antenna to feed the radio, and the scanner! Clean and neat!

 

I'm afraid all I carry is a VX-5 and a mag mount. None of it is mounted. I am a slacker....

 

As long as you have a call, you are not a slacker, just a newbie!
With time comes toys!

 

Afraid not...my first license was in 1962. I think I just got tired....

Pat NQ7M

 

I've got a '12 prius c-2 and installed a Yaesu ft-7800. It was new then and I couldn't bring myself to drill any roof holes so I used edge mounts on the side of the hatch. Wiring was run through the roof and side panels. I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to hiding wiring wherever possible. The control head is over the rear view mirror and the microphone is out of the console. I like the "overhead" mounting of the control head as you don't have to take your eyes from the road to make changes or adjustments and the mic has the usual remote controls built in. I took a few pictures....

 

My 2012 Pruis is very friendly for a ham radio install
Yaesu FT-8800
(click on pic for bigger version)

Control Head is mounted with velcro (I like to quickly hide it or take it out when not in use)
RoadPro RPSP-15 mounted under center console
Feed for head and speaker exit out of unused accessory port.

Radio guts in back left storage area which has its own access panel.
Easy to take the radio in and out.

The battery is located in the back right, so nice and short power run.

Diamond NR72BNMO Antenna (hard to see but its only about 13" tall)
Comet RS720 Mount


Enjoy!
Greg
KM4BMZ

 

I'd like to install my Powerwerx 750x in a 2012 Prius C. Does anyone know of a mobile console I can install in a Prius C?

 

Jonathan, KK7PW here. I recently installed my IC-2800h in my Gen2, and like the install outcome. This model requires that both control head and mic be fed directly from the radio body, so I needed to keep cable runs short.

So, I placed the radio body under the driver seat, and mounted the control head below the dash via mounting bracket and velcro. I used a metal clothes line clip and a rubber tip for mic holder via the dash A/C vent. Power and antenna cables run along door jams to rear.

The install is snug, clean and out of the way (XYL approved). BTW, I (with the help of my friend, N7OEP) retrofitted the control head lamp, replacing the hot running CFL lamp with bright white LEDs, so the unit runs much cooler.

Best of luck with your install.

73. de KK7PW

 

Hi there HamSailor, I'm also a ham radio operator and a recent Prius owner. We purchased a 2014 V 3 on Saturday. I now have a Saturn Vue with the FT-857D and the antenna i use works great on 6M to 40M. I figured out where to mount my radio in the rear and will put a couple of K400 mounts on the hatch. One for my VHF/UHF N antenna and the other. Never had a Prius before but love my 857D so i want it in the Prius. I see lots of posts on the C but so far not on the 2014 V 3. So hoping to see more here.
73, WY6L
Dean
DM07dg

 

Hello, First time Prius owner, and despite what my profile says, i actually own a 2017 Prius Prime Advanced.
i have read several other forums where HAM operators have installed their radio in the truck near the batter... Well in my case, that might be a bit of a challenge, since 90% of the truck is the 8.8KW drive battery, and the regular car battery is back in the front with the motor.

Side note... amazing millage. I can mix my electric/fuel driving up to 800 miles before i have to fill the tank with my normal commute. Loving this car

but back to the point. Like others, i am trying to install a new HAM radio. For those interested, I just recieved a Yaesu FTM-400XDR. Just not sure where to pull power from. In my last car (Highlander Sport 2008) it was written right on the accessory plug that there was a 15 amp limit on power drawn from that connection. The prius doesn't have that notice written anywhere that i can find, so that might be an option. I am planning on putting the main unit under the drivers seat, since the mic connection is to the main unit not the control head.

I have a Glass mount antenna already installed, and setup for my HT, which seems to work pretty well. i just need some advice on the power. Do i try to use the accessory plugs and tap into that, or should i try to find a way to run a wire from the battery in the engine compartment???

any advise is appreciated.
KM6OQY

 

You always want to power the rig directly from the 12v battery. When it was located in the rear it made life easy, short power run if you located the rigs main unit in the back and the control head up front. If the battery is now up front, personally I would run 2 #12 gauge, one Red, one Black, you always want a direct ground for power at the battery, to whatever location, under seat, front console or the back of the car. Since you are running one power lead, it's just as easy to run 2.
I had a FT-8800 in my Gen II, and a Diamond K-400 lip mount antenna and a moderate gain Diamond whip antenna. I always had excellent results, lo VSWR, no perceptible electrical noise.
I plan to install that rig on the new vehicle, my Kia Niro.... The only problem I am facing, there is no 12v battery per se, the Niro gets it's 12v from a added Lithium battery sandwiched with the HV battery. Looking into options for adding a normal 12v battery in addition to existing Lithium cell.
It's always something!