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HAM or CB Install?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by MainerPrius, Apr 20, 2011.

  1. MainerPrius

    MainerPrius Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2011
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    Location:
    SW Maine Coast
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    First off, I am very new here, hope to learn alot about my 2010, glad to find a great site with tons of info!!

    Has anyone successfully installed either a HF HAM radio or CB radio in their Prius? I've heard that the hybrid drive would cause lots of RFI making hearing anything but noise from radio instead of other operating stations. Just for kicks, I slapped on a K40 CB Antenna mag-mount on my roof for a drive from CT to Maine and the noise wasn't that horrible. I was able to hear truckers on CH19 and was able to hear and talk to some SSB contacts on 38 LSB. I was using the 12v plug in the armrest with a noise filter for the CB radio I was using. I did hear a few pops and gurgles when I was braking, but otherwise, no acceleration noise, and no noise during the gas engine start up. Overall I was impressed at how little noise there was in my radio. I did however, hear another Prius's noise as it passed me on the highway.

    The next step is determine a permanent antenna and radio mounting locations. I'm considering using a trunk/hatchback lip mount for the antenna, and am at a total loss where to mount the radio. The console that sweeps down from the radio to the armrest leaves no room to mount a radio. Any suggestions would be great.

    Thanks

    Greg
     
    #1 MainerPrius, Apr 20, 2011
  2. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Los Angeles Foothills
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    #2 KK6PD, Apr 20, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  3. MainerPrius

    MainerPrius Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2011
    11
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    Location:
    SW Maine Coast
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks for the link, glad to hear that there are other HAMs out there. I am studying for my license exam and hope to upgrade from CB to HAM soon. There are many more options with a HAM ticket. I've read through most of the installs for radios and antennas and I'm am very impressed. I hope to post my progress on my install in my 2010 P

    Thanks again
    I'll be QRT
    Greg
     
    #3 MainerPrius, Apr 21, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  4. donee

    donee New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2005
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    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Hi Mainer...,

    The 3 rd Gen Prius is dramatically better on HF than the 2nd Gen. Somewhere on Here somebody has side-by-side spectrum analyzer plots. Quite interesting.

    BTW, there are many many Prius Hams. Me for one. Although, I have never mounted a radio into any of my vehicles. Just do not do long trips enough to make it worth while. Another local Prius Ham has 190K on his 2006 (he drives all over the midwest for work).

    If you are aware of the APRS mode, you might be interested to know that WB4APR is quite the Prius officianodo. He has multiple used Prius, one of which he rebuilt the rear end into a Woody for his college aged son.

    Somebody showed me a picture of his Woody Prius at work, one day, and I was able to say, "Oh, Yea Bob...".
     
    #4 donee, Apr 21, 2011
  5. JSHVNFN

    JSHVNFN New Member

    Joined:
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    Tomorrow!! Getting a 2011 Prius, can't wait to see how HF goes.. MY old 2006 was not HF-friendly. [email protected]
     
    #5 JSHVNFN, Sep 19, 2011
  6. Bob Chin

    Bob Chin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2014
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    Location:
    Tyngsboro, MA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Before you get that Prius, check on the topic of the "active bus" in the Prius. I have been told by more than one Ham that the active bus causes too much interference to run HF, but higher frequencies like 2m and 70cm seem to be okay.

    ----- Bob -----
    W1OLD
     
    #6 Bob Chin, Sep 28, 2014
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