I have looked into adding My Yeasu Ham radio into my truck. I'm trying to figure out how im going to put the antenna on the truck. As for the 12V power I'm sure there is some way to get a power cable through the firewall. Get that HAM ticket. It's a great hobby.

 

Please be sure to update when you figure it out. I'll do the same. I'm getting a tonneau cover installed, so that is going to complicate my antenna install. Especially considering that I want to avoid drilling at all costs.

 

Mix, will do. I know somewhere out on he web there is a solution for the cover. I have the Extang Trifold on my truck now. Do you already have your HAM ticket?

 

Not yet, probably going to be doing that in another month or so. Not sure what kind of radio I want to put in the truck either and what I want mobile vs. in the house. I want to keep the antennas down to regular whips and with a reasonable height since I park in a deck at work.

 

Cant say how it may go with the 2015 but theres about a half dozen or so hams on here plus unknown number of CBers,. FWIW my rigs are mounted on the hump which wont work if you have a console, wired direct to the battery by virtue of a preexisting grommet in the firewall, antenna runs under the carpet and out the rubber louvered air vent at the rear of the cab up to the bed where my 5/8th wave whip is clamped to the side rail and then further clamped by my lund trifold tonneau. A simple piece of metal with a right angle bend is all it needs for the base.
As for radios if you are looking at 2m single band you cant really fault The Kenwood 281a, mine works flawlessly. Sadly my yaesu ft 2600m is so finicky I can only run it on low power and even then the memory often gets wiped out due to the idiosyncrasies of the older Colorado's electrical system. .

 

I would love to make some recommendation for you, but until you decide what you want to run, it is difficult to say. I run 2 meter/440 and 2 meter APRS in my Colorado . I run HF, 6, 2, and 440, plus APRS in my Blazer. Each one presents different challenges with power and antenna selection / mounting.

If you are starting with 2m/440 then there is not much to it Make sure you have a good (short lead) ground at the base of the radio and if possible also a the base of the antenna. While wiring direct to the battery is a good idea, I seldom find it necessary on 2 meters with only a 50 or 75 watt transmitter. The center of the roof is alway a good choice for a 2 m/440 antenna. Mine barely rubs the garage door at home and only drags in one place overhead in the local casino garage. If I was not a Z71 I would not hit in either location.

Any of the popular brand mobiles will work. Just choose one based on features and price. I use Icom 2m/440 and Yaesu hand helds and HF.

Good luck

N9KB

 

The center of the roof is alway a good choice for a 2 m/440 antenna.

I am extremely averse to drilling a hole in the roof. I am probably just going to stick with antenna and bands I can get away with mounting on the bed.

 

VE5 PPR, and still deciding what kind of mobile rig I want to get, besides where I want to put it!

Good luck and would appreciate any pictures if someone gets their rig set up.

 

Lot of 12 3 8" Black Plastic Antenna Body Hole Plug PL38 Sheet Metal Snap In | eBay

You can always go with a mag mount on the roof.

 

You can always go with a mag mount on the roof.

well, guess its still better than through the glass.... ;o)

 

Studying for my Element 2 now. Still a lot of greek to me.

 

Studying for my Element 2 now. Still a lot of greek to me.

Make sure you have some familiarity with the various practice exams that are out there as well,

 

cb hook up

driver side kick panel trailor wire harness red hot blk ground radio shack stick on cb ant cable into door sill plate done 12 miles from I59 works good

 

Here is the current question pool:

NCVEC - 2014-2018 Technician Question Pool

Read through the whole pool twice and then go take your exam.

The pools are also available for General and Extra.

 

when you consistently hit 80 percent you're ready for taking the test and passing

 

:nerd:

 

Well, I did it! I shed a tear or two or three but what a difference it has made. I had the NMO mount installed professionally and wired up the radio. The radio is the Yaesu FTM-400DR and I purchased it for the Fusion repeater that I purchased from Yaesu and will be receiving soon.

I know it sucks to put a hole in a almost 40K truck but if you are into the hobby and use it then it is worth it. Just like the other post you can plug it if need be.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/Billdavidjr/baf96f86-ed1f-4d46-8b0d-b11d318826ea_zpslwx5hrcs.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn169/Billdavidjr/20150413_165123_zpsudtipxus.jpg

 

Forgot to update. I did pass and am a newly licensed Technician. :smile2: Bought a Yaseu FT-60R and a Yaseu FT-7800 with a mag mount antenna (both used from the family of a recently deceased Extra). Haven't talked yet, but been listening to a couple of local RACES nets. Awaiting word on a vanity call sign.

 

Nice job! Welcome to the hobby. The best way to learn is just jump onto a repeater and talk. At first you will feel strange but you will get over it. If you start to talk let me know and I will see if the repeater has ECOLINK and I will try to get in.

 

Congrats on the Tech. Been in the hobby 32 years, having a blast. Trying to figure out how in install the rig in my truck when it gets here in June.
VE1CHL.

 

I really want to be a Uniden Bearcat CB for my truck when I take delivery as I like to monitor traffic when traveling and also like having the option of NOAA weather. I am wondering where people are mounting their radios in their trucks! Pics anyone?

 

That is the way to do it. It it the best location and you now have a choice of antennas to use that can easily be switched as desired. I have a very short 2m/440 antenna on mine so it will clear my garage door. I also carry a 5/8 wave antenna that I occasionally install when I'm on the road for an extended trips so sparsely populated areas.

 

I have been looking for a short antenna and I cannot find one. They seem to be on back order both Comet and Diamond. Never thought of the larger antenna when needed.

 

I think mine is a NMO mount Comet. It has been on there a long time and I have forgotten. Let me research this and I let you know for sure.

 

Yes, It is a Comet SBB-1NMO. I measured it and it is 15.25 inches long. It has 2.15 db gain on 440 and I believe is 1.5 db on 2 meters.

Most ham stores should have it like HRO, Universal, Ham Station, or AES. AES shows it in stock in all 4 of their stores. I forget where I bought mine because I buy most of my stuff at the Dayton Hamfest each year.

 

Good to hear. I was looking into that antenna. I was not sure about it since it flexes easily. I will need to buy it and try it out. I currently have the Yaesu Ftm-400 and now waiting for my Yaesu digital repeater to come in so I can hook it up.

 

If it's hard for you to think about drilling anywhere on your vehicle and you haven't received any licensing yet I would personally suggest going with handhelds. They're cheaper, work good with the limited license, and you certainly won't have to drill anything! That's just my opinion though. Let me know what you get as I'm interested in getting my ham license as well and work in communications for the army currently.

 

Yes it flexes a bit but only if you hit something It will not move in the wind but you will appreciate the flex if you happen to accidentally hit a parking garage with low clearance. Mine clears my 7 foot garage door at home on my Z71 but not by much.

 

Thanks for the tip. I have to get out and screw my antenna off every time i go into the garage. I will have to check out this antenna an see if she works. Thanks.

 

Hi Gents;

I had a 2005 Chevy Colorado and had a Truxedo Tonneau cover installed. I used a Comet CP-5M antenna mount on the tailgate. I left a loop of coax at the gate so it would open properly and drilled double 1/8” holes down the tonneau cover rail and wire tied the coax underneath. I routed the coax down the stake pocket and drilled a hole in the back of the cab to route the cable through.
I just purchased a new GMC Canyon and have had the same tonneau cover installed and plan to use the same mount on it. Issue now is getting through the firewall with power.

Bob
WI1O

 

Do you really think you need to go to the tailgate? My 5/8 whip is about ten inches from the cab on the drivers side clamped to the top of the bed rail and sandwiched in place by the tonneau. After 7 years I never have felt that being this close to the cab has been detrimental.

 

One of the hams at HRO Salem NH gave me the idea as I had not had good luck with mag-mounts. I didn't think of your idea at the time and have had good luck with my installations. I understand it gives a little gain diagonally across the truck from that point, but I have never really seen much difference. I think your idea is a good alternative

Thanks
Bob

 

(blmerrill) I can show you my NMO mount in the truck sometime if you would like. I ended up getting a comet antenna that flexes.