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Ham Radio Installation

H

Happy Trails II

2️⃣ Bronze
I installed a Yaesu FT-7900 dual band mobile ham radio into our Tacoma.
Power is run by dual fused heavy DC power cable directly from battery to the rear cab. I brought the cable into the cab by putting a small slit in the main cable boot in the firewall near the brake pedal an pulled the cable through.
The antenna is a Comet CA-2X4SR mounted on the left side of the headache rack.. The feed line runs down the rack and comes through a hole I drilled in the lower rear part of the cab behind the left rear passenger seat.
I just put the radio on a movable bracket set on the rear seat. This makes it easy to remove from the vehicle.
The detachable radio operating head is mounted on a MACALLY adjustable cup holder mount. Model MCUP. About $15 on 'zon.

ant1.webp
radio1.webp
radio2.webp


This performs very well. It is a duplication of the installing I had in the Dakota which this Tacoma replaced.

HT
N7BKV
 
Thanks for your tips! I haven't picked up my Tacoma yet, or chosen my radio for that matter, but I'm looking for mounting ideas and the best places to penetrate the cab to route the antenna cable. I hate re-inventing the wheel, so I rely on folks like you willing to post your experiences.
 
Happy Trails II said:
I installed a Yaesu FT-7900 dual band mobile ham radio into our Tacoma.
Power is run by dual fused heavy DC power cable directly from battery to the rear cab. I brought the cable into the cab by putting a small slit in the main cable boot in the firewall near the brake pedal an pulled the cable through.
The antenna is a Comet CA-2X4SR mounted on the left side of the headache rack.. The feed line runs down the rack and comes through a hole I drilled in the lower rear part of the cab behind the left rear passenger seat.
I just put the radio on a movable bracket set on the rear seat. This makes it easy to remove from the vehicle.
The detachable radio operating head is mounted on a MACALLY adjustable cup holder mount. Model MCUP. About $15 on 'zon.

View attachment 33802 View attachment 33803 View attachment 33804

This performs very well. It is a duplication of the installing I had in the Dakota which this Tacoma replaced.

HT
N7BKV
Click to expand...
What do you think about the ICOM ID-4100A?
ICOM_id_4100a.webp
 
You will have a lot of fun with ham radio. Especially well equipped mobile.
Stay away from cheap Asian imported radios. They only make you want to buy better equipment.
 
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