Ham Radio/cb Install...

Just wondering if anyone here has installed a HAM Radio or CB in their Aleros. I'm looking to do this soon and am just trying to figure out where to mount the unit. The radio I'm currently looking at (Yaseu 857D) has a face plate that can be detached and still control the radio. Just means I need to run a long cable or two from the faceplate to the actual radio.

What I'm curious about is where other people have located their radios and where they've run the antenna feed lines.

Thanks.

[doubleN0alero]

i got a cb, but i take it in and out when i need it..i'm not sporting the bo and luke duke antenna over here.

[Satsuriku]

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

not many ppl i know do that, will be a rare find indeed.

[scsralero]

Originally posted by double0alero@Apr 5 2006, 11:44 AM
i got a cb, but i take it in and out when i need it..i'm not sporting the bo and luke duke antenna over here.

Quoted post

hey dont be dissin the good ol boys!!

[freakout]

This 1 has a remote base and all the controls on the mike. Mount the base under the seat and you'll never see it. Make sure to have the antenna tuned a bad match/high swr will burn out your radio.http://www.claysradioshop.com/cobra75wxst.htm Don't know if that site still ships to Canada. If they do I recomend them. I got my Connex from them and they do top notch work. The added bonous is they are exporting it so if you want a big radio they don't ask for your HAM license.

freakout, that radio is a CB, and I'm looking at a HAM radio. Most of the Yaesu radios can have the faceplate mounted seperately from the main body so I could put it under my seat and mount the faceplate somewhere... my problem is, where the heck do I mount it?

As for the antennas, I was considering the ATAS-120 also from Yaesu (theres a deal on at Radioworld where the antenna is half the price with the 857 or 897). Its a motorized, selftuning antenna which should be good for everything from 40m to 70cm. The only downside so far is that the antenna is big, and heavy.

Another option is just going with a Yaseu 7800R dual band 70cm/2m radio and getting a dual band antenna with a trunk lip mount. This would definitely be the cheaper option since the radio is a few hundred cheaper.
And as for looks... not too concerned.

I've got my Basic license and 100Watts of power is more than enough for anything I'd need to be doing.

[freakout]

Sorry didn't know you wanted a HAM. Maybe, put a cover over the cubby or if you've got an aftermarket deck in the cubby under the radio. Depends how big the faceplate is. What about on the back of the sunvisor? What size power wire does it need? Have a look in the threads for running power to the stereo amplifiers. Same idea you need to isolate the antenna cable from interference like the signal lines for the amp. Power on 1 side antenna on the other. I'm not allowed to put a CB in the Alero, was hard enough getting the wife to let me put a external cell antenna on it, let alone a big whip.

Originally posted by freakout@Apr 10 2006, 12:27 PM
Sorry didn't know you wanted a HAM. Maybe, put a cover over the cubby or if you've got an aftermarket deck in the cubby under the radio. Depends how big the faceplate is. What about on the back of the sunvisor? What size power wire does it need? Have a look in the threads for running power to the stereo amplifiers. Same idea you need to isolate the antenna cable from interference like the signal lines for the amp. Power on 1 side antenna on the other. I'm not allowed to put a CB in the Alero, was hard enough getting the wife to let me put a external cell antenna on it, let alone a big whip.

Quoted post

I'd considered the cubby as a possible spot assuming I could somehow to mount it down there. The faceplate, from what I can remember of the 2 radios I've been looking at, are about the same size as a single DIN radio. The radio itself could be mounted in the trunk, under a seat, or under the passenger side dash. The faceplate requries a separation cable to connect to the main body of the radio and its basically a phone cord. Just need to confirm where the mic. connects to since I'm not sure if its part of the faceplate or the main radio.

I'm leaning towards a mag mount antenna, and I'd feed the wire in through the rear passenger door. I'm also considering locating the radio under the passenger side dash which would allow me to keep the feed line away from most of the stereo wiring. Would also mean that the power lines would be easily hidden under the dash as well.

[freakout]

My cell antenna is a mag mount. I put it right at the front of the trunk lid in the center. With the trunk closed it holds the wire in position. The cable runs easily through the interior. Not sure if thats where you want to put it. We do notice the car shields the antenna, but yours will be quite a bit taller. I think the glove box might be best. But instead of talking to me I think you should read this. http://invision.aleromod.com/index.php?showtopic=12987 I knew someone had done it.