2002 Expedition

kens · Post by **kens** » Mon Aug 12, 2002 8:31 pm

Has anyone done one of these. The last one went well then my boss bought an XLT with full console and dual AC package. I have to mount a Kenwood tk790 head (possibly 2) and emergency light switches and siren (probabl;y a Unitrol 80 series). I just got the antenna cables installed (big pain having to go above the air ducts in the ceiling).
I'm open to ideas.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Tue Aug 13, 2002 6:31 am

I put all the equipment in the center console, completely out of sight. The other option, is to fabricate a facade that sits on top of the existing console. Works well too, but destroys the look of the interior. Really depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If this is a professional cruiser type vehicle, then interior looks can suffer for practicality. If this is a private or undercover vehicle, I'd mount all the goodies in the console.

Chato · Post by **Chato** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 11:32 pm

Hey Kens, Im just about to do the same thing with my 2000 Expedition XLT. I have a plan for the center console radio install, but Im not sure about the antennas in the roof. I need to mount up 7 antennas. (All Motorola NMO mount.) I too have duel A/C, as well as the overhead center console with lights and compass etc, can you Email me ( [email protected] ) or post some tips / problem areas / prceedures / or whatever ideas you have that may help me out on this. It seems pretty involved. Id like to see what you did. Thanks, Chad

ALSO: Where is "cool" California????? Whereever you are, could you be near San Diego?

Jonathan KC8RYW · Post by **Jonathan KC8RYW** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 8:51 am

Chato wrote:I need to mount up 7 antennas. (All Motorola NMO mount

What?!

Let's see... 1. Lowband, 2. VHF, 3. UHF, 4. 800.. that makes four antennas. If you have more then one antenna per band, you will just get desense.

Post by **Code3Response** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 9:27 am

900 mhz, lojack (up to 4), GPS, XM radio, plus all the differnet HAM bands. There are a bunch!

Chato · Post by **Chato** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 3:52 pm

Ahhhhhhh, I knew someone would be wondering.

1. VHF-low 2. VHF-high, 3. UHF, 4. Four for 800mhz. 5. Plus 2 glass-mount antennas for ham. (2m, 70cm) I am associated with news gathering here in San Diego.

Mobile Radio Equipment:
X9000 VHF-low (64 mode) for CHP, X9000 VHF-high (128 mode) for CDF/USFS/USPB, etc...., X9000 UHF (32 mode) for news, Astro Spectra 800, Spectra 800, Uniden 780xlt, Hopefully a Uniden 785D when they come out (soon-it just got FCC approval), untill then, this last antenna will be used with a HT, or a portable scanner. The Spectras have the Systems 9000 heads. (Its all gunna look cool in the Exped.

) Also have ham stuff, and a laptop computer to be installed. Ill post picture of the finished install if anyone wants to see it. It may be a few months though.

Thats just the mobile list, I have HT's and portable scanners, and cool suff at "base" too. (My home)

Just about everything public saftey is 800mhz trunked in San Diego. San Diego City does not use digital stuff, but in "North County", parts of "South Bay", and in "East County" (El Cajon), where I live, the police and sheriff departments are digital.

Yes, you really have to listen to all these radios at once to get a good idea of exactly whats going on around you, especially when there is an incident. (Well, we use two-way pagers and a "dispatcher" aswell as some "other" methods too.) I may want to listen to ONE talkgroup on a system, and set another scanner and/or radio to scan the other talkgroups on the same system. All while listening to other systems on other radios. You get the idea.

For more information, you can check out my buddies website (I dont have one, but what I do is similar) at: http://www.sandiegonewsphotographer.com

So thats it....any questions?

~Chad KG6ITH

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Sun Aug 25, 2002 2:02 pm

Holy Hell. When you get that done, let me know. I want to show it to some of my cohorts that think I have gone off the deep end with 2 radios

Sounds like a sweet setup though. Thats a lot of stuff.

Chato · Post by **Chato** » Sun Aug 25, 2002 2:42 pm

Ok, nmfire, Ill post some pix when I get it all done. Yes, I think it will be a pretty sweet setup, cant wait to get em in there. I have all the radios except the Astro Spectra and 785D. I want to put everything in at once. Im still waiting on a good deal on a 800mhz Astro Spectra W9. I was out bid on one by 10 freggin bucks on Ebay a few weeks ago.

Like I said, it might be a little while, but its a sure thing.

On another subject.......where did "kens" go? I would really like to know what he went through for that antenna install. I guess Ill just go on down to one of the junkyards around here, where I can take the ceiling down in a wrecked Expedition to see what kinds of hidden trouble I can expect.

~Chad KG6ITH

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Mon Aug 26, 2002 2:20 pm

There is no hidden trouble, just be careful if you have a sunroof since the glass retracts 1.5 feet past the cutout for the sunroof, other than that, run your cables down the C or D pillar and you will be fine. FYI, you do not need to take down the headliner to do this, just use a bit with a stop.

Chris

kens · Post by **kens** » Wed Sep 04, 2002 8:52 pm

Cool, Ca. (probably the city with the most often stolen sign) is in the foothill gold country about 30 miles east of Sacramento. I have often said if you blink you can miss the whole town!
I found that there is barely room above the ventilation ducts to install NMO mounts. I drilled small holes (careful to avoid the crossbars) and looked inside before the final hole for the mount.
Lightbar wiring harness enters the roof above the driver and goes down the piller on the driver's side.
The power supply for the corner strobes is under the right passenger's seat and radios will be under the opposite seat.
Right now, I'm trying to get siren and switch (Unitrol 80), Gall's #200 switch panel, and Kenwood Tk790/690 head in the area just ahead of the cup holders on the console. I certainly wish someone had made a replacement console for this!
Oh well, its almost done!

ptemplin · Post by **ptemplin** » Thu Sep 05, 2002 4:01 am

Well, I've got six antennas on the roof of my 2001 Excursion, and I've even contemplated going to ten. Here's the inventory (all Maxrad):

VHF-lo for CB
VHF-hi for FD
UHF (3dB) for PD
800 (5dB) for EMS
800/1900 (2.4dB, about 3" tall!) for cell
Scanner for everything else

I'm considering a second cell antenna for a laptop wireless card, a second UHF since one of our two EMS providers is soon switching from 800 LTR to UHF LTR, and possibly two shorty 2.4GHz antennas for mobile 802.11b wireless networking. Imagine a micro-laptop in the vehicle running CDMA access to the Internet, something like Internet Connection Sharing, and 802.11b wireless so other laptops within 1500' can access the Internet at 140kbps!

The six original antennas were actually quite simple, although I did pay an installer to do it for me. The two 800 antennas are up front, essentially over the front seats. The two VHF antennas are about 2/3rds of the way back on the roof, and the UHF & scanner antennas are very close to the rear.

The original four antennas are visible in these photos (they're big - sorry!):

http://www.templin.org/~pjtemplin/carpi ... C00541.JPG
http://www.templin.org/~pjtemplin/carpi ... C00536.JPG

Post by **alex** » Thu Sep 05, 2002 6:40 am

That's a very nice truck.

The vector looks like it's mounted too far back.

My assumption would be that is the only way to get somewhat decent visability from the back of the truck.

But - VERY nice

-Alex

ptemplin · Post by **ptemplin** » Thu Sep 05, 2002 8:17 am

Yes, the Vision bar is mounted relatively far back, but it does help fix rear visibility. Also, my chief doesn't like lightbars (I thought I'd try this one), so I knew I had to make it somewhat removable. The feet rest on the roof rack rails, and the hooks hook into the roof rack rails. Since it's the Smart Vision, it only uses a power cable, a ground cable, and an 8-pin phone cable. It really is quick connect (and disconnect). It's about to get sold, but I'd just use it for parades and shows.

I'm switching over to some of the flat strips from 911EP. Those should hide away enough to keep the chief happy, and allow me to go to the car wash (even though I still have to take off the six antennas!).

(added on edit) Forgot to add links to pictures of the console. See the following links for the double Troy console providing four cup holders, three radios, a scanner, a lightbar/siren controller, and an idle controller with a sharp looking home:

http://www.templin.org/~pjtemplin/carpix/DSC01923.JPG
http://www.templin.org/~pjtemplin/carpix/DSC01923.JPG
http://www.templin.org/~pjtemplin/carpix/DSC01930.JPG
http://www.templin.org/~pjtemplin/carpix/DSC01931.JPG

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Thu Sep 05, 2002 8:39 am

Who's console's are those in the excursion? Stewart? Troy? Is that one long 30 inch console or 2 units mounted together?
8 antennas on my truck.

2 VHF 1/4w
2 UHF 1/4w and 1/2w
2 800 3db colinear
1 hockey puck antenna covers amplified for GPS and 800 Mhz
1 nmo mount capped as a spare
I have to add a lo-band antenna on here at some point.

at work so I don't have pic handy.

radios brack down as

VHF Spectra 110w
UHF Spectra 110w
800 Spectra
MTVA with VHF amp for the MTS portables
Maxtrac lo-band (not in the console yet)

Final plans for the truck will include APRS and either CDPD or some other mobile internet access. I need to buy a larger console.

still looking at MDC for the vehicle, either toughbook or MW520

ptemplin · Post by **ptemplin** » Thu Sep 05, 2002 8:46 am

The consoles are from Troy. It's the CC-MC-14 (7" sloped plus 7" level) plus the 18" adjustable. It's using the Excursion/Super Duty "custom" floor mount, which works fairly well. It uses the stock holes and screws (which is great), but goes too far forward (it extends forward of the CC-MC-14) and not enough back (the 18" adjustable connects to the floor mount by only one pair of bolts) in my opinion, but obviously works exceptionally well.

I did have to raise the adjustable console all the way up in the rear when I was trying to fit my Maxtracs and my Cobra CB into it. I've actually thought about getting two 12" adjustable consoles and rotating them sideways, to give more front-accessible space and not go any further back.

However, there's no way to move them much farther back, so adding an MDC console for perhaps a Toughbook 17 will be quite a challenge.

kens · Post by **kens** » Fri Oct 18, 2002 7:16 pm

The Expedition is finally done!!!! We mounted all controls above the well in the console. It has a Gall's #200 6 switch controller, Kenwood Tk690/790 w/ single control head, and Unitrol 80 series siren controller. Everything was tight! It took 6hrs just to do mounting of the controllers. Had to to extensive fabrication of small brackets using 1/2" angle and a jigsaw. The area in the bottom of the console is pretty well filled with wiring and computer stuff to run the vehicle. The top of the console barely fits with all the wiring in place.

motor59 · Post by **motor59** » Fri Oct 18, 2002 7:50 pm

Pics?

Chato · Post by **Chato** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 12:23 am

Yes Kens, please post some pictures.

~Chad

SmartZone · Post by **SmartZone** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 6:43 pm

Can someone point me in the direction of a place to get a replacement console for my 2001 eddie bauer expedition?

I keep seeing the troy models mentioned, where did you get them from?

Chato · Post by **Chato** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 10:56 pm

Alrighty, I have completed the radio install in the Expedition.

What ended up going in is:

X9000 VHF-Low Band
X9000 VHF-High Band
X9000 UHF
Spectra B7 800mhz Trunking
Spectra B7 800mhz Trunking
BC780XLT

No Astro/digital stuff for now. Im probably going to buy the 785D for the house, and a XTS3000 or AS3 for the Exped/portable. I would really like Motorola over the 250d, mainly due to quality. I think the 250d is a little goofy looking, and just not as rigid as a Motorola radio. The audio quality of the 250d is outstanding though.

I have 8 antennas on the roof, 1 Antenex (lowband), 3 Larson (VHF-high, UHF, VHF-high,extra), and 4 Motorola 800mhz.

I plan on installing some 2meter/440 ham stuff soon, but will probably hide it in the center console. I think it will look a little out-of-place next to the commercial radios. I have my eye on those Icom 706's. Nice rigs.

I would post a few pictures, but honestly, I dont know how you guys enter pictures in the post, and I don't really have any availible web-space. Sorry, but it does look good, take my word for it. I guess you can Email me for some. Id be happy to show off, oops, I mean show you!

~Chad KG6ITH

SmartZone · Post by **SmartZone** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 5:49 am

yeah.. that would be great.... can you send your pics to me? I will PM you with my email address....

Look forward to seeing your work...

cranbiz · Post by **cranbiz** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 1:39 pm

You can use MSN or Yahoo to host photos for free. Just pick one and join them (for free) and you can post usually upto 20 MB of stuff. I used Microsoft for mine.

Bob

Post by **Code3Response** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 8:33 pm

Post some piccs!

code3media · Post by **code3media** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 11:11 pm

http://www.geocities.com/code3media/cha ... dition.htm

Post by **Code3Response** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 7:00 am

HOLY $%#@!#$%&%$@#!!!!!!!!

007 · Post by **007** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 11:30 am

Damn.

Post by **alex** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 11:41 am

Nice. Very Nice.

IF people do have photo's they want to host, I can put them up on my server, but understand it usually does take me a day or two to actually post them up.

-Alex

Chato · Post by **Chato** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 4:19 pm

Thanks for posting the pictures for me Ryan! (Code3media) And thanks to the rest of ya for the kind words. Any questions?

~Chad KG6ITH

fire-medic8104 · Post by **fire-medic8104** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 4:20 pm

Quick question, I count 6 radio heads but you have 7 antennas mounted on top. What's the 7th one for?

code3media · Post by **code3media** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 4:23 pm

I know that's not the case, but the 4 antennas in a square formation. It's gotta be used for DF (Direction Finding). What are they used for.

Great Job on the install. How long did it take you?

Did you actually pull the whole headliner down to do the silicone?

Ryan
[email protected]

Chato · Post by **Chato** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 4:58 pm

There are actually 8 antennas on the roof, and 6 radios in the Exped. One of the 800mhz antennas is extra, for a convertacom (XTS3000 or AS3) or maybe a portable scanner. I may mount a BNC jack on the side of the console that corresponds to that antenna, so I can switch between radios. Basically for expansion/flexibility. The other "extra" antenna is the first one in the line (from front to back) down the center. It's a simple Larson VHF, that Ill probably use for 2meter ham, with a glass-mount antenna (not installed just yet) for 70cm.

People have stopped and asked (I get a lot of funny looks and questions....more then I thought I would) if the four antennas in the front were for direction finding. It's really the only way I could mount them. I wanted everything to go straight down the middle initially. I also wanted all the antennas to be at least 12 inches apart. (They are all 16 inches apart.) Putting the 4, 800mhz antennas in the quad formation, and the lower bands in line down the middle, made sense to me, and looks better then all over the place in my opinion.

This install took about 2 1/2 weekends (so maybe 5 full days), and a few late afternoons at the shop after work. I knew what I wanted to do, and bought all the materials I thought I would need beforehand. (I still made an additional trip to Home Depot, and at least 2 trips to the electronics store!)

I did end up taking the entire headliner down. I just thought with this many antennas, it would be the wise thing to do. (Wire routing, duct dodging, etc....) It also made it real easy to caulk the underside of the NMO mounts, for that extra no-leak insurance. (Ya, you know how much it rains here in San Diego....

) The headliner was easier to take down then I thought, and I didn't screw anything up except for those damn plastic clothes hanger clips above the passenger doors.

I just could not for the life of me figure out how they came off, so I drilled them out. I still need to go over to the dealer and get some new ones.

~Chad

fire-medic8104 · Post by **fire-medic8104** » Fri Feb 21, 2003 8:19 pm

A little information, to take the clothes hanger brackets out push a small flat blade screwdriver into one of the slots and use a panel popper to pop them out. It's that easy.

E911EMT · Post by **E911EMT** » Sun Mar 02, 2003 2:15 am

I have to say that is alot of radios damn.. But that is an awsome setup for that expedition.-. As for the one with the Vector Lightbar the light bar is kinda far back and the antenna in the front should be where the rest are but it is defintly a nice set up...

KG6EAQ · Post by **KG6EAQ** » Sun Mar 02, 2003 3:11 am

Question for whoever took the pics... what mountain is that on? I can't figure out which around here would have the tower high tension lines running over it other than Contractors or Loop.

Chato · Post by **Chato** » Sun Mar 02, 2003 5:31 am

I tried to pop off those hanger clips with a screwdriver, but didnt use the panel popper, that must have been where I went wrong. Oh well, no biggie.

That is Mt. Miguel in San Diego. The pictures was taken on the North/West side of the hill. The view up there is awsome.

Most of the local television stations have microwave relays and repeaters there; it's a prime radio site for city/county coverage.

~Chad

KG6EAQ · Post by **KG6EAQ** » Sun Mar 02, 2003 10:27 am

Ah ok, I don't get to many of the mountains down in San Diego... mainly only ones around the LA area. It does look like an awesome view though, maybe when gas prices drop down I'll take a ride down to it and check it out!

2002 Expedition

2002 Expedition

Insights from 2001 Excursion

Consoles in Excursion

2000 Exped. Install Complete!

Photo Hosting

Here's (chato) Chads Pic's

TKS...

Are you running a Lo-Jack system?