Ospre's attempt at installin Moto in the truck o.0

[Ospre]

Hello all,
I am new to tinkering with Moto but have used Moto for years at work and caught the bug /\/\
Dont laugh now....

two spectra's and one MTVA installed into a F-350


and yes I forgot to take out the extra fuse when I put the fuse block in lol I installed this in 25F weather and just wanted to get done with it.
The Blue cable is cat5 from the mtva with a female to the R45 so I can plug my mic in at the console, I didn't like pulling on the mic from behind the seat. I need to double check my wire job on that though when I push PTT my pac honks at me before it transmits so I think I need to go over that again but I will wait for warm weather to do more for now I will leave the mic unplugged till I get it resolved.


the A7 is my GMRS unit, the A5 Ham VHF


Then I got real froggy and installed the MTVA for my work 800mhz pac-set, I used the non amplified brain so that I can use different jedi radios in it(VHF/UHF) should I need/want to.


this is installed behind the passenger seat but is visible from the drivers seat, I use MTS2000 model I so I can read the display from where I sit.Use it mostly to charge my radio commin and goin from work


I would like to thank the Batboard and all the members for their great posts. I could not have got this far with out the info that is posted here
Thank you

[akardam]

Very nice, clean install. What's the model number of that fuse block (ATO type I presume)?

[Ospre]

Very nice, clean install. What's the model number of that fuse block (ATO type I presume)?

I don't know really, I got it out of the discard pile. When my dept surpluses vehicles I get to strip them of anything the dept can re-use again and then I scrounge whats left for my hobby time before they go off to auction. My district vehicles keep going on the beg , barrow and reallocate procedure

[fineshot1]

Nothing to laugh at - looks like a nice install to me. I like the mic extension box idea. Bravo...

[radiocomms95]

Good job with the clean install.

Since you are on VHF and UHF with the Spectras, and you state that you have the MTVA for V/U/800 use, what do you have for an antenna setup?

I also like the placement of the Magcharger.

[Ospre]

Good job with the clean install.

Since you are on VHF and UHF with the Spectras, and you state that you have the MTVA for V/U/800 use, what do you have for an antenna setup?

I also like the placement of the Magcharger.

Thank you,

re: Antennas- on the roof of the cab I have 3 NMO mounts,
Spectra units: UHF Antenex 450 low profile antenna, VHF quarter wave whip antenna I had tried the Antenex low profile but it had too narrow frequency range for my needs and was to bulky. I have a F350 and it is abit tall this is why I opted for the low profile antennas, otherwise I would loose them in the parking garages lol. The UHF has performed well for my needs so far.

MTVA - NMO mount, currently it has a low profile 800 mhz from Laird Tech but I keep a couple other antennas around should I need to put a different band pacset in the mtva. Nothing tricky here just plain ol fashion get out and do the switch-a-roo.

I will try to post a picture of the antenna farm this weekend time and weather permiting it has been raining cats and dogs around here...

[Ospre]

ok the rains have finnaly stopped and I got a chance to take a picture or two with the truck actualy clean lol,
Here are a couple of pics of the antenna farm on the roof. Center antenna is VHF,
I tried one of the antenex antennas for the VHF radio but the size and frequency
coverage was not going to work for me. So I went back to a 1/4 wave whip.
If the car wash gets it I just get another



This is the 400mhz unit


The MTVA ant is currently 800mhz. If I need to switch to a different band on another pack set
I will just swap out for another antenna. This one serves my work radio
The others are just my hobby