Need some advice (GMC Sonoma amateur install)

[kd5wyu]

Hello,

I hope y'all don't mind a newbie coming along.....

I've had my technician ticket for about a month and am growing sick of running my HT with a magmount antenna in my 95 GMC Sonoma. It just won't cut the mustard when Skywarn season comes around next year.

What I really want to do is put a 2 meter/440 dual band amateur transceiver in it (probably an Icom 2720-H at this point).

The truck has a manual transmission so there is not enough room for a hump mount, and I'd like to keep the install as stealth as possible so it doesn't get stolen out of my truck at night. I pretty much realize the head needs to be separate from the main body of the radio and don't know where to put the head or the remote speaker that will be required.

I have decided that I want to do an NMO mount on top of the cab roof with a Comet SBB-2NMO antenna (its about 18 inches in length) and would love some suggestions on how to get this installed without tearing out the headliner (or how to remove it properly without destroying it in the process)

I also have to bring in a +12v line from the battery. Any suggestions about bringing a line in from the battery (mainly getting it in through the firewall, that makes me very nervous)

Thanks in advance for your help

-brent-
(KD5WYU)

[gws]

Have you looked high for a mounting point? The Chevy overhead console make a nice location. Here is a 706 remote head on an overhead console of a tahoe.

[JAYMZ]

You may want to try a Yeasu FT-7100M. They are nice compact dual band radios. Very easily remote mounted as well. I'm not too sure of mounting in a Sonoma but a friend of mine had a blazer with that rig and had it mounted above the rear view mirror. The microphone could be mounted elsewhere as well.

You could probably do something similar and put the main part of the unit under your seat or in the glovebox if you so desired.

[TomSlick]

If you don't need simultaneous RX or cross-band repeat, take a look at the Kenwood TM-G707A. I got one last month, and my brother-in-law has one as well. Very nice rig. Small removable control head with LARGE alpha display and aircraft receive as well. It's also just about the cheapest dual band mobile you can find these days. I think it's a bargain. The only possible downside I could find is it doesn't do DCS.

[kd5wyu]

Y'all just broadened my rig selection a bit....

GWS: I don't have a console like that in my truck but thought about putting the head up there with some kind of metal backer so it stays attached to the headliner and doesn't fall off.

Jaymz: I looked at the 7100M and I agree that it is a great rig, but it appears to be discontinued by Yaesu (?) so I may have a hard time getting one. Looks like HRO still had a few left though.

Tomslick: the heads all look so huge on the Kenwood rigs I've looked at, but I will keep the TM-G707A in mind. No one uses DCS here (just CTCSS) so that isn't a big deal for me. The Alpha tags would be a great plus also (used to that with my scanner and miss it on my HT) If it had X-band repeat it would be my perfect rig.

Decisions, decisions....

-brent-

[Bob]

Tomslick: the heads all look so huge on the Kenwood rigs I've looked at, but I will keep the TM-G707A in mind. No one uses DCS here (just CTCSS) so that isn't a big deal for me. The Alpha tags would be a great plus also (used to that with my scanner and miss it on my HT) If it had X-band repeat it would be my perfect rig.
-brent-

In that case, if your budget will allow, look at the Kenwood TM-D700A. I have one, and it's the most slick dual-band ham radio I've ever seen. If you get into packet and/or APRS, it has a built-in TNC and will do both out of the box. 200 channels, and all you need is a standard serial cable to brogram the thing via PC. The programming software isn't the best, but it's free. For an extra $25, I bought the voice chip for mine. It tells you what channel or frequency you are on without having to look at the control head. It's still a little steep, but in my opinion, it's well worth it.

[TomSlick]

the heads all look so huge on the Kenwood rigs I've looked at, but I will keep the TM-G707A in mind.

I know what you mean about most of the Kenwoods, but the TM-G707A's head is VERY compact - probably no more than about 2.25"x4" or so. It detaches from it's mount very easily, too, so you can take it with you or hide it. (You would need to buy one of the optional separation kits to remote-mount it, but that's true of most rigs.)

You can cross-band operate with it (TX on one band, RX on the other) but not simultaneously, so no repeat.

[JAYMZ]

Jaymz: I looked at the 7100M and I agree that it is a great rig, but it appears to be discontinued by Yaesu (?) so I may have a hard time getting one. Looks like HRO still had a few left though.

They are very nice rigs. I had borrowed it for a short time when I had a vehicle out of service and I was using my truck(affectionately named "The DitchDigger"). I loved it. It could do 8 or 10 character alpha tags and was easily modified for freeband. If all my capital wasn't tied up in some of my other stuff I would get one.

I hope y'all don't mind a newbie coming along.....

Heh heh heh... we like newbies... fresh meat hahahahaha.

Actually I wouldn't worry about that at all. We were ALL new at one time (I myself have only been a HAM since last October). Welcome to the Boards. You'll find it to be very informative and a lot of fun at times.

[wa2zdy]

Nope, nothing wrong with newbies, unless they're the kind who know little, it's obvious they know little, and they try to act like they know everything. Those kinds can just go somewhere else.

I was a newbie to 2m when hams were still using Motracs, Hammarlund FM50 Outercoms (yes, that really was what they called it), and Prog-lines. I myself had a Pre Prog line base mounted in a 6 ft rack. This monster was on one freq (146.52 in my case), ran about 8w out (designed for 50, but it was old) and had been retired by a nearby police dept in 1956.

Newbies have it so much easier today. But seriously, we all learn from each other. Your questions are going to evoke answers that I may learn from. One never knows. So ask away and enjoy!

Good luck.

[gws]

If you need compact the yaesu ft90 is a micro small mobile.

[TomSlick]

If you need compact the yaesu ft90 is a micro small mobile.

True, the FT90 display is tiny. I've heard from several folks that have had heat-related problems with theirs, though. Maybe Yaesu have gotten that straightened out in later production runs.

[kd5wyu]

True, the FT90 display is tiny. I've heard from several folks that have had heat-related problems with theirs, though. Maybe Yaesu have gotten that straightened out in later production runs.

I chatted with a few of the local hams and they are not real positive on the FT-90 (mainly talking about the heat problems) and the Eham reviews seem to say the same. I looked at that rig when I was in AES in Vegas over the weekend and its a tiny little thing. I doubt that Yaesu will be able to fix the overheating problem with it due to the small size.

The Eham reviews are not real positive on most of the Yaesu rigs actually. They seem to have some significant QC issues. I very much like my Icom HT and the local guys like Icom as well.

I'd love to have the TM-D700A that does all the APRS stuff but that's way out of budget for this operator. (I just graduated from college and am looking for a job) I agree it is a beautiful rig though.

I will take a good close look at that TM-G707A. Texas Towers has that rig so I can go over and look at it in person.

Actually I'm a ways off having the $$$ for the rig but I've learned a ton from this board and wanted to see what the consensus was. Y'all that do this (professionally?) do some amazing things with the vehicle installs I have seen pics of.

WA2ZDY: I try to keep my mouth shut and learn as much as possible before I jump in and get in trouble with the more experienced hams.
I'm young enough to still have some youthful fire left in me, but old enough to listen before I push that PTT button. (actually hitting PTT is still pretty scary sometimes)

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions as I get into the install.

Finally, thank you all for the advice and pictures, and have a happy and safe 4th. (I'm off from work for once!!!)

-brent-

[gws]

What I really want to do is put a 2 meter/440 dual band amateur transceiver in it (probably an Icom 2720-H at this point).

2720 or if you wait a bit longer the Icom 208H will be comming out soon. Similar features to the 2720 but smaller formfactor.

I pretty much realize the head needs to be separate from the main body of the radio and don't know where to put the head or the remote speaker that will be required.

Body can go under the seat. BUt make sure you fasten it down. I use a wood frame for the radio and nylon straps to the seat frame to hold it. Consider putting a fuse block and cut off relay on the board as well that way you can use this as a power source for othe radios you might add in the future. Head location is always fun, Where can it go. Problem is you really need the radio to find out if the head and its mounting hardware will work. So pick a radio and try to place it where its easy to see whil driving but not in your way. There should be overhead mounting screw holes for overhead mounting.

I have decided that I want to do an NMO mount on top of the cab roof with a Comet SBB-2NMO antenna (its about 18 inches in length) and would love some suggestions on how to get this installed without tearing out the headliner (or how to remove it properly without destroying it in the process)

Chevy headliners in the front are often velcroed in. For a NMO mount go to the overhead dome light. pop it out that gives you access to the roof and your above the headline. Now pop off the plastic vertical trim around the door. Use a fish tape to pull your cables through. If your going NMO. MAKE SURE you have the right size drill bit for the NMO mount you have. The NMO mount is a standard. How its mounted is not.

I also have to bring in a +12v line from the battery. Any suggestions about bringing a line in from the battery (mainly getting it in through the firewall, that makes me very nervous)

You didnt say what year Sonoma you had. If its a pre 95 then you can run cables in on the passenger side. There is a passthrough on the back firewall behind the radatior overflow bottle that will pass a good size cable. Make sure you seal the gromet after you puncure it for the cable. ON 96 or to to present then you can bring power in on the drivers side through the steering shaft. Also some of the newer GM products had room for dual batteries, might consider that also with your radio;s.

[Dkouz]

2720 or if you wait a bit longer the Icom 208H will be comming out soon. Similar features to the 2720 but smaller formfactor.

Isn't the 208 just a suped-up 207? The 2720 has dual-receive, the 207 does not. In fact, the display wouldn't be big enough on a 208 for dual-receive. The 2720 is remote mount right out of the box too. At Dayton the 2720 was only like $310.

The Eham reviews are not real positive on most of the Yaesu rigs actually. They seem to have some significant QC issues. I very much like my Icom HT and the local guys like Icom as well.

I wouldn't base any purchase off of what prople on Eham say. A pissed-off person is more likely to seek a vent (Eham) than a happy person is. That is why you see all those whiners on 'review' sites.

[70351]

I'd stay away from the Yaesu FT-7100, even if you found one for a *good deal*. All of them were prone to severe intermod, display lockup, and strange noises while in scan mode (I had one). If you look at the IC-2720 the general concensous is it's a great radio but also suffers from severe intermod. However, this will depend on where you live.

I agree that the reviews on eHam.net can be skewed at best. However, if you take the time to actually read the reviews you can get an idea of the radio by filtering out the reviews by people who rated it poorly because they didn't like the color of the radio vs. the way it actually performed. I've written many reviews on there, and mine are quite lengthy because I try to realistically cover the main points of any given radio.

I would also agree the Kenwood TM-G707 is a good choice provided you don't require dual receive, or cross band repeat. The 707 is a proven performer. I also own the Yaesu FT-8900R quad bander, and it performs reasonably well given it's features and pricing. Now I understand Yaesu will be releasing the FT-8800 dual band mobile, which looks identical the the 8900 except it's 2 meter/70cm only.

Based on all the advice you've received this is a lot of info to assimilate and make a decision. Your best bet is to talk with those who actually own these radio's, and find out first-hand what they think (again, barring those who you feel have unreasonable expectations of it).


Randy