Batboard

No one seems to post much in the way of installs over here anymore. I guess elightbars took that over... Check these out.

This was a cabling upgrade to extend the length used by my PDRC setup and add additional USB connections.

System is setup as :

Kodiak Mobile CF29 dock with a CF28 MkIII
APRS via a KPC3+ TNC
SM50 low split VHF 45w
Verizon Sierra Wireless Rev-A EVDO Card with Maxrad dual band MPLV series can.
Edgeport 4 port USB to serial converter

I added a remote USB port, which the plug you see floating. I mounted it to the back of the PDRC cable cover for easy access up front.

A USB 4 port hub from the folks who brought you the edgeport goes in next along with a AMP for the Verizon Card, although I've yet to really need higher tx power or pre-amp.










Next is a refit of a 2001 Blazer used by a park law enforcement agency.

Equipment Mounted:

Astro Spectra W5 800
Maxtrac 300 VHF 45w
Federal Signal SS2000
HP Laptop (non rugged, not my choice by any means)
Gamber Johnson Notepad IV (again not my choice)
Verizon Wireless EVDO Rev-A Card

Warning lights:

All Federal Signal
Vista Halogen
GS1 strobes x 4
HLF and TLF

Old setup had the radios bolted almost flat to the hump and the smarsiren on top of the dash above the OEM radio. An existing Havis-Shields laptop mount base was also present. Radios were hard to see let alone reach and the Smartsiren head was just waiting to be a projectile in a collision.

I moved everything to a 9 inch JottoDesk console bolted directly to the trans hum. Radio were mounted in a double bracket to conserve space since a larger console wouldn't fit. 2 faceplates for 3 units in 9 inches of space! I think it turned out very clean.

Smartsiren PA mic was drilled and bolted through the console instead of the cheasy bracket supplied by FS. Little lite was moved from the dash (lots of swiss cheese holes in the plastic) where it had been originally mounted with 3 INCH LONG DRYWALL SCREWS!

Vehicle wiring was done by a previously installer and was actually extremely well done and though out and as good as the work that I do. See the last pic of the rear bracket and wiring. Obviously this vehicle was done right the 1st time, but i suspect other "installers" or agency mechanics came in a hacked a few things up.

Antennas were a mess with 3 mounted in a row across the vehicle roof with the center antenna offset. Mount was removed, capped and sealed with a 3/4 plastic hole plug and a new mount drilled dead center in front of the lightbar.

I re-mounted the front GS1 strobes to the pushbar along with the Dynamax speaker which had been jammed in the grill with what appeared to be some type of roof rafter framing bracket! Sorry, I forgot to take pics of the front end and exterior.















How about tapping in to the OEM door lock circuit inside the door instead of running power for the unity spotlight to its own relay fed from the battery under the dash?!?!!? I couldn't believe it when I found this spotlight that worked but with no obvious connecting to the vehicle. I checked the OEM wiring channel with nothing in there. After I popped off the door skin I found this!

Nice clean install - very well done.

I hate installing radios, so you can do my installs from now on

Any chance of seeing the 1st install from the driver seat? Nice installs (even though the spot light wasn't yours )!

Sure, I can post some. Pics have been up before on a couple different versions over the years, but the links are long gone.

I like the install, the only comment I have is the position of the Moto mic, I had mine there in a 99 Blazer and several times hit the shifter getting the mic off the clip
Steve

That mic clip was already mounted before I got the vehicle. You can see where I pulled another one off the dash which is now blocked by the laptop mount. I was stuck with 3 mics and with two on the front of the console I had to use the dash location unless I wanted officers banging their knees on it or doing some funky reaches to get answer calls.

Best compromise I could come up with.

I like that I would like to do that to my 2000 Jimmy Nice install I know those vehicals are tight and not my space to work very nice

Trust me apco25 made this pig usable. I am over six foot and 220 with two other officers taller and bigger than me and driving this wonder Blazer without tilt wheel is not a pleasent experience. Most of the original install was the handy work of our maintenance "shop" done by lawnmower mechanics who couldn't give a rats a... about us who have to drive their ''creations"