Batboard

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

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

akardam wrote: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

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

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.

radiocomms95 wrote: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...

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