Ham Radio Install?

[SurfnBike]

Has anyone hard wired a ham radio into their R1T yet? I've got a Yeasu FT7900 from my old F150 that I need to install. I also need some ideas on where to mount the antenna. I may opt for a door mount since we're stuck with a full glass roof.

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[Cycliste]

I’m using a DITKOK Folding Antenna Mount (Amazon and others) on the rear crossbar for a GMRS antenna.

I use a DuraComm power supply plugged into the truck’s outlet to power the radio. I only mount the radio and antenna on camping and road trips (no trips so far)

 

[CharonPDX]

Well, there's one in my city with a big antenna on it, and a HAM ID license plate, so I figure there's at least one.

 

[Beer Traveler]

big

Any chance you can get his call sign from the license plate?

 

[zefram47]

I was all set to do a rear window glass mount antenna, and then realized when I was fitting it up that the spoiler gets in the way to the point it won't work. I started thinking about trying to mount a standard UHF or NMO mount to the plastic cover that's over the storage compartment for the powered tonneau slats, but haven't gotten further than that. Also possible you might be able to do the same on one of the plastic bedside rails. There are pics that a few took when they tried fixing their tonneau covers that might be useful.

 

[mike813]

Slightly related. I installed a Midland MXT275 and I mount my antenna outside at times. I keep the antenna as shown here, on the inside by the window. The radio head-unit is behind the power trim piece back in that cavity. I put a stick-on metal disk on the plastic trim to hold the magnet in place. The reception is actually pretty great here on the inside- and for the rare times I need it on a road trip or off-road adventure, I just place this on the roof on the metal cross-member.

 

[CharonPDX]

Any chance you can get his call sign from the license plate?

If I see them again. But that would be posting someone else's private information, so I won't post it here. (Since you can find someone's name and address form their call sign.)

If the Rivian R1T with HAM plates in Portland owner is on the forum, I'm sure they'll chime in.

 

[SurfnBike]

I’m using a DITKOK Folding Antenna Mount (Amazon and others) on the rear crossbar for a GMRS antenna.

I use a DuraComm power supply plugged into the truck’s outlet to power the radio. I only mount the radio and antenna on camping and road trips (no trips so far)

Do you happen to have a photo of your setup? I'm wondering how to route the antenna cable. I was thinking that you could go from the gear tunnel into the cab via a gromet, but how to get to the roof? I kinda wish that the R1T just came with a regular old metal roof for this application.

 

[spamurai]

I installed a GMRS and a 2M/440 rig with dedicated antennas for each. I experimented with locations and landed on both radios mounted to a wood board with sides in the gear tunnel. Mine is a R1T without the power tonneau. There is a small 3/4 inch pass through between the gear tunnel and the shelf that would hold the power tonneau cover, behind the rear bed panel. Super easy to pull the antenna cable through, hardest part was to fish the cable through the upper deck over the shelf , outside, under the back window in order to get the antenna cable to the roof.

in the picture the antenna cable from inside the gear tunnel is on the bottom, I wrapped the coax in sheathing as the metal edges were sharp.
Other picture is the antenna mounted temporarily to the rail over the bed. I purchased the Overland Ruff Rax and mounted low profile antennas there for my daily driving, the Comet 1/2 wave only comes out for trips. The coax is tucked into the rear window side trim on each side going up to the roof, not the greatest but works.
73

 

[spamurai]

Adding additional photos of cable routing and the final install. Used a midland NMO base with a removable UHF connector to feed the cable through, the plastic trim over the tonneau shelf has a small gap between sections, I drilled it out slightly to pass the cable through but otherwise the installation was non destructive and completely reversible. Not pictured is the gear tunnel inside, just pop the 3/4” rubber grommet cap off from inside the tonneau shelf and push a screwdriver from outside, you’ll immediately see the inside liner bulge and pulling the coax thru is easy after that. Cheers & 73.

 

[SurfnBike]

Thanks for the tips everyone. So to run your radio you will need the inverter on, since you are plugged into the 12V socket in the gear tunnel? Or did you guys find another power source? I will need to buy a 12V plug since my old Yeasu FT7900 hard wired to my old F150's battery.

I am thinking of mounting an external antenna onto my cargo basket, which sits on my bed crossbars.

Oh and do you guys have any photo's of how you mounted the physical unit in the gear tunnel? I have a remote head unit with a telephone cord that allows me to place my head unit anywhere in the vehicle, so routing that cable and finding a mounting place for the head unit will be another bridge to cross.

 

[SurfnBike]

Also dumb question here, I've been out of the ham radio equipment scene for probably 10 years--granted I was never very knowledgeable about to begin with, but what is with those stubby little antennas you have there Spamurai? Do they work well? Seems like an ideal setup for the roofline so you aren't wacking every bush along the trail, but how are they working out?

I really need to get a better setup. I used my handhelds (Yeasu ft60r and beofung) for my last 5 day offroad trip inside the R1T and the range with my buddy, also on a handheld in his Chevy truck was about 150 yards.

 

[grass man]

Adding additional photos of cable routing and the final install. Used a midland NMO base with a removable UHF connector to feed the cable through, the plastic trim over the tonneau shelf has a small gap between sections, I drilled it out slightly to pass the cable through but otherwise the installation was non destructive and completely reversible. Not pictured is the gear tunnel inside, just pop the 3/4” rubber grommet cap off from inside the tonneau shelf and push a screwdriver from outside, you’ll immediately see the inside liner bulge and pulling the coax thru is easy after that. Cheers & 73.

Which roof rack is that???

 

[spamurai]

Overland Ruff Rax, awesome build quality and I really enjoy it. Be sure to get the gap filler molding for the front bottom edge, really cuts down on the wind noise, barely notice its there below 75 MPh.

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