2006 Tacoma Ham Radio Install

jxs215 · 03-04-2009, 11:16 AM

I recently installed a Kenwood TM-V71A dual-band amateur radio in my 2006 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab and thought I would share the step-by-step install process with pics for those interested.

The antenna and power routing would be the same for a CB.

http://www.thestevensons.org/tmv71a_install

bigmooze · 03-04-2009, 05:09 PM

That's a pretty awesome write-up! The link shows the details well, and the flikr account pics are even better. Thanks for posting. A question though... how did you route the antenna cable from the outside of the truck to the inside?

jxs215 · 03-04-2009, 05:25 PM

I am not one for drilling holes in my truck, nor am I a fan of routing coax beside doors or windows. The antenna is a glass-mount antenna so the feedline is always inside the truck.

I'll post some pictures of that tomorrow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigmooze

That's a pretty awesome write-up! The link shows the details well, and the flikr account pics are even better. Thanks for posting. A question though... how did you route the antenna cable from the outside of the truck to the inside?

Chalkie · 03-04-2009, 06:08 PM

Nice clean install!

I am trying to decide if that is the whole radio mounted there, or just the front?

I have a similar setup with my Yaesu FT-8800 but I only have the front panel mounted there with the body of the radio under the passenger seat.

Tell me how you like that through-the-glass antenna. I have heard pro's and con's.

Cleveland · 03-04-2009, 08:55 PM

Very nice.

Here's my install. I decided to put the radio in the back part of the center console, just above the inverter. It just fits in there.

jxs215 · 03-04-2009, 09:48 PM

It is just the front panel mounted in the console.

One of the differences in the Kenwood TMV-71A is that the mic cord runs from the transceiver and not the control panel. It made the planning a little more interesting and drove a couple of the design decisions.

I actually like that the mic cord comes up from under the passenger seat and it not laying about the console.

The glass mount antenna is certainly not the highest gain antenna and mounting it on what may be passivated glass probably doesn't help. The trade-offs for what I considered to be more important factors: 1) I can easily remove the whip to enter parking structures. Living near a major city makes this a very real concern. 2) No hole in the roof and no coax to run into the truck from the outside. 3) It doesn't look inviting to thieves (a city thing again). Most people just assume it is a cell phone antenna. 4) No matter what hams think, having a large geeky-looking antenna in the middle of your roof does not attract women. 5) I don't need a whole lot of antenna to hit all the local repeaters.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chalkie

Nice clean install!

I am trying to decide if that is the whole radio mounted there, or just the front?

I have a similar setup with my Yaesu FT-8800 but I only have the front panel mounted there with the body of the radio under the passenger seat.

Tell me how you like that through-the-glass antenna. I have heard pro's and con's.

jxs215 · 03-05-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jxs215

I'll post some pictures of that tomorrow.

Here's the antenna:

Chalkie · 03-05-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jxs215

I am not one for drilling holes in my truck, nor am I a fan of routing coax beside doors or windows. The antenna is a glass-mount antenna so the feedline is always inside the truck.

I am definitely not a fan of putting a hole in the roof, but I need an antenna with as much forward gain as I can get due to terrain. I ended up opting for a Comet RS-730 lip mount and a Diamond NR-770HNMO. I was originally going to mount it on the hood but finally went with the top of the driverside passenger door. It folds over when I need it to and the cable, aside from the thin cable from antenna to the trim, is hidden very well.

The mic on my radio comes off of the head unit and I really do like the looks of yours coming out further back. So, you have given me an idea. The mic plug is an RJ-11 type, so I think I am going experiment and make up an extender cable with some Cat-6 and bring it back.

I am thinking of adding a second antenna for mobile packet ops this Skywarn season instead of a mag mount. I like the looks of that one of yours, so I think I may go with it.

docktortal33 · 03-05-2009, 01:41 PM

looks good will have to put some pic's of my 8900 instaled KC2SUZ Here

jxs215 · 03-05-2009, 03:06 PM

That antenna mount does indeed look nice. That coax looks skinny, is that the cable shipped with the antenna/mount?

Someone suggested I use an adapter and a piece or CAT5 if I wanted to extend the mic cord. You should be able to do the same to run the mic back to where you want it. At first I thought it was odd that the mic connection was not on the frontplate but then I came to actually like that better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chalkie

I am definitely not a fan of putting a hole in the roof, but I need an antenna with as much forward gain as I can get due to terrain. I ended up opting for a Comet RS-730 lip mount and a Diamond NR-770HNMO. I was originally going to mount it on the hood but finally went with the top of the driverside passenger door. It folds over when I need it to and the cable, aside from the thin cable from antenna to the trim, is hidden very well.

The mic on my radio comes off of the head unit and I really do like the looks of yours coming out further back. So, you have given me an idea. The mic plug is an RJ-11 type, so I think I am going experiment and make up an extender cable with some Cat-6 and bring it back.

I am thinking of adding a second antenna for mobile packet ops this Skywarn season instead of a mag mount. I like the looks of that one of yours, so I think I may go with it.

hsracer201 · 03-05-2009, 03:35 PM

that looks nice. i need to get a good marine unit hooked up in mine before october. that's what we use bear hunting. i like where you put it.

briangp · 03-05-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jxs215

That antenna mount does indeed look nice. That coax looks skinny, is that the cable shipped with the antenna/mount?

Someone suggested I use an adapter and a piece or CAT5 if I wanted to extend the mic cord. You should be able to do the same to run the mic back to where you want it. At first I thought it was odd that the mic connection was not on the frontplate but then I came to actually like that better.

Just a tip, pay attention and make sure your mic is the same as CAT5 wiring. Network cables are wired different depending on application, your mic may be different.

Chalkie · 03-05-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jxs215

That antenna mount does indeed look nice. That coax looks skinny, is that the cable shipped with the antenna/mount?

Yes, it is part of the cable with the mount. There is about 18" of mini RG-188 that transitions to RG-8. It makes it really easy to get behind the trim with deforming the trim. Once past the rubber trim around the door, the Taco has lots of room behind the post trim between the doors and along the door bottom (as your photos show) to run the cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by briangp

Just a tip, pay attention and make sure your mic is the same as CAT5 wiring. Network cables are wired different depending on application, your mic may be different.

Yes, thanks. I meant making up my own cable. I have all the tools for crimping RJ-11 or RJ-45 terminations onto Cat 5/6. I have gotten pretty good at making cables for my radios to be able to connect them to various devices (Signalink, KAM 3+, etc.).

jxs215 · 03-05-2009, 04:58 PM

As long as the CAT5 is not specifically built to be a cross-over cable it should just pass the (in this case low voltage) signal along the same path it came in, no?

Am I missing something?

Quote:

Originally Posted by briangp

Just a tip, pay attention and make sure your mic is the same as CAT5 wiring. Network cables are wired different depending on application, your mic may be different.

psteege · 04-28-2009, 09:32 AM

jxs215 -

I have a 2007 Tacoma, extra cab. I plan to use a hood mount Larsen 2/70 and Diamond K400CNMO mount and bring the coax in with the power wires. I have a few questions.

Did you mount the rig under the passenger or drivers seat ?

How did you route the power cables to the rig ? You show them coming out of a heat duct.
Did you use fish tape or coat hanger to route your wiring.