Radio/Antenna Recommendations

[dynamike]

Hey, I am studying up to take my tech license and also doing some research on radios and antenna's.
The radio will be going in my LJ, so I really prefer a detachable faceplate.
And being that my top is soft, not quite sure on my options for the antenna?
I do have a swing out tire carrier with a rack on it, not sure if that will serve as enough of a ground or not?
Two radios I have been looking at, (please share your opinions)
ICOM 208H or Yaesu FT 7800R, both may be equipped with a little more than I may need starting out, but I dont want to have to upgrade a year from now.
I'm all ears for some good opinions.
I attached a pic of the rack on the back of the Jeep, will an antenna work there?

 

[gary in ohio]

Either radio is fine. Antenna mount can be fun on a jeep but there are a couple of adapters that fit behind the tail lights and provide a solid mounting point (but a bit low) for antennas.. You might be able to fabricate something for your rack as well. Higher is better but off roading that can be an issue.

 

[DaveInDenver]

If you want a removable face plate like a car stereo might have, I think the Yeasu radios might not fit the bill. The face does come off easily, but there is a little jumper cable that connects the face to the body, a little phone plug sort of thing. It's not really something you want to have to do every day IMO. There is an Icom or maybe Alinco that had a face that popped off with contacts, like a car radio. But most of the ones I've seen seem to use the little jumper cable, which is just a bit of a PITA. I take mine off if I leave the truck parked overnight at a trailhead or something, but I think most people would just mistake it for a CB and not bother. In any case, it's kind of hard to pawn CBs and ham radios, no one is really standing around selling them on street corners, so who'd gonna bother stealing it?

 

[crawler#976]

I've got the Yaesu FT-7800R in my Taco. So far I've been pleased with the unit. Here's a couple photos:

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=103036&postcount=9

If you plan on using a remote mount an extension speaker is pretty much required, and they sound better than the stock speaker to boot. The head unit is tiny - I'm positive you'll be able to find a good spot for it in your Jeep.

The small speaker in the first photo is for the CB, the larger speaker in the second is for the Yaesu. It has a long cord on it, and can be removed from it's bracket and placed outside if needed (like I did this weekend at the Prescott Rally)

Mark

 

[Gear]

I like the Yaesu with the detached face plate. Here is a photograph of one installed in 2003 Rubicon. I used a ram mount to attach it to the OR-Fab Sport Cage. I used a ram mount adapter that uses a hose clamp to attach the ball to the roll bar. If I had to do it over I might just drill a 1/4 20 hole and insert one of RAM's 1/4 20 ball mounts with threads on it. I also like this location in my Jeep. With it being up high you really do not notice it unless you are looking for it.

http://www.ram-mount.com/ramwebcompthumb/ram108b.JPG
Here is the mount I used.

http://www.ram-mount.com/ramwebcompthumb/ram236.JPG
Here is just the ball with 1/4 20 threads.

http://www.ram-mount.com/ramwebcompthumb/Page.html
And here is the whole page if you want something different. Also you can mount it directly to the windshield frame if you do not have a sport cage.

 

[dynamike]

some helpful info guys......
Justin- that is where I'm considering mounting mine. Did you have to purchase a remote location kit ?? What are you doing for an antenna ??