Radio Security Issue...

[crusader]

Passed my Technician test last Saturday (yay me), so I picked up a radio that meets my immediate needs: Rugged, 2m, rugged, economical and rugged. Yes, it's the single-band Yaesu FT-2900R.

Now I've got a bit of a problem--I'm need to mount it in a vehicle that doesn't have the ability to be locked. Even if all the door locks worked properly, they would still be comically easy to defeat. Besides, I spend all summer with the doortops off.

A tuffy security box is out of the question for now. Plus, I don't really like the idea of enclosing a radio that requires a massive heat-sink body to stay cool. I was thinking of looping a decent-sized stainless steel cable through the heat sink fins (see photo) and locking the cable to an anchor or something to that effect.

Anyone see any flaws in my thinking or have a better way to keep my radio out of the area pawn shops/e-bay?

Thanks!

--Mark

 

[WoldD90]

Keep a mean dog in the back...

 

[Borrego60]

Why not mount it on a slide like they did with CB radios.http://cgi.ebay.com/FMB-35-Hump-Flo...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ad561aae1 this might help,CB radio slide mount on Ebay.

 

[SilverBullet]

I mounted mine with a lock nut hidden behind the dash. I replaced one of the mounting bolts with it (put a threaded stud in the radio, then a lock nut outside the bracket). When my old 87 was broken into, it was comical watching the guy on video try to figure out why the radio would not just come out with a slide.

 

[4x4mike]

Do you use the radio often? Or just on trips? If so have you considered removing it between uses? I know it's a pain in the butt but it'll keep it safe. Even if you cable it people will see the radio and try to nab it. If they find it doesn't come out easy they'll start using force. Worse case senerio is that they aren't able to take it but instead you're left with a broken radio, dash, etc. What kind of vehicle is it installed in? I'm in the process of mounting my FT-2800m in the open DIN slot below my aftermarket stereo. This will keep it out of the way. My stereo uses anti tamper mounting hardware and a few of my own tricks to keep things safe. BTW the radio will get the hottest when transmitting on 65 watts. Practice is to keep the radio at the lowest setting you need and it'll stay cool.

 

[chrismc]

The most helpful thing you can do is keep the radio out of sight (out of mind). Most thieves are the smash and grab type, so if they don't see the radio when they look in the window then they'll move on to better targets. This is easier with a detachable faceplate, but there should be some way to easily relocate the radio when you're using it. I do have a detachable faceplate with the extension cable, so the main unit of the radio (Icom 207h in my case) is mounted under the drivers seat. The faceplate has velcro on the back, and when I'm using the radio I stick it to matching velcro on the dash (it gets tucked under the seat w/ the radio for storage).

 

[Lynn]

Just my $.02...

If you use something like the cable, make it very visible. Personally, I would rather have a potential thief see the cable and move on, rather than break in, bust things up, and only THEN be dissuaded by the security measures.

But me, I see a lot of potential in 'urban camouflage' and mis-direction.

I would be tempted to somehow hide the installation, and then 'install' an old CB somewhere very visible. If a thief somehow notices your 2m antenna, the old CB gives a reason for it. And it is a visual deterrent in a sense. These days there's not much demand for old CBs. And if they do steal it, you're not out anything.

Or, here's an idea... Years ago someone sold a fake faceplate for in-dash cassette players that disguised them to look like old factory push-button AM radios. Simple camouflage to deter theft. Maybe you could find an old beat-up 23 channel CB, or something else no-one would want, and cut the face off of it. Then rig it to fasten over your 2m's face. Maybe on a hinge so it would flip down when you wanted to use the real radio.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I wouldn't worry about enclosing the radio in a console.
The heat sink is a "worst case" design. ie. long transmissions at max power. On the trail you will probably be using the lowest power setting required and only transmitting intermittently. The radio uses almost no power during reception.

If you have a roll cage you can add a couple of trick tabs and mount your radio like this;

I plan to tack the bolts to the bracket and use wing nuts for a quick install/removal.

My FT-2800, very similar to the FT-2900

Trick Tabs are also great for mounting an external speaker

I love Trick Tabs

 

[gary in ohio]

Nothing says your safe box cant have lots of holes for air. If your running open top all the time, I would just put in your budget to replace the radio once in a while. Figure your offroad radio is going to take far more of a beating than it was designed for, With weather, theft and vibrations the radio will be well used.

 

[crusader]

Lots of good replies here, thanks everyone. I've got to get to work, so I can't reply properly yet...Just thought I'd post a photo of what I'm working with here. Radio is mounted on the centerline, just below the dashboard edge. Kinda says "steal me" doesn't it?

 

[crusader]

Ok...So...

I'm trying to avoid having to remove the radio every time I park. I considered it early on, but there's nothing like walking around the mall with an 8 lb radio all the time.

My old Land Rover is a little...spartan...so there's no hiding it in a console slot, like an OEM car radio or disguising it as something else:

Brian, I'd like to know more about your lock nut setup. I may go this route in addition to the cable lock, but I'm not completely sure that the image I have in my mind is really the way you have done it. I'm picturing a stud sticking out of each side of the radio and through the mounting bracket with a tamper-proof nut of some sort on the outside of the mounting bracket. Is this right?

I really like these Tufnut fasteners--pretty interesting and perfect for doing what I just described above, except that the holes in the side of the radio for the mounting bracket screws are tiny...maybe 10-32 threading or smaller. The smallest Tufnuts are for 1/4-20 studs/bolts.

Lynn--I'm with you whan it comes to making it any security measure look deliberate and obvious. That'll at least weed out the more sensible thieves.

As for the radio overheating in an enclosure, I'm not likely to be overheating this radio by using it up to it's 75-watt duty cycle. As a matter of fact, I can't see me ever using the 75 watt setting, except maybe in winter to augment the lousy heater in the Rover

BTW--Nice setup, rusty--very clean. I see you don't have much in the line of theft prevention going on there either.

 

[matt s]

Get it dirty. Scratch it up some and it will blend right in.

To me a cable says "hey this radio in the funny looking old 4x4 must be worth cash. He doesn't even lock the door but he put a cable on it."

 

[Saratoga]

Well, I've got a SWB Defender that lacks places to mount and hide a radio and previously have run a LR Series 3 SWB too. Although it had a S2 dashboard it was still difficult to mount and hide things, although mine was a tad more lockable. Well. Being a 'Lightweight' the doors just 'lifted off' even when locked. That was, of course, if you knew they could be. But anyway.

If you were a bit crafty you could make a scuffed dark cover that went over the dashboard area where your radio is to make it look like it is just a panel there, when you wanted to use the radio you could just lift the cover off and reveal the radio. Difficult to describe but if you didn't know landies, would you know there was something there at all? Most cars & 4x4s have that sort of area covered over don't they

My radio's were installed in a centre cubby box on the S3 I had, painted black and recessed slightly. I see you've got a centre seat there

Not having a removable head on the radio makes it a tad more difficult, but not impossible. When I get around to it I will post photos of my setup. I've got an 8800e

 

[tremors834]

My FT-2800, very similar to the FT-2900
Trick Tabs are also great for mounting an external speaker

I love Trick Tabs

How do you like the Radio Shack brand ext. speaker? Audio quality?

 

[Saratoga]

Hiya

I've posted a thread for how I've mounted the radio in my Defender. Is this the sort of thing that could appeal to you?