HAM Radio Installed.
So I wanted to be able to get a hold of civilization even when in secluded areas or even just behind a mountain. I also wanted something stronger and clearer than CB when out riding with a group of cars.
So I got my Tech license this weekend and did not wait a second with installing my radio in my truck.
I got a Kenwood TM-V71A. It has more functions then I need but the main reason I got this one was that its a dual band radio with repeater functionality for a pretty decent price.
So I can set my truck up as a repeater (As a radio tower with a pretty decent amount of transmission power) and use my handheld radio (Baofeng UV-5RE Plus) that I got. In my back pack when out hiking. If I need to reach someone i use my handheld and go thru the radio in my truck and it will retransmit my transmission with way stronger signal to whatever repeater/channel that I set it to. If I need to change the transmitting channel on my radio in my truck when out hiking. Then I can remote control it from my handheld and adjust outgoing transmission and other settings as well. Pretty neat actually.
I welded a new tab on the driver side of my bumper and mounted a Comet SSB-5 2M/70CM antenna that suppose to hold up pretty well for off road use.
I mounted my mobile radio headunit unit above the rear view mirror where the little compartment for sunglasses houses. I removed the holder for the sunglasses and made a little bracket for it. I used double sided adhessive to fix the head unit and the bracket. The main unit is located where my CD changer use to be above the glove compartment. And I mounted two loudspeakers (One for each band so I can listen in to two channels at the same time) under the driver seat.
Here are some pictures of my new set up. I'll get some pictures of the main unit/speakers and the antenna mount as well.
Head unit mounted in roof and mic on the dash.
Night time. Color matches the dash.
My small handheld that I got for 38 bucks of amazon. Surprisingly good.
//Marten