Old Ham new Jeepster need mounting gear/mounting advice.

[k4gps]

Hey all I have been a ham for 38 years now and have worked in the communications business since 1994 so I got plenty of experience installing but realize this a whole nother animal! I just bought my first Jeep, it's a 2004 Rubicon and it's already prepped for rock crawling and some minor forging of water. The Jeep has a soft top and I expect to keep it pretty much down for most of the time so electronics and water is a concern just from rain and the possibility of needing to cross a creek or heavy flinging mud.

I remember seeing a water proof FTM-10 mobile I think it was a couple of years back, seems that it's been discontinued may find one used though and am thinking of it. My other thought is an overhead console that would hold the radio, some speakers and possibly a small compartment to hold personal items. High Power is not important to me, 2nd plan was the FT-857D and remote mount the body of the unit in a sealed box using small fans mounted in PVC for an intake and exhaust if I can't find a place above the seat level to mount it. I am afraid of water coming in if I were to mount it under the seats.

Anyone else here has experience mounting a small HF radio or at least dual band in a off road Jeep that will get wet ? Also any antenna mounting recommendations. If I were to go HF chances are I would think of a ball mount with 102 in whip going to an antenna tuner (again need something waterproof or at least highly resistant) that would absorb most of the shock of hitting a tree limb. For VHF/UHF not sure, antennas tend to be more stiff and concern for a good solid ground. Afraid of body damage by hitting a limb...possibly a L bracket of some type off the back of the jeep ? Not sure if I want the antenna near the driver or passenger if I run high power but it's a possibility mounted near the hood where a standard AM/FM whip would go. Suggestions ?

To make things more interesting I just bought a Polaris RZR yesterday, no HF for that! LOL but I am trying to figure out how to mount a Dual Band Radio in that! Thinking possibly another overhead console or possibly a marine DIN size enclosure that seals up I can remote the mic and run a waterproof external speaker.

 

[AlbanyTom]

If I wanted a waterproof HF radio for an open cockpit freshwater boat, or a jeep, and I had unlimited $$, first I'd look for a commercial HF marine band radio that could be opened up. If nobody makes one of those that looks good, my next choice would be to get an FT-857, and seal it up in a waterproof box, like a pelican or maybe nema, and remote control it via a waterproof notebook computer. I saw a demo recently of a computer controlled HF rig, and it was awesome...you could work just about everything via remote control. The only thing I'm not positive about are the squelch and volume, but with a headset out and for HF that shouldn't be a big deal to get around.

The other option that comes to mind is military. Some country somewhere must make a portable HF rig that's all band and waterproof. Maybe even us.

But all of this sounds pretty expensive, and a huge hassle, just for being able to operate while being rained on. How often would that happen? A regular radio inside a pelican box, used just when it's dry, would be a lot cheaper and easier.