Josh, exactly what I was looking for.... Powering, running the wires to the antenna, powering 2 radios, all good stuff. And, I am a dad of 3 with a filthy Sienna, so you are an inspiration.
Glad you didn't cut the boys out. I like when RUclipsrs leave real life in the video. I had one of those mounts 20+ years ago when I needed to mount my Sony DiscMan in my car. Work great and I'll be looking to do the same to get a radio into the car.
I have the Atas 120 and the FT 891 in my model Y Tesla and have no noise except when it's charging. About three S units of sound. I guess I'm lucky. I didn't do any bonding other than a simple install. Works great. Thanks for the vid!
I put a Yaesu FTM-400 in my Toyota Tacoma. My goal was no visible wires, no obvious holes. I did drill an NMO mount into the center of my quad cab roof. I did it in such a manner that it looks stock. I mounted the radio body under the driver seat. Power goes directly back to the battery through a grommet I found on the passenger side of the firewall. The radio head is mounted on my left pillar using a ram mount very discretely drilled into it. It’s actually beautiful and most people don’t realize that I installed a VHF/UHF radio in my truck. Next will be my Yaesu Ft-891 and ATAS-120. This is taking more thought on how to stealthily install it.
I got a Nissan Hatchback, and I just drilled in the center of the roof behind the center support, and used a exacto knife to cut the headliner out. I'm running a Diamond Supergainer, a very stiff antenna with lots of gain. It is the only way I can "get out" to the repeaters when the Corn grows so high! I use BreedLove mounts!
Handy tip... When you can't find a pass through or you just don't feel like getting your fingernails dirty, there's usually at least two or three unused fuse placements in your interior fuse block. I find that much easier than trying to burrow through the firewall.
Josh, I was impressed your car put as little RFI as it did. I've read just about everything written on RFI reduction in automobiles, and I also firmly believe in bonding everything. Up until the latest version of the ARRL RFI Handbook, they said the same thing. In the last edition however, they fell victim to the propaganda put out by FoMoCo, which tries to forbid the process. Those authors base their recommendation on what "automobile manufacturers" told them to say, rather than what intelligent HAM's need.. The real problem arises NOT because of electrical currents passing between body panels, but instead is due to the problems encountered by connecting bonding straps to ALUMINUM car body panels. Galvanic reactions are causing real problems when it's done poorly. We still should be bonding , just more carefully. You already showed us what and where to bond. Now it would be nice to have an episode based SOLELY the right materials to use, and which ones to avoid for making our connections. 73
Thanks for the video Josh! I will be looking into putting my UHF, VHF radio in my car soon. Thanks for the ideas. K1MAZ aka The last emailer (Most of the time...)
Quite a few comments on how ugly your car is and how you've lost your mancred and how could you drive that. This is the exact reason I love function over anything else, it often highlights the people I wouldn't want to associate with anyway. I freaking love your car and setup purely because you've put practical thought into and and haven't let "what will people think of me?" effect your decisions. Right on brotha!
Haha. Thanks for the comment. Function is everything. It helps I paid $8k for it and got a free drive battery under warranty. Also it cracks me up some people are so fragile to associate manliness to what they drive.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Exactly, it’s pathetic really, but then more so when they don’t even realise that and feel the need to comment on a downright helpful video like yours that is doing absolutely no harm. Anyways keep plugging away at it mate (didn’t intend that to be an electric car pun but I’ll take it)!
I installed a KG1000G+ GMRS radio, similar process. With a Ford Fusion 2017 model, puncturing the firewall involved disassembly of the passenger side glove box and vents, and I taped up the power cords and lubricated them to pull them through the firewall with a straightened wire coat hanger. This was the most annoying part. I refused to use a fuse tap because of RFI with the vehicle electronics. As far as mounting the antenna (I use an MXTA26 Midland GMRS antenna), I used a mag mount. For the ATAS, however, as tall as that is, I don’t recommend a mag mount. What I’ll have to do is see if a custom bracket can be made for my vehicle.
Make sure you know where your air bags are in your side Pillars when you run your speaker wires or coax lines. You don't want to hang yourself if the airbags go off in a accident. N9QDS
I love my FTM 400. I'm looking at the FT 891 next. I already have the ATAS 120. I see from your APRS you were in the foothills. I was just down there working on the Goldline project in Glendora and when I was there I was checking into the Pasadena net. Great radio club! Thanks for explaining your setup, I will be using a similar setup in my truck. And those LIDO mounts are FIRE! Drew KL5DK
Thanks for the video. Can you operate HF while the car is moving? That is, the rf ouptut of the radio doesn't cause problems with the control systems in the vehicle? I ask because I knew someone who has a Prius, and he told me if he wanted to operate HF in his car, he had to pull off the road because the radio did cause RFI with the car's systems. So, just wondering if you also have that problem. Also, with the body of the radio in the glove compartment, don't you have overheating issues with the radio? Not much ventilation in a glove compartment. Why not put the body of the radio under the passenger seat?? At least you'll get more ventilation.
Another great video, Josh! My first mobile HF days started back in undergrad with a Swan 240 and a Hustler mobile antenna. (Happily, that mobile setup worked out surprisingly well on first dates when I was a freshman and sophomore in college… But I digress.) Since my shack and my SUV amicably agreed to joint custody of my new ICOM 705, I use my Wolf River Coils Mini Silver Bullet with a 56-inch stainless steel stinger. Recent mobile setups included an ICOM 7100 with a Diamond screwdriver - and before that, I ran, for 11 years, a dedicated Yaesu FT-857D with the same ATAS 120a that you have. Without a doubt, the ATAS 120a was my best, most dependable and most favorite mobile antenna that I have owned during my 59 years of being a ham… It will be interesting to see if this changes during my next 59 years of being a ham!) I always was amazed how well it did even on 40 m - and how well it worked through an entire solar cycle. Unfortunately, it's not cost justifiable to cheap me to try to use a new ATAS with the ICOM radios I've had including the 705. If you can pick up one used for around $200, that cost justification equation changes when you take the cost of the necessary control box into account. A strong caveat to other readers: Watch Josh's video on bonding your vehicle to create a sufficient ground plane for your HF antenna! I can tell you with embarrassed certainty, that every time I tried to short-circuit this step, mobile HF antennas do not work right. With proper bonding, HF antennas can work surprisingly well. -.- ...-- .-. .-. .-. 73 de Robert K3RRR Twitter: @K3TripleR RUclips.com/K3RRR Website: K3RRR.com -.- ...-- .-. .-. .-.
Would you consider a fused bus directly to the battery and then connecting your radios to the bus inside the cabin? Like a bus in your shack? “Dedicated radio fuse box?”
Timely video. I have a new to me 2010 Range Rover that I’m thinking of putting an Icom 4100 in. I like that it has a smaller detached control head and the grouped scan lists for when I travel to different places. One thing I’ll have to sort out is how to mount the antenna. I don’t want to drill into the roof and the only lip mount for the hood that I have found is $60+ out of Australia. I’ll check out Lido mount too, so far I have only been looking at Panavise and ProclipsUSA.
@@joshuafletcher4963 Great. No issues. Just use the o.e.m. cables. I'm not using anything else like grounding bonding or toroidal. I feel the cores on the o.e.m. cables with their sheilding are adequate. You might get a little noise toward the band edges but easily squelched out and not an issue for me.
Have you asked RUclips? There are usually some videos of multiple vehicle mounts there, if not exactly a Sienna, search for a similar one, like an Explorer, or Tahoe, or Xterra...you get the drift. Draw ideas from others success!
Hi Josh! I have a Yeasu FT-8800 head unit mounted near my driver side in my Truck, but have not found an HF rig to go mobile with it. The Mic is kept between the seat and center island. I did get the power lead through to the battery and that is nice once you do the dirty work! Thanks for the video! I may try to get my IC-7000 head mounted near the one for VHF/UHF. I think I can put the radio body under my driver's seat. You might have inspired me!
Josh, I just installed a similar mount from Comet to mount a 1/4 wave antenna for my 2 meter radio in my 2013 Leaf. How did you run your power cable through the firewall? Which side? Would love to see pictures or a short video on connecting to your battery and how to run through the firewall (especially the Leaf). Not a lot of info I can find on the Leaf so your video has been a great place to start.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse OK, it must have been someone else. A few times I've heard of lots of RFI from the i3 and Teslas. I'm not operating mobile currently so I don't know first hand.
Compact cars need speciality stuff to mount special radios had a 74 4x4 gmc wey back could have mounted a k watt amp with an hf rig sitting on top and a hf uhf on the dash
I have a 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid. Can I connect either my IC-208H or TYT TH9800 to the 12V battery? Also, since TH9800 is a quad band radio, how do I connect multiple antennas? Thanks. KN6BER ‘73
Good video, I would like to know instead using 2 antennas can you use ATAs-125A for vhf/uhf/and hf and how good are Atas on v and u hf Thanks to get back to me 73 to you and your family have
Homest question: I've read other ham guys say you're far better off mounting an antenna to the top of the hood because it provides the best ground plane, if I'm saying that right? They've said specifically that mounts like yours are super inefficient. Is this not the case because yours is an electric vehicle?
The best place for a mobile antenna is the high point of the vehicle, generally mounted right on the middle. So that claim is accurate. The second claim, that lip mounts are “super inefficient” I would disagree with with. In my case, I have done a lot of bound and ground the vehicle and that includes the antenna.
The vehicle I own has no room for any ham radio placement in the passenger area even for a IC-7100 control head . Just to let you know my vehicle is a 2006 Chev Malibu .
Just got a new Bronco Sport, and I'm on my third antenna. Mag mount no good between the roof rack and crossbars. I also lost the antenna out of the mount while on a trail. I then got a Diamond NR770HNMO Radial less NMO antenna and used a NMO to UHF connection with a mount on the crossbars. That didn't work too good either. So I am waiting for a radial less Diamond NR770HB UHF connection antenna. I don't have an SWR meter, but could tell it wasn't receiving or transmitting good. I originally had the mag mount on my Ford Focus and it worked pretty good. I have a FTM400 and when using as a base station it works good. So if this next antenna doesn't work, I don't know what else to do. I'm not going to put any holes in my new Bronco. Any suggestions or recommendations? Ford specifically tests their vehicles to be capable of installing radios, and I didn't notice any RFI.
Hi Josh.Great video.Can you please tell me if the mounting bracket for the ATAS 120 chips or damages your car in any way ? I have a new car and i would love to install the same antenna on it and i have a Yeasu radio as well.Thank you very much.
How is the K400s mount holding up under the screwdriver antenna? I have a Diamond screwdriver antenna ordered(on a slow boat from China!) and ordered that mount.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Thanks! I mainly operate 20 when mobile, been using the Diamond single band antennas but they are to tall to get in the garage when on my new SUV(Ford Escape, as cramped as yours for radio mounting!). The screwdriver will lower enough that just the top 6 inches of the whip will bend going in the garage.
Which of these radios do you think is more useful on a day to day basis? also do you think going with 2 radios is better than a single i.e. Yeasu 857d?? Thank you !!!
Yes, I use both when driving. I always support two radios as the 857 can only done one of the other VHF/UHF or HF. So with two radio you can monitor and potentially monitor and work many different frequencies.
@Ham Radio Crash Course . Dude you convinced me to get my certification. After watching your vids for 2 years I finally got the ambition to take the exam. Also convinced me into going the Yeasu way. I got a FTM-3000dr coming Monday. Keep the vids coming. Also any suggestions for an antenna, I'm going to center mount it on the cab of my truck. Peace out✌️
me and a few buddys of mine are trying to get into radio communication for our cars, at first we tried CB radios, but those are way to sensitive for our liking, our talking distance is about 10-15 miles away from one another, i just would like to know what the most user friendly radio? from what ive read, UHF is better for Urban areas, any help would be nice.
Atas 120 can do VHF/UHF as well. I wonder why you chose not to go that route?Can you please explain. I am not sure how we can tune atas 120 for VHF/UHF.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Well I thought using a splitter there might be a way to control it. Is it probably too much loss? Is there any radio that tunes atas in VHF/UHF? Coudn't find online. Thanks for the reply!!!!
For the 891 that positive DC cable looks far too thin. Maybe you dont run the full 100w? Any suggestions: Looking to power my 891 and D710 off a separate battery (since tx from the 891 can go over 22A) while charging that battery with less than 5A from the alternator. I would rather not put that strain on my alternator or rapidly discharge my vehicle's battery while parked and the engine off. Super/Epic PWRGate seems to get close to what I want but that passes power through from the PS rather than a battery, it's acting more like a UPS than primarily providing power from the battery. Maybe something simple such as the Bioenno 20AH + their DC charger in line with my equipment, but I don't want to risk their DC to DC charger blowing a fuse or killing it when I suddenly draw >20A when the charger is rated for less than 10A. Thanks! Right now, my 891, D710, Diamond Screwdriver, WMR Targetuner, and WMR USB to CAT just run off my 62Ah SLA and I have to keep that charged every time I get home (AC), or sometimes it'll run out of juice while I'm mobile and I have no way to charge it when I could be using the alternator to keep it topped off. Seems like there should be a simple solution to this problem, I can't be the only one.
Do you have a link to your uhf/vhf antenna you have. I have one that bends over. But when I'm driving on the freeway it likes to bend down at 80 and that's no fun at all
Good question. The answer is not really. It's easier to just put up a dual band VHF/UHF and also run a coil HF antenna. The frequencies are quite different you see.
Hugh Jones VE7YJ, Surrey, BC, Canada. Hi guys. i have the exact same setup coming from Radioworld, Canada. One question about the screwdriver antenna mounting. i have a 2018 chevy cruze. i'm quite sure the lip mount will fit on my trunk. How do you drill holes in the lip, or more specifically, how do you seal them so you don't get water in the trunk when it rains. I have the lip mount you recommended coming too. Also, any suggestions about the mount for the head unit on the yaesu 891? My car does not have any floor bolts i can see. i think there are large flat headed flex bolts in the tracks that the seats slide on. They seem to be in the bottom of a groove in the track. i'll try calling the lodi mount people tomorrow.
Why wouldn"t you use a relay for the 891 so that it has direct battery connection but not until car is on? My set up: Power: Direct Battery connection via Relay to a 5 point Fuse box under the dash. Rig 1: Realistic TRC-453 27mhz Rig 2: 477mhz UHF GME TX4200 Rig 3: Yaesu FTM-400 UHF/VHF Rig 4: Yaesu 857 with Auto Tuner.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Fair call mate, lol. Had a few mates come out to flat batteries due to radios left on as not all have timers. I just put Accessories on if I want to use mine without the car started.
Do you have any suggestions for replacing the double DIN radio space with a VHF/UHF mobile radio. Also, is there any double DIN that will act as an AM/FM radio and a mobile ham radio that you can recommend? Thanks
Great video!! So I'm realizing that I have nowhere NEAR enough radios, now I just need a bottomless wallet and freedom to buy whatever I want just like you Josh!! LoL
Good video, but I feel as if you didn't cover some of the other important aspects. What kind of antenna did you use? Also, the FT-891 doesn't come with an antenna tuner. Is that not recommended in a mobile setup?
Hi KG7TJQ here im about to do an install with a icom 7100 in a defender, im as losing confidance in myself by the minute. this will be my first hf unit also. I like your hf antena i would like one like that i think. But those only work with yeasu head i already checked.
Start simple and go in steps. I would first figure out where the base should live, run power, do it right, through the firewall. Then run the coax. If you want it simple, start with a mag mount and use ham sticks while you decide what more expensive antenna you might want. Then lastly, decide how you want to map the head unit. Make sure you have long enough cables. Its a simple process, but it does take time to do it right, go in steps and do it right and you'll be pretty damn proud on the back end.
Hey Josh, another great video. I have a 1/2 ton Chevy Pickup that I want to put HF & VHF in. I currently have a Anytone 878 with a Tram mag mount for 2m/70cm. It works … sort of. As a passenger more than driver. I would like to operate HF mobile with probably 20m/40m. I will be heading from Texas to Florida to help my son move into a new house and would like to have the radio working for that. Some of the HF antennas like the tar heel are out of the budget (yikes). What do you recommend for HF antennas? I will most likely use a Kenwood 590SG initially and migrate to something not so huge. Haha. All the best, 73 de KI5HXM
You would think that these manufacturers would build mobile rigs that are more compact so they could be integrated into modern vehicles. Industry-standard parts and connectors, too. I bought my mobile radio in the 90s; the new ones haven't changed much...
@@HamRadioCrashCourse I’m aware of that. It’s just not enough IMHO. Perhaps the equivalent of bluetooth in which everything could be controlled through a wireless microphone...
New Jeep JL here with fiberglass hardtop. Where would you mount a screw driver ? Looking at atas, hi Q, or ham sticks ? I primarily operate 160 but that’s difficult on mobile. Wonder what freq those long humvee antennas will work on ? I would not mind having fold them over . Hope to build a mobile set up soon. Also thinking maybe just drive to summits and pop up 2 10m telescoping poles and string my antenna that way. Maybe just do 100w and play on the higher bands with the mobile. Maybe purchasing the mobile rig first then prepare the ant layout 🤔🤔😉
Jeeps are TOUGH! you basically need to build a hard point that electrically connect to the chassis. I’d really have to see if to make any recommendations.
If you have a roll cage build up a mount from that that meets with the fiberglass top. Then a hole thru the top and into the steel plate underneath. Only issue is the top is no longer removable doing that. I have also seen mounts built off the spare tire carrier... all custom... can you weld or do you know a welder?
@@MaryBrownForFreedom yea I was think the spare tire carrier or a windshield bracket ?? Yea I like to keep top removable 😉and refrain from drilling into it wonder if I could bond a steel plate then just run braid down to roll bar bonding point. Yea guess I ll need to fabricate a mount, shame is the hood isn’t even metal or I could use a lip mount off it. Or get one of those receiver mounts for telescoping pole do a 10m in middle and two off on a 35 deg angle and use two 18m poles and just use antenna while stationary 🤔
Not being a hater. This kind of plain view mobile set up makes me cringe at how likely it is to get stolen. That’s a lot of money. The hat concealment is a good improvised solution. Thinking about it further, a smart thief would be able to spot a ham antenna and would then likely decide to take a closer look and see if he could find a radio to steal. I personally would recommend people conceal it a little more. My two worthless, unwanted cents. Love the channel BTW.
@@chrissewell1608 Yea, they can be pretty stupid. I had a am/ssb cb in-dash unit that that a thief stole the mic/control unit. Maybe he thought it was a cell phone. Thing is absolutely useless without the radio.
Josh, exactly what I was looking for....
Powering, running the wires to the antenna, powering 2 radios, all good stuff. And, I am a dad of 3 with a filthy Sienna, so you are an inspiration.
I love the fact that you include the clip of your son!
Glad you didn't cut the boys out. I like when RUclipsrs leave real life in the video.
I had one of those mounts 20+ years ago when I needed to mount my Sony DiscMan in my car. Work great and I'll be looking to do the same to get a radio into the car.
I have the Atas 120 and the FT 891 in my model Y Tesla and have no noise except when it's charging. About three S units of sound. I guess I'm lucky. I didn't do any bonding other than a simple install. Works great. Thanks for the vid!
I put a Yaesu FTM-400 in my Toyota Tacoma. My goal was no visible wires, no obvious holes. I did drill an NMO mount into the center of my quad cab roof. I did it in such a manner that it looks stock. I mounted the radio body under the driver seat. Power goes directly back to the battery through a grommet I found on the passenger side of the firewall. The radio head is mounted on my left pillar using a ram mount very discretely drilled into it. It’s actually beautiful and most people don’t realize that I installed a VHF/UHF radio in my truck. Next will be my Yaesu Ft-891 and ATAS-120. This is taking more thought on how to stealthily install it.
Nicely done!!
I got a Nissan Hatchback, and I just drilled in the center of the roof behind the center support, and used a exacto knife to cut the headliner out. I'm running a Diamond Supergainer, a very stiff antenna with lots of gain. It is the only way I can "get out" to the repeaters when the Corn grows so high! I use BreedLove mounts!
Handy tip... When you can't find a pass through or you just don't feel like getting your fingernails dirty, there's usually at least two or three unused fuse placements in your interior fuse block. I find that much easier than trying to burrow through the firewall.
Great job thank you for showing us your install. I had no idea about those mounts so you just saw that problem for me thank you
Thanks Josh
Thanks Josh, I like how you set up both radios. Improvise and Compromise are keys.
Thanks Again For Streaming 73
Thanks for the vid Josh. Has given me a few ideas of my own. Thanks again so much and thanks for helping get me into this hobby.
Thanks for watching! I am glad the video helped!
Ok I’m convinced. I need a Yaesu 891 for my truck.
Josh, I was impressed your car put as little RFI as it did.
I've read just about everything written on RFI reduction in automobiles, and I also firmly believe in bonding everything.
Up until the latest version of the ARRL RFI Handbook, they said the same thing. In the last edition however, they fell victim to the propaganda put out by FoMoCo, which tries to forbid the process. Those authors base their recommendation on what "automobile manufacturers" told them to say, rather than what intelligent HAM's need..
The real problem arises NOT because of electrical currents passing between body panels, but instead is due to the problems encountered by connecting bonding straps to ALUMINUM car body panels. Galvanic reactions are causing real problems when it's done poorly.
We still should be bonding , just more carefully.
You already showed us what and where to bond. Now it would be nice to have an episode based SOLELY the right materials to use, and which ones to avoid for making our connections.
73
Love the FTM-400XDR. Bought one on your recommendation. Will never let it gooo
Good choice!
As a regular podcaster, I appreciate the cameo kiddos.
cute blue bonnet
Good video!
Time to get yourself a truck!!! That Leaf wont make it in an apocalypse. 😊🚙
Working on getting the Ford Lightning.
Good video Josh 👍
Thanks 👍
Thanks for the video Josh! I will be looking into putting my UHF, VHF radio in my car soon. Thanks for the ideas. K1MAZ aka The last emailer (Most of the time...)
It’s fantastic antenna.
Getting ready to throw some radios into the new to me 03 Xterra, lots of room in the cab for radios, just a long antenna run from the back hatch.
Very informative...I like your setup. Thanks, South Carolina Myrtle Beach.
Quite a few comments on how ugly your car is and how you've lost your mancred and how could you drive that. This is the exact reason I love function over anything else, it often highlights the people I wouldn't want to associate with anyway. I freaking love your car and setup purely because you've put practical thought into and and haven't let "what will people think of me?" effect your decisions. Right on brotha!
Haha. Thanks for the comment. Function is everything. It helps I paid $8k for it and got a free drive battery under warranty.
Also it cracks me up some people are so fragile to associate manliness to what they drive.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Exactly, it’s pathetic really, but then more so when they don’t even realise that and feel the need to comment on a downright helpful video like yours that is doing absolutely no harm. Anyways keep plugging away at it mate (didn’t intend that to be an electric car pun but I’ll take it)!
Thanks! Very good info
I love the photo bomb from your son. Very nice. Thanks for all your hard work!
Thanks!
I put a longer whip on mine.
Can't tune 6 meters anymore but it works very good on all other bands
Makes sense. You lengthened it.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse
Just wanted to say thank you so much for your content.
I have enjoyed learning from your experience. ( saved me money)
I installed a KG1000G+ GMRS radio, similar process. With a Ford Fusion 2017 model, puncturing the firewall involved disassembly of the passenger side glove box and vents, and I taped up the power cords and lubricated them to pull them through the firewall with a straightened wire coat hanger.
This was the most annoying part. I refused to use a fuse tap because of RFI with the vehicle electronics.
As far as mounting the antenna (I use an MXTA26 Midland GMRS antenna), I used a mag mount. For the ATAS, however, as tall as that is, I don’t recommend a mag mount.
What I’ll have to do is see if a custom bracket can be made for my vehicle.
Great setup
Thank you!
Very new to ham radio but just got a kenwood tm-v71a installed in my truck.
Good choice, that is a great radio.
Make sure you know where your air bags are in your side Pillars when you run your speaker wires or coax lines. You don't want to hang yourself if the airbags go off in a accident. N9QDS
#TeamReplay, Awesome Video
Oh, wow. Didn’t know the 891 had a detachable face. Might get one for the Jeep. I’ve been thinking about a 100w radio as a desk unit
I love my FTM 400. I'm looking at the FT 891 next. I already have the ATAS 120. I see from your APRS you were in the foothills. I was just down there working on the Goldline project in Glendora and when I was there I was checking into the Pasadena net. Great radio club! Thanks for explaining your setup, I will be using a similar setup in my truck. And those LIDO mounts are FIRE!
Drew KL5DK
Thanks for the video. Can you operate HF while the car is moving? That is, the rf ouptut of the radio doesn't cause problems with the control systems in the vehicle? I ask because I knew someone who has a Prius, and he told me if he wanted to operate HF in his car, he had to pull off the road because the radio did cause RFI with the car's systems. So, just wondering if you also have that problem. Also, with the body of the radio in the glove compartment, don't you have overheating issues with the radio?
Not much ventilation in a glove compartment. Why not put the body of the radio under the passenger seat?? At least you'll get more ventilation.
I don’t run the radio off the car battery I have a separate one in the boot, I charge it up once a month or depending how often it’s used
I hope you fused the positive wire close to your battery
Another great video, Josh! My first mobile HF days started back in undergrad with a Swan 240 and a Hustler mobile antenna. (Happily, that mobile setup worked out surprisingly well on first dates when I was a freshman and sophomore in college… But I digress.)
Since my shack and my SUV amicably agreed to joint custody of my new ICOM 705, I use my Wolf River Coils Mini Silver Bullet with a 56-inch stainless steel stinger. Recent mobile setups included an ICOM 7100 with a Diamond screwdriver - and before that, I ran, for 11 years, a dedicated Yaesu FT-857D with the same ATAS 120a that you have.
Without a doubt, the ATAS 120a was my best, most dependable and most favorite mobile antenna that I have owned during my 59 years of being a ham… It will be interesting to see if this changes during my next 59 years of being a ham!) I always was amazed how well it did even on 40 m - and how well it worked through an entire solar cycle. Unfortunately, it's not cost justifiable to cheap me to try to use a new ATAS with the ICOM radios I've had including the 705. If you can pick up one used for around $200, that cost justification equation changes when you take the cost of the necessary control box into account.
A strong caveat to other readers: Watch Josh's video on bonding your vehicle to create a sufficient ground plane for your HF antenna! I can tell you with embarrassed certainty, that every time I tried to short-circuit this step, mobile HF antennas do not work right. With proper bonding, HF antennas can work surprisingly well.
-.- ...-- .-. .-. .-.
73 de Robert K3RRR
Twitter: @K3TripleR
RUclips.com/K3RRR
Website: K3RRR.com
-.- ...-- .-. .-. .-.
Would you consider a fused bus directly to the battery and then connecting your radios to the bus inside the cabin? Like a bus in your shack? “Dedicated radio fuse box?”
Timely video. I have a new to me 2010 Range Rover that I’m thinking of putting an Icom 4100 in. I like that it has a smaller detached control head and the grouped scan lists for when I travel to different places.
One thing I’ll have to sort out is how to mount the antenna. I don’t want to drill into the roof and the only lip mount for the hood that I have found is $60+ out of Australia.
I’ll check out Lido mount too, so far I have only been looking at Panavise and ProclipsUSA.
I had the predecessor radio, ID-880h. Great little radio. The upgraded display makes it even better.
IHave a feeling the Japanese stuff shielded very well. My D710 does well in the Prius.
I also have a Prius and was curious how noisy 2m/70cm is for you
@@joshuafletcher4963 Great. No issues. Just use the o.e.m. cables. I'm not using anything else like grounding bonding or toroidal. I feel the cores on the o.e.m. cables with their sheilding are adequate. You might get a little noise toward the band edges but easily squelched out and not an issue for me.
@@joeddejohn thank you!
@@joshuafletcher4963 Welcome.
thanks jaison fantastic video 73 terriifc
I’m Josh. 🤣
I have a Toyota Sienna and have not found an effective way to install an antenna yet.
Go ask Ham Radio Outlet. They’ll set you up.
Have you asked RUclips? There are usually some videos of multiple vehicle mounts there, if not exactly a Sienna, search for a similar one, like an Explorer, or Tahoe, or Xterra...you get the drift. Draw ideas from others success!
Hi Josh! I have a Yeasu FT-8800 head unit mounted near my driver side in my Truck, but have not found an HF rig to go mobile with it. The Mic is kept between the seat and center island. I did get the power lead through to the battery and that is nice once you do the dirty work! Thanks for the video! I may try to get my IC-7000 head mounted near the one for VHF/UHF. I think I can put the radio body under my driver's seat. You might have inspired me!
Josh, I just installed a similar mount from Comet to mount a 1/4 wave antenna for my 2 meter radio in my 2013 Leaf. How did you run your power cable through the firewall? Which side? Would love to see pictures or a short video on connecting to your battery and how to run through the firewall (especially the Leaf). Not a lot of info I can find on the Leaf so your video has been a great place to start.
Do you have any problem tuning the ATAS120 while moving at highway speeds? Was about to install your same setup in my 18 wheeler.
My Favorite Mobile Ham Radio Setup VHF/UHF/HF 😊
😊😊✅✅❤️🙏 terindah..
Great info! Need to work on my vehicle rig at some point.
Right on!
I have a Leaf also. Where did you mount FTM-400 base?
IIRC in another video you complained about all the RFI the BMW i3 generates. How's the Leaf in this regard. Did you have to do any fixes?
I’ve never complained about the BMW i3. I did a video on bonding to reduce the noise in my lead too.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse OK, it must have been someone else. A few times I've heard of lots of RFI from the i3 and Teslas. I'm not operating mobile currently so I don't know first hand.
Compact cars need speciality stuff to mount special radios had a 74 4x4 gmc wey back could have mounted a k watt amp with an hf rig sitting on top and a hf uhf on the dash
Nice setup
I have a 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid. Can I connect either my IC-208H or TYT TH9800 to the 12V battery? Also, since TH9800 is a quad band radio, how do I connect multiple antennas? Thanks. KN6BER ‘73
Good video, I would like to know instead using 2 antennas can you use ATAs-125A for vhf/uhf/and hf and how good are Atas on v and u hf
Thanks to get back to me 73 to you and your family have
Homest question: I've read other ham guys say you're far better off mounting an antenna to the top of the hood because it provides the best ground plane, if I'm saying that right? They've said specifically that mounts like yours are super inefficient. Is this not the case because yours is an electric vehicle?
The best place for a mobile antenna is the high point of the vehicle, generally mounted right on the middle. So that claim is accurate.
The second claim, that lip mounts are “super inefficient” I would disagree with with. In my case, I have done a lot of bound and ground the vehicle and that includes the antenna.
In Riverside (and all of the IE), those antennas on your car would be stink bait for tweakers.
The vehicle I own has no room for any ham radio placement in the passenger area even for a IC-7100 control head . Just to let you know my vehicle is a 2006 Chev Malibu .
Just got a new Bronco Sport, and I'm on my third antenna. Mag mount no good between the roof rack and crossbars. I also lost the antenna out of the mount while on a trail. I then got a Diamond NR770HNMO Radial less NMO antenna and used a NMO to UHF connection with a mount on the crossbars. That didn't work too good either. So I am waiting for a radial less Diamond NR770HB UHF connection antenna. I don't have an SWR meter, but could tell it wasn't receiving or transmitting good. I originally had the mag mount on my Ford Focus and it worked pretty good. I have a FTM400 and when using as a base station it works good. So if this next antenna doesn't work, I don't know what else to do. I'm not going to put any holes in my new Bronco. Any suggestions or recommendations? Ford specifically tests their vehicles to be capable of installing radios, and I didn't notice any RFI.
Hi Josh.Great video.Can you please tell me if the mounting bracket for the ATAS 120 chips or damages your car in any way ?
I have a new car and i would love to install the same antenna on it and i have a Yeasu radio as well.Thank you very much.
The lip mount is screwed into the metal of your hood or trunk lid. The mounting screws do need to make a direct connection to the metal.
Thanks for the reply.UGH
You can turn the leaf on without your foot on the brake? My Volt won't let me do that.
It turns on, but will not drive. Its just the 12v devices that are powered I believe.
How is the K400s mount holding up under the screwdriver antenna? I have a Diamond screwdriver antenna ordered(on a slow boat from China!) and ordered that mount.
It’s doing fine for me. I keep it below 20 meters if I’m going to go fast.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Thanks! I mainly operate 20 when mobile, been using the Diamond single band antennas but they are to tall to get in the garage when on my new SUV(Ford Escape, as cramped as yours for radio mounting!). The screwdriver will lower enough that just the top 6 inches of the whip will bend going in the garage.
Which of these radios do you think is more useful on a day to day basis? also do you think going with 2 radios is better than a single i.e. Yeasu 857d?? Thank you !!!
Yes, I use both when driving. I always support two radios as the 857 can only done one of the other VHF/UHF or HF. So with two radio you can monitor and potentially monitor and work many different frequencies.
I'm looking for tips, mounting a dual band Icom into my 2021 Venza. Anything specific I should know about installation in a hybrid?
@Ham Radio Crash Course . Dude you convinced me to get my certification. After watching your vids for 2 years I finally got the ambition to take the exam. Also convinced me into going the Yeasu way. I got a FTM-3000dr coming Monday. Keep the vids coming. Also any suggestions for an antenna, I'm going to center mount it on the cab of my truck. Peace out✌️
Was the certification worth it? Ham radio is pretty much dead’s
me and a few buddys of mine are trying to get into radio communication for our cars, at first we tried CB radios, but those are way to sensitive for our liking, our talking distance is about 10-15 miles away from one another, i just would like to know what the most user friendly radio? from what ive read, UHF is better for Urban areas, any help would be nice.
You have a knack for finding hats and caps that look bad with bulging bug eyes...
Yep. Also a knack for getting people to comment and engage with the video. 🤣
@@HamRadioCrashCourse
I do love your videos! Keep up the great work and please find better caps... :)
Atas 120 can do VHF/UHF as well. I wonder why you chose not to go that route?Can you please explain. I am not sure how we can tune atas 120 for VHF/UHF.
I don’t have a radio that is both vhf/uhf/hf in my car and controls the atas.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Well I thought using a splitter there might be a way to control it. Is it probably too much loss? Is there any radio that tunes atas in VHF/UHF? Coudn't find online. Thanks for the reply!!!!
For the 891 that positive DC cable looks far too thin. Maybe you dont run the full 100w?
Any suggestions: Looking to power my 891 and D710 off a separate battery (since tx from the 891 can go over 22A) while charging that battery with less than 5A from the alternator. I would rather not put that strain on my alternator or rapidly discharge my vehicle's battery while parked and the engine off. Super/Epic PWRGate seems to get close to what I want but that passes power through from the PS rather than a battery, it's acting more like a UPS than primarily providing power from the battery. Maybe something simple such as the Bioenno 20AH + their DC charger in line with my equipment, but I don't want to risk their DC to DC charger blowing a fuse or killing it when I suddenly draw >20A when the charger is rated for less than 10A. Thanks!
Right now, my 891, D710, Diamond Screwdriver, WMR Targetuner, and WMR USB to CAT just run off my 62Ah SLA and I have to keep that charged every time I get home (AC), or sometimes it'll run out of juice while I'm mobile and I have no way to charge it when I could be using the alternator to keep it topped off. Seems like there should be a simple solution to this problem, I can't be the only one.
Oh man I need that massive VHF/UHF antenna. Too bad the mount I have is 3/8-24
Thought about a screwdriver antenna !!
My thoughts are they are a good option for mobile HF.
My truck is fine on hf but vhf is an s9
Do you have a link to your uhf/vhf antenna you have. I have one that bends over. But when I'm driving on the freeway it likes to bend down at 80 and that's no fun at all
Can you mount that screwdriver antenna on a metal balcony?
Absolutely!
Do you use one microphone for both radios, or each one has its own?
Do you need to have both antennae? Is it possible to only use one antennae to access VHF/UHF/HF?
Good question. The answer is not really. It's easier to just put up a dual band VHF/UHF and also run a coil HF antenna. The frequencies are quite different you see.
Hugh Jones VE7YJ, Surrey, BC, Canada. Hi guys. i have the exact same setup coming from Radioworld, Canada. One question about the screwdriver antenna mounting. i have a 2018 chevy cruze. i'm quite sure the lip mount will fit on my trunk. How do you drill holes in the lip, or more specifically, how do you seal them so you don't get water in the trunk when it rains. I have the lip mount you recommended coming too. Also, any suggestions about the mount for the head unit on the yaesu 891? My car does not have any floor bolts i can see. i think there are large flat headed flex bolts in the tracks that the seats slide on. They seem to be in the bottom of a groove in the track. i'll try calling the lodi mount people tomorrow.
You don’t drill the lip. Just drive the hex screws into the metal. Do not use the little metal strip that comes in the package, trust me.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse excellent! Thanks!
oops i meant lidomount
@@hughbassoon lidomout bolts to the seat mount.
Thats so funny. I keep my 5100 under a baseball hat to keep the sun off and hide it a bit.
If you have both radio on, how do you keep the HF from interfering with the 400? Sometimes my 400 will act crazy if transmitting on my ic-7000
Why wouldn"t you use a relay for the 891 so that it has direct battery connection but not until car is on?
My set up:
Power: Direct Battery connection via Relay to a 5 point Fuse box under the dash.
Rig 1: Realistic TRC-453 27mhz
Rig 2: 477mhz UHF GME TX4200
Rig 3: Yaesu FTM-400 UHF/VHF
Rig 4: Yaesu 857 with Auto Tuner.
I use the radio when the car is off. Also, radios have power off timers, use them.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Fair call mate, lol. Had a few mates come out to flat batteries due to radios left on as not all have timers. I just put Accessories on if I want to use mine without the car started.
Do you have any suggestions for replacing the double DIN radio space with a VHF/UHF mobile radio. Also, is there any double DIN that will act as an AM/FM radio and a mobile ham radio that you can recommend? Thanks
Nothing that I know of is a good drop in replacement.
Great video!! So I'm realizing that I have nowhere NEAR enough radios, now I just need a bottomless wallet and freedom to buy whatever I want just like you Josh!! LoL
Good video, but I feel as if you didn't cover some of the other important aspects. What kind of antenna did you use? Also, the FT-891 doesn't come with an antenna tuner. Is that not recommended in a mobile setup?
The antenna I use doesn’t need a tuner it’s a screwdriver.
Hi KG7TJQ here im about to do an install with a icom 7100 in a defender, im as losing confidance in myself by the minute. this will be my first hf unit also. I like your hf antena i would like one like that i think. But those only work with yeasu head i already checked.
Start simple and go in steps. I would first figure out where the base should live, run power, do it right, through the firewall. Then run the coax. If you want it simple, start with a mag mount and use ham sticks while you decide what more expensive antenna you might want. Then lastly, decide how you want to map the head unit. Make sure you have long enough cables. Its a simple process, but it does take time to do it right, go in steps and do it right and you'll be pretty damn proud on the back end.
How does transmitting effect the electric car. I have a Fiat 500 Electric my dash goes bananas when i key up driving. Nice video
It hasn't affected the car at all. 🤷
I found some JBL surround sound speakers at a thrift store for $1 each. AWESOME sound.....
Hey Josh, another great video. I have a 1/2 ton Chevy Pickup that I want to put HF & VHF in. I currently have a Anytone 878 with a Tram mag mount for 2m/70cm. It works … sort of. As a passenger more than driver. I would like to operate HF mobile with probably 20m/40m. I will be heading from Texas to Florida to help my son move into a new house and would like to have the radio working for that. Some of the HF antennas like the tar heel are out of the budget (yikes). What do you recommend for HF antennas? I will most likely use a Kenwood 590SG initially and migrate to something not so huge. Haha. All the best, 73 de KI5HXM
Ford transit is a better solution? more equipments room
If they make and ev id consider it!!
Out in the woods or in the city it's all the same me...
You would think that these manufacturers would build mobile rigs that are more compact so they could be integrated into modern vehicles. Industry-standard parts and connectors, too. I bought my mobile radio in the 90s; the new ones haven't changed much...
They do, that’s why they have remote-able heads.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse I’m aware of that. It’s just not enough IMHO. Perhaps the equivalent of bluetooth in which everything could be controlled through a wireless microphone...
@@tmo7734 The issue is that the radios themselves need all those components to get up to 50 watt out. You can't really reduce their sizes.
Does the heat mess with your radios?
Not really. The hat seems to help.
Your car has a lower noise floor than my QTH :(
I have 2 Nissan Sentra. There isn't enough room for a mobile install. Guess I have to get a new larger vehicle.
Electric motor interference?
Nerd base 3 to Nerd base 2. Can you hear me?
We read you nerd base 3, please pick up some Popeyes after you mom lets you out of the house
so u need to take the wires off the break line. break lines can get really hot even hot enough to melt rubber. also a bread tie?
New Jeep JL here with fiberglass hardtop. Where would you mount a screw driver ? Looking at atas, hi Q, or ham sticks ? I primarily operate 160 but that’s difficult on mobile. Wonder what freq those long humvee antennas will work on ? I would not mind having fold them over
. Hope to build a mobile set up soon. Also thinking maybe just drive to summits and pop up 2 10m telescoping poles and string my antenna that way. Maybe just do 100w and play on the higher bands with the mobile. Maybe purchasing the mobile rig first then prepare the ant layout 🤔🤔😉
Jeeps are TOUGH! you basically need to build a hard point that electrically connect to the chassis. I’d really have to see if to make any recommendations.
If you have a roll cage build up a mount from that that meets with the fiberglass top. Then a hole thru the top and into the steel plate underneath. Only issue is the top is no longer removable doing that. I have also seen mounts built off the spare tire carrier... all custom... can you weld or do you know a welder?
@@MaryBrownForFreedom yea I was think the spare tire carrier or a windshield bracket ?? Yea I like to keep top removable 😉and refrain from drilling into it wonder if I could bond a steel plate then just run braid down to roll bar bonding point. Yea guess I ll need to fabricate a mount, shame is the hood isn’t even metal or I could use a lip mount off it. Or get one of those receiver mounts for telescoping pole do a 10m in middle and two off on a 35 deg angle and use two 18m poles and just use antenna while stationary 🤔
Electric motor drive mosfets sound like a big problem for HF.
I did a video on that topic. Mobile radio grounding and bonding.
3d print a mic holder or two.
Nissan Leaf? Bro leave some hunnies for the rest of us. Lol. 😁
Lol!!
Take that speaker apart and pack the back of it with cotton balls and it will drastically change the sound. Old CB radio trick.
Not being a hater. This kind of plain view mobile set up makes me cringe at how likely it is to get stolen. That’s a lot of money. The hat concealment is a good improvised solution. Thinking about it further, a smart thief would be able to spot a ham antenna and would then likely decide to take a closer look and see if he could find a radio to steal. I personally would recommend people conceal it a little more. My two worthless, unwanted cents. Love the channel BTW.
Is it common for ham radios to get stolen? I thought thieves typically went for "fancy" normal automotive radios.
@@chrissewell1608 Yea, they can be pretty stupid. I had a am/ssb cb in-dash unit that that a thief stole the mic/control unit. Maybe he thought it was a cell phone. Thing is absolutely useless without the radio.