Ham radio power source

[4dds]

Where is everyone getting their power for their radios. I normally run everything to the battery but I thought there may be a good tap inside the cab. I still haven’t decided where I’m going to put the body of the radio yet just trying to plan it out.

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[Dave O]

While we’re on the subject any Ham Radio recommendations to install in the Maverick?

 

[Carlitos_92]

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/search/6504113/?q=Ham+radio&c[title_only]=1&o=date

 

[4dds]

I have an Icom 2730A. I would suggest whatever you get to get a removable head unit so you only have to mount th face of the radio where you can see it. You can hide the rest.

 

[Dave O]

I have an Icom 2730A. I would suggest whatever you get to get a removable head unit so you only have to mount th face of the radio where you can see it. You can hide the rest.

Probably above my skill set I had a friend who has been a part of the Ham Radio community since the 1970’s I’m sure he is still a participant - I’ve always been interested but it seems to be more than I can start at this point in my life maybe a CB radio would be more suitable - thanks

 

[gzebrick]

I tapped the battery under the rear seat. For a mount, I put my dual bander hanging from a bent piece of aluminum stock that hooks into the center console armrest hole. It has a remote head. I sticky-taped a magnet on a drop-in plastic tray (that fits behind and around the top of the screen) to magnetically hold the head. I can pull the whole thing out of the truck in about 10 seconds but when it's in it is very secure.

Not much happening on VHF/UHF though.

PS I had a add quite a few ferrite choaks on the leads from my dash camera / rear camera as it was trashing VHF.

 

[gzebrick]

I tapped the battery under the rear seat. For a mount, I put my dual bander hanging from a bent piece of aluminum stock that hooks into the center console armrest hole. It has a remote head. I sticky-taped a magnet on a drop-in plastic tray (that fits behind and around the top of the screen) to magneticly hold the head. I ca pull the whole thing out of the truck in about 10 seconds but when it's in it is very secure.

Not much happening on VHF/UHF though.

PS I had a add quite a few ferrite choaks on the leads from my dash camera / rear camera as it was trashing VHF.

Here's a link to the plastic tray. A really nice add for the 25s+

https://www.amazon.com/BIBIBO-2025-Ford-Maverick-Dash/dp/B0F6V8LDV5/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis?th=1

 

[fordwrench91]

For a 2026 Lariat EB, the under-rear-seat battery tap gzebrick mentioned is solid. If you want an in-cab option without running to the battery, there's a switched 12V fused circuit in the passenger footwell fuse panel — but check amperage carefully since the Lariat EB doesn't have the same aux circuit capacity as the hybrid. Most guys with mobile ham setups on the EB run direct to the main battery with an inline fuse at the battery end, which keeps the RF ground path clean.

One thing to watch on the Maverick specifically: the inverter on the hybrid (and even some EB noise from the DCDC converter) can bleed into the 2M/70cm bands if your coax shield isn't grounded well. If you get noise that follows engine RPM, add a ferrite choke on the coax right at the radio and at the antenna feedpoint before spending time chasing anything else.

 

[Fred Piering]

Where is everyone getting their power for their radios. I normally run everything to the battery but I thought there may be a good tap inside the cab. I still haven’t decided where I’m going to put the body of the radio yet just trying to plan it out.

I put a fuse tap on the fuse panel passenger side, floorboard, don't remember what position, would have to pull open and look. Ran the wires under the floor molding to the rear seat and put the radio under the rear seat. Of course, the control head, mike and speaker up front. It's a Yaesu 6000 mounted to the front face of the center console.
Fred
WD9HNU

 

[fordwrench91]

The Icom 2730A is a solid choice for mobile — good dual band coverage and the remote head mount gives you flexibility on the Maverick's limited dash real estate. One thing worth planning before the power tap: antenna grounding on the Maverick. The mixed aluminum/steel body means you need a proper RF ground path or you'll get poor SWR and potential RFI into the DCDC converter (the hybrid system generates noise in the HF/VHF range that can bleed into the audio if the ground loop isn't clean). Direct chassis bond at the antenna mount point and a star-grounded power cable from the battery negative are the two things that make the difference between a clean install and one that takes a week to debug. If you're running the power from the under-seat battery, run the negative directly back to battery negative rather than using chassis ground — shorter path, cleaner RF environment.

 

[Quest]

you could tap into the box power point
The wiring runs down the right rear seat sill plate
Its a 20A switched circuit

 

[fordwrench91]

Good call on the box power point, Quest — that's the cleanest switched source in the cab and the 20A rating gives enough headroom for most mobile rigs. The sill plate routing keeps the wire run short too. One thing to confirm before you start pulling trim: the bed power outlet circuit is tied to the Power Outlet Group option, so most Lariats will have it but worth a quick check in your window sticker or SYNC settings. If you have the hybrid, the battery under the rear seat is still the cleaner RF path for ham setups since the chassis ground return stays short. Either way you have good options on this truck.

 

[Steve Wolf]

Here's mine. The radio is under the back seat, with power coming directly from the battery. No, that does not cause witchcraft or evil spells. Works great.

 

[fordwrench91]

Direct from battery is totally valid for a mobile rig, especially if you fuse it properly close to the battery. Clean ground path and a short wire run to the rig matters more than where you tap. Under the rear seat keeps it out of the way too. Nice clean install.

 

[gmwalk]

I mounted my Yaesu FTM-150 control head on the dash above the screen and the main unit under the rear seat next to the battery. I connected directly to the battery.

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