Mobile HAM radio installed - Writeup & DIY

[Mikknj]

Here's one for you radio nerds. I received a new Anytone AT-778UV HAM and bingfu stubby antenna for Christmas. The install was surprisingly easy and only required two holes for the bracket and some small cuts.

All the tools needed were

- Allen keys which were supplied with the antenna kit
-an adjustable wrench or socket set
-A knife

I started by mounting the the Antenna to the hood. Pretty straight forward. Tighten the clamp screws on the mount once you have it placed where you like. (I went with the back edge on the hood near the passenger a pillar.) Feed antenna wire threads through the mount, tighten the jamb nut against the mount, and screw the antenna on.

I then fed the antenna wire through this flap on the cowl trim, and tucked the wire along the trim edge until I got to the driver side.

Ford intuitively placed a grommet to the right side of the brake booster on the firewall which is unused. It's the perfect spot to feed wires through. Especially if you plan on running things like subs or aftermarket fused switch panels.

All you have to do is pop the grommet out from under the dash, and cut a small X in the grommet where you want the wires to feed through, feed them and replace the grommet. I attached the radio power and ground to the battery terminals directly for now, but I plan to get an aux beam 8 gang switch panel later that I can run the radio to along with some offroad lights.

These next steps depend on how and where you want to mount your radio. For me, I like the idea of having the radio controls in the same location as the rest of my dash controls so I decided to mount it under the USB ports in the phone cubby since I have a phone mount that charges and holds my phone up higher next to the screen.(no oem wireless pad.) And mounting on the underside of this trim puts the holes In a spot not easily noticed if I decide to take it out later. Be warned that the placement I chose may not be right for everyone, it's worth mentioning; the radio does interfere with the ambient light that shines under the dash into this cubby. But to run this placement, I fed the wires behind the pedals and steering column. (I still need to secure them but I need to get more zip ties first. )

From there, I routed the wires behind the side of the center console trim. There's a small screw that holds this trim piece in (next to the accelerator pedal.) and then it just pops in and out with clips. After that I removed the phone cubby mat, where you'll find a small panel that pops out to gain access to the emergency gear selector. I fed the wires through that port, then took a knife and slightly enlarged the pry tab hole on the panel so the wires could fit without interference, although I may end up cutting a small notch on the back of the tab and in the mat as well to keep it sitting flush, but I haven't done that yet. Right now, I have the wires tucked under the mat coming out from behind.

At this point, all the wires have been run to where they need to be and all that's left is mounting the brack followed by the radio, after plugging your antenna and power cable in. I put the bracket as far to the left as I could and just in front of the diffuser for the cubby light. You'll note In the above picture that the left screw sits close to the side, but there is just enough room that I can still remove the radio after backing the left screw out and removing the right screw. After I found the placement I wanted, I just marked the trim panel where the bracket mount holes were and used the supplied screws to attach the bracket, then mounted the radio to it. The whole process took me a total of about 1.5 hours and I'm pleased with the results. I can still use that cubby and the radio looks right at home imo.

Wow that's a clean install. I plan to do the same
How well does that little stubby antenna work though?

That all looks great in the Maverick.
I'm planning to install from the battery under the rear seat of my Hybrid.

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[NJ Pinelands]

If you don’t want the antenna to be seen, you could just put it in the hole in the gas tank.

 

[D Janke]

Brilliant review of a super clean install!
I'll be putting a Kenwood 8180 GMRS radio in mine shortly after receiving it.
Have a Tram - Browning BR 450 antenna I'll be using.
Still undecided as to the mounting of said antenna. Don't think i'll put the radio in the cubby
area though, more than likely it will end up passenger side of the center console.

Thanks for the post!!

 

[Mikknj]

I did that very thing to a brand new 1992 Ranger the first year I was licensed. I used a punch like the one shown below and temporarily removed the high-mounted stop light to access the bottom of the hole (required for use of the punch). It was centered on the cab (right-to-left) and about eight inches forward from the rear of the cab. Perfect position to provide ground plane.

Clean install, no regrets.

73's

Hmm I went that route on a 97 Dakota.. I ran into a parking garage one time and ripped the antenna out of the roof. Since then I have never placed an antenna on the roof through the sheet metal. I ended up tearing the roof and had to remove the antenna and close the hole with a grommet. looked terrible. I use bed mount on the rear left corner of the bed these days and it works great. The same mount in the image of this post up top. I modified it but it came out great. I won't cut holes on the roof again. Ever.

 

[Red Ryder]

I won't cut holes on the roof again. Ever.

Understood. My sister knocked her mirror off her Acura backing out of her garage. Mine was a 2M/440 shorty antenna. Probably not much taller than the sharkfin antenna on the Maverick.

 

[jbpoole]

Hmm I went that route on a 97 Dakota.. I ran into a parking garage one time and ripped the antenna out of the roof. Since then I have never placed an antenna on the roof through the sheet metal. I ended up tearing the roof and had to remove the antenna and close the hole with a grommet. looked terrible. I use bed mount on the rear left corner of the bed these days and it works great. The same mount in the image of this post up top. I modified it but it came out great. I won't cut holes on the roof again. Ever.

For UHF/GMRS a very inexpensive roof mounted 6" NMO quarter wave is ideal for many folks. Parking garages shouldn't be a problem with this setup.

 

[Arukoru]

I could cry

When I got my first car I installed a really great stereo as a teenager does. Imagine my surprise when it is actually pretty easy EXCEPT FOR THE FREAKIN FIREWALL. I thought they couldn't use grommets for some safety/regulation reasoning but it turns out that nope, carmakers just don't do this for some reason.

I doubt Ford designed this with the customer in mind, it was probably an accidental/future model leftover from a couple design revisions but I'm glad it is there. I'll actually consider more modifications knowing that I can get through the firewall without too much hassle.

 

[Mikknj]

If you don’t want the antenna to be seen, you could just put it in the hole in the gas tank.

Wow that's an explosive thought

 

[Deleted member 6262]

Nice job and thank you for the thorough details and pics!

What I did for my BTECH

Wow that's a clean install. I plan to do the same
How well does that little stubby antenna work though?

That all looks great in the Maverick.
I'm planning to install from the battery under the rear seat of my Hybrid.

My install for my BTECH GMRS-50X1 was a little complicated and time consuming but the end result is the same.

 

[IPunchCholla]

What I did for my BTECH

My install for my BTECH GMRS-50X1 was a little complicated and time consuming but the end result is the same.

Very nice! I’m Leary of removing panels as I seem to be hamfisted and torque things just enough to make them not fit nice a tight on reinstall. Any issues with the panels on yours?

 

[Deleted member 6262]

Very nice! I’m Leary of removing panels as I seem to be hamfisted and torque things just enough to make them not fit nice a tight on reinstall. Any issues with the panels on yours?

Yes I damaged the grey speaker panel shown. I had watched a YouTube on how to remove it and still messed it up. It was costly because the only way it can be bought is with the speaker in it.

 

[nikorasu]

I'm thinking of getting a FTM-300R for the truck.

I really need to see the bed up close but I think I would want to mount something not far behind the cab on the bed rail. Something like a Diamond NR73 I am thinking.

73

 

[Deleted member 6262]

I'm thinking of getting a FTM-300R for the truck.

I really need to see the bed up close but I think I would want to mount something not far behind the cab on the bed rail. Something like a Diamond NR73 I am thinking.

73

That's a Bullet Proof Diesel antenna mount with coax between the cab and the third brake light. It ain't cheap but it kept me from drilling a hole in my roof.

 

[Fire Alarm Guy]

Because being a nerd was so very important to my dad, I made my own key and learned code, got the ham license and sewed the merit badge on my sash…question, while I know my license which I could never locate is lapsed, does it still require Code first? Is a license even required now?

I have a technician no code license from 1998. I just renew it for free every 10 years. I never really used it much. I was more into playing around with a CB radio in the 90s. Thought an amateur radio license would be cool to have in my box of tricks.

 

[wyouger]

Because being a nerd was so very important to my dad, I made my own key and learned code, got the ham license and sewed the merit badge on my sash…question, while I know my license which I could never locate is lapsed, does it still require Code first? Is a license even required now?

As already stated a license is still required. In 2007 the code requirement was eliminated entirely for all license classes. In the US. I can't speak for all countries. 73's

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