[ICOM] Mobile installations, Ford F-150's ?

[D C (Mac) Macdonald]

Icom IC-706 Mk II and IC-2720H duobander; both control
heads mounted on top of dashboard (along with GPS mapper)
with rf decks under back seat of 99 GMC 2500 extended cab;
High Sierra HS-1500 (screwdriver type) on rear bumper's
left corner; Larson duo-band antenna directly on roof.
Of course it helps if wife is also licensed!  (;-p)

One  SHOULD  buy a vehicle for one's  OWN  usage.  I don't
worry about resale 'cause I use 'em up to the point where
a hole or two has no effect on resale value.  Heck, you
might find that another ham might even pay a premium for
having the wiring, etc. already done!!!

IMNHO, glass-mount antennas SUCK!!!

Merry Christmas to all.

Mac, K2GKK (politically INcorrect & defiantly proud of it)



-- "Phil Atchley" <beaconeer at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Hi All,

I'm not sure that this is an entirely appropriate list for
this post since I'm not yet certain the radio I get will be
an Icom.  But I don't know where else to ask the questions
(and there are a lot of mobile setups with Icom radios out
there).

First, as a note.  Over the years I have installed a LOT of
CB equipment in vehicles, both before I had my Ham license
and when I worked in a CB shop after getting my license.
But I haven't installed much VHF/UHF gear.  So, in general
I know how to do a 'quality" installation (and what to avoid
doing).  I want this to be a "one time shot", not a work in
progress.

I'm considering installing a rig, probably a 2M/440 dual
bander in my 2005 Ford F-150XLT "Super Crewcab" (4 large
doors, seats 6).  So anyway, this is the first vehicle that
I've had in more years than I can remember that 'really'
has enough room to do a decent radio installation of any
kind.  The ceiling mounted rig in my '86 Chevy C10 was a
"head banger".  It is also the first time in my life I've had
a vehicle this nice and I don't want to start "punching holes".  Besides, I don't want to become a homicide victim by angering
my XYL <grin>.  Though due to it's size, it's unlikely that
she'll drive the vehicle much if any.

I would like to hear of any experiences, good or bad that
people have had installing radios in a similar Ford vehicle.

Here's some ideas that I have in mind.

>>>  MUCH SNIPPAGE HERE  <<<

******************************************************
73 de Phil,  KO6BB
DX begins at the noise floor!