[Motorola] Installation Tips

[Glen Zook]

First of all, size wise, the Motrac can be about the
same size as the Mitrek (actually they are slightly
"thinner" in all models).  The U41/U51 LHT series does
not have the side heatsinks.  This is true of the
U43HHT "E" model as well as the L and M series and the
original U43HHT "A" model.  The "E" model and the LHT
lowband versions have the smaller heatsink around the
driver and final amplifier tubes.  The Motran series
are of the smaller design as well.

When installing trunk mount units in pickup trucks
commercially, the first place "looked at" was behind
the seat.  With the "crew cab" designs, unfortunately,
there is not as much space behind the seat as with the
single seat models.

The next most "common" place to install the radio was
under the front seat.  Under the passenger side was
the most common place.  Then, if an additional radio
was installed, it went under the driver's seat.  I
have seen this done with all sorts of radios including
the Micor, Mocom-70, Mitrek, GE MASTR-Pro, etc.

You normally have to take the seat out of the vehicle
(if installing on both sides), or at least taking the
seat loose one-side-at-a-time and holding it up while
the holes are drilled to mount the unit.  Make sure
that there is nothing under the floor where you are
drilling.  You have to position the radio in between
the support brackets of the seat.

There should be room under the rear seat to install at
least one radio.

Now, the dash can be a "bit" cluttered with the
control heads.  The speakers can be remoted to various
locations, but might present a problem as well.  The
cables were normally "bunched up" under the seats with
only enough to come out to the control head "hidden"
under the floor mat.

When the units were installed in bed mounted tool
boxes, there usually was not any problem with air flow
for cooling if the owner didn't throw a bunch of rain
coats, etc., around the unit.  In fact, the air flow
within a tool box without anything else being carried
in there is definitely much better than mounting
behind a seat or under the seat.

Anyway, the most individual radios that I have ever
had anything to do with the installation was for a
fire chief in Plano, Texas, in 1980.  He wanted no
less than 9 different radios installed in his vehicle!
 These were a mixture of Motorola (mostly), a GE MASTR
II, and a Pace LandMaster II.  We took parts from
various Motorola microphones to come up with different
combinations so that he could tell which microphone to
use for which frequency.  This was a "squad" car, but
the trunk was completely full of radios when we got
through with it.

Glen, K9STH
(former President, Commercial Systems, Inc., Motorola
reconditioned equipment center for south-central US
1970 - 1979).


--- "Dennis L. Wade" <dlwade@pacbell.net> wrote:
I want to put at least two (and three if possible)
trunk mount in the truck.  Where do you put the trunk
part when there is no trunk? :)  I'd still need to put
two people in the back seat (Mom wouldn't approve
taking the kids to school riding in the bed).

=====
Glen, K9STH

Web sites

http://home.attbi.com/~k9sth
http://home.attbi.com/~zcomco

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