n5swr said:
Hello guys, we just got our 2002 MB Ody-EX and I'm really thankful for these forums. I'd like to get anyones ideas on installing two-way radios in the Ody. Where's the best place to install the radio? The antenna? Anyone try a glass mount antenna.
Thanks and 73,
Ken
I just got done installing radios in my 01 Ody.
I pulled 10ga wire back to the driver's seat from the battery for 40a service, with a self-resetting ckt breaker under the hood on the hot side.
I ran a 14ga wire from the passenger kickpanel fuse box for ignition sense.
Under the driver's seat, I split out the power to a relay and a switch, so I can switch if the radios are igntion switched. Normally they are, but for certain events where the Ody serves as a safety vehicle, I prefer to let the radios run even when the engine is off.
Anyways, past the relay the power is distributed to my Kenwood TM-D700 radio, a Motorola GTX 900 mobile and my Garmin StreetPilot III. There's also a cigarette lighter plug and a pair of leads with bullet connectors so I can plug in a harness to power the amber blinky lights and an inverter to run a laptop, again for public service events.
The model # of the diamond antenna I'm running escapes me, but it's a short little dual band (2m/70cm) antenna that seems to perform all right. It's mounted in the center of the roof just in front of the beam that crosses behind the front seats.
On the rear driver's side window is an Antenna Specialists on-glass for the GTX 900.
The install went pretty smoothly. The on-glass has only been on a few days, but it seems to perform satisfactorily. I'm still trying to determine if the window tint is interfering at all.
73 de N8USK
Under the driver's seat,