[n5swr]

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

 

[Hooter]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by n5swr:
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
</font>

Hi Ken,
I am in the same position as you. I don't quite know how I will solve the problem.
I am only going to install a 2m/70cm Kenwood with remote head. I haven't got the nerve up to start ripping off panels yet.
I need at least a 20A circuit and am considering using one of the power seat circuits.
I have used the glass mounted antennas before and not too pleased with them but they do allow garage access without taking them off and are not bad for local city use like here in Cincy.
I will be watching for ideas on this forun.

Hoot 73 KD8ZW
WWW.farasys.org

 

[Kuruma Hayai]

I was thinking about the same mod.

Have been trying to find a good small antenna and where to mount it.

Keep us posted.
Kuruma Hayai VE3SXG

 

[n5swr]

Hope this doesn't post twice, my IE crashed the last time I hit the Submit button...

Hoot, yeah, I have the tm-v7a and would like to get the remote mounting kit and put the xmtr somewhere out of the way. I'd like to put it under the driver seat but there's a lot of things I might also want to put under there! (Subwoofer, VCP...) Well, one thing at a time.

I had the RS dual band glass-mount ant on our wrecked Widstar and it did ~okay. I guess I'll do another glass-mount as I know I'll be in the dog house if I start drilling holes in my wife's new Ody!

If there were an easy way of getting the coax inside you could make a crossbar mounting bracket and not worry about scratching the roof with a mag mount or drilling holes...hummm....

BTW, on the Ford I put the glass-mount on the upper right corner of the windshield and it worked okay. The RS ant is flimsy so I braced it by tieing the top of the ant to the top of the FM ant....okay, I got some funny looks but hey!



73, Ken

 

[Doug351]

Hello Ken,

How has the installation of the mobil rig gone?

I have been thinking of the same options that you mentioned. I am going to leave my Kenwood TM-733 in the old car and will be getting a new Kenwood for the Ody. But, like you, I'm not ready to drill holes.

73,
Doug
KB5VKJ

 

[perlguy9]

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,

 

[celler]

I am also considering a roof mount antenna. However, the place I want to put it is right above the monitor for the DVD system. Although this will provide a good acces point to run the cable, I worry about RF interference. I'm not planning on running HF, just a Yaesu 2m/70cm, probably an FT-90. Would love to know if anybody has mounted an antenna here and had any RF interference issues.

Thanks.

Craig
KG4QKN