Installing ham rig in the GE
#22
Here's how I routed the coax:
Here's more detail of the antenna:
Radio mounted to the carpet:
It will stay out of the way of the magic seat, and even peoples' feet back there.
Here's some of how the radio head/face sits, and what all is around it. The power jack is completely usable still, as are both cup holders for shorter beverages. Luckily cup holders aren't in demand in this car.
I quickly discovered after first turning the radio on that the speaker under the seat wasn't going to work at all. So at first I was routing it through the stereo's aux jack. This worked, but since the radio only outputs mono audio, I only heard the rig's audio come out of the left side of the car, AND I couldn't listen to NPR while driving anymore. Even more frustrating is that all of the local nets pick up after I'm almost to work in the morning, and begin again after I'm home at night, so I'd wind up listening to nothing.
I went into radio shack and picked up a Radio Shack 19-318, mini speaker. It'll handle 3 watts, and the rig puts out enough to drive it to the level of pain in the front cockpit. I mounted it in the little cove where I normally put my sunglasses because it fit perfectly, it doesn't even move around unless you push pretty hard on it. Audio sounds better out of this than it did out of the stereo.
Ok, I'm sure I'm forgetting something, so someone pipe up and tell me what I didn't do!
Here's more detail of the antenna:
Radio mounted to the carpet:
It will stay out of the way of the magic seat, and even peoples' feet back there.
Here's some of how the radio head/face sits, and what all is around it. The power jack is completely usable still, as are both cup holders for shorter beverages. Luckily cup holders aren't in demand in this car.
I quickly discovered after first turning the radio on that the speaker under the seat wasn't going to work at all. So at first I was routing it through the stereo's aux jack. This worked, but since the radio only outputs mono audio, I only heard the rig's audio come out of the left side of the car, AND I couldn't listen to NPR while driving anymore. Even more frustrating is that all of the local nets pick up after I'm almost to work in the morning, and begin again after I'm home at night, so I'd wind up listening to nothing.
I went into radio shack and picked up a Radio Shack 19-318, mini speaker. It'll handle 3 watts, and the rig puts out enough to drive it to the level of pain in the front cockpit. I mounted it in the little cove where I normally put my sunglasses because it fit perfectly, it doesn't even move around unless you push pretty hard on it. Audio sounds better out of this than it did out of the stereo.
Ok, I'm sure I'm forgetting something, so someone pipe up and tell me what I didn't do!
#24
I actually get 1.3:1 on 2m at 20W, I don't know about 70cm, because my swr meter won't do higher than 200mhz.
#25
Again, FINE JOB sir, looks awesome! Thanks for outlining your cable routes etc. If/when I'm able to purchase a similar transceiver, I will likely get the exact same antenna setup etc. and will definitely use this thread for reference. You should make a video of your mobile rig in action some day! That would be cool! Thanks again for sharing, nice work - I'm sure you'll put it to good use.
#26
Great looking, thanks for the photos. Got me thinking about different options for radio mounting/Xm/ham antenna, etc, etc. Looking at your 8800 has me thinking I might switch the radio from the house to the car (Icom version that looks just like your side-by-side dual band) instead of the old Standard under the seat unit with mic controls. On the speaker question, I have used a Kenwood mobile speaker for 15 plus years that is flat in shape, about an inch thick, 3 inches wide and 5 inches long. I mount it on the door pillar to the left of the driver seat so it is only a few inches from my left ear and the wire can be routed behind the plastic cover. The only issue has been on cars with side air bags to make sure the speaker does not become a projectile mounted on top of a cover designed to split open (Hyundai Santa Fe), the Honda looks like it will be an easy mount. This allows me to use a very low volume to listen to the HAM rig while the little missy can still listen to the CD/Xm stereo. It also allows you to split the bands with one coming from the ext speaker toward your left ear, and the other coming out of the head unit/mic/under seat unit, whatever your model allows for. Can come in handy if you are listening for different calls, emergency services, RACES, etc, type of thing. The other thing I learned from living in both very hot locations (NV) and very cold locations (UT) is to use the Superlock Fasteners from RadioShack. The glue holds much better in heat and the plastic locks will hold much more weight than normal hook and loop fasteners. Also they come in clear which on other cars that had tan interiors was helpful. Again nice job.
Joe W5RJK
Joe W5RJK
#28
I've been debating whether to get the glass mount or not. Seems like it would be the simple way to go, but I've read mixed reviews on them on both their performance and durability. I've been researching ways to use the existing FM antenna mount but it was only today I discovered Honda uses a preamp at the antenna's base. I'm also not sure what type of cable they use between the antenna and the radio or what impedance it is. I thought the hardest part was going to be tracking down a diplexer that would allow me to use the AM/FM radio and VHF/UHF ham on the same antenna. Now it looks like I'd have to gut the amplifier assembly and perhaps even replace the entire antenna cable. While aftermarket car stereo install kits make an adapter to go between Honda's proprietary jack to male motorola, I doubt it'd be easy to find one which does the opposite. I definitely don't want to drill a proper NMO mount. The XYL must approve If anyone has any info that could help me, I'd be very grateful.
For HF, I'm considering picking up a screwdriver antenna using a standard hitch mount. XYL wants me to put in a hidden hitch anyway for a bike rack so an easy on easy off hitch mount HF antenna could be in the future!
For the audio, I might build a VOX relay circuit that would have a 3.5mm stereo female jack, a 3.5mm mono female jack and output into an audio cable with a 3.5mm stereo male plug on the end. The circuit would normally pass through the stereo audio (coming from Sirius Satellite Radio), and then would switch to the ham rig when triggered by audio. Might add a 3 second hang timer, too.
Thanks for the photos. I have an 07 so the interior is a bit different but it gives me something to go off of.
73!
For HF, I'm considering picking up a screwdriver antenna using a standard hitch mount. XYL wants me to put in a hidden hitch anyway for a bike rack so an easy on easy off hitch mount HF antenna could be in the future!
For the audio, I might build a VOX relay circuit that would have a 3.5mm stereo female jack, a 3.5mm mono female jack and output into an audio cable with a 3.5mm stereo male plug on the end. The circuit would normally pass through the stereo audio (coming from Sirius Satellite Radio), and then would switch to the ham rig when triggered by audio. Might add a 3 second hang timer, too.
Thanks for the photos. I have an 07 so the interior is a bit different but it gives me something to go off of.
73!
#29
I've been debating whether to get the glass mount or not. Seems like it would be the simple way to go, but I've read mixed reviews on them on both their performance and durability. I've been researching ways to use the existing FM antenna mount but it was only today I discovered Honda uses a preamp at the antenna's base. I'm also not sure what type of cable they use between the antenna and the radio or what impedance it is. I thought the hardest part was going to be tracking down a diplexer that would allow me to use the AM/FM radio and VHF/UHF ham on the same antenna. Now it looks like I'd have to gut the amplifier assembly and perhaps even replace the entire antenna cable. While aftermarket car stereo install kits make an adapter to go between Honda's proprietary jack to male motorola, I doubt it'd be easy to find one which does the opposite. I definitely don't want to drill a proper NMO mount. The XYL must approve If anyone has any info that could help me, I'd be very grateful.
For HF, I'm considering picking up a screwdriver antenna using a standard hitch mount. XYL wants me to put in a hidden hitch anyway for a bike rack so an easy on easy off hitch mount HF antenna could be in the future!
For the audio, I might build a VOX relay circuit that would have a 3.5mm stereo female jack, a 3.5mm mono female jack and output into an audio cable with a 3.5mm stereo male plug on the end. The circuit would normally pass through the stereo audio (coming from Sirius Satellite Radio), and then would switch to the ham rig when triggered by audio. Might add a 3 second hang timer, too.
Thanks for the photos. I have an 07 so the interior is a bit different but it gives me something to go off of.
For HF, I'm considering picking up a screwdriver antenna using a standard hitch mount. XYL wants me to put in a hidden hitch anyway for a bike rack so an easy on easy off hitch mount HF antenna could be in the future!
For the audio, I might build a VOX relay circuit that would have a 3.5mm stereo female jack, a 3.5mm mono female jack and output into an audio cable with a 3.5mm stereo male plug on the end. The circuit would normally pass through the stereo audio (coming from Sirius Satellite Radio), and then would switch to the ham rig when triggered by audio. Might add a 3 second hang timer, too.
Thanks for the photos. I have an 07 so the interior is a bit different but it gives me something to go off of.
I'd whole heartedly reccommend using a glass-mount antenna, but don't use the MFJ or Tram antennas, as the same antenna and it's cheaply made. Get a Larsen VHF/UHF glass-mount. I'm completely happy with the glass-mount antenna. When properly installed and tuned, the glass-mount antennas will radiate as much as the equivalent whip. Just make sure it's installed properly, and hooked up with good coax, the coax that came with my antenna was the garbage rg-58, now it is using rg-8.
About the factory antenna, I seriously doubt that the coax will hold any kind of power, but you could use the coax with a tuner, IIRC, it's 300 ohm; just replace the whole cable. I'm not too sure about the strength (or exsistance) of the preamp in the head-unit, which makes me hesitate to do anything to it or the am/fm preamp. The only way I could see turning the am/fm antenna into a usable am/fm/vhf/uhf antenna is by gutting it, and putting an NMO mount, and a dualband vhf/uhf whip on top. Then you could get the biplexer, and use it as an (albet a lossy) AM/FM antenna.
Not having a mobile HF rig myself, I can't attest to this, but there are complaints about the noise generated by the electronic power steering servos. Putting the HF antenna on a hitch-mount would help that, but then you've essentially turned it into a directional antenna, and compromised the ground plane too.
The VOX circuit sounds cool, I'd like to see more on it. I installed the speaker in my setup, because when I'm driving I like to listen to NPR, and hear the ham radio when there's activity. I guess I just listen to both at the same time, heh. I'd have to have it switch between the radio, and the aux-in, which in my case doesn't exactly work.... Oh well. I'm happy with my setup.
Not a problem for the photos, I'm glad to help. When I got an estimate on tint, the guy asked where I got the radio installed, because he thought it looked really professional.
#30
I'd whole heartedly reccommend using a glass-mount antenna, but don't use the MFJ or Tram antennas, as the same antenna and it's cheaply made. Get a Larsen VHF/UHF glass-mount. I'm completely happy with the glass-mount antenna. When properly installed and tuned, the glass-mount antennas will radiate as much as the equivalent whip. Just make sure it's installed properly, and hooked up with good coax, the coax that came with my antenna was the garbage rg-58, now it is using rg-8.
About the factory antenna, I seriously doubt that the coax will hold any kind of power, but you could use the coax with a tuner, IIRC, it's 300 ohm; just replace the whole cable. I'm not too sure about the strength (or exsistance) of the preamp in the head-unit, which makes me hesitate to do anything to it or the am/fm preamp. The only way I could see turning the am/fm antenna into a usable am/fm/vhf/uhf antenna is by gutting it, and putting an NMO mount, and a dualband vhf/uhf whip on top. Then you could get the biplexer, and use it as an (albet a lossy) AM/FM antenna.
Not having a mobile HF rig myself, I can't attest to this, but there are complaints about the noise generated by the electronic power steering servos. Putting the HF antenna on a hitch-mount would help that, but then you've essentially turned it into a directional antenna, and compromised the ground plane too.
The VOX circuit sounds cool, I'd like to see more on it. I installed the speaker in my setup, because when I'm driving I like to listen to NPR, and hear the ham radio when there's activity. I guess I just listen to both at the same time, heh. I'd have to have it switch between the radio, and the aux-in, which in my case doesn't exactly work.... Oh well. I'm happy with my setup.
Not a problem for the photos, I'm glad to help. When I got an estimate on tint, the guy asked where I got the radio installed, because he thought it looked really professional.
Not a problem for the photos, I'm glad to help. When I got an estimate on tint, the guy asked where I got the radio installed, because he thought it looked really professional.
It's good to see there are other hams out there putting radios in their Fits!
#31
I'm pretty sure the preamp is in the base of the antenna. Isn't there +12V supplied by the head unit sent up to the antenna base along side of the antenna coax? Not too concerned about the loss on FM. The rubber duck they use now has to have an inherant 3 to 6dBd loss. The hole in the roof that's already there isn't NMO sized I bet but larger and differently shaped and would have to be patched up somehow to prevent leaking. I wish there was some detailed drawings or a picture of this general area more so than what they've got in the online parts catalogue so I don't have to do exploratory surgery just to find out of this is a viable option or not.
EDIT: the hole was actually about the size of a dime, possibly a little smaller, if memory serves. I didn't put an NMO connector on there, because I drive too fast, and I didn't want to hurt the car.
Last edited by awptickes; 04-08-2009 at 07:46 PM.
#32
Awptickes,
The roof metal does seem on the thin side, would need some larger washers on both sides of that NMO to give it some strength. I reckon the Larson is the way to go for a permanent mount (I currently use a short mag mount for trips), especially given it is mostly short range repeater stuff. Do you have any feel for your window mount in the FIT vrs whatever your other mount in your previous car was in terms of quality of signal/ability to still hit your normal repeaters? Most of those gain specs get lost in real world use, especially around hills, so I would be more interested if you are still able to hit the same towers you could in the past?
Thanks,
Joe
W5RJK
The roof metal does seem on the thin side, would need some larger washers on both sides of that NMO to give it some strength. I reckon the Larson is the way to go for a permanent mount (I currently use a short mag mount for trips), especially given it is mostly short range repeater stuff. Do you have any feel for your window mount in the FIT vrs whatever your other mount in your previous car was in terms of quality of signal/ability to still hit your normal repeaters? Most of those gain specs get lost in real world use, especially around hills, so I would be more interested if you are still able to hit the same towers you could in the past?
Thanks,
Joe
W5RJK
#33
Awptickes,
The roof metal does seem on the thin side, would need some larger washers on both sides of that NMO to give it some strength. I reckon the Larson is the way to go for a permanent mount (I currently use a short mag mount for trips), especially given it is mostly short range repeater stuff. Do you have any feel for your window mount in the FIT vrs whatever your other mount in your previous car was in terms of quality of signal/ability to still hit your normal repeaters? Most of those gain specs get lost in real world use, especially around hills, so I would be more interested if you are still able to hit the same towers you could in the past?
Thanks,
Joe
W5RJK
The roof metal does seem on the thin side, would need some larger washers on both sides of that NMO to give it some strength. I reckon the Larson is the way to go for a permanent mount (I currently use a short mag mount for trips), especially given it is mostly short range repeater stuff. Do you have any feel for your window mount in the FIT vrs whatever your other mount in your previous car was in terms of quality of signal/ability to still hit your normal repeaters? Most of those gain specs get lost in real world use, especially around hills, so I would be more interested if you are still able to hit the same towers you could in the past?
Thanks,
Joe
W5RJK
I have no problems hitting repeaters with 5W, I actually hit more repeaters with this setup than I did with my RS tri-band scanner mag-mount antenna (big surprise.) I've used it for a few QSOs on simplex too, and I always get extremely good signal reports, even with low power levels.
I took down the headliner, and I didn't trust the thin metal, and I couldn't find a suitable location to drill a hole for an NMO mount, so I just gave up. I'd say my glass-mount has the ERP of about 80-90% of input power, it doesn't get very warm, even when rag-chewing on the 2m simplex.
I haven't had any problems with it coming off either, and I drive relatively fast on the freeway. Last weekend I also went to an autocross event, and forgot to take the antenna off, which only further affirms my thoughts that it's going to stick there for a loooooooong time.
The larsen glass-mount is really nice, just make sure that you have both the sides of it, and the glass heated to above 80F before you apply it, then run a thin bead of silicone around the outer edge of the radiating element's base to keep water from seeping into the adhesive. I see that many folks have the coax exit the interior box at a 90deg angle to the radiating element, and mine exits at a 180deg angle, but I don't have problems. I'm probably backfeeding the coax a little bit, but the swr came out alright when I tuned it, so no worries.
I was worried about the proximity to the airbags, but after several months of use that's proven to be a non-issue.
The bottom line with me was "they still make glass-mount antennae for a reason, because they fill a need in the market." I just happened to fit into that market-segment.
Best of luck on your install.
#34
I used a Larsen KG-144 1/2 wave, 2 meter glass mount in the past and it worked well. If anyone is interested in amateur (ham) radio, check out http://www.wedothat-radio.org/
A great site for radio installation is K0BG's excellent site at
Welcome to KØBG's Web Site
Billy, N5EVD
A great site for radio installation is K0BG's excellent site at
Welcome to KØBG's Web Site
Billy, N5EVD
#35
Today on my way back from Philly Airport, I got multiple 59 signal report while traveling 85mph. The longest QSO was roughly 50 miles north of me, also heading southbound on I-95.
Two of the contacts said that they'd never heard a glass-mount sound like mine. Make sure that you phase the coax properly, and you'll see the difference it makes.
Two of the contacts said that they'd never heard a glass-mount sound like mine. Make sure that you phase the coax properly, and you'll see the difference it makes.
#36
I've been away from the forum for awhile but was glad to see that amateur radio has made some posts. I thought I would share my radio install in my 2007 Fit. It is a work in progress. I'm happy with the controller unit install, speakers, and antenna but may find a new home for the main unit when time permits.
Honda Fit 2007 - Icom IC-2720H Radio Install
Steve
KD8AIV
Honda Fit 2007 - Icom IC-2720H Radio Install
Steve
KD8AIV
#37
I know they say there are no stupid questions, but I'd be willing to put this one on the line-
Do you need to have an external antenna to use a cb/ham radio? I was looking into getting a CB but I reallly do not want to get an external antenna... is it something that I should just move on from? It wouldn't be for anything serious, just kinda something to play around with and maybe fill up some of the boring alone drive time...
Do you need to have an external antenna to use a cb/ham radio? I was looking into getting a CB but I reallly do not want to get an external antenna... is it something that I should just move on from? It wouldn't be for anything serious, just kinda something to play around with and maybe fill up some of the boring alone drive time...
Last edited by kiggs; 01-02-2010 at 03:41 AM. Reason: typo
#38
You could get a magnetic antenna. I wouldn't want to be in a metal box with a 5W HF transmitter, that's a lot of radiation that could be avoided by putting the antenna outside.
Something like this would work well: Amazon.com: Wilson Magnetic Mount Little Wil CB Radio Antenna: Automotive
Something like this would work well: Amazon.com: Wilson Magnetic Mount Little Wil CB Radio Antenna: Automotive
#39
Today on my way back from Philly Airport, I got multiple 59 signal report while traveling 85mph. The longest QSO was roughly 50 miles north of me, also heading southbound on I-95.
Two of the contacts said that they'd never heard a glass-mount sound like mine. Make sure that you phase the coax properly, and you'll see the difference it makes.
Two of the contacts said that they'd never heard a glass-mount sound like mine. Make sure that you phase the coax properly, and you'll see the difference it makes.
Thanks Awptickes.
Joe
W5RJK
#40
I still get 59 signal reports from people over 20 miles away on just 5W. There are very few repeaters I can't hit.
I like it so much that I'm planning on getting a wideband antenna of the same make to use for a scanner.
I like it so much that I'm planning on getting a wideband antenna of the same make to use for a scanner.