Ham Radio Installation Gmt900

firebird · February 14, 2011

I am putting a ham radio in my truck (sierra 1500) and need some ideas as to where to tap into a power supply. I can hook the power cable directly to the battery but i then need to make the supplied cable longer. Would it be easier to connect to a fuse panel inside the cab or the main panel in the engine compartment? Where is the best place to run the power cable through the firewall and how difficult is it to do? Next any ideas on where to run the antenna coax? The radio will be positioned somewhere near the transmission tunnel under the dash. The truck is a regular cab and i was thinking about running the antenna coax under the carpet and out the driver side rear cab vent. Then around the rear window moulding to the roof. Any ideas would be great.

old-chevy-dude · February 14, 2011

I'll be putting one in my Avalanche at some point.. I planned on using this for the Antenna mount:

http://www.walcottcb.com/gm3l-fender-mount...ml?cPath=28_353

insofar as the wiring, find a switched fuse from the internal panel and get an add-a-fuse from the local auto parts store, it's the easiest without cutting up your factory wiring:

#16 in the inside panel is the ACC Power Outlets (though they are always hot, might want to find a switched source)

#23 is the rear wiper for the Tahoes, Burbs, in my truck it doesn't have a fuse, but it wired and hot, using the add-a-fuse would hot the side with the wire for you

add-a-fuse:

firebird · February 14, 2011

Thank you for the picture. Its been hard finding decent instructions and pictures on wiring up accessories for the new trucks. I was originally going to go with a magnet roof mounted antenna but i like your idea. Any ideas on how you are going to route your antenna coax for that fender mount? I was worried about engine noise interference from routing the antenna cable through the engine compartment.

old-chevy-dude · February 14, 2011

Thank you for the picture. Its been hard finding decent instructions and pictures on wiring up accessories for the new trucks. I was originally going to go with a magnet roof mounted antenna but i like your idea. Any ideas on how you are going to route your antenna coax for that fender mount? I was worried about engine noise interference from routing the antenna cable through the engine compartment.

there are several rubber gromets in the firewall for phishing cables thru, that is what they are designed for.

if you don't have one you can always find a safe spot to drill a small hole, then use a firewall passthru rubber grommet to seal the hole:

http://www.tuckersparts.com/Firewall-Grommets-CMG-5507.html

firebird · February 14, 2011

OK i hooked up an "add a fuse" to my power cable and used the "aux power" fuse on the upper in-cab fuse box. The only problem so far i can see is that there is always power to this fuse so i will have to physically shut the radio off. Radios at the shop getting cracked so hopefully when its back this is going to work.

kdrchuck · February 15, 2011

That power source should be fine. I have always wired mine to the Battery. I ran this one through the Passenger door jam. Piece of cake. I am sure it is not the way most would preffer but it has worked for me in a lot of vehicles. However i will never run a coax through a door jam. For my new truck (Crew Cab) I ran it under the dash to the drivers side, under the bottom trim, under the back seat and through the cab vent. That should be a piece of cake for you in a reg cab. I simply have a mag mount that I put up and down on the front bed rail. I use lots of parking garages. Easy application, and works well for me. A fender mount or just a permenant 90 degree tyope mount inside the bedrail would also be good options.

Like you said, I like to keep the coax out of the engine bay so i don't like the mounts for the front fender an hood.

Skip Talker · February 15, 2011

OK i hooked up an "add a fuse" to my power cable and used the "aux power" fuse on the upper in-cab fuse box. The only problem so far i can see is that there is always power to this fuse so i will have to physically shut the radio off. Radios at the shop getting cracked so hopefully when its back this is going to work.

Cracked? You wouldn't be using that radio on frequencies it is not FCC Type Accepted on would you?

kdrchuck · February 16, 2011

My family is a mostly loggers and Saw Mill men(including myself). A lot of companies use the professional frequencies that require "cracking." Just because you need a radio opened to a wider frequency range doesn't mean you are breaking any laws. Not to mention our volunteer first responders.

firebird · February 16, 2011

We us the radios for communicating between trucks when we have dogs out for coons or coyotes. And also when moose hunting its a good idea to keep track of the big trucks running the logging roads, lots of one lane roads.

firebird · February 16, 2011

Not to mention i spend alot of time in places where i cant get cell phone service but with a radio i can usually reach someone in cause of a problem, whether it be a friend or the guys logging. I dont care about the legality cause having the radio opened up to a wider range of frequencies could save my butt someday.

kdrchuck · February 16, 2011

Hey Firebird. I'm a Hound dogger too. Mostly bear, some coons. Coyotes are a pain. You are right, you never know where you are going to end up and legal or not the radio can save your butt.

We also go up, about 40km north of NorthBay Ontario, fishing. Lake Kippiwa In Quebec. I love it up there.

firebird · February 17, 2011

Awesome Chuck! I grew up and live in southern ontario but have lived in Red Lake and Thunder Bay. I have walkers and most of my friends do too with some black and tans and reds. Our coon season is short and we mainly run coyotes. Southern ontario is mostly open, fairly flat but with deep gullys. Fairly easy running for the dogs. Northern Canada is the best. That would be cool running bears or lions. Got my radio back this morning and up and running. So far so good. I hope we have some snow for awhile longer too keep shooting yotes.

kdrchuck · February 17, 2011

Awesome Chuck! I grew up and live in southern ontario but have lived in Red Lake and Thunder Bay. I have walkers and most of my friends do too with some black and tans and reds. Our coon season is short and we mainly run coyotes. Southern ontario is mostly open, fairly flat but with deep gullys. Fairly easy running for the dogs. Northern Canada is the best. That would be cool running bears or lions. Got my radio back this morning and up and running. So far so good. I hope we have some snow for awhile longer too keep shooting yotes.

Where I have been up there it is far from open.

You can have all the Yotes and the snow. We don't have any flat or open country so it is hard to run them. IDK anyone that does around here (on purpose). I imagine running bear in that thick northern country would really tough.

We have mostly plotts and plott crosses. Whatever works gets fed. All we have right now is coon and rabbit and it hasn't been fit for either this week.

Good luck, glad the radio is working.