Hi, Chris. I just installed an ICOM IC-7000 in my 2017 RAM 1500. In similar fashion I mounted the remote head on a commercially available gooseneck mount, with the body and an LDG Z-100 PLUS tuner on the transmission hump. I'm using Shark hamsticks with quick-disconnect 3/8-24 hardware. I've been hunting POTA parks for several months now with great results. Just make sure you shut off the 7100 when leaving the truck or you'll come back to a dead battery (ask me how I know...) 🤣 I enjoy your channel immensely. Keep up the good work! Marc (N1QGM)
Thanks so much! Yes my routine is to shut the rig off before pulling in the driveway. And I am yet to take advantage of that quick disconnect mount to pull the control head out either for security or cold weather. Probably rolling the dice by not doing that. Thanks again for the kind words!
Nice, nice video thank you and the frequency 280 is the one I talked to a lot of Spanish people and I recognize the voice so thank you for sharing with everybody 😊
Love it!! A+, new HAM here, picked up an Icom 2730a, installed that with a Lido mount and MBA-5 plate with two little magnets. I also have an Icom V80 HT on the dash mounted with a ProClips button/belt clip mount. I’m using two Diamond 770HB antennas, ones lip mount on the hood, the other is mag mount on the roof. I’m already looking at purchasing the Icom 7100 and your video was super insightful and helpful. Very informative, A+!! Everything you did with the Icom 7100, I had to do with my 2730a (add an extra 3’ of 12 AWG to the DC power with fuse next to battery. Mine is located same place, under the rear seat.). I drilled through the back of the cab, 3/4” hole with rubber firewall grommet. All my cables (coax/dc power) are protected with the braided UV split tube.). Again, Great video!! A++ Josh, KN6ODH Ramona, CA
How to determine the appropriate AWG? A lot of Hams make the mistake of looking only at the current-carrying capacity of the power lines. The current carrying capacity describes how much current the wire can safely carry without risk of getting too hot and either melting the wire or burning something in contact with the wire (insulation). That is the wrong metric. You need to look at the power loss. The power loss of a wire is a function of the wire's resistance (copper has lower resistance than aluminum), the AWG, the voltage, the frequency (not an issue with direct current), and the length of the cable run. A 12-ft cable run will require two 12-ft length cables for a total of 24-ft. One 12-ft length for the positive wire and another for the negative wire. If the power loss is significant, then the voltage delivered to the radio will drop with each press of the transmit button. Sensitive electronic equipment does not respond well to fluctuating and/or low voltages. Here are the approximate power losses for a 12-foot stranded copper cable run (24-ft of wire) pushing 120 watts at 12 VDC. The 120-watts includes a 100 watt transmitting HF radio, a receiving VHF/UHF radio, and a factor of safety. #10 AWG will have a power loss of about 6 % (unacceptable) #8 AWG will have a power loss of about 4 % (poor) #6 AWG will have a power loss of about 2.5 % (Fair) #4 AWG will have a power loss of about 1.5 % (Good) I wanted to use #4 AWG, but it was so thick that it would have made my installation too difficult. I compromised by using #6 AWG. If I am transmitting 100 watts full power on HF, then I turn off my UHF/VHR radio. If I operate at anything under full power, then I can simultaneously listen on my VHF/UHF radio.
Great looking install Chris. The metal bracket with the camera mount is awesome! Now I can hopefully be able to hear you when you're doing POTA haha ;). The only thing we missed was the removing of the plastic from the face of the radio! Really enjoyed all the videos watching you as you went through this whole install. Hope to catch you on the air bud. 73.
pretty sweet setup I like the custom bracket. You could choose to either use double sided velcro to keep the base mounted or you can actually get a mounting bracket for the base from icom.
Mike McDonald The camera mount is working great. I just took it out because we are expecting really cold weather and I wanted to prevent the display from freezing. I do want to come up with something for the base though. Maybe the ICOM bracket. Thanks!
The tripod plate is a great idea! I've been using the backing plates for my ID-5100A for its remote display as well as a tablet elsewhere in the car. I've considered a IC-7100, but I haven't been worked HF in a while. I have some videos on my channel, but need to shoot an update. I have recent photos at stealthgti.com/communications/. Keep up the good work! 73.
@@brianshanahan3878 - Thanks! I'm not sure if you read my website or saw a video. I did share an updated video: ua-cam.com/video/CH4ivIHOUNs/v-deo.html. I also added a Scorpion antenna to the mix and recently shared a video about that, too. Take Care!
Hi there! I did REALLY enjoy your great Installation Saga. Very very good mainly the BONDING process. Thanks for sharing sir enjoy your great new Toy and as I say every real truck needs to have at least one Radio! Now you have 2! 73 de kk4nww
Hi Chris, how is your system working after 2 years? Still the same, or did you tear it out and redo everything?? I'm working on installing an IC-7000, will be my first mobile install, so anxious to know how yours worked. Still using ham sticks? Carl KO4SSA
Great info, great mini series. Some questions, though. When you are screwing into the plastic parts of the dash panels, are you going straight into them? How do you know how you are not screwing into something fragile or important?
Bill Holden Great question! I was able to reach up behind and check for clearance for some of them. The others I noticed the plastic panels had some flex so I could sort of tell there was nohing behind them. I also used shorter screws that were just long enough to get a good bite. Thanks for checking it out!
Where can a guy get one of those camera quick connects like you used? Great job. I learned alot. Very good idea on mounting the head unit. I have a Chevy Silverado that I want to mount radios and antennas on but haven't quite figured out where I want to put them yet
Just Me I found that mount on Amazon. I forget the make. It's aluminum, not plastic, so I know it will hold up. Glad the videos are helping! There are many ways to get things into a vehicle. Check out K0BG.com. Alan has alot of info up there. Good luck!!
Good install i still have a ic706 working but its getting pretty old and bounced around in my mobile rig. One of these rigs might be an option for me if the 706 gives up. regards vk5cz ..
Well done! Nice to see it working! I wonder if you could feed one mount with 2 sticks on it like a fan dipole. I think it could work if the sticks are resonant in the bands intended, not saying your approach is wrong, just thinking out loud as it were. Great job! 73 de KI5HXM
very nice ic-7100 bracket and camera release, love my ic-7200 but mine's not mobile..yet. torn between an ic-7100 and ft-991a (the latter 50w vhf/uhf, a nice scope, but +300 so not yet. 73, kk4zuu
1crazynordlander It's working well! I do get a significant amount of ignition noise though, even after doing all the bonding. I’ve added chokes and torroids, but no help. Luckily the noise blanker in the 7100 takes out most of it on hf. Vhf is another story. Weak repeaters are filled with ignition noise. So, we keep experimenting!
I adjusted the hamsticks to be resonant in the center of the bands. They work as well as can be expected. I have worked DX and stateside while driving which is a real treat!
@@k2cjbradio cool , now try a 10 turn match on toroid, resonate antenna, add match one side to antenna other to braid, then tap coax inner and braid for 1:1 and have some real fun with a efficient shorty dipole , i manufacture them.
Hi, Chris. I just installed an ICOM IC-7000 in my 2017 RAM 1500. In similar fashion I mounted the remote head on a commercially available gooseneck mount, with the body and an LDG Z-100 PLUS tuner on the transmission hump. I'm using Shark hamsticks with quick-disconnect 3/8-24 hardware. I've been hunting POTA parks for several months now with great results. Just make sure you shut off the 7100 when leaving the truck or you'll come back to a dead battery (ask me how I know...) 🤣
I enjoy your channel immensely. Keep up the good work!
Marc (N1QGM)
Thanks so much! Yes my routine is to shut the rig off before pulling in the driveway. And I am yet to take advantage of that quick disconnect mount to pull the control head out either for security or cold weather. Probably rolling the dice by not doing that. Thanks again for the kind words!
Nice, nice video thank you and the frequency 280 is the one I talked to a lot of Spanish people and I recognize the voice so thank you for sharing with everybody 😊
Love it!! A+, new HAM here, picked up an Icom 2730a, installed that with a Lido mount and MBA-5 plate with two little magnets. I also have an Icom V80 HT on the dash mounted with a ProClips button/belt clip mount. I’m using two Diamond 770HB antennas, ones lip mount on the hood, the other is mag mount on the roof. I’m already looking at purchasing the Icom 7100 and your video was super insightful and helpful. Very informative, A+!! Everything you did with the Icom 7100, I had to do with my 2730a (add an extra 3’ of 12 AWG to the DC power with fuse next to battery. Mine is located same place, under the rear seat.). I drilled through the back of the cab, 3/4” hole with rubber firewall grommet. All my cables (coax/dc power) are protected with the braided UV split tube.).
Again, Great video!! A++
Josh, KN6ODH
Ramona, CA
How to determine the appropriate AWG?
A lot of Hams make the mistake of looking only at the current-carrying capacity of the power lines. The current carrying capacity describes how much current the wire can safely carry without risk of getting too hot and either melting the wire or burning something in contact with the wire (insulation). That is the wrong metric.
You need to look at the power loss. The power loss of a wire is a function of the wire's resistance (copper has lower resistance than aluminum), the AWG, the voltage, the frequency (not an issue with direct current), and the length of the cable run. A 12-ft cable run will require two 12-ft length cables for a total of 24-ft. One 12-ft length for the positive wire and another for the negative wire. If the power loss is significant, then the voltage delivered to the radio will drop with each press of the transmit button. Sensitive electronic equipment does not respond well to fluctuating and/or low voltages.
Here are the approximate power losses for a 12-foot stranded copper cable run (24-ft of wire) pushing 120 watts at 12 VDC. The 120-watts includes a 100 watt transmitting HF radio, a receiving VHF/UHF radio, and a factor of safety.
#10 AWG will have a power loss of about 6 % (unacceptable)
#8 AWG will have a power loss of about 4 %
(poor)
#6 AWG will have a power loss of about 2.5 %
(Fair)
#4 AWG will have a power loss of about 1.5 % (Good)
I wanted to use #4 AWG, but it was so thick that it would have made my installation too difficult. I compromised by using #6 AWG. If I am transmitting 100 watts full power on HF, then I turn off my UHF/VHR radio. If I operate at anything under full power, then I can simultaneously listen on my VHF/UHF radio.
Chris,
Well done. You’ve inspired me to think “outside the box” when mounting a radio. Thanks and 73!
RCVinyl It was kind of an “aha” moment when I realized the way they had the base of the head unit set up. Thanks!! Glad I could be of help!!
Brilliant series of videos. The section on bonding is especially useful.
Thanks!!
YES I LIKED THEM A LOT. we have the same age and you gave me the courage to do it again on my NISSAN TITAN V8. It is so much work you did. 73
Claude M. P. Thanks! It was alot of work that’s for sure!
very2 nice instalation sir...good job ..🙏🙏 (JZ13BZA/Indonesia)
Great looking install Chris. The metal bracket with the camera mount is awesome! Now I can hopefully be able to hear you when you're doing POTA haha ;). The only thing we missed was the removing of the plastic from the face of the radio! Really enjoyed all the videos watching you as you went through this whole install. Hope to catch you on the air bud. 73.
K8MRD RADIO STUFF Thanks! I actually peeled the plastic off seconds before I hit record! Hahaha
@@k2cjbradio I was really looking forward to that hihi!
pretty sweet setup I like the custom bracket. You could choose to either use double sided velcro to keep the base mounted or you can actually get a mounting bracket for the base from icom.
Mike McDonald The camera mount is working great. I just took it out because we are expecting really cold weather and I wanted to prevent the display from freezing. I do want to come up with something for the base though. Maybe the ICOM bracket. Thanks!
Sweet idea to use the camera quick mount!
Thanks! It works like a champ!
The tripod plate is a great idea! I've been using the backing plates for my ID-5100A for its remote display as well as a tablet elsewhere in the car. I've considered a IC-7100, but I haven't been worked HF in a while. I have some videos on my channel, but need to shoot an update. I have recent photos at stealthgti.com/communications/. Keep up the good work! 73.
StealthGTI Thanks! It works like a champ!
WOW! I just looked at your GTI installs and I am extremely impressed!! Clean and professional install!
@@brianshanahan3878 - Thanks! I'm not sure if you read my website or saw a video. I did share an updated video: ua-cam.com/video/CH4ivIHOUNs/v-deo.html. I also added a Scorpion antenna to the mix and recently shared a video about that, too. Take Care!
terrific video Frank 73 from kb2uew
Thanks!!
Great job. I like to watch different ways people install comms in vehicles. 73, KB0WZH
A+ brother. I just upgraded from the IC-2730a to the IC-7100. Do you use ferrite beads on the dc power or the coax cable coming into the unit?
What specific model of camera quick release thing did you use? I'm very intrigued on using such a thing in my next install.
Hi there! I did REALLY enjoy your great Installation Saga. Very very good mainly the BONDING process.
Thanks for sharing sir enjoy your great new Toy and as I say every real truck needs to have at least one Radio! Now you have 2!
73 de kk4nww
Eduardo Power Thanks! It was a ton of work but worth it!
Now I have to clean up my install in the Ram. I was able to place the TH9800 and the TS 480 boxes under the driver seat. Nice hat, btw. 73!
Tim Clark - K1NKX It was a 3-day job, but worth it! The 7100 works great in the truck! Thanks!!! 73 de K2CJB
Hi Chris, how is your system working after 2 years? Still the same, or did you tear it out and redo everything?? I'm working on installing an IC-7000, will be my first mobile install, so anxious to know how yours worked. Still using ham sticks? Carl KO4SSA
Still the same. Replacing the 40m stick. The old one solder connection broke and antenna is intermittent. Tried resoldering but no luck
Weather proof your connections use GOOD heat shrink and Die-electric grease on the threaded connections and wrap the rest with the Good tape.
Great info, great mini series. Some questions, though. When you are screwing into the plastic parts of the dash panels, are you going straight into them? How do you know how you are not screwing into something fragile or important?
Bill Holden Great question! I was able to reach up behind and check for clearance for some of them. The others I noticed the plastic panels had some flex so I could sort of tell there was nohing behind them. I also used shorter screws that were just long enough to get a good bite. Thanks for checking it out!
Improvement: pump the audio through the truck sound system.
Not a bad idea!
@@k2cjbradio I do it in a RAV4. It makes it easier to hear when driving. Plus better low-end.
Where can a guy get one of those camera quick connects like you used? Great job. I learned alot. Very good idea on mounting the head unit. I have a Chevy Silverado that I want to mount radios and antennas on but haven't quite figured out where I want to put them yet
Just Me I found that mount on Amazon. I forget the make. It's aluminum, not plastic, so I know it will hold up. Glad the videos are helping! There are many ways to get things into a vehicle. Check out K0BG.com. Alan has alot of info up there. Good luck!!
Is there any danger of igniting the gasoline in the truck while using the HF radio?
Great job, I especially like the way you mounted the control head very clever. de Roger w8rlp
zanado11 Thanks!
Good install i still have a ic706 working but its getting pretty old and bounced around in my mobile rig. One of these rigs might be an option for me if the 706 gives up. regards vk5cz ..
Industrial hook/loop might work.
IIRC, in video one you mentioned using a shunt. I'm not familiar with that usint hamsticks. Let me know? Tnx n 73
Well done! Nice to see it working! I wonder if you could feed one mount with 2 sticks on it like a fan dipole. I think it could work if the sticks are resonant in the bands intended, not saying your approach is wrong, just thinking out loud as it were. Great job! 73 de KI5HXM
Congrats on the 45¢ !!!
Nice mount...looks safe¡ 73
Jham Salim Gechem R. Thanks! It works great!
very nice ic-7100 bracket and camera release, love my ic-7200 but mine's not mobile..yet. torn between an ic-7100 and ft-991a (the latter 50w vhf/uhf, a nice scope, but +300 so not yet. 73, kk4zuu
david m Thanks! Sorry for the delay in responding. Yes the 991a is a bit pricey, but it is a beautiful radio!
Thanks.
Great series! I’m going to do it. Denny N8DG
Good luck!!
Thanks! I like you don't want to spend big bucks on a HF antenna for my mobile. Nice Job! How do you like it so far?
1crazynordlander It's working well! I do get a significant amount of ignition noise though, even after doing all the bonding. I’ve added chokes and torroids, but no help. Luckily the noise blanker in the 7100 takes out most of it on hf. Vhf is another story. Weak repeaters are filled with ignition noise. So, we keep experimenting!
Where can I get the mount you have for the mic?
I think it came with the rig.
Very nice job! KG7CQG
joker50ae Thanks! A lot of work but worth it!
Have you kicked that CB off it's mount getting in and out of the truck, yet? :)
macrossactual Hahahaha! Not yet! I swapped it with the old one I pulled out!
Get the Mars mod done on the 7100 then you'll have full hf coverage on one radio and can get the cb out of the truck.
CLoak183 Not a bad idea! But, I don’t mind having it in there. It really is out of the way.
@@k2cjbradio I enjoy your videos and your enthusiasm for the hobby.
CLoak183 Thanks so much!
Just have the Mars mod done on the 7100 and then you won't need the cb radio anymore.
Why do you need cb radio, when you have icom. It covers 11 meters
Michal D Roosevelt I like to keep an ear on the old CB while scanning around HF or local repeaters when traveling.
antenna matching ?
I adjusted the hamsticks to be resonant in the center of the bands. They work as well as can be expected. I have worked DX and stateside while driving which is a real treat!
@@k2cjbradio cool , now try a 10 turn match on toroid, resonate antenna, add match one side to antenna other to braid, then tap coax inner and braid for 1:1 and have some real fun with a efficient shorty dipole , i manufacture them.