Hey, any ham operators on this board? Anyone install any radios in their Outbacks?
I have a Yaesu FT-7100 dual bander installed under the driver's seat, with the head mounted above the ashtray. I'm using a Larsen on-glass antenna that works OK, but I'd like to find a better 2M/70cmm antenna solution. I don't want to drill a roof mount, besides not wanting to block the roof rack. The rear hatch doesn't seem to have a good place for a lip mount.
With the power wires run direct to the battery I haven't had any noise problems, even AM airband is clean.
Here's another Ham radio! I bought a 2003 in jan 2003 and It has only 12500 miles on it. My wife is using it more that I do because I have a company truck. I did not install any ham radio in the car and I doubt I will. Wagons are not the best kind of car to install antennas: no trunk. Anyway, I really enjouy that car. Bye now!
Gilles, VE2TCX
i am currently working on an install for my Outback Sport (Impreza). i have an Icom 207H with remote head that will be installed above the rear-view mirror to get it out of the way. the unit will be mounted under the drivers seat.
as for antenna mounting, i was considering a window mount, but have decided on a lipmount that will attach to the rear hatch near the top on the driver's side.
i have taken the rear apart to evaluate a coax run, and it looks rather easy. i have yet to figure out where to run the power thru the firewall, but that should be straight forward once i get in there and nose around.
I've used the Diamond K550 on my A4 Avant for years with good results. It attaches to the roof rail and is a very mechanically solid and stable mount. I plan to reuse the mount on my 2005 Outback "when I get around to it."
I'm wondering, I have a '05 OBXT, is anyone running HF/VHF/UHF mobile out of their OB's, or considering this in the near future?
I am waiting for the new Icom IC-7000 multi-band mobile to be certified for sale here in the US. I plan to find a spot around the console to mount the head/mike section of the unit. It's rather small, any suggestions on on best locations for the head/mike and the main unit, routing of wires, & power connection?
On the HF side, anyone have experience with the "Outback" or "Perch" antenna's? I would like to install the antenna an a frame mounted bracket. What would be a good spot in general to do the ground and mounting.
I currently use a Larsen/Randal thru the glass dual band on my other car. Does anyone recommend a "best spot for the glass install?
Another ham says hello. I am the owner of a OB 2005 LTD, but since it is a company car do not intend to install any equipment. I do run a ICOM 2 Meter in the car and it doesn't cause any problems
I've just acquired an 09 Outback PZEV - now I need to find a way to mount my VHF ham radio!!
I've 2 radios to choose from: an Icom 2000H, and a Yaesu FT-1500M. Neither have remote heads and I'd really rather not buy another radio!!
Mounting the antenna (a Larsen NMO dual band) is easy -- the driver's side front fender with a right angle bracket between the hood and the fender (same as I did on my Impreza).
I can't find any door pockets or anywhere else big enough to take either radio and still be able to see the display -- suggestions, please?
I would recommend the FT-1500 over the IC-2000H if you wanted to put it into your Outback. A last ditch effort would be to put it in the door pocket even though you would not be able to see the display, you could run the speaker wire into the AUX input (be sure to use some ferrite beads). I'm sure you know that the most important thing with a 50W TX is adequate ventilation so the glove box and cubby are out of the question.
Unfortunately, the radio/CD compartment is perfectly sized for a double DIN volume, but the whole face is used up with the standard equipment. I wish they had made it a simple double DIN opening with a spacer, but that doesn't look as "slick". Some people here have replaced the face with a double DIN plate:
But if added expenses are out, then you really can't do this.
I have a Kenwood TMV7A and it is currently sitting on the passenger seat. The remote head would fit nicely in the cubby, but I have my XM receiver in there right now.
I would recommend the FT-1500 over the IC-2000H if you wanted to put it into your Outback. A last ditch effort would be to put it in the door pocket
AD6ZU
Thanks for the quick reply, Roy: I can't get the 1500 into the door pocket - dunno if they've resized it slightly -- it's about 1/4" too thin for that radio :-(
Unfortunately, the radio/CD compartment is perfectly sized for a double DIN volume, but the whole face is used up with the standard equipment. I wish they had made it a simple double DIN opening with a spacer, but that doesn't look as "slick". Some people here have replaced the face with a double DIN plate:
I phoned Crutchfield, and they told me a) they don't have any specs on an 09 and didn't want to risk sending me 08 parts, and anyway b) a double DIN won't fit! :-(
Otherwise that would be the route I'd take!
I've mounted an ICOM 706 on a home made mount, control head, with the t/r unit under the passanger seat..
The antenna is a Little TarHeel II, mounted with a Diawa roof rack mount, on the right side rear of the rack...
The feedline, and antenna control wiring comes in through the top of the rear hatch, then slips behind the side covers and runs forward under the kick panel...
Power comes directly from the battery terminals.. The control hea is mounted to a vertical, adjustable mount I found on Ebay, was under 15 bucks plus shipping..I used some plastic cutting board for the rest of the mounting..
I also have a Panasonic CF-M34 Toughbook on the mount..I use that for GPS, web surfing and PSK31....
I have pictures of the installation if you need them..
GRRR!
Even a FT-1500 won't fit in that space? That side pocket is virtually useless. There was no reason for not making that side pocket larger. No one's leg would be in the way of a larger pocket at least large enough to put at least as much room for a cup holder in it. Our 05 Odyssey has that added space and the door cubby does not get in the way of the front seat occupants at all.
The lack of gadget space is one of the few disappointments in my new 2008 Outback.
I might use one of those dashboard clips to hold the TMV7A head:
I quite agree - it's really rather upsetting. My old Impreza had the optional "raised" centre armrest and it was actually a storage pocket too -- this silly thing is just a cantilevered top and isn't worth the money I paid for it! :-(
I bought this car knowing it would be tough installing my Icom IC-2720H. At least it's a remote head. My dilemma is actually which antenna to use. I would like a mag mount but they scratch the paint. Ideally would do an NMO roof mount but then I'd have a hole in the roof. The roof rail/rack mounts are an option too. Just haven't decided what to do and I've had the car over 2 months now.
An NMO based trunk lip mount antenna may work on the hood, but it would look pretty lame. For now I have a magmount at the rear of the roof just in front of the spoiler. It works well and looks OK. I was hoping I could use my variable angle trunk lip mount antenna on the hatch, but there is no place for a lip mount.
I may eventually put an NMO mount dead center on the roof. I always thought it would detract from the value of the car but my past 4 cars were:
85 Mitsubishi Mirage - 150k miles donated and towed away
86 4Runner - 275k donated and towed away
96 Sable Wagon - 168k donated and towed away
01 Honda Odyssey - Totaled by an uninsured motorist
I don't think I have a good history of reselling cars so I can probably do whatever I want with this Outback without worrying about resale value - but it looks so nice and new!
73
AD6ZU
I put an NMO mount in my last vehicle, a '96 Jimmy. I never had a leak or any other problems. It wasn't too hard since I had an overhead console; access to the bare roof was simple. I think the key is to use a 3/4" hole punch to make a nice clean hole, instead of one of those uni-bits. Use good coax too so you don't have to replace it. I used double shielded RG223 (?).
Because of the height of the vehicle, I always used a unity gain whip, usually the type with the single coil in the middle and <19" long. It was unobtrusive but still occasionally got clipped in a parking garage.
Another Ham here (PM for callsign). Actually one reason why I bought the Outback in the first place was for ARES ops, field days and the like. Compared to my previous car ('07 Audi A4) there is LOTS of gadget space. I don't have factory GPS so there's a big void at the top of the dash that's just begging for radios.
At the moment my "car" radio is a Yaesu VX-7R HT.
For a while I considered getting the JDM Spec.B dash garnish that turns the GPS slot into a double-DIN receptacle. This would make some great radio room. But that and the piece to move the driver computer thingy to the ashtray slot would cost me about $500. So instead I will probably get two new radios with remote faces and mount the faces in the GPS pocket.
So far the idea is to get an Icom IC-2820 multiband transceiver and a Uniden BCD996T scanner. I really like Yaesu radios, but in this case I think the Icom will fit the car better. Uniden makes a remote face for the scanner, which isn't awfully expensive; I've seen it online for about $100.
Then I was planning to mount the radio bodies in the back of the vehicle, perhaps in the spare tire well. This would also shorten and simplify the coax cable run to the roof.
For antennas I was considering screwing L-brackets with NMO mounts to the sides of the roof rack rails. From what I've read on this board about people running power cables to roof-mount lights, I suspect it should be feasible to run LMR-400 cable through the rack using existing holes in the roof.
My current car setup (in the wife's Mini Cooper hahaha) is an Icom IC-2200H 2m transceiver and an Icom R-1500 wideband communications receiver. They go to a tiny duck antenna mounted on the hatch through a duplexer that I salvaged from an old Harris milcomm radio.
Hi,
(Installed component speakers with crossover in dodge caravan...no problems) Wiring in Subaru is challenging for me....not sure how to configure new front component speaker wiring. Any help much appreciated.
Thank you,
Philip Hartley
Erwin, NC
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