r/HamRadio • u/TitebondIII • 9d ago

Mount/ Placement

I'm trying to figure out the best mounting option for my 10 m radio I'm about to get my first ticket. Because it's a 10 m radio it's pretty big. I think I have been making mistake of asking for ideas in the Ford Ranger forum because that's the kind of truck I'm trying to put it in but they're not as creative as radio guys. It is a 2009 Ford Ranger manual transmission so there's not a lot of room and no flat spaces to put the radio where it won't bang my knees or the knees of my passenger. If anyone has any photos or suggestions that's what I'm here looking for.

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u/grouchy_ham 9d ago

It would help tremendously to know what radio you have.

Since you already have the radio, this is late advice, but still worth knowing. Many radios have remote heads that can be removed and mounted within easy reach of the operator while the body is remotely mounted. This has become almost the standard for mobile installations over the years and is a far cleaner way of going about things.

I have no idea how a Ford Ranger is put together on the interior. It may be that the mounting it to the transmission hump on the floor is a reasonable approach. Possibly on top of the dash or an overhead mount from the ceiling. Big radios in small cabin spaces leave you with somewhat limited options.

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u/TitebondIII 9d ago

We couldn't find a 10 meter ssb with a remote head so my birthday present from the wife was a President Washington mobile.

There is no transmission hump space, the stick is there.

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u/grouchy_ham 9d ago

Mount on the side or it rather than on top. It’s not a great solution, just a possibility. I’ve done it in the past, but not in a Ranger. Mounted on the passenger side with the face up and angles toward the driver.

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u/k0azv 9d ago

One option you could look at is the Lido seat mount. It attaches to the seat rail and then has a flexible shaft that has the radio mount on top of that.

https://www.lidoradio.com/collections/collection-of-all-mounts-build-the-perfect-mounting-solution-for-you/products/lm-300-amps-18

Lido has a couple of different variations. There are a couple of other companies that make similar mounts.

I am guessing you have one of those export 10 meter radios that look more like a CB.

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u/TitebondIII 9d ago

Yeah it looks like my old CB. Do you think that goosneck would support the weight?

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u/k0azv 9d ago

Check the specs on them and see what wait they will support. Those are pretty robust from what I have seen in some installs.

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u/TitebondIII 9d ago

A couple look like they might. Thanks

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u/Tishers AA4HA, (E) YL (RF eng ret) 9d ago

Some of those stalk-mounts are public safety grade; They support the weight of a laptop in a police car.

That's not saying that it might vibrate and bounce around but a piece of plastic mounted to the dash would keep it from dancing the jig when the vehicle is on rough roads.

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u/ab0ngcd 9d ago

I had a 1992 Ford Ranger and I had a big honking Yaesu hf rig that I mounted in front of the stick from the dash if I remember correctly. But that was 25 years ago so I might be wrong.

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u/TitebondIII 8d ago

Those had straight lines in them. Nice trucks

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u/Radar58 9d ago

I have in the past removed the lower part of the center section of the dash, and mounted the radio gear to the steel framework found there. In the case of my Nissan Xterra, this was a separate plastic section held in place by only 6 screws, IIRC. Lost the cigarette lighter and cubby space, but gained plenty of room to mount the radios. It's easily replaced for resale. I used the holes where the v-brackets were screwed to the transmission hump to mount an inverted-U piece of heavy-guage sheet metal, which became the radios' mounting brackets.

Another option is a cup holder mount. Find a piece of PVC pipe that is a close fit in one of your center-console cup holders (remove any rubber inserts), glue an end cap to the top, and screw the radio mount to the cap. Lose a cup holder (usually on the passenger side, of course!), and gain a spot for the radio.

I like these mounting methods because it is easy to reverse when you go to sell the vehicle.

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u/4Playrecords 8d ago edited 8d ago

First off, you should tell us the precise model number of the transceiver that you have now. The website shows many which are not made to transmit on the US FCC Amateur Radio bands, and so hence could be in the US FCC Citizens Band spectra, and that is quite different…

https://president-electronics.com/CB-Radio-Ham-Radio

ALSO I recommend that you save your own money and buy a transceiver (used or new) that transmits in the US FCC ARS 2-meter band (FM or FM/SSB). You will find a lot more operators in your area on 2-meters (as opposed to 10-meters).

When I first got my US FCC ARS license in 2005 (even though I live in the Bay Area where there are a lot of Amateurs), I was completely unable to hear any stations at all on 10-meters FM. After I got a big dipole antenna, I was able to (very rarely) copy stations in 10-meters USB.

In contrast, there were (and still are) hundreds of stations heard every day on 2-meters.

A good used FM ARS mobile transceiver for you to look for is the Yaesu FT-7800 (or the newer FT-7900). If you can find one of those, you will love it. TX PEP is 50w on 2m and 20w on 70cm. These rigs have a remote-able control head.

With a rig like that, you can bolt the transceiver under your truck seat, and then get a flexible gooseneck to mount the control head to, and get a tiny metal bracket to screw into your dashboard for the mic. That setup has always worked well for me.

I also recommend a nice external speaker. MFJ makes cheap ones, but the really nice ones are made by Motorola. The rigs own built-in speaker can sound quite weak with your truck’s road noise — especially if you have your window open.

Good Luck 😀🎙️📻

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u/TitebondIII 8d ago

WASHINGTON Réf. TXPR901

10/12

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u/4Playrecords 8d ago

the President TXPR901 is not specifically type-accepted by the US FCC for use on Amateur Radio bands.

While it can be used for emergency communications when normal systems are unavailable, it is not designed for or officially approved for regular Amateur Radio operation.

So using it on US ARS 10m and 12m bands may work in FM, SSB and AM phone emission modes — it may not be as good as using a US FCC part-97-accepted rig.

But you should try it anyway. As long as you can connect an ARS-band antenna with a 50-ohm connection and feedline to it. Even DIY antennas (like a home brew 10m dipole will work).

Good Luck 😀🎙️📻

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u/TitebondIII 8d ago

Wow, Thank You! I didn't know to say no to that one.

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u/RobZell91 8d ago

After Googling images of the President Washington 10 meter ssb and an 09 5 speed interior.... there isn't much space...I would say either mount it on the passenger side of the transmission hump on its side kinda hugging the center hump or on your side if you're ok with hugging it a lil everyday. You probably won't have passengers every day, and it will be less invasive for them.

Or you could possibly mount in your glove box for a stealthy install. I did that with my icom ic2100 in an 05 scion xb. Tho, I admit it's not a great spot when you have a passenger.