Anyone installing CB/ Ham radio and/or NMO antenna mount on your new Ranger?

[GySgt.Elliott]

A Yaesu VX-8R will do all four bands. It’s listed as a triband, but it’ll do 220 also at lower power. Have to be specifically the R model, it’s the first generation and the specs were changed when they released other generations. I think they’re about $350 used if you can find one.

Thanks for the information

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[SigOris]

I plan on adding a CB to mine! Already have the Cobra 29 LX that i want to mount on the dash with a built right industries dash mount when they come out with that! And then i was looking to use the Third Brake Light Antenna Mount - 2017+ Ford Raptor because it seems that the CHMSL light on the Rangers appears to be the same as the F-150s! And no holes drilled and a nice wire routing location through to the inside with good seals still!

I would also love to use one of these mini stinger CB antennas! I know with CB's antenna length and height go a long way, but for where else I would mount it, it would still get up just as high, and not be blocked by the body of the truck at all! I hope this setup will work, but that is what I am looking into, and no Ranger delivered to me yet to test on!

I have one of those mounts on my current aluminum body F150 and use a 2m mag mount that I plan to Xfer to my ranger when it arrives. Works like a charm. WA1AW

 

[SigOris]

Yeah, my Jeep group still uses em on many off road trips! I also use it for road trips, and I am a meteorologist, so I use the radios with built in NOAA Weather Radio Channels as well! SO...a few uses for me!

Why does a meteorologist need a NOAA Weather radio????? Just Kidding, couldn’t resist

 

[SigOris]

So are we calling ourselves, Ranger Hams? hi hi
73's KJ4WKL

Or, Ham Rangio Operator

 

[SigOris]

I went full commitment and did a permanent mount. I drilled directly over the second row dome light, so I can access the mount without disturbing the headliner. Going to remote mount the radio behind the rear seat, with the faceplate in the tray on the dash. Also installing a Lightforce fascia with their UHF jack to plug the speaker mic into, and a Magnetic Mic mount. Will update as the install progresses.

Currently running a Larsen NMO 2/70B. Looking for something shorter with a spring for every day use.

-KD1TRE

Was it a PITA to run the coax? Any insight lessons learned would be appreciated.

I’d prefer to do the same as you.

John
WA1AW

 

[SigOris]

I took my dome light out, drilled a hole and did a permanent NMO mount on my Ranger for my FTM400.

any tips on running the coax?

John
WA1AW

 

[miraculon]

How do you like that FTM-400?

I've been reading the specs and it sounds like an impressive unit.

Who makes that bracket? (and where did you get it?) I have a Yaesu FTM400 that I removed from my Flex that is sitting in a box. I would like to reinstall it in the Ranger and I am starting to look at options.

Thx,

Greg

 

[miraculon]

For anyone interested on the CHMSL mount that I installed, I was able to put the SWR meter on the CB radio this weekend to get some readings and do a bit of tuning! In the pics, the CB antenna is the one on the left and that was the one I tested this weekend.

Here are the two antennas (Remember, the antenna on the left in each picture):

The shorter antenna, JBC800, definitely is not the most ideal antenna for this application, but was able to tune to the frequencies that I use the most, and it is mostly used when I am just in listen mode and just to keep the overall height down. But anyways, It is set around a 2.8 SWR reading at channel 1 and a 2.2 SWR reading at channel 40. I did manage to tune the antenna down to almost 1.3 SWR reading for channel 1, but it shot 40 well over 3.0. Best I could get all around was near a 2.5, but I have a tendency to use higher channels, so I skewed the SWR to the higher side. When I checked the channels in the mid range along where I normally run, channels like 10, 19, 20 , 33, etc, the readings were much better and around the 1.4 to 1.8 SWR reading mark. SO as mentioned, this antenna is not ideal for range and transmitting applications, but for the receiving, it does just fine, and for the short height of it, it does ok.

Now for the longer antenna, Mini Stinger Springer. This antenna I will use when I will be more heavily transmitting, longer trips, etc, when I really need to rely on the antenna and radio. This one is also a bit harder to adjust, so I was hoping this one would measure good...and it did! I checked channel 1, and got an SWR reading around 1.4, and then jumped up to channel 40, and got an SWR reading of around 1.5. I did do some quick checks through random channels throughout the entire range also and the readings were very good. I am completely happy with the reading that I got on this antenna, so I would recommend this antenna for this application.

As an additional note as well though, I think something happened to my SWR meter as well which was causing it to skew the numbers a little higher and that is that the resting needle position was around 1.3-1.5. I tried to move the unit around and what not, incase it really just wanted to site perfectly level, however the needle was always skewed high. So this does lead me to question if all of my readings are a little high. I can't say for certain, but I am pretty confident that if anything, the numbers are better than what I received on my meter.

I'm starting to look into reinstalling my Yaesu FTM-400XD. I like this installation option (wow, a lot of $$$ though!). Any concerns with overloading the front end of the AM/FM, Sirius or GPS? It's in close proximity to the ham antenna(s). I'm more concerned about permanent damage, I wouldn't be having the AM/FM on during TX. Thanks, and 73's Greg KE8DAF.

Greg

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Who makes that bracket? (and where did you get it?) I have a Yaesu FTM400 that I removed from my Flex that is sitting in a box. I would like to reinstall it in the Ranger and I am starting to look at options.

Thx,

Greg

That's not my setup.

@VegasRanger can give you the details but it looks like a Ram mount.

 

[VegasRanger]

That's not my setup.

@VegasRanger can give you the details but it looks like a Ram mount.

It’s a Lido mount. Love their products. Got the FTM500 on it now

 

[OFC Ranger]

Yes, but not exactly standard.

 

[Fawnbuster]

It’s a Lido mount. Love their products. Got the FTM500 on it now

I'm not a radio aficionado, have had C
B & THE FMRS, is that one a ham?

 

[VegasRanger]

I'm not a radio aficionado, have had C
B & THE FMRS, is that one a ham?

Yup. Dual band

 

[Fawnbuster]

Yup. Dual band

I have a buddy who used to have a basement full of operating ham radios from pre ww2 to present day digital. Stumbled upon a garage sale that had a $5.00 older transistor radio that had AMFM, weather and all the ham radio frequencies for receiving only. It was battery powered, 110V and a hand crank. I couldn't resist so I bought it for him then went to the grocery and bought a DAK Canned ham, then i used double sided gorilla tape to affix them back to back, I gave it to him for his birthday one year with a card that said this is your very own one of a kind canned ham survival radio ?

He later opened the ham, made some beans and left the empty ham can stuck to the radio and on his shelf

 

[VegasRanger]

I have a buddy who used to have a basement full of operating ham radios from pre ww2 to present day digital. Stumbled upon a garage sale that had a $5.00 older transistor radio that had AMFM, weather and all the ham radio frequencies for receiving only. It was battery powered, 110V and a hand crank. I couldn't resist so I bought it for him then went to the grocery and bought a DAK Canned ham, then i used double sided gorilla tape to affix them back to back, I gave it to him for his birthday one year with a card that said this is your very own one of a kind canned ham survival radio ?

He later opened the ham, made some beans and left the empty ham can stuck to the radio and on his shelf

?????

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