Shortwave transceiver installation

[Toadster]

Has anyone here installed a shortwave radio transceiver in their JT? If so, what brand did you get, and what antenna are you using? Pics would be nice.

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[MrZappo]

Has anyone here installed a shortwave radio transceiver in their JT? If so, what brand did you get, and what antenna are you using? Pics would be nice.

Just completed. I'll send pics later today.

Yaseu ftm400xdr. Diamond half wave mobile. Perfect antenna for a jeep as it does not require a ground plane.

Stand by and I'll post some stuff.

 

[MrZappo]

OK, here are a few pics. I also recommend getting the thin coax pre-made 13 foot cable that diamond antenna sells. It is pricy but it works great, is thin and easy to route, and it is the exact perfect length.

The antenna mount is from topsy products and works perfect. More than strong enough for this antenna with only the one bolt. I cleaned it with acetone and dipped it in black plasti dip. Has a great finished appearance.

 

[Toadster]

Thank you MrZappo!

Awesome pics of your very clean installation. Gives me an idea of what's involved.

 

[CrazyCooter]

OK, here are a few pics. I also recommend getting the thin coax pre-made 13 foot cable that diamond antenna sells. It is pricy but it works great, is thin and easy to route, and it is the exact perfect length.

The antenna mount is from topsy products and works perfect. More than strong enough for this antenna with only the one bolt. I cleaned it with acetone and dipped it in black plasti dip. Has a great finished appearance.

What is that bar you use for the head mount across the top of your dash?

 

[MrZappo]

What is that bar you use for the head mount across the top of your dash?

It's from vector offroad. Very nice product. Reasonably priced I think. Very sturdy.

https://vectoroffroad.com/products/jl-tube-dockbar

 

[CrazyCooter]

It's from vector offroad. Very nice product. Reasonably priced I think. Very sturdy.

https://vectoroffroad.com/products/jl-tube-dockbar

Thank you sir! Probably do a pair of those Topsy antenna mounts...one on each side for tri-band Diamond and NMO27 CB antenna. Maybe an all in one Cobra CB and one of my FT8900s unless 8 decide to do the 857D instead.

 

[MrZappo]

Thank you sir! Probably do a pair of those Topsy antenna mounts...one on each side for tri-band Diamond and NMO27 CB antenna. Maybe an all in one Cobra CB and one of my FT8900s unless 8 decide to do the 857D instead.

They are great and sturdy mounts. They have 4 more mount holes in case you wanted to self tap some more screws in.

Honestly, the thing is sturdy enough with the one bolt to handle a 60 inch antenna.

Home depot has the plasti dip in cans so you can actually dip as opposed to spray.

I Dipped mine 4 times and let it sit 30 minutes between. I hung it from a string to dry on the first 2 dips but had to put it in the vice for the last 2 upside down so it didn't end up with more of the plastic on one side as it does run a little as it is drying.

But, doing that and it ended up perfectly even.

Then I just cut out the stuff with an xacto knife where I wanted the antenna mount to contact the metal.

Looks way nicer than bare metal and matches the fenders etc.

Nice touch for an hour of time. Plus it got me out of the honeydoo list and into the garage with a beer.

Post up some pics when you get yours done.

 

[CrazyCooter]

They are great and sturdy mounts. They have 4 more mount holes in case you wanted to self tap some more screws in.

Honestly, the thing is sturdy enough with the one bolt to handle a 60 inch antenna.

Home depot has the plasti dip in cans so you can actually dip as opposed to spray.

I Dipped mine 4 times and let it sit 30 minutes between. I hung it from a string to dry on the first 2 dips but had to put it in the vice for the last 2 upside down so it didn't end up with more of the plastic on one side as it does run a little as it is drying.

But, doing that and it ended up perfectly even.

Then I just cut out the stuff with an xacto knife where I wanted the antenna mount to contact the metal.

Looks way nicer than bare metal and matches the fenders etc.

Nice touch for an hour of time. Plus it got me out of the honeydoo list and into the garage with a beer.

Post up some pics when you get yours done.

Still waiting for ours to get built, but might get it at the end of the month if we're lucky!

I was also looking at RockHard's sport cage? That would give me an overhead mounting solution for the radios and a dash mount bar too. More money, but more options too.

 

[MrZappo]

Still waiting for ours to get built, but might get it at the end of the month if we're lucky!

I was also looking at RockHard's sport cage? That would give me an overhead mounting solution for the radios and a dash mount bar too. More money, but more options too.

I had not seen that product before now ... Very nice ... I did look at another overhead product that required drilling and I didnt want to do that ...

Honestly, I do like the over head thing too and if I had to mount a full radio (not just a faceplate like the FTM400) I would have done it overhead ... There are not a lot of options in the jeep that done look half assed and I also didnt want that ...

The vector bar is sweet and I also mount my phone and tablet for off road mapping up there ... It works very well for that ... It would not work well for a full radio ...

I have toyed with putting an HF rig in the jeep as well and if I did I would definitely need to go with something like you posted here ...

Either way, I like making stuff look stock or at the very least professionally done so I take my time with it and research. Seems you do the same ...

As I said before, post up pics when you get done ... Id love to see the final product ...

73

 

[CrazyCooter]

I had not seen that product before now ... Very nice ... I did look at another overhead product that required drilling and I didnt want to do that ...

Honestly, I do like the over head thing too and if I had to mount a full radio (not just a faceplate like the FTM400) I would have done it overhead ... There are not a lot of options in the jeep that done look half assed and I also didnt want that ...

The vector bar is sweet and I also mount my phone and tablet for off road mapping up there ... It works very well for that ... It would not work well for a full radio ...

I have toyed with putting an HF rig in the jeep as well and if I did I would definitely need to go with something like you posted here ...

Either way, I like making stuff look stock or at the very least professionally done so I take my time with it and research. Seems you do the same ...

As I said before, post up pics when you get done ... Id love to see the final product ...

73

Yep, looking for the right solution. No sense in taking a clean but somewhat cramped cockpit and cluttering it up.

I've had to make all my stuff for the YJ as not much is made for those anymore, nut the JK, JL, and JTs are the most popular platforms ever.......you have your pick of 10+ of each product.

 

[prerunner1982]

So you are wanting VHF/UHF installations and not actual "short wave" (HF) radio installs?

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