Has anyone wired a Ham radio yet?

[mightysnopants]

I want to install a hard wired Ham Radio. I'm a total novice on electronics and have never hard wired a Ham into a vehicle so I'm looking for advice/expertise. Can I use the prewired Aux switch that is already connected to the battery? Or too much noise in the system and I should just run 15ga - 20ag wire to the battery? If its connect direct to the battery does anyone know where the best place in the firewall to go through from engine bay to inside the vehicle un her the dash? I made the switch over from a Jeep Wrangler (finally) to a 4Runner but Jeep makes it pretty easy to run wires because there are multiple entry points on both drivers and passenger side.

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[RogueWarrior65]

I'm considering this myself. You should use 14 gauge wire at a minimum. I'm more interested in figuring out where to put the thing. On my Gen 1 4Runner, it lived under the passenger seat and I ran wire directly to the battery. There was an existing cable boot I could make use of. In my Trailhunter, the battery is in the rear but then I also have auxiliary device connections. There's a nifty cable clip that people use for a roof rack light bar that runs the cable up the side of the windshield. That's all well and good but I still don't know where to put the radio itself.

 

[mightysnopants]

I guess I need to amend my question because I thought the 12v battery was in the engine bay but since I have a hybrid it seems to be in the back.

 

[John2112]

I want to install a hard wired Ham Radio. I'm a total novice on electronics and have never hard wired a Ham into a vehicle so I'm looking for advice/expertise. Can I use the prewired Aux switch that is already connected to the battery? Or too much noise in the system and I should just run 15ga - 20ag wire to the battery? If its connect direct to the battery does anyone know where the best place in the firewall to go through from engine bay to inside the vehicle un her the dash? I made the switch over from a Jeep Wrangler (finally) to a 4Runner but Jeep makes it pretty easy to run wires because there are multiple entry points on both drivers and passenger side.

Although I have a ham license I think gmrs is more useful. I'm going to let my license expire eventually. In the back country in Colorado gmrs will get you help quicker than ham radio will. Since cell phones connect to satellite now ham radio is obsolete. Set up a good 50 w gmrs radio in the 4Runner trail Hunter, works great.

 

[bakutheleo]

@John2112 Agreed, although why let your ham license expire? Doesn't cost much for another 10 years, then if you want it you do not need to test again.

 

[Handoc]

BTW, you do need a License just for GMRS too... no test and it covers your entire family.

 

[John2112]

@John2112 Agreed, although why let your ham license expire? Doesn't cost much for another 10 years, then if you want it you do not need to test again.

I'll never need it again, got rid of all my equipment.

BTW, you do need a License just for GMRS too... no test and it covers your entire family.

I do have a license for gmrs, although I noticed almost no one ever uses their call letters or follows the rules on it.

 

[John2112]

I'll never need it again, got rid of all my equipment.

I do have a license for gmrs, although I noticed almost no one ever uses their call letters or follows the rules on it.

Also, until recently I was using a satellite phone when in the backcountry which was more reliable for for emergencies. Now the cell phones connect to satellite and the gmrs for close-end communications works well.

 

[mightysnopants]

I'll never need it again, got rid of all my equipment.

I do have a license for gmrs, although I noticed almost no one ever uses their call letters or follows the rules on it.

So I went to fcc site submitted GMRS license application and there’s no way to pay the $35 fee. I signed into CORES system like it directed me to but no option for an individual to pay. I clicked every single link. It used to be easy. I paid other license fees easy. Not sure why it’s so hard now.

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