Ford 500 Discreet Install - In Progress

kenisned · #1 (**permalink**) 03-30-2009, 10:34 PM

I recently bought a 2006 Ford Five Hundred - Limited.

Nice ride with heated, leather seats, etc. I didn't want to junk it up too much as I use it for work and occasionally have to drive the VP and other big shots around to meetings and lunches. You know, general schmoozing!

SO, here is the equipment:

BCD996T mounted in the trunk with the Remote Head mounted by the driver's left knee. I don't hit the remote head with my knee, but it's close. In this position, only the driver can see it. Also note, in the pictures the kill switch for all the 12 volt power going to the trunk.

Power cable is direct from the battery to eliminate alternator whine.

CDM1250 is also mounted in trunk. I'm waiting on the remote head kit for this and I'm still not sure where to mount that remote head. I'm considering the center console storage area under the center armrest.

Speaker for scanner and eventually for CDM will be mounted under driver's seat.

Lastly, sirius radio head is mounted in the overhead "sunglasses" storage pocket. If you don't know the 500 there is a dashboard storage bin that holds my sunglasses (they don't fit in the overhead sunglass holder). I had to do some cutting, but it fits nice!

That is also wired directly into the aux controls for the stock radio with a PIE adaptor.

GPS unit and satellite radio are directly wired to the 12 volt accessory circuit that shuts off when the car is turned off and the driver's door is then opened. This allows the radio and gps to function when the car is actually turned off, but will shut off when you actually get out of the car.

Antennas:
Larsen tri-band (black) is mounted using an NMO lip mount.
UHF Phantom Elite (black) will be hole mounted NMO in rear of roof to look like a satellite radio antenna.
Sat radio antenna mounted on rear deck (need to clean that wire up a bit).

I like having the antennas black, matches the paint job!

Future work to be done:

CDM Remote head mount (location and details are not yet determined)
Phantom Elite antenna install to be done
Second CDM to be mounted in trunk for cross-band operation (no need for remote head as it's just a receiving radio).

Thanks for your comments and ideas.

KC2OBW · #2 (**permalink**) 03-30-2009, 11:28 PM

looks good so far

OpSec · #3 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 05:40 PM

You will absolutely, positively regret mounting that RH96 head there if you have a crash. Your left knee and that control head will both be toast.

kenisned · #4 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stateboy

You will absolutely, positively regret mounting that RH96 head there if you have a crash. Your left knee and that control head will both be toast.

I have a tough knee!

Yea, I already figured that out and decided that I'm far enough away when seated, and I always wear my seat belt. The pre-tensioner will do the rest.

Thanks for your response, though!

clanusb · #5 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenisned

I have a tough knee!

Yea, I already figured that out and decided that I'm far enough away when seated, and I always wear my seat belt. The pre-tensioner will do the rest.

Thanks for your response, though!

thats what you think. just wait. youd be surprised how far you actually move.

kenisned · #6 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clanusb

thats what you think. just wait. youd be surprised how far you actually move.

Thanks for the input!

KD8CPI · #7 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 08:16 PM

I think the knee and the Radiohead will be the last things on your mind in an accident, but with that... Nice work on a hard vehicle to install in.

milf · #8 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 08:32 PM

Very nice and discreet, leaves room if you want to add say a laptop.

TIZ6 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 08:50 PM

Definitely wear a kneepad on your left knee. I also wear a face shield while driving in case my face hits my dash-mounted GPS, and an elbow pad in case I bump my travel mug in the cup holder in the console. Be safe, man!

kenisned · #10 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIZ6

Definitely wear a kneepad on your left knee. I also wear a face shield while driving in case my face hits my dash-mounted GPS, and an elbow pad in case I bump my travel mug in the cup holder in the console. Be safe, man!

LOL, thanks for the feedback and the chuckle.

Safety First!

commstar · #11 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 10:04 PM

Hire a driver and problem solved.

KE5CCA · #12 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 10:26 PM

I t-boned a woman who turned left in front of me @ about 40 mph and from that accident I learned two things.

Power seats do not stay put, they will go to the end of their travel.
The "crumple zone" is called crumple for a reason.

Hence the reason bones were broken in my foot that was on the brake pedal and why I now prefer manual seats. A secondary job of the pre-tensioner is make sure that you sustain sever bruising across your upper torso from the shoulder strap and across your hips from the lapbelt.

From my POV the advice about the knee is wise, but don't be such a sissy and NMO hole mount all of your antennas.

kenisned · #13 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KE5CCA

From my POV the advice about the knee is wise, but don't be such a sissy and NMO hole mount all of your antennas.

Hahaha!

With time!!! I think that lip mount looks good though. Hardly can tell!

I will be drilling in the roof shortly.

KE5CCA · #14 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenisned

I will be drilling in the roof shortly.

Take pictures for the group when you do so that that other potential 500 owners can see how it is done.

rescuecomm · #15 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 01:06 AM

Nobody said high speed colisions were for the wimpy. Seat/shoulder belts keep you from going out the window on side roll overs and keep you far enough from the steering wheel to allow the airbag to soften your impact. Nobody said they were not going to hurt in a serious crash.

Looks like a nice install. I getting ready to ask where the 2-way was going, but re-read the post and it's a trunk installation too.

Bob

KE5CCA · #16 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rescuecomm

Nobody said high speed colisions were for the wimpy. Seat/shoulder belts keep you from going out the window on side roll overs and keep you far enough from the steering wheel to allow the airbag to soften your impact. Nobody said they were not going to hurt in a serious crash.

Your right, nobody said any of that. If you inferred that, I think you are mistaken. Additionally, my car did not have airbags ..

James04TJ · #17 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 06:40 PM

While the control head location may not be ideal, in many vehicles it can be the best or only option. We have several vehicles that utilize equipment mounted in that area (on both sides). Try fitting 3 radios, siren box, light controls, mounted cell phone, and sat phone all in a vehicle that can not accommodate a console...

kenisned · #18 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James04TJ

While the control head location may not be ideal, in many vehicles it can be the best or only option. We have several vehicles that utilize equipment mounted in that area (on both sides). Try fitting 3 radios, siren box, light controls, mounted cell phone, and sat phone all in a vehicle that can not accommodate a console...

The other thing to consider is the desire to keep things discreet.

Otherwise a couple of 4 inch drywall screws into the dash would have worked just fine.

ResQguy · #19 (**permalink**) 04-03-2009, 09:51 AM

Hey Ken. Don't you find it funny how nobody ever notices a trailer brake or plow controller mounted by your knee, but everyone notices the scanner? Hmmmmmmm.

sirsmiley · #20 (**permalink**) 04-07-2009, 05:09 PM

mount the heads in the flip up arm rest of the 500......