2013 Jeep Patriot Install (Still a working progress)

[KE4NYV]

Over the last couple of weeks I have been slowly completing an install in my new 2013 Jeep Patriot.

Here is a rundown of the installed equipment:

- Voice Radio - Kenwood TM-V71A - Remote Head Configuration
- APRS Radio - Kenwood TM-271 - Modified with rear-panel packet port
- APRS Tracker/Display - YagTracker APRS Terminal - http://www.rpc-electronics.com/yagtracker.php
- YagTracker Breakout Box - RPC Electronics, LLC - http://www.rpc-electronics.com/yagtrackerbob.php
- APRS GPS - RPC Electronics, LLC GPS Engine - Prototype unit, not available for purchase yet
- Power - RPC Electronics, LLC Controlled PowerPole Distribution Box - http://www.rpc-electronics.com/dcpower.php
- 2 x Diamond Roof Rack NMO Antenna Mounts
- Larsen VHF/UHF Dual-Band NMO Antenna
- Laird VHF 5/8 wave VHF Antenna
- Trimble 3/4" Hole Mount GPS "Puck" Antenna

I decided to mount a majority of the gear under the false-floor deck in the back, near the spare tire. Since the tire takes up so much space, I had to shove everything to one side and space was a bit limited. The board is just some old peg board left over from some hamfest displays painted black. I'm not 100% happy with the cable management and the placement of everything, so it might get moved around to make the cables look nicer. In general I am really anal about cable runs and not letting it look like a mess.

The TM-V71A control head cable was simply CAT3 cable with an RJ-45 at the radio body end and an RJ-22 at the head end. Saved a bunch of money by not buying the Kenwood kit. The microphone is extended through a CAT6 patch cable, with an RJ45 female to female coupler at mic end.

The YagTracker cable carries power, GPS data and TNC audio, so it's made up a of a couple cables into a single connector at each end to shield and isolate everything. I ran this cable over head, between the roof and headliner. The YagTracker breakout box "breaks out" all of the power, data and TNC audio connections at the radio end. This keeps the cabling to a minimum between the YagTracker and the Radio/Power/GPS.

The GPS is a test unit that I have built to become a new product. At this time only three of these are in existence. Once I am happy with the performance over a few months, I'll start manufacturing these for sale.

All of the power distribution is done through our new Controller PowerPole Power Distribution block. This is simple power in, five power ports out, but with a twist. Ports 1-3 are hot all of the time. Ports 4 and 5 are tied through on-board 10 Amp relays that are controlled through a green pluggable header next to the power input PowerPole connection. When these control point(s) is/are grounded, the relay(s) engage, turning the respective port on. This allows for a very flexible remote control system of up to two individual devices. The control port actually has four contacts: Two are the control inputs and two are mated ground connections. You can make the connection using these grounds or use the common vehicle ground to control these. We call this Double Ended and Single Ended triggering. if you decide that you want these ports on all of the time, with no control, you can simple install jumpers between these ground and the control points and the relays will stay engaged all of the time, turning the port on full-time.

The antenna mounts are Diamond SUV roof rack mounts. The rack is actually plastic covered, so I don't get a true chasis ground at this point and that did concern me. However, it seems that I am getting a decent enough ground through the RG-174's shield to the vehicle's body that they are working fine. I ran both through my RF TDR at work and they actually sweep at 1.3:1 or better across the entire VHF and UHF spectrum.

OK, enough with the words. Here are the pictures!

TM-V71A Control Head:



YagTracker APRS Terminal (Picture is dark. Please see link above in the equipment list):



Rear Under-Deck Installation (Cable management is NOT complete):





Antennas:









GPS Antenna:

[KC4YIN]

Excellent work. Looks like you're just showing off. I really like the way you located everything in the back and wire routing. Also like how you identified all the components. The real kicker though is how you took some of the pictures to look like those big dishes are mounted on the top of your Jeep.

[KE4NYV]

Originally Posted by KC4YIN

Excellent work. Looks like you're just showing off. I really like the way you located everything in the back and wire routing. Also like how you identified all the components. The real kicker though is how you took some of the pictures to look like those big dishes are mounted on the top of your Jeep.

Thanks! Like I said, I'm not happy with the cable routing in the back, so I might re-arrange some of those components to clean that up and add in more loom. Yeah, those are my 9 meter telemetry dishes mounted on the roof I work at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in the RF Communications lab. Those dishes ARE actually telemetry, but they support the TM group upstairs

[coldbear]

Very nice job Jason. Can you pick up ML Baseball on that thing?

[wd9cms]

Very nice well thought out installation...would love to have access to the satellite dish in the background.

Bill

[newsphotog]

Well hello there, fellow JeepPatriot.com member Sharp install. What are you using to mount the YagTracker to the windshield?

[KE4NYV]

Originally Posted by newsphotog

Well hello there, fellow JeepPatriot.com member Sharp install. What are you using to mount the YagTracker to the windshield?

Hello, fellow JeepPatriot.com member

I am using a suction cup mount that has a standard plate with AMPS bolt hole pattern. I just drilled the back plate of the YagTracker and then then ran some small hardware from the inside out to attach it. There is plenty of gap between the main PCB and the back half of the case to accommodate the heads of the screws.

[KE4NYV]

Originally Posted by coldbear

Very nice job Jason. Can you pick up ML Baseball on that thing?

I wish. Then I could get the Pirates games here

[Rt169Radio]

Definitely a nice setup. Have you run into anything with those antennas that high?

[KE4NYV]

Originally Posted by Rt169Radio

Have you run into anything with those antennas that high?

No problems yet, of course, I live in the boonies and we don't have many low overheard obstructions to drive under. Just the occasional low-hanging branch. Next week I have to leave the car in an airport parking garage for a few days, so I know I'll have to stop before getting there, pull the antennas off the mounts and throw them in the back.

[n9mxq]

As one who used to build Patriots, I must say this is a great solution for radios. Very well thought out and executed. A++.


No bits were harmed in the posting of this message.

[mrweather]

Very neat, love the split loom. Looks like the dog chewed on the NMO150 coil but other than that it's all good.

[newsphotog]

Originally Posted by KE4NYV

Hello, fellow JeepPatriot.com member

I am using a suction cup mount that has a standard plate with AMPS bolt hole pattern. I just drilled the back plate of the YagTracker and then then ran some small hardware from the inside out to attach it. There is plenty of gap between the main PCB and the back half of the case to accommodate the heads of the screws.

I don't want to take this too far off topic, but what are the dimensions for the YagTracker? I wonder if this will fit in the same position in my GC (between the mirror and the headliner)?

[KE4NYV]

Originally Posted by newsphotog

I don't want to take this too far off topic, but what are the dimensions for the YagTracker? I wonder if this will fit in the same position in my GC (between the mirror and the headliner)?

115 x 70 x 23 (mm) and 1 9/16 x 1 3/4 x 15/16 (Inch)

I guess I should add this information to the site

All other features listed at our website:

http://www.rpc-electronics.com/yagtracker.php

[KE4NYV]

Originally Posted by mrweather

Very neat, love the split loom. Looks like the dog chewed on the NMO150 coil but other than that it's all good.

I have three of these antennas. They are actually the 2/70 coil dual band. This particular one was purchased from the estate of a ham friend who used to use vise grips to tighten it down to the mount. I begged him over and over not to do that, but he did it anyways and managed to break off the shoulders of at least three NMO mounts. After he died, I bought it really cheap, compared to what they normally sold for. It's a shame that you can get these anymore. They are really great antennas.

[KE4NYV]

Originally Posted by n9mxq

As one who used to build Patriots, I must say this is a great solution for radios. Very well thought out and executed. A++.

Thanks! As someone who worked on these cars, you probably know about the small unused rubber plugs in the top corners, behind the gate. I ran the RG174 coax through these, with a drip loop and then filled in the "cup" of the plug with clear RTV. Sealed it up nice and made the job of getting the coax into the cabin of the Jeep a snap, without ruining the integrity of the seals.

[n9mxq]

Originally Posted by KE4NYV

Thanks! As someone who worked on these cars, you probably know about the small unused rubber plugs in the top corners, behind the gate. I ran the RG174 coax through these, with a drip loop and then filled in the "cup" of the plug with clear RTV. Sealed it up nice and made the job of getting the coax into the cabin of the Jeep a snap, without ruining the integrity of the seals.

I was a little curious on how you worked that.. Great solution

[newsphotog]

Originally Posted by KE4NYV

115 x 70 x 23 (mm) and 1 9/16 x 1 3/4 x 15/16 (Inch)

I guess I should add this information to the site

All other features listed at our website:

http://www.rpc-electronics.com/yagtracker.php

Those are the dimensions including the case? And also does it work well with the ADS GPS out of the box?

[AdamDaMan]

What is the small dome antenna you have in the center of the jeep?

[n9mxq]

I'd say that's the GPS antenna mounted in the stock SIRIUS antenna location.