2000 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Install

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radact

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After using window mount antennas and they not working worth a darn. I Finally took the plunge and decided to have my friend, who works at a radio shop, drill 6 NMO mount holes on the roof of my 2000 Nissan Frontier. There are 3 at the very back, 1 right in the middle and 1 on each corner in front.

Since the Frontier has a center shifters for the gears and transfer case, I wasn't sure where I was going to put all my radios. The first thing I did since the truck came used without a AM/FM radio, is use that slot for mounting a BC780XLT and 6m Alinco in that slot. I took the center console, that has the cup holders, out and cut that part off. Then I moved the console back and mounted the Jotto Contour Console just in front of it. As you will see, the gear shift just barely clears the front of the console when it's in 1st gear.

I had never done this extensive of an install, snaking wires under carpet, taking down the headliner and running the wires under it and taping them so they don't rattle when the liner is back in place. I told my friend that I wanted to do this myself so I could learn how since he may not be around sometimes. Plus it's good experience.

I hope the pics are ok and you can read some of the captions that I added to them.

PS: For some reason I can only upload 5 pics at a time and there are 27 that are connected to this install. I will post more when I get a chance. Thanks.
 

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  • 5 Scrapped Paint for Ground.jpg
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radact

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  • 6 Front Two Mounts.jpg
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  • 7 Back of Center Console.jpg
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  • 8 Console Cut to Fit.jpg
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  • 9 Center Console Off.jpg
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  • 10 Brazing Rod Snaking Coax.jpg
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radact

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More Pics
 

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  • 12 Rear Corner Before Hiding.jpg
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  • 14 Coax Snaked to Center Console.jpg
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  • 15 After NMO Mounts Installed.jpg
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radact

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2000 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Install - More Pics

More Pics
 

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  • 19 Radios Installed in Mount.jpg
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  • 20 Alinco n 780xlt.jpg
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el_pichirulo

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Very nice! One of the best ones I've seen here. Now how do you feel with a "swiss cheese" roof? I bet you it works better than those crappy glass-mounts.

How is your SWR for the 6m antenna? I have found that the more metal ground plain, the better. Have tried it in its place versus the middle of the roof?

E
 

radact

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Las Vegas, Nv
2000 Nissan Frontier Install

Great display of the work in progress! Awesome job! You ought to check with your local radio shop for a job!

I did work for a radio shop for 4 years but mostly on the bench repairing radios. Sometimes they'd let me try my hand at an install but they had two installers already.

My friend who's been in the radio business since he was installing CB radios, at the age of 13 (now 35) taught me how to do it.

Thanks Kudos.
 

radact

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Las Vegas, Nv
6m antenna vs crappy glass mounts

Very nice! One of the best ones I've seen here. Now how do you feel with a "swiss cheese" roof? I bet you it works better than those crappy glass-mounts.

How is your SWR for the 6m antenna? I have found that the more metal ground plain, the better. Have tried it in its place versus the middle of the roof?

E

I didn't have a 6m glass but had a dualband and believe it or not, a CB antenna. They do make them.

The performance is a 1000% better with the NMO mounts and real antennas. The swr on the 6m is about a 1:5:1 which I can live with.
 

radact

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Las Vegas, Nv
2000 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Install - Laptop Mount Update

I did mount an 7" LCD digital TV right under the Laptop. As soon as I get a picture of it, I'll add it to my last post as I have two more pics of the finished install.

Thanks all for the kind words.
 

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  • 25 Stablelizing Bar Top View.jpg
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radact

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2000 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Install - Last Pics

New pic of the 7" LCD TV that I installed 2 weeks ago. It's right below the laptop and in perfect view. I can watch Internet TV & programs on the laptop but not local live stations. That's where the TV comes into play.

No, I don't watch as I'm driving.

This should be the last post for this vehicle unless I do some major changes.

Again, thanks all for the kind words and comments.
 

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  • 28 TV Mounted.jpg
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gewecke

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Looks good,but I hope you have a really kickin' alarm system too?:roll:
n9zas
 

radact

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Las Vegas, Nv
All of you are a hoot.

I don't drive and watch TV at the same time, just at stop lights or when I get to work early and sit out in the parking lot waiting to go in.

FOX NEWS HUH. It's my local FOX station that broadcasts 24/7 weather & breaking news on their 2nd digital channel 5.2 so, I thought that would be a good steady channel for a pic.

I do have a very good alarm system. It also sends me a signal, if there's an activation, on a freq that I have programmed into my scanner which is set to priority so no matter what I'm listening to, it breaks thru. A few false alarms when it's real windy or storming outside.

Thanks all again for the kind words.
 

mrweather

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Dec 19, 2002
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Very nice job!

I had my brand new car less than a day before drilling the first NMO. :D There is no comparison in terms of performance.
 
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