2002 Ford Explorer

[SLWilson]

Shown below is the 2002 Ford Explorer recently purchased for use by Gallia County 911. It's used, but in good shape. Radios shown are a Motorola UHF1225, a VHF-Lo Motorola 750 and a VHF-Hi Motorola 1250 in that order from top to bottom. The Lo & Hi antennas are 5/8's wave loaded antennas. The UHF on the glass is a 1/4 wave. With this radio install, we can still use the cup-holders! We have a set of headlight strobes and extra red strobes for emergencies. Steve

 

[FD_1226]

Wow that's a nice install. So clean and professional looking.

 

[EMSJUNKY]

Very nice. and good job keeping the cup holders available.... those will come in handy for coffee needed at the 3 am call. All you need now is a scanner.... for the massive assive incidents you dont expect, but kick your self after for wanting a scanner. Overall, NICE. I couldnt have done a better job and I make a living out of machining and assembling various parts for industry.

 

[W8OSP]

Steve nice to see it come together. Looks good!

 

[BryanTheRed]

Very nice I just can't believe the antennas are not on the roof!

 

[SLWilson]

Antennas

Very nice I just can't believe the antennas are not on the roof!

We talked about putting them on the roof, but, we get enough range w/o having to have the "perfect" ground plane created by a roof install. Same with the UHF through the glass. We just use the UHF for talking to the PD within the city limits. For that it works great. Outside of town, we go to the VHF-Hi....Steve/KB8FAR :wink:

 

[wwhitby]

Where did you mount your speakers?

I've got an 02 Explorer that I am going to "inherit" from my wife - yes, she gets the new car - and i'm already planning on where i'm going to mount my radios and antennnas, but I need suggestions for a mounting location for the speakers.

Thanks,

Warren

 

[SCPD]

Sweet mother of god .... that IS tight!

 

[mpg0515]

Where did you mount your speakers?

I've got an 02 Explorer that I am going to "inherit" from my wife - yes, she gets the new car - and i'm already planning on where i'm going to mount my radios and antennnas, but I need suggestions for a mounting location for the speakers.

Thanks,

Warren

Looks like they are all "front firing" speakers.... No need for an external

 

[hoser147]

Nice looking rig and Clean install with plenty of room for expansion A+.............hoser147

 

[SLWilson]

Speakers

Where did you mount your speakers?

I've got an 02 Explorer that I am going to "inherit" from my wife - yes, she gets the new car - and i'm already planning on where i'm going to mount my radios and antennnas, but I need suggestions for a mounting location for the speakers.

Thanks,

Warren

The post above is correct. These radios CAN ACCEPT external speakers, but, they don't NEED them. Speakers are in the head unit. I should've shown the main radio mounting. They're under the back seats. If I get a chance, I'll add those pics too...Steve

 

[Signal3and2]

Needs more lights , other than that... awesome install, real clean. I use a fender mount L bracket for one of my antennas too on my explorer.

 

[SLWilson]

LED's

Needs more lights , other than that... awesome install, real clean. I use a fender mount L bracket for one of my antennas too on my explorer.

We have a set of the LED's that attach by suction cups that go up over the rear-view mirror. That rounds out the lights. Plus, there are strobes IN the headlights giving you FOUR flashes to the front. I just didn't have the LED's "stuck on" the windshield for the photos....The LED's are pretty bright and get lights "right into" the morror of cars ahead of you. With them and FOUR strobes to the front, it's pretty "visible" when everything is ON!!! Steve/KB8FAR

 

[car2back]

looks nice.... I wish my county would buy/build something like that for us

just wondering.... what do you all use it for?

 

[SLWilson]

Vehicle Use

just wondering.... what do you all use it for?

We have several tower sites that we need to maintain. MOST are in areas that are unaccessable without a 4 x 4. We have an old army Blazer, still painted cameo but the floorboards on it are rusted through. Bad when it's raining or cold out. You get real wet!!! I have a Chevy Tahoe that is mine and have driven it, BUT, with gas nearing $3.00 a gallon now, I wasn't game for much more of that. In addition to tower maintenance, our Center is away from the County Courthouse. About 3 1/2 miles or so away. By the time we'd use our own vehicles to run to town and back a couple of times day, that added up too. We also will let operators that might have to attend classes out of town drive it. Overall, we'll use it to keep from having to use OUR personal vehicles on county business. We added the lights in case we have to get somewhere to fix radio equipment in an emergency type situation. Get around or through areas where normal vahicle traffic might be restricted for some reason.....Steve/Gallia

 

[mikie333]

question

i am new to scanning, and i am currently building my mobile "shack"...what are those mounts called you have for your antennas to mount onto your hood (or inside rather)...thanks

 

[SLWilson]

Brackets

i am new to scanning, and i am currently building my mobile "shack"...what are those mounts called you have for your antennas to mount onto your hood (or inside rather)...thanks

They are just stainless steel "L" brackets. Any ham radio supplier should have them in stock. Our local Motorola shop put them on for us.....Steve/Gallia 911

 

[mikie333]

1: would they have em at a home depot
2: can i mount a mag-mount antenna to them (whether they are magnetic, or i somehow bolt them?

thanks!

 

[SLWilson]

Stainless Steel

1: would they have em at a home depot
2: can i mount a mag-mount antenna to them (whether they are magnetic, or i somehow bolt them? thanks!

I don't think the magnet will hold on the stainless. As far as bolting to it, I guess you could, but, that'd defeat the purpose I think of the "L" bracket....I don't think Home Depot will have them. Might try a radio shack or Universal Radio.com Steve/Gallia