For the most part, this is more a musing but I do have a question at the end. I am on the Communications Unit of the Placer County Sheriff's Search and Rescue and I'm the one that has single-handedly (for SAR) been implementing a system where all of our radios are Kenwoods using FleetSync and GPS for tracking searchers in the field. Previously, I had a Kenwood TK-7360H with an internally installed GPS unit, "installed" in my 2013 Ford Explorer (power cable was only permanent fixture in install) and used a magnetic mount NMO base and a magnetic mount GPS antenna. I recently traded in my Explorer for a 2016 Ford F-150 (XLT FX4 5.0 V8) so I could pull a new travel trailer. I wanted to put a permanent installation in my new F150, but no space for my TK-7360. I decided to upgrade my mobile radio to a TK-7180 and purchase the KRK-10 head separation unit, allowing me to install the radio and head unit in two different locations. I purchased another Garmin 15Xl-W GPS unit and installed it in the radio. I then programmed the radio, following all the steps provided for making GPS to work. I then set up the KRK-10 separation unit and tried testing it "on the bench" before installing it in my truck. Everything appeared to work fine except I got no audio out of the radio. I checked, rechecked, triple-checked, etc... over a period of several weeks, trying to figure out what I could have done to have messed things up. Not only this, but I couldn't get a GPS signal.
Both of these issues were driving me nuts, as I went over them many times with no success. I finally made an appointment with an authorized Kenwood dealer I've done business with before. He did one thing about the radio separation unit I had not done, he had a schematic that identified each pin on the separation cable and found on one end of the cable, while all the wires physically looked fine, one wire was not completely seated in the connector. This was thankfully a relatively easy fix. The next issue was with the GPS unit not reporting data. He checked my programming and did not see any flaws. On this particular radio, there are two COM ports you can install GPS to... I had connected it to COM 2. The tech tried connecting it to COM 1, but still could not get any GPS data. On a whim, he had the programming from Nevada County SAR radios, which uses the same software we use in Placer County for tracking searchers (actually, we use their software; the software was created by one of their team members). The radio immediately recognized the GPS unit. I have not yet figured out what I had set wrong, but it is all working now.
OK, now that everything is working correctly, I figured I'd pay for the tech to install the radio. I knew that he had much more experience in installing than I, so I knew he could do it neater and faster than I could, and I was there. I had him install the head unit in the alcove where the dash meets the center console, where the 12V accessory power and USB hub are located. I opted out of having it screwed into the bracket, as I think that would make it difficult to plug or unplug items into outlets in that compartment. The nice thing with this location is there is a door that hides it all.
My plan has been to purchase a Pulse Larsen NMOHFGPS antenna base, but have not done so yet. As I don't have it yet, I didn't want him to put the hole in the roof quite yet and I planned on using my magnetic mount for the time being until I finally get the antenna base. If anyone has familiarity with the details of a 2016 Ford F150, you will probably already see where this is going... I learned. Pretty much, the entire body, including roof, is all aluminum and magnets do not stick. One of the reasons I've held off buying the mount is spousal approval... she is hesitant to allow me to poke holes into the truck. From what I hear, this actually involves two holes... a standard hole you would make for a normal NMO mount plus a hole with a pin or bolt that keeps the unit from rotating on the roof. To solve the temporary issue, I've done something quite hokey... I went to Home Depot and got a piece of plate steel and mounted it to the side top rail of the pickup bed. I used a couple of C-clamps to secure it.
Now for my question, does anyone have any better ideas for my antenna situation, before I order the PulseLarsen NMOHFGPS antenna mount?
Both of these issues were driving me nuts, as I went over them many times with no success. I finally made an appointment with an authorized Kenwood dealer I've done business with before. He did one thing about the radio separation unit I had not done, he had a schematic that identified each pin on the separation cable and found on one end of the cable, while all the wires physically looked fine, one wire was not completely seated in the connector. This was thankfully a relatively easy fix. The next issue was with the GPS unit not reporting data. He checked my programming and did not see any flaws. On this particular radio, there are two COM ports you can install GPS to... I had connected it to COM 2. The tech tried connecting it to COM 1, but still could not get any GPS data. On a whim, he had the programming from Nevada County SAR radios, which uses the same software we use in Placer County for tracking searchers (actually, we use their software; the software was created by one of their team members). The radio immediately recognized the GPS unit. I have not yet figured out what I had set wrong, but it is all working now.
OK, now that everything is working correctly, I figured I'd pay for the tech to install the radio. I knew that he had much more experience in installing than I, so I knew he could do it neater and faster than I could, and I was there. I had him install the head unit in the alcove where the dash meets the center console, where the 12V accessory power and USB hub are located. I opted out of having it screwed into the bracket, as I think that would make it difficult to plug or unplug items into outlets in that compartment. The nice thing with this location is there is a door that hides it all.
My plan has been to purchase a Pulse Larsen NMOHFGPS antenna base, but have not done so yet. As I don't have it yet, I didn't want him to put the hole in the roof quite yet and I planned on using my magnetic mount for the time being until I finally get the antenna base. If anyone has familiarity with the details of a 2016 Ford F150, you will probably already see where this is going... I learned. Pretty much, the entire body, including roof, is all aluminum and magnets do not stick. One of the reasons I've held off buying the mount is spousal approval... she is hesitant to allow me to poke holes into the truck. From what I hear, this actually involves two holes... a standard hole you would make for a normal NMO mount plus a hole with a pin or bolt that keeps the unit from rotating on the roof. To solve the temporary issue, I've done something quite hokey... I went to Home Depot and got a piece of plate steel and mounted it to the side top rail of the pickup bed. I used a couple of C-clamps to secure it.
Now for my question, does anyone have any better ideas for my antenna situation, before I order the PulseLarsen NMOHFGPS antenna mount?
