bReed11091
Member
Today was a nice day, so I decided to take some pictures of the Kenwood TM-D710A radio I installed a few weeks ago. Because of my schedule, this install took about 3 days to complete, with a total of about 6 hours of labor. After the experience I gained doing this, I'm sure that I could do it within 4 hours on one day. I'll start at the trunk.
Here is where I decided to install the main unit of the radio. After making sure there were no wired in the way and I wouldn't hit the gas tank, I drilled three holes so I could screw in the mount. I would have drilled four holes, but in order for the radio to fit properly I needed the leave the mount a little flexible at one end. It does seem pretty secure with only three.
This is the cabling from the main unit into the vehicle. Some of that on the far left is for factory installed equipment (CD changer and tail lights).
You can see where I ran the cables. I couldn't really get them under the first piece of paneling. This car is not really made to be taken apart and fitted with custom equipment.
From the driver's side front, you can see where the mic cable (blue) runs under the driver seat. The other cable along the paneling is the power cable. I left that part sticking out so I could have easy access to the fuses that are there, however, I may decide to put that under the paneling sometime soon so I stop hitting it with my feet when I get in and out of my car.
A close up of the section of power cable with the fuse. This is just a generic replacement power cable. It was longer than the OEM power cable that came with the Kenwood TM-D710A, and the cables weren't split apart.
Cables near the driver's side front door hinge. White cable is for the remote head, and the other cable is the power cable.
This is where the power cable enters the engine compartment. Unfortunately, it is also where the generic power cable ran short, so I put a connector on the end of that and attached the supplied OEM Kenwood cable.
Power cable connected to the battery
Dual-band antenna with a homemade magnet mount. The mount uses a lid from an aluminum can, hard drive magnets, an NMO connector (PL-259 at radio end), and a protector on the bottom. The magnets are epoxied on there. I didn't make this myself, but it does work really well. The antenna is just some cheap $12 NMO antenna that I bought from the same guy selling the magnet mount. It does ok, but I plan on using a different antenna and mount for spring storm spotting.
The remote head is just stuck on the dash with the adhesive tape that came with the mobile mounting bracket. I chose this spot rather than down lower so I wouldn't have to drill holes in my dash, and I also plan on getting the GPS-710 unit from Green Light Labs for APRS usage. In order for that to obtain and maintain a strong lock and accurate signal, I'll need the remote head to be on the dash.
I don't have a good place to mount the mic right now, so I just have it setting inside the center console. It sets nicely inside the center of a roll of painters tape, so no objects accidentally key it up.
This is a picture of one of the speakers I have. Because the built-in speaker is built within the main unit, I had to buy external speakers. Fortunately, I found two really nice generic speakers that I bought for $5 each at the Cherryland Hamfest in Traverse City, MI (same place where I bought the antenna and mount).
Other view of the one of the generic speakers.
Here's the car itself. Freshly washed, waxed, and Armor Alled.
Hope you enjoy, and maybe somebody can use this as information for installing a similar radio in a similar vehicle!
Bronson
Here is where I decided to install the main unit of the radio. After making sure there were no wired in the way and I wouldn't hit the gas tank, I drilled three holes so I could screw in the mount. I would have drilled four holes, but in order for the radio to fit properly I needed the leave the mount a little flexible at one end. It does seem pretty secure with only three.
This is the cabling from the main unit into the vehicle. Some of that on the far left is for factory installed equipment (CD changer and tail lights).
You can see where I ran the cables. I couldn't really get them under the first piece of paneling. This car is not really made to be taken apart and fitted with custom equipment.
From the driver's side front, you can see where the mic cable (blue) runs under the driver seat. The other cable along the paneling is the power cable. I left that part sticking out so I could have easy access to the fuses that are there, however, I may decide to put that under the paneling sometime soon so I stop hitting it with my feet when I get in and out of my car.
A close up of the section of power cable with the fuse. This is just a generic replacement power cable. It was longer than the OEM power cable that came with the Kenwood TM-D710A, and the cables weren't split apart.
Cables near the driver's side front door hinge. White cable is for the remote head, and the other cable is the power cable.
This is where the power cable enters the engine compartment. Unfortunately, it is also where the generic power cable ran short, so I put a connector on the end of that and attached the supplied OEM Kenwood cable.
Power cable connected to the battery
Dual-band antenna with a homemade magnet mount. The mount uses a lid from an aluminum can, hard drive magnets, an NMO connector (PL-259 at radio end), and a protector on the bottom. The magnets are epoxied on there. I didn't make this myself, but it does work really well. The antenna is just some cheap $12 NMO antenna that I bought from the same guy selling the magnet mount. It does ok, but I plan on using a different antenna and mount for spring storm spotting.
The remote head is just stuck on the dash with the adhesive tape that came with the mobile mounting bracket. I chose this spot rather than down lower so I wouldn't have to drill holes in my dash, and I also plan on getting the GPS-710 unit from Green Light Labs for APRS usage. In order for that to obtain and maintain a strong lock and accurate signal, I'll need the remote head to be on the dash.
I don't have a good place to mount the mic right now, so I just have it setting inside the center console. It sets nicely inside the center of a roll of painters tape, so no objects accidentally key it up.
This is a picture of one of the speakers I have. Because the built-in speaker is built within the main unit, I had to buy external speakers. Fortunately, I found two really nice generic speakers that I bought for $5 each at the Cherryland Hamfest in Traverse City, MI (same place where I bought the antenna and mount).
Other view of the one of the generic speakers.
Here's the car itself. Freshly washed, waxed, and Armor Alled.
Hope you enjoy, and maybe somebody can use this as information for installing a similar radio in a similar vehicle!
Bronson
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