Montero Sport APRS install

[Fury853]

This is my 2000 Montero Sport with a Kenwood and Garmin APRS system. As you can tell from my past post, I have tried a few different radio installs in my Montero. I have tried a CB and dual bander basic set up and a mobile HF set up. But, I have finally found that I enjoy working a mobile APRS station. So I purchased a Kenwood TM 710A and a Garmin NUVI GPS. This system allows me to work the APRS digi repeaters and it allows me to track of other stations on the Garmin’s maps. I also needed to be about to monitor the public safety bands for work. So I purchased a Kenwood TM 71 and set it up with the TM 710. As you know I have a hard time finding a place to mount my radios in my Montero. So I was talking to my buddy Dave K4WHE and he gave me the idea to install the radio displayes from the dash.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/8080043407/" title="2012-08-07_12-05-04_852 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8080043407_089a057478.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="2012-08-07_12-05-04_852"></a>
So I started by pulling the dash back and making a bracket to come out from the dash.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/8080045461/" title="2012-08-07_12-06-54_598 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8046/8080045461_54befc5c7f.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="2012-08-07_12-06-54_598"></a>
After making the bracket, I laced all of the wires threw the dash from under the passenger’s seat to the locations where the remote heads were to be placed. To get the Kenwood to communicate with the Garmin NUVI I order a GTRANS cable from Argentdata.com.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/8080041004/" title="2012-08-07_12-11-02_801 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8080041004_bb0f5b8eda.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="2012-08-07_12-11-02_801"></a>
Then I took sheet metal and I bent it to make the panel for the remote displays.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/8080041854/" title="2012-08-07_12-11-14_30 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8080041854_27624ef917.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="2012-08-07_12-11-14_30"></a>
When I placed the dash back I took the dremel tool and notched out a space on the dash panel for the bracket and cables to pass though.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/8080049521/" title="2012-08-07_12-19-30_81 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8080049521_bcba2ccb3e.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="2012-08-07_12-19-30_81"></a>
To place the remote heads on the bracket I used 3M double sided tape.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/8080044340/" title="2012-08-07_12-38-30_775 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8080044340_289d0fd7cb.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="2012-08-07_12-38-30_775"></a>
At this time I placed remote displays on the bracket and connected all the cables to the remote heads.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/8080045476/" title="2012-08-07_12-50-28_176 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8080045476_83ce22ac4d.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="2012-08-07_12-50-28_176"></a>
In order for the Garmin NUVI to communicate with the TM 710A, The NUVI had to have constant power. So I didn’t use up all my 12v outlets I wired up an outlet to placed it under the dash.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/8080048244/" title="2012-08-07_13-40-28_979 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8080048244_d8179984c7.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="2012-08-07_13-40-28_979"></a>
This is the radio bodies mounted up the seat.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/8080049552/" title="2012-08-07_13-41-13_637 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8080049552_22a5f481f4.jpg" width="500" height="280" alt="2012-08-07_13-41-13_637"></a>
This is the final product powers on.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51623156@N08/8080049030/" title="2012-08-07_13-40-52_423 by john-fury, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8080049030_5d70973cc8.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="2012-08-07_13-40-52_423"></a>

Thank you for taking the time to look at my post! Please comment and let me know what you think about my set up. Also if you have any questions on how I did this install please feel free to ask! Big thanks to Dave K4WHE for helping me with the install!

 

[CommLt]

Looks great. The two Kenwood's compliment each other very nicely. I had a full size 1990 Montero and wish I had it back.

 

[ScanWI]

Great install, nice and compact setup.

 

[lexmedic157]

Nice setup, glad I could help a brotha out!

 

[Jay911]

Very clean, but as a rescuer I have to ask: Do you have that passenger airbag disabled? Those control heads are well within the deployment footprint of the bag.

 

[Rt169Radio]

Looks good and clean.

 

[n9mxq]

I have to agree with Jay911.. That passenger side airbag deploys and that setup with either A: Become shrapnel.. Or B: Become shrapnel and defeat the airbag, thus increasing the injuries of the passenger..

Although it's a top notch looking install, Airbags have to be considered.

 

[Dann]

Looks Great.

 

[SCPD]

They do look great there, but as others already said, the airbag issue is a definite concern.

I'd also add that the 3M double sided tape will eventually dry out and lose its adhesiveness. Not much to do about it except maybe keep some extra there in the vehicle with you.

 

[AK9R]

I'd also add that the 3M double sided tape will eventually dry out and lose its adhesiveness.

For the OP, there are four small holes on the back of the TM-D710 control head that are intended for mounting situations such as yours. There should have been some small black screws in one of the parts bags that are packed with a new radio. Those screws fit those holes.

 

[hippieman556]

nice looking setup