12 Explorer Install

[kb8srx]

Good Morning Guys, I am getting ready to install the mobile shack in my 2012 explorer XLT, have the Havis console on the way, will be here in a couple of weeks, I need your input and thoughts on antenna placement on the roof, my dilemma lies in the fact that I have dual sunroofs, and need to put one dual band (VHF/UHF), one VHF, one UHF, and one 800 MHz antenna on there, and I want to do all NMO mounting, no glass mounts, no lip mounts. the Hi-Q antenna is coming off the trailor hitch from the underside.

the second thing I need to pick your brains about is speaker placement, most of you know the Astro Spectras require their own speaker, and the speaker for the IC-7000 already has a special place on the consoles faceplate, so at this time, 2 speakers for the spectras and 1 for 800MHz.

hopefully this will be a good, clean conversation,

 

[Markscan]

I have a 13 Explorer with the dual sunroof. There’s plenty of room for nmo mounts. I only have one but it was no problem.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mmckenna]

A sun roof can be a pain. Looks like markscan has some good info you can work with.

While dropping the headliners is a PITA, it can be beneficial to help you visualize everything. Making sure coax is routed out of the path of retractable sun roofs, making sure you route it out of the way of airbags, etc. It's worth the time to do it right.

Placement of the antennas is important. However, which bands are important to you plays into this also.
One thing to consider is that at higher frequencies, coaxial cable loss can be a minor issue. When faces with this sort of stuff, I usually install the antennas so the higher frequency stuff is on the shorter cable runs and the lower frequency antennas are on the longer ones.

Antenna separation is key, too, so make sure you have enough space between them. There's really no hard and fast rule to figure it out, as there are variables involved. Most commercial gear has enough filtering to take a certain amount of abuse.
I've had good luck with 1/4 wavelength or more on the lowest frequency. You also need to figure in enough ground plane under the antenna. Spending some time hashing it out, then measuring it all will pay off.
I doubt you'll have much of an issue, even with all the sun roof space, you have some good real estate to work with. If your RF decks are going in the rear, that should help keep coax runs short, but even on a full size vehicle, it's usually not an issue.

Hopefully you know to use good name brand stuff. Especially with the NMO mounts. No point in putting all the hard work into this and use a bunch of cheap Chinese stuff. Good on you for doing it right. I love seeing a good antenna install and seriously cringe at some of the stuff I see on this site.

 

[kb8srx]

I have a 13 Explorer with the dual sunroof. There’s plenty of room for nmo mounts. I only have one but it was no problem.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Did you have any issues with the rear slide catching the NMO mounts?

 

[Markscan]

I had the radio contractor that does work on our ambulances install my antenna. The tech told me they had templates for the police interceptor and civilian Explorers. I didn’t trust my drilling skills, so I had the pro’s do it. Works great!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[kb8srx]

A sun roof can be a pain. Looks like markscan has some good info you can work with.

While dropping the headliners is a PITA, it can be beneficial to help you visualize everything. Making sure coax is routed out of the path of retractable sun roofs, making sure you route it out of the way of airbags, etc. It's worth the time to do it right.

Placement of the antennas is important. However, which bands are important to you plays into this also.
One thing to consider is that at higher frequencies, coaxial cable loss can be a minor issue. When faces with this sort of stuff, I usually install the antennas so the higher frequency stuff is on the shorter cable runs and the lower frequency antennas are on the longer ones.

Antenna separation is key, too, so make sure you have enough space between them. There's really no hard and fast rule to figure it out, as there are variables involved. Most commercial gear has enough filtering to take a certain amount of abuse.
I've had good luck with 1/4 wavelength or more on the lowest frequency. You also need to figure in enough ground plane under the antenna. Spending some time hashing it out, then measuring it all will pay off.
I doubt you'll have much of an issue, even with all the sun roof space, you have some good real estate to work with. If your RF decks are going in the rear, that should help keep coax runs short, but even on a full size vehicle, it's usually not an issue.

Hopefully you know to use good name brand stuff. Especially with the NMO mounts. No point in putting all the hard work into this and use a bunch of cheap Chinese stuff. Good on you for doing it right. I love seeing a good antenna install and seriously cringe at some of the stuff I see on this site.

I wholeheartedly agree on the "Take your time and do it right" part, i have been planning this install for over a year, and since the console is still 2-3 weeks out from Havis, i have plenty of time to work out the details, and i also wholeheartedly agree on the "not using the cheap junk" i have used the cheap stuff in the past and has bitten me, so i dont think ill make that mistake again.....

Also why i decided to make this thread, to kinda help making sure i aint missing something simple.

 

[kb8srx]

I had the radio contractor that does work on our ambulances install my antenna. The tech told me they had templates for the police interceptor and civilian Explorers. I didn’t trust my drilling skills, so I had the pro’s do it. Works great!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Well, i am pretty efficient with drilling, and i dont have the luxury of an install shop thats anywhere local, putting the NMOs on wont be an issue, i was just wandering about that rear sunroof slide, whether it would hit the coax

 

[kb8srx]

also, I forgot to mention, that I have an Ameritron ALS-500RM to go in there as well, where would you end up mounting that?

 

[mmckenna]

Well, i am pretty efficient with drilling, and i dont have the luxury of an install shop thats anywhere local, putting the NMOs on wont be an issue, i was just wandering about that rear sunroof slide, whether it would hit the coax

A good reason to drop the headliner.

Many years ago I installed a single NMO mount on my wife's 2009 Ford Escape. It had a sun roof (she had to have it, I didn't). I was able to drop the rear of the headliner and measure everything out really well. Took the better part of a day to do it all, but 10 years out and it's still doing fine.

 

[mmckenna]

also, I forgot to mention, that I have an Ameritron ALS-500RM to go in there as well, where would you end up mounting that?

Don't know, never installed on of those.
power consumption would seem to be the big challenge there, so finding a place where it will physically fit and you can get the power feed to, all while keeping the power cabling short.
If you are installing the RF decks for the other radios in the rear, that might be the way to go. Run a large gauge power feed back there and use it to feed everything. Just be sure voltage drop doesn't be come an issue when you TX.

Some of our cars at work have a separate 12 volt battery in the rear just for the radios, lights and computer equipment. A singe #2 wire from a battery isolator under the hood feeds it.

 

[kb8srx]

Don't know, never installed on of those.
power consumption would seem to be the big challenge there, so finding a place where it will physically fit and you can get the power feed to, all while keeping the power cabling short.
If you are installing the RF decks for the other radios in the rear, that might be the way to go. Run a large gauge power feed back there and use it to feed everything. Just be sure voltage drop doesn't be come an issue when you TX.

Some of our cars at work have a separate 12 volt battery in the rear just for the radios, lights and computer equipment. A singe #2 wire from a battery isolator under the hood feeds it.

Running the Heavy gauge wire to feed it wont be such a big issue, but I dont think I will put another battery in the back, and right now Im not 100% certain on where the Spectra decks will end up living, still working on the details of that part, and also depends on whether the IC-7000 deck will live in the console, or just the remote head, I am waiting on the console to arrive to start making better decisions with that. and I totally forgot about the ALS-500 until last night, I got a great deal on it at the dayton Hamvention 2018, and its been in the box since.

 

[kb8srx]

I was kinda hoping there was at least one person on RR that has done an explorer install with motorolas that had a few pics for ideas

 

[mmckenna]

I was kinda hoping there was at least one person on RR that has done an explorer install with motorolas that had a few pics for ideas

I had a lot of photos from our patrol cars, but lost them at some point when transferring stuff around on my computer. There are lots of photos on line of how these cars are set up, as well as the Ford upfitter manuals.
Most of the setups are going to be well beyond what you need as an amateur, but it'll give you some ideas.

 

[radioman2001]

One word of advice any antenna bigger then a unity gain NMO antenna you better back up the mount with a plate or something. The roofs on these vehicles are extemely thin, on the order of an aluminum can. I used 1900 box covers on the inside and a thick wall NMO mount.
I have a 2015 Explorer PI so my mounts are not going to help with your install, but I ran all my cables down the "B" pillar to stay away from all the air bags. I used the factory supplied battery post for all my 12v connections.

 

[kb8srx]

One word of advice any antenna bigger then a unity gain NMO antenna you better back up the mount with a plate or something. The roofs on these vehicles are extemely thin, on the order of an aluminum can. I used 1900 box covers on the inside and a thick wall NMO mount.
I have a 2015 Explorer PI so my mounts are not going to help with your install, but I ran all my cables down the "B" pillar to stay away from all the air bags. I used the factory supplied battery post for all my 12v connections.

You wouldn't be willing to share a few pics of how the RF decks are mounted in your PI would you ?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[radioman2001]

I mounted my RF decks all 110w Astro Spectra's on the seat frames under both front seats. The seat frame is also the roll cage for the vehicle so don't go too crazy drilling holes. I drilled 2ea 1/4 in holes from the top for the rear holes on the base plates and radios are hung upside down for clearance. Once bolted down it's quite sturdy, and I also made a special cable that allows me to use all 3 radios (have capability for 4 )on one W-9 head. I simply switch on whatever radio I want to use via a rotary switch located in the center console. Speaker is mounted inside console so there is not much showing. Mic is mounted on passenger side of center console.
BTW my vehicle is a PI with what used to called "street appearance package"

 

[kb8srx]

I mounted my RF decks all 110w Astro Spectra's on the seat frames under both front seats. The seat frame is also the roll cage for the vehicle so don't go too crazy drilling holes. I drilled 2ea 1/4 in holes from the top for the rear holes on the base plates and radios are hung upside down for clearance. Once bolted down it's quite sturdy, and I also made a special cable that allows me to use all 3 radios (have capability for 4 )on one W-9 head. I simply switch on whatever radio I want to use via a rotary switch located in the center console. Speaker is mounted inside console so there is not much showing. Mic is mounted on passenger side of center console.
BTW my vehicle is a PI with what used to called "street appearance package"

You know, I was just looking yesterday, under the front seats wondering if I could use that space, since I dont ever put stuff under that, were you a part of mounting them, I am wondering if you pulled the seats, and turned them upside down for the drilling and mounting part? did you have to do anything special to the spectra mounting plates to get them mounted? I am now seriously considering this........

did it interfere with the movement of the seat?

 

[kb8srx]

And what thickness of doubler would you recommend for the dual band VHF/UHF antenna?

I think the monobanders would probably be ok on their own.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[radioman2001]

The seats themselves, at least in the PI don't have much of a frame, so I went with the roll cage. There is no interference of movement unless the radio is very thick and you have the seat all the way down to the floor. I used standard 110 watt Spectra plates nothing special.
As far as the antenna once you mount it rock it back and forth and you will see what happens to the roof when it hits a tree branch or garage door. If it deflects too much put a 1900 box backing plate. Even my 5db 800 makes the roof bend each time I go in the garage since it is so stiff.
Oh I also just remebered, on at least the PI there is a small compartment (8-10in wide) that runs lengthwise right behind the rear seats, too small for my radios but yours might fit. I put a vehicle repeater in there (about the size of a Kenwood mobile).

 

[kb8srx]

ok, so now I have the Toughbook, docking station, and its related parts, the Havis console will be here tomorrow (that only took 5 weeks) but its gonna be here, radios are ready to go, placed the order for the Laird NMO mounts a couple of days ago, they will also be here this week, and placed the order for the antennas today, ended up going with Larsen monobanders for VHF and UHF, Larsen NMO270SH Dualbanders and a SenComm Multi-Polarized 5.1Dbi gain stealth for 800Mhz and of coarse the Big Dog......the Hi-Q 4-160 Piranha for HF-6 meters........

all coming together very quickly it seems, considering how long this has been in the "Planning" stage.......

When did our "Hobby" get so darned expensive ?