Recently purchased the RH96 and Garmin GPS 18 to complement the BCT15. I had the 15 mounted to the right of the center console, and it was so heavy it was pulling off the trim. The display was also 90 degrees perpendicular to me, and I wanted to be able to see the screen better. I had a yaesu FT-7100 mounted under the drivers seat, with the remote head for that mounted near my left knee.
I wanted to try and put both radios under the seat, preferably the same seat for power convienince, but didnt want to have to drill another hole in the car floor. When I originally tried to mount the yaesu, I drilled into the floor under the seat, and when reversed the drill and brought it out of the hole the bit was wet. Which didn't seem like a good sign. So I had my friend with install experience finish it.
I decided to try and mount both radios to a board. I had power direct from the battery already run under the seat, but no way of switching it on or off - aside from the power knobs on the individual units. Thus, the requirements of the install would be the following:
1. Per my measurements, all equipment would need to fit on a 14"x12" board. The total height could not exceed approx 3-4".
2. Mount the radios: BCT-15, FT-7100
3. Relay controlled power
4. Power distribution for the radios
5. 12VDC Cig lighter jack on the board to supply the Garmin GPS 18
6. I had so much junk in the shop that I didn't want to spend any money on the project, so I would salvage as much as I could from the project graveyard.
Mounting the FT-7100 was pretty simple - found some non-radio brackets which fit
I originally was going to use the supplied uniden bracket for the BCT15 - except was too high and I couldnt fit it under the seat. I coundn't find any suitable brackets on the 0$ budget, so I popped two holes in the black outer sleeve. I bolted the case to the board, and countersunk the nuts on the other side, sawing and dremeling off the excess bolt length. I then realized I had bolted the unit on backwards, which would have left cable overhanging off the board when completed. Because the nuts were countersunk and the bolts cut, I couldnt unbolt the case from the board. I had to pop two holes in the top of the case to access the screw slots.
The rest of the mounting and wiring went pretty smoothly.
The dash of the car is not forgiving to modification and or addition. I wanted to mount the head where I could see it better, but it was still to large to put it where i wanted to. I then remembered that I had removed an insert in the twin cup holder which was used to reduce the internal diamenter of the cup holder for smaller cups. I bolted my mount into the insert, and then bolted the RH96 to the mount. As it stands now, the mount is perfect. The height and location to my right hand is great, and the mount allows horizonal movement so I can swivel the head without difficulty. The problem is that the location is too good! I feel i'll get distracted by watching the screen. So I think that ill move the head back to where the original location of the radio was, to the right of the console.
I put everything in today and ran the wires. I have to finish it up tommorow, but I may not have time. I still have to tap a power wire that is controlled by the ignition, to run to the relay. I tested it, and everything seems to work so far...and now for the pics:
I wanted to try and put both radios under the seat, preferably the same seat for power convienince, but didnt want to have to drill another hole in the car floor. When I originally tried to mount the yaesu, I drilled into the floor under the seat, and when reversed the drill and brought it out of the hole the bit was wet. Which didn't seem like a good sign. So I had my friend with install experience finish it.
I decided to try and mount both radios to a board. I had power direct from the battery already run under the seat, but no way of switching it on or off - aside from the power knobs on the individual units. Thus, the requirements of the install would be the following:
1. Per my measurements, all equipment would need to fit on a 14"x12" board. The total height could not exceed approx 3-4".
2. Mount the radios: BCT-15, FT-7100
3. Relay controlled power
4. Power distribution for the radios
5. 12VDC Cig lighter jack on the board to supply the Garmin GPS 18
6. I had so much junk in the shop that I didn't want to spend any money on the project, so I would salvage as much as I could from the project graveyard.
Mounting the FT-7100 was pretty simple - found some non-radio brackets which fit
I originally was going to use the supplied uniden bracket for the BCT15 - except was too high and I couldnt fit it under the seat. I coundn't find any suitable brackets on the 0$ budget, so I popped two holes in the black outer sleeve. I bolted the case to the board, and countersunk the nuts on the other side, sawing and dremeling off the excess bolt length. I then realized I had bolted the unit on backwards, which would have left cable overhanging off the board when completed. Because the nuts were countersunk and the bolts cut, I couldnt unbolt the case from the board. I had to pop two holes in the top of the case to access the screw slots.
The rest of the mounting and wiring went pretty smoothly.
The dash of the car is not forgiving to modification and or addition. I wanted to mount the head where I could see it better, but it was still to large to put it where i wanted to. I then remembered that I had removed an insert in the twin cup holder which was used to reduce the internal diamenter of the cup holder for smaller cups. I bolted my mount into the insert, and then bolted the RH96 to the mount. As it stands now, the mount is perfect. The height and location to my right hand is great, and the mount allows horizonal movement so I can swivel the head without difficulty. The problem is that the location is too good! I feel i'll get distracted by watching the screen. So I think that ill move the head back to where the original location of the radio was, to the right of the console.
I put everything in today and ran the wires. I have to finish it up tommorow, but I may not have time. I still have to tap a power wire that is controlled by the ignition, to run to the relay. I tested it, and everything seems to work so far...and now for the pics:
