K4APR
Member
Over the last couple of weeks I have been slowly completing an install in my new 2013 Jeep Patriot.
Here is a rundown of the installed equipment:
- Voice Radio - Kenwood TM-V71A - Remote Head Configuration
- APRS Radio - Kenwood TM-271 - Modified with rear-panel packet port
- APRS Tracker/Display - YagTracker APRS Terminal - http://www.rpc-electronics.com/yagtracker.php
- YagTracker Breakout Box - RPC Electronics, LLC - http://www.rpc-electronics.com/yagtrackerbob.php
- APRS GPS - RPC Electronics, LLC GPS Engine - Prototype unit, not available for purchase yet
- Power - RPC Electronics, LLC Controlled PowerPole Distribution Box - http://www.rpc-electronics.com/dcpower.php
- 2 x Diamond Roof Rack NMO Antenna Mounts
- Larsen VHF/UHF Dual-Band NMO Antenna
- Laird VHF 5/8 wave VHF Antenna
- Trimble 3/4" Hole Mount GPS "Puck" Antenna
I decided to mount a majority of the gear under the false-floor deck in the back, near the spare tire. Since the tire takes up so much space, I had to shove everything to one side and space was a bit limited. The board is just some old peg board left over from some hamfest displays painted black. I'm not 100% happy with the cable management and the placement of everything, so it might get moved around to make the cables look nicer. In general I am really anal about cable runs and not letting it look like a mess.
The TM-V71A control head cable was simply CAT3 cable with an RJ-45 at the radio body end and an RJ-22 at the head end. Saved a bunch of money by not buying the Kenwood kit. The microphone is extended through a CAT6 patch cable, with an RJ45 female to female coupler at mic end.
The YagTracker cable carries power, GPS data and TNC audio, so it's made up a of a couple cables into a single connector at each end to shield and isolate everything. I ran this cable over head, between the roof and headliner. The YagTracker breakout box "breaks out" all of the power, data and TNC audio connections at the radio end. This keeps the cabling to a minimum between the YagTracker and the Radio/Power/GPS.
The GPS is a test unit that I have built to become a new product. At this time only three of these are in existence. Once I am happy with the performance over a few months, I'll start manufacturing these for sale.
All of the power distribution is done through our new Controller PowerPole Power Distribution block. This is simple power in, five power ports out, but with a twist. Ports 1-3 are hot all of the time. Ports 4 and 5 are tied through on-board 10 Amp relays that are controlled through a green pluggable header next to the power input PowerPole connection. When these control point(s) is/are grounded, the relay(s) engage, turning the respective port on. This allows for a very flexible remote control system of up to two individual devices. The control port actually has four contacts: Two are the control inputs and two are mated ground connections. You can make the connection using these grounds or use the common vehicle ground to control these. We call this Double Ended and Single Ended triggering. if you decide that you want these ports on all of the time, with no control, you can simple install jumpers between these ground and the control points and the relays will stay engaged all of the time, turning the port on full-time.
The antenna mounts are Diamond SUV roof rack mounts. The rack is actually plastic covered, so I don't get a true chasis ground at this point and that did concern me. However, it seems that I am getting a decent enough ground through the RG-174's shield to the vehicle's body that they are working fine. I ran both through my RF TDR at work and they actually sweep at 1.3:1 or better across the entire VHF and UHF spectrum.
OK, enough with the words. Here are the pictures!
TM-V71A Control Head:
YagTracker APRS Terminal (Picture is dark. Please see link above in the equipment list):
Rear Under-Deck Installation (Cable management is NOT complete):
Antennas:
GPS Antenna:
Here is a rundown of the installed equipment:
- Voice Radio - Kenwood TM-V71A - Remote Head Configuration
- APRS Radio - Kenwood TM-271 - Modified with rear-panel packet port
- APRS Tracker/Display - YagTracker APRS Terminal - http://www.rpc-electronics.com/yagtracker.php
- YagTracker Breakout Box - RPC Electronics, LLC - http://www.rpc-electronics.com/yagtrackerbob.php
- APRS GPS - RPC Electronics, LLC GPS Engine - Prototype unit, not available for purchase yet
- Power - RPC Electronics, LLC Controlled PowerPole Distribution Box - http://www.rpc-electronics.com/dcpower.php
- 2 x Diamond Roof Rack NMO Antenna Mounts
- Larsen VHF/UHF Dual-Band NMO Antenna
- Laird VHF 5/8 wave VHF Antenna
- Trimble 3/4" Hole Mount GPS "Puck" Antenna
I decided to mount a majority of the gear under the false-floor deck in the back, near the spare tire. Since the tire takes up so much space, I had to shove everything to one side and space was a bit limited. The board is just some old peg board left over from some hamfest displays painted black. I'm not 100% happy with the cable management and the placement of everything, so it might get moved around to make the cables look nicer. In general I am really anal about cable runs and not letting it look like a mess.
The TM-V71A control head cable was simply CAT3 cable with an RJ-45 at the radio body end and an RJ-22 at the head end. Saved a bunch of money by not buying the Kenwood kit. The microphone is extended through a CAT6 patch cable, with an RJ45 female to female coupler at mic end.
The YagTracker cable carries power, GPS data and TNC audio, so it's made up a of a couple cables into a single connector at each end to shield and isolate everything. I ran this cable over head, between the roof and headliner. The YagTracker breakout box "breaks out" all of the power, data and TNC audio connections at the radio end. This keeps the cabling to a minimum between the YagTracker and the Radio/Power/GPS.
The GPS is a test unit that I have built to become a new product. At this time only three of these are in existence. Once I am happy with the performance over a few months, I'll start manufacturing these for sale.
All of the power distribution is done through our new Controller PowerPole Power Distribution block. This is simple power in, five power ports out, but with a twist. Ports 1-3 are hot all of the time. Ports 4 and 5 are tied through on-board 10 Amp relays that are controlled through a green pluggable header next to the power input PowerPole connection. When these control point(s) is/are grounded, the relay(s) engage, turning the respective port on. This allows for a very flexible remote control system of up to two individual devices. The control port actually has four contacts: Two are the control inputs and two are mated ground connections. You can make the connection using these grounds or use the common vehicle ground to control these. We call this Double Ended and Single Ended triggering. if you decide that you want these ports on all of the time, with no control, you can simple install jumpers between these ground and the control points and the relays will stay engaged all of the time, turning the port on full-time.
The antenna mounts are Diamond SUV roof rack mounts. The rack is actually plastic covered, so I don't get a true chasis ground at this point and that did concern me. However, it seems that I am getting a decent enough ground through the RG-174's shield to the vehicle's body that they are working fine. I ran both through my RF TDR at work and they actually sweep at 1.3:1 or better across the entire VHF and UHF spectrum.
OK, enough with the words. Here are the pictures!
TM-V71A Control Head:
YagTracker APRS Terminal (Picture is dark. Please see link above in the equipment list):
Rear Under-Deck Installation (Cable management is NOT complete):
Antennas:
GPS Antenna:
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I work at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in the RF Communications lab. Those dishes ARE actually telemetry, but they support the TM group upstairs 
