2016 Ford Fusion with Mototrbo and BCD396XT

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Completed several months ago, and took a few months to complete after several trials of different setups. This is a Motorola XPR5550 DMR two-way for ham use, and a BCD996XT, both are in the trunk with remote heads. I originally went with the HHCH (handheld control head) for the Moto but found it's coiled cord way to heavy and bulky, and the speaker audio wasn't great. Ended up going with a full remote head installed in place of the sunglasses dropdown. I am using the rear connector mic input and running a mic extension cable to the trunk....



I am using a radio shack powered speaker behind the dash near the fuse box for scanner audio.



I ran the motorola remote head cable through the headliner, down the A pillar, under the door sills, and to the trunk, with only and inch to spare.

I also found the Ford Fusion with "MyFord touch" is horrible with RFI, smart car electrics nowadays are a PITA for hams. You can't even turn OFF the sound system, it turns on as soon as you step into the car! Fords entertainment system "power switch" is only a placebo "mute", and the stereo's amps stay on. The low rumbling noises from the stereo's speakers was so annoying when I was in transmit, I ended up rigging my own hardware power switch to the system/fuse box to shut the dang thing down! I also have a power switch for all the radio gear (including Mototrbo rear connectors ignition sense) so I can shut down everything at once. Both switches are hidden rockers under the steering column.

 

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Some more pics.... I am using Laird NMO trunk mounts with quarter wave spikes....

BCD396XT in the trunk battery compartment



My rig to interrupt power to the stereo system at the fuse block, I used these same taps to get power to the scanner and it's remote head, and amplified speaker, rocker switches are mounted under the steering wheel.

There is a heavy Motorola remote head cable with huge D connectors running to the trunk, had a heck of a time running it.

 

[W8RMH]

Well done. One of the best installs I have ever seen.

 

[N5TWB]

I like everything about that set-up and install!

 

[SARCommCoord]

drill....the....trunk

 

[tglendye]

Very well done!

 

[GrumpyGuard]

Nice clean install.

 

[Dann]

Very Nice.....

 

[omrail]

Very impressive.

 

[mrweather]

drill....the....trunk

Amen.

The install is super clean and looks great. But if it were my car I'd pop a couple of NMO on the trunklid.

 

[RFE01]

Very clean install. Seems a lot of Fusion owners mount in the center console cubby. Almost like it was designed for it.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I'd drill as well...but that's just me.





I've found some manufacturers have control cable tracks which run down the door frames. My GMC's was plenty big to handle a 25 wire cable bundle.

 

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Thank you everyone! Yea, I may be over the drilling thing, used to do it to all my cars and trucks in the 90's, always had 1 for each band. I still have the NMO drill bit in my toolbox, good for stopping you from punching through headliners. Maybe someday.

 

[wdz]

Nice job!