V
VGSMC_8520
Guest
Hello all, I'd like to share my mobile setup. I've seen many ugly/incorrect/dangerous installs of CB radios, ham radios, scanners, antennas, etc around online, so here's my setup and a little bit of how it was done to maybe provide some reference for anyone looking to accomplish a similar project.
The vehicle is a 2011 Nissan Frontier S 4x4:
My mobile setup includes:
Hella 9" gooseneck map light: Hella 9" gooseneck map light
Rugged Ridge inclinometer Rugged Ridge inclinometer
Uniden BC355N 800 MHz scanner
Midland 75-822 CB radio
Radio Shack glass mount scanner antenna
Wilson Lil Wil magnet mount CB antenna
Generic 12v cigarette outliet/USB outlet
Here is what the final installation looks like. The scanner is mounted with with supplied bracket, and I added the extra USB and cig power outlets because you can never have too many of those nowadays:
I ran 12 gauge wire from the battery through the firewall, and encased in split loom housing. In-line fuse near the positive battery terminal:
The wire is run to this fuse block under the driver's side dash, and the accessories are plugged into the fuse block with the appropriate fuse:
I also have a similar fuse block wired to the switched accessory circuit using a fuse tap:
Adding these boxes is beneficial not only to protect the 12v accessories with a fuse, but also to allow flexibility for future installs. There are so many YouTube videos out there with guys splitting cigarette outlets 6 ways or jamming a wire into a random fuse for power and grounding to some screw under the dash and that's just absolutely the wrong way to do it. Improper wiring and connections could potentially be dangerous to you or your vehicle/equipment.
I have a Radio Shack glass mount antenna running to the scanner:
The glass mount antenna isn't ideal, but it suits my purposes nicely; I live in a major city, and park my vehicle in underground garages at home and work, so antenna height is a concern. There are no terrain obstructions in my area and the frequencies I listen to are picked up fine with the glass mount antenna.
The Uniden BC355N is certainly nothing fancy, but for me it's the ideal scanner to use in a vehicle as there aren't too many buttons and menus to navigate, allowing you to focus on the road while operating it. Very simple operation once programmed. Uniden's close call feature is also very nice.
I have a Wilson Lil Wil mag mount for the CB. I only occasionally use the CB on the highway or off road, so it's easy to pop on and off when I need. Good SWR with this antenna:
Here are some additional photos of the completed install. The end result is pretty clean with no exposed wires, and no dangerous connections. I hope this can provide a reference to anybody looking to properly wire their mobile setup:
I'm looking to get a technician license in the near future, and I think a detachable face 2m/70cm radio would fit nicely above the scanner. I'm not opposed to drilling through the roof for an additional antenna, but since I'm very limited on antenna height living in the city, a hood lip mount is probably my best option.
The vehicle is a 2011 Nissan Frontier S 4x4:
My mobile setup includes:
Hella 9" gooseneck map light: Hella 9" gooseneck map light
Rugged Ridge inclinometer Rugged Ridge inclinometer
Uniden BC355N 800 MHz scanner
Midland 75-822 CB radio
Radio Shack glass mount scanner antenna
Wilson Lil Wil magnet mount CB antenna
Generic 12v cigarette outliet/USB outlet
Here is what the final installation looks like. The scanner is mounted with with supplied bracket, and I added the extra USB and cig power outlets because you can never have too many of those nowadays:
I ran 12 gauge wire from the battery through the firewall, and encased in split loom housing. In-line fuse near the positive battery terminal:
The wire is run to this fuse block under the driver's side dash, and the accessories are plugged into the fuse block with the appropriate fuse:
I also have a similar fuse block wired to the switched accessory circuit using a fuse tap:
Adding these boxes is beneficial not only to protect the 12v accessories with a fuse, but also to allow flexibility for future installs. There are so many YouTube videos out there with guys splitting cigarette outlets 6 ways or jamming a wire into a random fuse for power and grounding to some screw under the dash and that's just absolutely the wrong way to do it. Improper wiring and connections could potentially be dangerous to you or your vehicle/equipment.
I have a Radio Shack glass mount antenna running to the scanner:
The glass mount antenna isn't ideal, but it suits my purposes nicely; I live in a major city, and park my vehicle in underground garages at home and work, so antenna height is a concern. There are no terrain obstructions in my area and the frequencies I listen to are picked up fine with the glass mount antenna.
The Uniden BC355N is certainly nothing fancy, but for me it's the ideal scanner to use in a vehicle as there aren't too many buttons and menus to navigate, allowing you to focus on the road while operating it. Very simple operation once programmed. Uniden's close call feature is also very nice.
I have a Wilson Lil Wil mag mount for the CB. I only occasionally use the CB on the highway or off road, so it's easy to pop on and off when I need. Good SWR with this antenna:
Here are some additional photos of the completed install. The end result is pretty clean with no exposed wires, and no dangerous connections. I hope this can provide a reference to anybody looking to properly wire their mobile setup:
I'm looking to get a technician license in the near future, and I think a detachable face 2m/70cm radio would fit nicely above the scanner. I'm not opposed to drilling through the roof for an additional antenna, but since I'm very limited on antenna height living in the city, a hood lip mount is probably my best option.
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