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Hard Wired Communication Setups in 4Runners

ladn

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This is new thread I came across on the Trail4Runner website.
Long time users here on RR might get a chuckle out of some of the equipment being used and how it's installed.

 

Low-Band

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Yep, I think my favorite was #2 with the Mag-Mount antenna on the dash.
(Granted it's only a 15 Watt radio, and RG174 is going to be attenuate about 4.5dB assuming a UHF with a 19.5ft cord) but I still wouldn't want that inside the vehicle.
A proper NMO Antenna mounted outside the vehicle would go a long way
 

mmckenna

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I agree. I've tried to help a few people with Jeep/UTV installs and most don't want to actually put any effort into it. They are totally happy with cigarette lighter/mag mount installs with the radio bungee corded to the dash.
 

jeepsandradios

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@prcguy is right. Many in the Jeep off road community do know the vehicle, but not electronics. But to be fair 90% of trail comms can be done on a handheld and adding the mobile is just ease factor or KISS method. No dead battery and no bouncing on the floor. A 15 watt mobile with a crappy antenna is going to work just as well as the handheld (which many are FRS anyway). There appears to be miss understanding in the GMRS Community over the last few years. Many feel it needs to be ham lite, link repeater, run nets, talk 100 miles....etc... When in fact I would venture to say 90% of the GMRS users talk to there own group on a trail.
 

ladn

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The Jeep forums have similar postings. Some people can be very knowledgeable on vehicles but fail miserably with radios and especially antennas. To them an antenna is nothing more than just a piece of metal, and whadda ya mean I can’t mount it under the vehicle?

I agree. I've tried to help a few people with Jeep/UTV installs and most don't want to actually put any effort into it. They are totally happy with cigarette lighter/mag mount installs with the radio bungee corded to the dash.
Being a 4Runner owner, I found the thread particularly amusing and the GMRS radio users in the (admittedly small) group certainly drank the Midland flavored Kool Aid. And no mention whatsoever of ham radio, or even "Race Radios".

As @prcguy and @mmckenna said, there's lots of questionable installs on otherwise very expensive vehicles.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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The Jeep forums have similar postings. Some people can be very knowledgeable on vehicles but fail miserably with radios and especially antennas. To them an antenna is nothing more than just a piece of metal, and whadda ya mean I can’t mount it under the vehicle?
I had considered buying a Jeep and soon realized that it is not a very good platform for antenna's. I have recently bought a 2013 Ford Expedition with no sunroof and have all the antenna real estate I need.
 
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