Installation advice.

[jason_58201]

I recently purchased a 2020 F-150 Lariat and looking for some advice on installing an antenna and scanner.

Equipment wise I have a couple of options. I have a BCD436HP, or, I could go with a 996p2 with remote head. I am leaning towards installing the 996 under the dash and run the remote head on the center console below the climate controls. I would probably have to install an outboard speaker too. The real dilemma is where to put an antenna. If I go under the dash the logical choice is a fender mount on the drivers side. I’d like to have an antenna that could capture it all, CB, 10m, 6m, 2m, 70cm, 15X VHF AND 45X uhf and of course 800 mhz. Are there any decent antennas out there that would work on a fender mount on aluminum body that can capture all that? Only monitoring, no TX.

 

[mmckenna]

I recently purchased a 2020 F-150 Lariat and looking for some advice on installing an antenna and scanner.

Equipment wise I have a couple of options. I have a BCD436HP, or, I could go with a 996p2 with remote head. I am leaning towards installing the 996 under the dash and run the remote head on the center console below the climate controls. I would probably have to install an outboard speaker too. The real dilemma is where to put an antenna. If I go under the dash the logical choice is a fender mount on the drivers side. I’d like to have an antenna that could capture it all, CB, 10m, 6m, 2m, 70cm, 15X VHF AND 45X uhf and of course 800 mhz. Are there any decent antennas out there that would work on a fender mount on aluminum body that can capture all that? Only monitoring, no TX.

The F-series trucks haven't changed that much in the last 10 years. There's a number of posts showing installations if you do a search. I did one on an F150 back in 2011/2012 timeframe, as well as 2 F-350 installs back in 2017/2018 time frame.

Mounting the antenna on the roof really helps performance, especially on the higher frequencies. Might not be in your comfort/skill range, but it is something to consider.

As for an antenna that will cover everything from 27MHz on up to 800MHz, there really isn't anything in the professional realm that will do that. You'd probably need to use two antennas, something for CB/10m/6m, and then one of the commercial multiband mobile antennas that will do VHF/UHF/700/800MHz, like the Larsen and EM Wave antennas.

 

[JimD56]

996P2 does NOT support the RH-96 Remote Head.

 

[lebrunmn]

996P2 does NOT support the RH-96 Remote Head.

I was going to say the same thing, but only add that it doesn't support the 996P2 "out of the box"... There is a thread with a successful mod so that it can support the RH-96.

BCD325P2/BCD996P2: - RH96 on a BCD996P2? Yep!

Well, we thought it couldn't be done, and we were wrong. After a lot of discussion and work Ric Plummer, KV1W has made it happen. I had the pleasure of assisting him with testing and encouragement and it works great. I have this installed in my truck and used it all day today with no problems...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[ofd8001]

I've got a 2020 F150 Lariat as well. In the center console I have an SDS 200, 800 trunked radio and a VHF radio. Tight fit but works. Unfortunately there is no remote head. On a previous vehicle, 2013, I used a BCD 536 with the Siren App on a decommissioned iPhone. I kinda liked that, but no volume control. (Before the BCD 536 I had the 996XT with a remote head in the dash - that was the very best and things went backwards for each later scanner model.)

I gotta bite the bullet and open the console lid if I want to adjust anything on the scanner.

Speakers are the amplified kind and under the vehicle seats.

Because of low clearance on garage door (and moon roof), I could not do roof antennas. So I got a couple of Vehicle Specific Antenna mounts, one for left fender, another for the right. The 800 radio uses a trunk lip mount on the hood.

Fender Bracket Mounts | The Antenna Farm

Are you looking for the best Fender Bracket mounts for sale? Shop them all today at The Antenna Farm.

theantennafarm.com

I've seen some chatter about an SDS 200 remote head which interests me, but I'm not holding my breath for that to come to fruition. Supposedly one could connect something like a Raspberry PI to the SDS 200, then use ProScan to remote in using a smartphone. But I'm not savvy enough to pull that off.

 

[jason_58201]

As I stated in my post I have the panoramic moon roof so a roof antenna is out of the question.

 

[jeepsandradios]

There is enough room behind the moonroof to mount a single NMO in the center above the brake light.

 

[jason_58201]

There is enough room behind the moonroof to mount a single NMO in the center above the brake light.

With the extended one? Basically my whole roof is glass.

 

[jeepsandradios]

The last one I did had the Sirius/XM antenna on the passengers side behind the glass. There was about a 6" strip of steel along the rear to the other side. Can't find a picture but here is a 2019.

 

[ofd8001]

Ahh. I didn’t pay attention to original poster’s name. The fender set up I described works just fine in your part of the world. Have often traveled there and found reception to be excellent. Would hear GFPD while in Crookston. (Interesting listening to beet haulers this time of year).

Might look into amplifies speakers though.

 

[03msc]

As I stated in my post I have the panoramic moon roof so a roof antenna is out of the question.

I don't believe this was stated originally but that does change things up a bit. However, as said, you should be able to do it near the rear/third brake light. There are also those brake light mounting brackets that a company or two out there make. A bit pricy but a clean look nonetheless.