K7MFC mobile shack: 2019 Ford F-150 XLT

[belvdr]

Yes, there is a 20A inline fuse from the positive battery connection to the fuse block behind the console.

That’s clean. Awesome!

 

[KG4INW]

Excellent work and writeup! That's a quality installation that you can be proud of. I spent 7.5 years as an installer and appreciate when equipment is installed correctly.

 

[K7MFC]

That’s really interesting, but I think you could be misinterpreting what they’re saying. While there’s a handy dandy grounding point right there under the hood for wiring up lights or winches or whatever else is installed out there, the important part is to not wire ground leads directly to the negative battery terminal. They must go through the chassis ground instead. I don’t think there anything especially magical about that particular grounding point, just calling attention to it so people don’t wire directly to the negative battery post that’s right there next to it.

Maybe I’m wrong.

I suppose I could have picked a random metal piece behind the dashboard to which the negative connection could be made, but I erred on the side of caution not knowing if that would be a sufficient chassis ground and used the grounding point described in the service bulletin.

 

[N9JIG]

Excellent work Matt!

The only question I have is visibility of the scanner display. With it pointing straight out can you see it from the driver's position without diverting too much attention from driving?

Would it be possible to pull the radio forward a bit and re-drill the interior bracket to allow the scanner to be angled upward a bit? Perhaps dropping the two-way to the lower slot would allow more room to the rear.

 

[K7MFC]

Excellent work Matt!

The only question I have is visibility of the scanner display. With it pointing straight out can you see it from the driver's position without diverting too much attention from driving?

I was concerned with this when I purchased the console, but the scanner display is readable as installed, and is in the same field of vision as the HVAC controls. Here's a picture I took from my eye level in the driver's seat:

The picture doesn't really do it justice, but with the contrast set darker and using the white display background, I do not have an issue reading most of the display. The very top of the display is obscured, however, hiding the items on the top line - "HOLD", "SCAN", signal strength meter, squelch level, etc. As far as the ability to keep my eyes on the road, it's certainly an improvement from my previous truck which had the scanner installed in the center arm rest storage area. That required completely taking my eyes off the road and looking straight down, and forced me to only operate the scanner controls while at a complete stop.

Would it be possible to pull the radio forward a bit and re-drill the interior bracket to allow the scanner to be angled upward a bit? Perhaps dropping the two-way to the lower slot would allow more room to the rear.

The supplied bracket unfortunately does not leave much room for modification as far as the angle at which it sits, only allowing a few millimeters of tilt upwards. I would probably need to remove material from the face of the bracket to allow any significant amount of upward tilt.

 

[cmdrwill]

What size is the bolt/stud on the battery cable? Where the smaller cable attaches. Most likely Metric.

 

[K7MFC]

What size is the bolt/stud on the battery cable? Where the smaller cable attaches. Most likely Metric.

10mm, if my memory serves correctly.

 

[mmckenna]

10mm wrench, but pretty sure it's 6mm x 1 pitch

 

[K9EMD]

This is an amazing thread/topic, I am going to have to try and do something half ways as decent as this when I do an install in my Jeep Compass in Spring. Amazing job on the install and the process with pictures.

 

[K7MFC]

The Comtelco A1531B I ordered arrived the other day and the antenna setup is now complete - Larsen 150/450/758 in the front for the scanner, Comtelco A1531B for the VHF/UHF dual band radio:

 

[03msc]

In my experience they perform very well - I think you'll be more than pleased. Keep us posted for sure on what you think.

They look good up there!

 

[MTS2000des]

You're install is better than most of the so called upfitter and radio shops in this town. Great work and a beautiful truck!

 

[Cognomen]

Great work! Thanks for taking the time to document and post the details.

 

[Azgunguy]

Awesome install. Hope to see it on the road here in the valley!

 

[K7MFC]

Spot me in traffic on the 101 & US60 between Gilbert and Scottsdale every day!

 

[Azgunguy]

Spot me in traffic on the 101 & US60 between Gilbert and Scottsdale every day!

That's a heck of a commute!

 

[jeepsandradios]

Clean Install. I had that in my truck for a month then went with a Havis top load style. Now looking at the Plastix Plus console.

 

[K7MFC]

After receiving the CS800D, I discovered that it must be programmed with the DB15 port in the rear of the radio, and cannot be programmed trough the RJ45 jack on the front panel. I needed to leave the programming cable permanently attached to the rear of the radio, and access it by removing the blank panel at the bottom of the console.

I plan on resolving this by installing a feed-though outlet on the console like this.

I finally completed the last thing for the install with a USB pass through connector for the CS800D programming cable:

I purchased this connector from Amazon and it fit perfectly in the existing hole on the Jotto Desk console. Programming the CS800D is done via a USB type A <-> type A cable. The end result is functional as well as cosmetic, cleaning up the look of the unused port on the console.

 

[K5MPH]

Very nice job Matt 73s.......

 

[N9JIG]

Great solution!

Years ago I managed a fleet of a mix of Syntor X9000, Spectra, MasterII, and Delta mobile radios. Every time we made a minor change to a channel it was a total pain in the backside to try to program or re-crystal the radios. I put in a budget request to replace them all with a fleet of 50 GM300's specifically because they could be programmed from the front mic jack without needing access to the rear. I vowed then that I would never again own or buy a radio that did not support front panel programming cable access.