I am leaving in a couple weeks for a trip across the country and I wanted to try out the 536 while traveling. I usually use a couple 996XT's but figured I would try this on the road and see if I want to replace my trusty XT's with 536's.
Since the 536 won't support remote heads and I don't consider Siren to be a viable option I decided to mount it up front for access instead of in the cargo area with the rest of the radios. I pulled out the two existing RH-96's and, using the shorter RH-96 bracket, mounted the 536 vertically on the center console. I built a cigar-lighter power cable with 3 coaxial power connectors, one for the 536 and 2 for the RH-96's, this is plugged in in the storage bin under the arm rest.
Since I want to use the GPS function I pulled out the Uniden GPS puck from the rear cargo area where it was connected to the 2 996XT's and repurposed it to the 536. Temporarily I have it connected to the dashboard cigar-lighter jack but will get a multi-plug adapter later this week. I will also grab another GPS puck to use on the 996XT's this week as well.
I then relocated the two RH-96's, one on the sliding door and the other behind the 536. I wanted to keep the cup holders accessible for the trip.
Since all my antennas go to the rear cargo area I used a mag-mount antenna on the 536. If I go permanent with the 536 I will use a Stridsberg and share one of the NMO antennas for the scanners.
Otherwise the radio layout remains the same as before. The Alinco DR-638 is used for 2M, 440 and GMRS as well as occasional railroad listening. The IC7000 is used mostly for HF listening or occasional 10M or 2M work. One XT is used mostly for CloseCall and the other for general scanning.
I am going to see how this works and evaluate whether I want to do this permanently or not.
Now for the pics:
Below is the general layout. The wiring will be cleaned up if this becomes a permanent solution. If it works out I will likely use 2 536's, replacing the rear RH-96 with a second 536 and keeping the forward 996/RH-96 for CloseCall.
This is the view from the driver's perspective:
Here is the view from the moonroof:
I always get asked about the antennas. Here is a view of the roof of the Pilot. At the far rear is a 10M Hamstick on a Diamond 400 mount on the liftgate. There are 4 NMO mounts in the corners, each with a dual-band antenna. The rear ones are on the Alinco and Icom, the forward ones on the 996XT's. Barely visible is the SpectrumForce magmount used on the 536, it appears better on the next shot.
From the front of the Pilot is another shot of the antennas:
Since the 536 won't support remote heads and I don't consider Siren to be a viable option I decided to mount it up front for access instead of in the cargo area with the rest of the radios. I pulled out the two existing RH-96's and, using the shorter RH-96 bracket, mounted the 536 vertically on the center console. I built a cigar-lighter power cable with 3 coaxial power connectors, one for the 536 and 2 for the RH-96's, this is plugged in in the storage bin under the arm rest.
Since I want to use the GPS function I pulled out the Uniden GPS puck from the rear cargo area where it was connected to the 2 996XT's and repurposed it to the 536. Temporarily I have it connected to the dashboard cigar-lighter jack but will get a multi-plug adapter later this week. I will also grab another GPS puck to use on the 996XT's this week as well.
I then relocated the two RH-96's, one on the sliding door and the other behind the 536. I wanted to keep the cup holders accessible for the trip.
Since all my antennas go to the rear cargo area I used a mag-mount antenna on the 536. If I go permanent with the 536 I will use a Stridsberg and share one of the NMO antennas for the scanners.
Otherwise the radio layout remains the same as before. The Alinco DR-638 is used for 2M, 440 and GMRS as well as occasional railroad listening. The IC7000 is used mostly for HF listening or occasional 10M or 2M work. One XT is used mostly for CloseCall and the other for general scanning.
I am going to see how this works and evaluate whether I want to do this permanently or not.
Now for the pics:
Below is the general layout. The wiring will be cleaned up if this becomes a permanent solution. If it works out I will likely use 2 536's, replacing the rear RH-96 with a second 536 and keeping the forward 996/RH-96 for CloseCall.
This is the view from the driver's perspective:
Here is the view from the moonroof:
I always get asked about the antennas. Here is a view of the roof of the Pilot. At the far rear is a 10M Hamstick on a Diamond 400 mount on the liftgate. There are 4 NMO mounts in the corners, each with a dual-band antenna. The rear ones are on the Alinco and Icom, the forward ones on the 996XT's. Barely visible is the SpectrumForce magmount used on the 536, it appears better on the next shot.
From the front of the Pilot is another shot of the antennas:
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