Yeasu FTM500 Install into a Ford F250

[@KM4ACK]

Lido Mount - amzn.to/3ILvB4G Diamond K400 - amzn.to/43pLpSQ Signal Stalk Antenna - signalstuff.com/product/super-elastic-signal-stalk?ref=2223 FTM500 - www.gigaparts.com/yaesu-ftm-500dr-mobile-vhf-uhf-transceiver.html 3M VHB Tape - amzn.to/3C39lQ0

[@temporarilyoffline]

That 3M VHB stuff is magic - used it on a lot of cars, and in some cases, that's what the factory uses to hold on trim panels.

[@KM4ACK]

This was the first time I used it but it won't be the last. Didn't realize the factory used it but I can see why.

[@barryinn1778]

Great no nonsense video. No irritating music during information. 👍

[@skeet25s]

Right on!!! 👍 It also seems like the KZbinr uploader philosophy is "Why get the point across in 3 minutes, when you can do it in 40". Drives me crazy. This uploader did it right. It's appreciated.

[@RussellThomas]

very cool install! very detailed. getting through the firewall is always a challenge on newer vehicles glad you found it easy on the ford!

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks! Both the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Liberty were easier but the Ford wasn't too bad.

[@dave-wk4t]

I’ve always been a fan of “Breedlove Mounts”. I was able to use the bed pockets and keep all the coax hidden. Super strong. Not affiliated, just a fan.

[@KM4ACK]

Cool. I'll check out the Breedlove Mounts. Thanks for the suggestion :-)

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Loving the truck! Great to see it getting built up! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the FTM-500!

[@KM4ACK]

At least the UHF/VHF is done. Still need to figure out the HF side. Probably doing a bit more shopping in Huntsville.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

@@KM4ACK I've got the Breedlove stakebed mount about to go in mine for HF.

[@BenButler1]

Like the signal stalk. I’ve been running one for a couple of years now. Good stuff. That mounting tape is good stuff however I also drilled and pop riveted the radio bracket, same for the ftm-300, to the trim panel that covers the seatbelt. Used the mounting tape to secure while drilling and riveting. Thx Jason

[@cchalfantusa]

How does the signal stalk handle slapping the entry to a garage or a parking garage? I have to take my antenna down before I pull in to my work garage everyday and am debating on a signal stalk or a motorized mount.

[@KM4ACK]

In my case, it it hits the garage, you better stop immediately since the antenna is lower than the top of the truck :-0 Seriously though, it should hold up just fine. I have run my other signal stuff antennas into the top of many parking garages and never damaged the antenna.

[@thedoobie1]

I have a 2010 F-150 and used the same pass through for my FTM-300. The 300 also has the same radio QD mount for the body. I just wish both MOBILE radios had memory banks. It is one of the most frustrating points with otherwise great radios!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Great install Jason, I still haven't installed my FTM 500 yet. Mine will be pretty easy as I am replacing an older yaseu ft8800, I did the same for my power wires at the same rubber grommet. Thanks for sharing

[@dougdaniels]

In all my F Series trucks I mount a RigRunner where the power cable comes into the cab through the firewall. That way I can power a number of items (radio[s], dash cam, flashlight, etc) from one source instead of going back to the fuse box or battery.

[@KM4ACK]

Great tip! Thanks

[@ryank5tar]

upfitter approved. 2 Pro tips: you can remove that headrest by pressing your thumbs on the inner post buttons. Add a drip loop to the wire before it enters the firewall boot, to keep rain water from running directly into your cab floor. A squirt of silicone will also do the trick.

[@KM4ACK]

Didn't think about removing the headrest. Thanks for the tip!

[@Liberty4Ever]

Nice clean install. It looks like you've installed a ham radio in a vehicle before. 🙂 My most recent installation was much more ghetto. I don't rag chew but wanted VHF/UHF for emergency communications, so I tossed an HT in the glove box of my Japanese mini truck and I store a mag mount Signal Stuff antenna (the HT version, not the Signal Stalk) inside the vehicle. If I need to use the HT more than a few miles from the repeater I screw in the coax and stick the mag mount antenna on the roof. This also gives me an HT in the vehicle that I can grab and go when away from the vehicle. I have the exact same setup in my 4Runner. I love the Signal Stuff antennas. I've contemplated a permanent installation in my 4WD vehicles, and a Signal Stuff antenna would survive getting whacked with brush when off road that would destroy other antennas. There's not much space in my 4WD Hijet mini truck but oddly, a lot of head room. I'm thinking about mounting a shallow tray above the windshield with the head unit and mic up there along with other storage for stuff like a first aid kit, flashlight, HT, etc. I could mount a deeper tray under the roof behind the seats with the main radio body there with a hole drilled in the roof for an NMO mount, keeping the coax very short. I tend to be the last owner of a vehicle so I can drill a hole in the roof for an NMO mount without concern for resale value.

[@user-hf5bk2wu4i]

Looks great ! I’m going to buy that unit and put it in my F350…. Thanks for the nice video

[@aaronakiyama]

This was a very timely video. I just picked up a same gen F250 and am planning out a radio installation. Are you not concerned about rear seat passengers kicking/stepping on/etc the radio body?

[@KM4ACK]

It would be possible to get kicked from the back seat but not very likely. Once the front seat is moved back a bit, it covers the radio pretty well. In addition, I seldom have back seat passengers.

[@rohnkd4hct260]

Looks good. I have a Jeep Patriot and am having a HECK of a time finding a way to penetrate the firewall.

[@AD6DMDennis]

Cool install, thanks for sharing about Lido mounts, I need to look at what they have.

[@chuckcurtin]

For my 2021 F-250, I used a NMO hood mount on the drivers side with a Larson antenna. I can take the antenna off, put a plastic cap on the mount and go through a car wash without incident. I have a VERY low car port, so nothing on the roof.

[@_onthemike_]

Nice install and congrats on the new truck. Love me some F250 action. I have a Similar install in my F150 with the FTM400.

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks!

[@edwymer2226]

Jason. Nice truck. I have a 2013 F150 and I am going to mount my Alinco HF radio in it Thanks for sharing the info... 73.

[@DonzLockz]

Great install Jason, looks good to me. I used to install many radio's back in the day when my belly wasnt in the way.😂

[@KM4ACK]

😂

[@1Sngr]

Nice clean install!

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks!

[@Liberty4Ever]

I was going to leave the exact same comment. :-)

[@bobt471]

🎉 Excellent video…. Thank you!

[@Swamp-Fox]

Nice looking install! The only suggestion I have would be something to protect the control head cable from being kicked and damaged by a back seat passenger. It is hard to tell from the video, but it may be far enough under the front seat that when the seat is back it would not be possible for someone to accidentally kick it.

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks! It wouldn't be impossible to kick it from the back seat but would take a bit of effort. That was the primary reason I mounted it so the CAT port is facing the back seats. It tucks in a bit tighter than the power/coax on the other side.

[@rays9033]

According to Amazon, the plate that connects to the radio head crumbles in a few months, possibly due to ambient heat in the vehicle. I started to purchase that head mount from Lido for shack-use, but decided to make my own.

[@KM4ACK]

I ran mine all summer in the Tennessee heat and haven't had an issue so far.

[@N4EJM]

I had a similar experience with my FTM-400. However I used Bulletpiont Mounting Solutions for the dash top pocket and used their phone mount for the head and also added a tablet mount for Wires-X.

[@anonymous_friend]

What antenna and mount did you go with?

[@m1geo]

Is it just a single CAT5 cable between the head and body of the radio? No extra cables for speakers and microphones?

[@KM4ACK]

One single cat5

[@kakouniverse]

Thanks for the vídeo, I'll install it on my RAM 2500.

[@donm1025]

Nicely done...I am a new to ham and looking at this unit as my first mobile. I have a 2022 F350...Dumb question...I have the 400 Watt power option in the truck...is that a possibility for powering the unit or do you have to go off the battery? Any other tips or websites for doing ham for a Ford would be great!

[@KM4ACK]

The radio runs on 12V instead of 120V. Go direct to the battery.

[@JamesHannibalKH2SR]

Nice install 👍🏽

[@HiPockets]

Jason, I’m wondering if you’re still happy with the antenna mount and position this many months past. I’m getting ready to mount my F-250. Thanks! KI5JGM

[@KM4ACK]

So far so good. Doesn't stick up above the cab so it never bangs on anything. Ran it through multiple car washes and the antenna has held up.

[@primalucephoto]

Hi, how is the GPS reception for APRS with the head unit under the seat?

[@KM4ACK]

I haven't had any issues so far. Will get a GPS lock in less than 60 seconds.

[@holgermortensen4255]

Thanks for a good video ande a nice setup, but I would have used some other coax for V/UHF, not RG316, which has too much loss.

[@thecarys563]

What year is the truck? I'm planning an install for our 22 PowerBoost F150. Alas, it will have to wait til after our summer RV trip.

[@KM4ACK]

2020

[@mattperez3618]

Are the stock power wires long enough or did you have to extend them or buy a longer power wire?

[@KM4ACK]

Not sure. I cut the wire to about 8inches long as soon as I open the box so I can add power poles. For mobile installs, I prefer to run my own zip wire.

[@nb2494]

I know this is an old video but does the antenna being on the same side as the vehicles factory antenna affect performance? I’m getting ready to install in my vehicle and would rather have it on the passenger side.

[@KM4ACK]

@@nb2494 I have not had any noticeable negative impacts from it being located on the passenger side.

[@nb2494]

@@KM4ACK thank you! I’ve read a bunch of stuff where people say the factory antenna will interfere with the vhf/uhf antenna. Good to know that it probably wont be the case.

[@justgrovin]

Do you use any special connections at the battery. I’ve seen some that were fused. Trying to figure out how to do this I’m my GMC.

[@KM4ACK]

I added a fuse to the positive lead just before connecting to the battery.

[@TheQwik512]

Did the same in my F150, lots of ignition noise on my FT-891.

[@KM4ACK]

I had ignition noise with the 857 in the Jeep. Wrapped power cord and coax through a couple of toroids. Added bonding strap from tailgate to main body and most of it went away. I also have to run the noise blanker to get rid of additional noise but now it's usable on the HF bands.

[@brianfulkerson2782]

Caution: Took advice on the Cat 7 remote head extension cable....Bad decision for me. Caused nothing but issues, radio was randomly changing frequencies, glitching out. flickering SD card icon...Very odd and almost asked Yaesu to warranty it. Ended up buying the Yaesu Brand cable and it fixed all my problems. Lesson Learned.

[@KM4ACK]

Interesting. I’ve been running that cat cable for the last three months and haven’t had any issues. Perhaps you got a bad cable?

[@503Nick]

Nice video

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks!

[@KS0JD]

Nice install! 73

[@mikeerstad3705]

Hello Jason....I now run power to the radios via the 'Cig Lighter"....they're rated at 15 amps in the Silverados...Oh, but there is one issue....every darn time you start the truck, the power cuts out and you have to reboot the Yaesu.... Hmmmmm, which way to go???

[@KM4ACK]

I always go direct to the battery. Old habit.

[@W5CSM-Dave]

Jason, Below are my installation videos on my F-150. This is a HF installation as well. It looks like we used a very similar mount, I just went to the driver seat bolt. The main differences are, 70cm and 2m antenna is on the roof, the main radio is under the back seat, of course the HF and associated bonding stuff, etc. Thanks for all you do and keep up the great content. 73, Dave - W5CSM Main Video studio.kzbin.info8BF2ijEWFGk/edit?o=U Follow Up Video studio.kzbin.infohZTzJFbX1Eo/edit?o=U

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks! Your video gives me some ideas when I install the HF rig. 👍