Lets talk antenna for an 80
- Thread starter Corbet
- Start date
Man nice work on filling up the switches, you may have to just upgrade to a Land Cruiser center console after all, trade that little speaker in on 4 more.. 
are on me & Groucho next Moab 
are on me & Groucho next Moab 
D-pillar
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rhyary
0
Quick update, Yaesu is sending me a new radio. should get it this week. That will allow me to test with the new antenna mount mentioned above.
rhyary
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Yes. They say water damage. But I pressed on the issue since water damage is not covered under warranty that that gets them off the hook.
They asked for installation location pictures which I provided. Also, I drove a whole day in the rain after I send them the radio and checked the installation location that there was no water there.
There is the possibility that water slided thru the mag antenna wire which came thru the passenger door and was the thick kind. But I am not really sure.
The tech manager was not very clear on what they found. He said the board is not working and it has traces of water. He said they had to replace the whole board $400 plus installation like $80. Basically at that point it was the price of a new radio.
They asked for installation location pictures which I provided. Also, I drove a whole day in the rain after I send them the radio and checked the installation location that there was no water there.
There is the possibility that water slided thru the mag antenna wire which came thru the passenger door and was the thick kind. But I am not really sure.
The tech manager was not very clear on what they found. He said the board is not working and it has traces of water. He said they had to replace the whole board $400 plus installation like $80. Basically at that point it was the price of a new radio.
rhyary
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Honestly a mobile radio that can't stand condensation is a problem!
It has been a while since my car fit in my garage. I blame MUD for it.
I have the radio installed were many have installed it. In the passenger side, D panel.
It has been a while since my car fit in my garage. I blame MUD for it.
I have the radio installed were many have installed it. In the passenger side, D panel.
wesintl
Moderator
in that case you might reconsider that location. I put mine under the driver seat
rhyary
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I have no proof that the location is bad.
wesintl
Moderator
well, you think yaesu will give you another if it isn't? not a gamble i would take with that thing in the fender
My DS rear slider or vent or something in that area leaks based on what I found when I pulled out my bottle jack last year to do some work back there. I can't find any evidence of the PS leaking but considered that when I mounted my FT-8800 back there.
We don't get near the rain here that you do so I don't worry about it. That said, Dave brings up a good point with the humidity and temp changes in your area as well that probably creates a good deal of condensation.
Maybe consider making a more waterproof, but not airtight, enclosure for the radio? Of, do like Hulk did and mount it in the "pocket" back there so it is more protected by the plastic surrounding it.
rhyary
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The pocket is a good location for me, so I may have to settle on that.
I don't know how to make a container that is waterproof and well ventilated.
After reviewing some of Mark's Alaska trip pictures on MUD I may want to put the radio up in the pocket anyway for any kind of water crossings even if I forget about rain and condensation. Those pictures gave me the creeps.
Rami
I don't know how to make a container that is waterproof and well ventilated.
After reviewing some of Mark's Alaska trip pictures on MUD I may want to put the radio up in the pocket anyway for any kind of water crossings even if I forget about rain and condensation. Those pictures gave me the creeps.
Rami
Groucho
Rising Sun Ham Guru
The FTR-350 is not made to MIL STD 810...
So it is susceptible to moisture failure depending on conditions. It is not an "all weather radio".
The FT-2900R (along with its predecessor the FT-2800M) IS made to MIL STD 810, and Yaesu's FTM-10R is made to IP57 which means it is dust protected and can sustain submersion to 1M.
The first radio is not able to have the faceplate removed for remote placement, the second is.
It sounds like the purpose for the FTR-350 was supposed to be an "All weather Radio". My advice would be to do the best job possible to protect it from the elements. Keep it cleans. Don't do water crossings that would allow water above the floor of the vehicle. Otherwise, the FTM-10R is a better choice.
So it is susceptible to moisture failure depending on conditions. It is not an "all weather radio".
The FT-2900R (along with its predecessor the FT-2800M) IS made to MIL STD 810, and Yaesu's FTM-10R is made to IP57 which means it is dust protected and can sustain submersion to 1M.
The first radio is not able to have the faceplate removed for remote placement, the second is.
It sounds like the purpose for the FTR-350 was supposed to be an "All weather Radio". My advice would be to do the best job possible to protect it from the elements. Keep it cleans. Don't do water crossings that would allow water above the floor of the vehicle. Otherwise, the FTM-10R is a better choice.
Not waterproof, just more waterproof than sitting in a big open area
The pocket won't be waterproof, and with the cover on not all that well ventilated but I don't recall Hulk ever saying he's had an issue. His radio survived the Rubicon trip with some pretty deep water crossings so....
As for a waterproof enclosure, I was thinking of a box with vent holes/slots in the bottom and sides but not the top. Big enough that there is plenty of air around the radio for the fan to circulate and hopefully any water/condensation will go out of the bottom instead of onto/into the radio. That said, the most impressive thing I've build was a sub enclosure years ago for 2 10" subs so I don't have much experience/knowledge in this are.
rhyary
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Just got a call from Yaesu with a tracking number. should be receiving it today, Friday. Which is a good thing as I am planning to go on the trails Saturday and to my property on Monday. When I am on my property (big) by myself, the radio becomes important should anything happen. I have a local repeater near by. One of the reason for the FT350 is that I plan on getting, eventually a protable. I can configure the portable to talk to the 350 and the 350 to relay out with 50W. Typically I will be chainsawing trails a way from my car so a portable on me in case some sugar maple or big pine tree falls on me I should be able to radio for help. I think the FT350 is going into the rear passenger pocket giving the above discussion.
Groucho
Rising Sun Ham Guru
Dave, I was implying that rhyary might have intended his choice of radio to be an "all weather radio". That idea I was suggesting was a poor one, and suggested the FTM10R as a suitable replacement. Even though it is FM, the 10 W power should be adequate with the right antenna for the intended use.
Don't you agree?
rhyary
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Not waterproof, just more waterproof than sitting in a big open area
The pocket won't be waterproof, and with the cover on not all that well ventilated but I don't recall Hulk ever saying he's had an issue. His radio survived the Rubicon trip with some pretty deep water crossings so....
experience/knowledge in this are.
The radio went into the pocket. It is a bit cramp there, but I think the radio has some thermal protection and I will take that over water damage.
Overall I am very happy with the setup. I was able to hit a repeater 33 miles away with the diamond (770) 1/2 antenna. Sporadically I was able to get 50 miles to a repeater but only when I was on high grounds.
The location of the face plate is great and convenient to use. I saw on another web site that a mounting bracket from the FTM-10 will fit the 350. I wish I knew that because it would have been a better to use that bracket than using what came with the 350. The main difference is that the FTM-10 bracket has two mounting bolts and the 350 has one. So in order for faceplate not to twist, I had to tighten it more than I want to. I can upload pictures if anyone interested.
We ALWAYS want to see the pictures
I've decided that I am going to have to do something different with my antenna coax routing. It creates enough of a gap in the weatherstripping that I get water in the rear of the LX going through a car wash. Of course the water that gets in there is NOTHING compared to the literal flood I get during a car wash from the sunroof area
rhyary
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No more blanks :-(
My last blank position has been used for the 3 way selector. Gamiviti did not work for me because at the end I did not want to loose the JDM cap holder. So I installed the digital display in the ashtray. I can close the ashtray at night if the light bothers me.
I needed a 3 way rotary switch for the digital display since I am monitoring the two batteries and the digital filterminder yet to be installed.
All the wiring is done. I really enjoy seeing the voltage information. I can see how my ham radio affect voltage when transmitting, I can see how it drops when I start the car. I can see how the alternator pump 14.3V and then quites down to 13.8.
I really like all this information, but I am weired, I like to watch the progress bar when installing applications on computers. God help me......
Rami
My last blank position has been used for the 3 way selector. Gamiviti did not work for me because at the end I did not want to loose the JDM cap holder. So I installed the digital display in the ashtray. I can close the ashtray at night if the light bothers me.
I needed a 3 way rotary switch for the digital display since I am monitoring the two batteries and the digital filterminder yet to be installed.
All the wiring is done. I really enjoy seeing the voltage information. I can see how my ham radio affect voltage when transmitting, I can see how it drops when I start the car. I can see how the alternator pump 14.3V and then quites down to 13.8.
I really like all this information, but I am weired, I like to watch the progress bar when installing applications on computers. God help me......
Rami
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