Adding Ham Radio and Power to the Air Pure

[Steve181]

I am attaching some pictures showing how I added a VHF/UHF Ham Rig in my car. The tranceiver is in the compartment under the large screen, with only the control head visible. Note also the added 12V power and USB sockets and voltmeter. The antenna is quite inconspicuous. Perhaps there are some other Hams watching this board.

 

[rfc805]

How's signal? I'd expect the body of the Air to be pretty bad as a ground plane. I have that issue with my F150 due to its structure also (mixed materials).

Where did you tap power?

No sliding with the suction cup?

 

[Steve181]

How's signal? I'd expect the body of the Air to be pretty bad as a ground plane. I have that issue with my F150 due to its structure also (mixed materials).

Where did you tap power?

No sliding with the suction cup?

Signal is sufficient to reach the local UHF repeater about 10 milesd away. The suction cup was slavaged from an old GPS mount and is the type that has a lever to draw the suction. I was leary also, but it has held for a couple of months.

I tapped the power from the rear 12 V socket by running as 12 Ga wire from the trunk through the ski hole and tucked in under the seat and rugs. Its almost invisible. I have a relay box in the rear to cut off my tap at the trunk 12V outlet, via a 5 v signal from the front USB plug, which turns off after the car locks.. (I needed a decoy USB plug from adafruit to do that.) I was paranoid about the rig being left on by accident and draining the 12 V battery. I am now told by others that the 12V rear socket turns off a short time after the car locks, so I probably did not need that relay box. (I never verified that turnoff.)