Ham radio installation

[fpmacko]

New AT owner as of 26 February. The car is wonderful and I really like turning heads while driving around. Unfortunately, I don't see how I can install the radio equipment that I had in my GV80. I have a Yaesu FTM-500 transceiver; and I plan to power it with a dedicated battery. I'm pretty sure I can make this work EXCEPT for the antenna installation, for which I have no solution. My old mag mount antenna definitely won't work., nor will a glass mount antenna.

Can any hams out there offer their thoughts on whether an installation is even possible?

Frank / WA3NHK

 

[borski]

New AT owner as of 26 February. The car is wonderful and I really like turning heads while driving around. Unfortunately, I don't see how I can install the radio equipment that I had in my GV80. I have a Yaesu FTM-500 transceiver; and I plan to power it with a dedicated battery. I'm pretty sure I can make this work EXCEPT for the antenna installation, for which I have no solution. My old mag mount antenna definitely won't work., nor will a glass mount antenna.

Can any hams out there offer their thoughts on whether an installation is even possible?

Frank / WA3NHK

Actually this is a fascinating topic. I haven’t touched my license since college, but I’m *super* curious to see what you come up with!

 

[fpmacko]

It’s definitely a difficult problem. If you’re curious, the radio can be seen at dxengineering.com. It’s in two pieces: (1) the
transmitter/receiver unit and (2) a small control head. They’re connected with an Ethernet cable. So I plan to put the TR unit in the rear trunk along with a protected battery box. But installing a VHF/UHF antenna is difficult if not impossible. (No, I’m not gonna just drill a hole in the trunk lid.)

 

[Bobby]

It’s definitely a difficult problem. If you’re curious, the radio can be seen at dxengineering.com. It’s in two pieces: (1) the
transmitter/receiver unit and (2) a small control head. They’re connected with an Ethernet cable. So I plan to put the TR unit in the rear trunk along with a protected battery box. But installing a VHF/UHF antenna is difficult if not impossible. (No, I’m not gonna just drill a hole in the trunk lid.)

What no glass mount antenna?
cheap: https://a.co/d/cj5ZEbJ
more expensive but better: https://a.co/d/3gJLW8k

 

[fpmacko]

I wish. That would be too easy. I thought of that, but they can’t operate thru glass with an embedded metallic tint, which is almost surely the case with Lucjd. Maybe I’ll try one that clamps to the top of the side window glass.

 

[borski]

I wish. That would be too easy. I thought of that, but they can’t operate thru glass with an embedded metallic tint, which is almost surely the case with Lucjd. Maybe I’ll try one that clamps to the top of the side window glass.

Lucid doesn’t have an embedded metallic tint. That’s why radar and fastrak transmitters work through it. This was an issue in the early days, but it’s worth a try now.

 

[Chrome]

Lucid doesn’t have an embedded metallic tint. That’s why radar and fastrak transmitters work through it. This was an issue in the early days, but it’s worth a try now.

I was informed by Lucid Service that 2025 models returned to having metallic tint, which is why toll transponders must be placed in the designated checker-patterned zone on the passenger side of the rearview mirror.

 

[bassem]

Fellow hams;

I think there needs to be a dry run before any detailed install as there are other considerations I would be concerned about:

1. Electromagnetic interference: look at the power you will be tx’ing and the frequencies you will be on depending on your license level. While most modern designs accommodate non-bleed over components, I have experienced bleed over when I it was not properly planned especially when using the power that a licensed ham is able to transmit.

2. Power draw: While I love my lucid, I am not confident in drawing more power out of the battery until the battery technology gets to a point in time where range is no longer an issue since the advertised numbers don’t take into account that most owners don’t want to leave the battery to dip below 20 percent charge and not go beyond 80 percent for daily driving. This sixty percent leaves me with approximately 229 miles range on an AT with 20 inch rims, when I drive under the speed limit.

3. Proper grounding & emergencies: while I love the battery safety protocols and insulation from the high voltage systems, my educated guess is that you really have to think about what happens in an emergency or collision. Will the ham radio install make a bad situation worse whether through loosened wiring or an auxiliary battery?

4. Temp management: goes with out saying that the transceiver will generate some heat, placement of equipment will need decent airflow which is another drain on the battery.

I still think it’s doable but needs a good implementation plan and some tests to validate assumptions and potential risks before any drilling or installation happens.

I like to keep my ham radio and gmrs radios on a go bag with extra batteries so I can use as needed.

 

[fpmacko]

I was informed by Lucid Service that 2025 models returned to having metallic tint, which is why toll transponders must be placed in the designated checker-patterned zone on the passenger side of the rearview mirror.

Exactly. It's hard to spot unless the light is right. The delivery guy pointed it out when I picked up my car on Wednesday.

 

[fpmacko]

Fellow hams;

I think there needs to be a dry run before any detailed install as there are other considerations I would be concerned about:

1. Electromagnetic interference: look at the power you will be tx’ing and the frequencies you will be on depending on your license level. While most modern designs accommodate non-bleed over components, I have experienced bleed over when I it was not properly planned especially when using the power that a licensed ham is able to transmit.

2. Power draw: While I love my lucid, I am not confident in drawing more power out of the battery until the battery technology gets to a point in time where range is no longer an issue since the advertised numbers don’t take into account that most owners don’t want to leave the battery to dip below 20 percent charge and not go beyond 80 percent for daily driving. This sixty percent leaves me with approximately 229 miles range on an AT with 20 inch rims, when I drive under the speed limit.

3. Proper grounding & emergencies: while I love the battery safety protocols and insulation from the high voltage systems, my educated guess is that you really have to think about what happens in an emergency or collision. Will the ham radio install make a bad situation worse whether through loosened wiring or an auxiliary battery?

4. Temp management: goes with out saying that the transceiver will generate some heat, placement of equipment will need decent airflow which is another drain on the battery.

I still think it’s doable but needs a good implementation plan and some tests to validate assumptions and potential risks before any drilling or installation happens.

I like to keep my ham radio and gmrs radios on a go bag with extra batteries so I can use as need

As you suggested, I'll definitely do a rough-in installation first. I know how weird RF can be if it wants to be. As for your points 3&4, I won't go near the car's power system. Not even direct to the two 12V batteries or to the cigarette lighter socket in the trunk. So power draw from the car isn't an issue. The radio generates minimal heat - power output is 50W so I'll be generating about 30W of heat when the mic is keyed. The low duty cycle should make heat a non-issue, as it was in the car that I had before this one where I placed it in the well below the SUV floor.

BTW, this is the battery system I'm planning to use. It'll go in the trunk well along with the radio's TR unit. I'll need to charge it occasionally.

https://powerwerx.com/megabox2-portable-power-box-lfp-batteries

 

[borski]

I was informed by Lucid Service that 2025 models returned to having metallic tint, which is why toll transponders must be placed in the designated checker-patterned zone on the passenger side of the rearview mirror.

I stand corrected!

 

[fpmacko]

Mods….is it possible to move this thread back to the main Air forum thread where I posted it? It’s totally out of place here because my query has nothing to do with User Interface. My response traffic stopped shortly after the move.

Thanks!