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Heh, this is the thread that got me to register for the forum.

I've got a Tech class license. Been looking at that little cubby underneath the HVAC controls to the right of the 4x4 controls, wondering if there's a small enough 2m or 2m/70cm dual bander that would fit in there and not overheat in the process, even if requiring removing the cubby itself from the inside of the center stack. All I have at the moment is a 5W HT and it would be nice to have something a little more permanent. Might even consider if I want the audio output hooked to the truck's stereo.

On the topic of the antenna, how about a mount that one pulls out the tail light and screws the bracket to the bed, then puts the tail light back in? Or a mount that bolts to the end of the rear bumper? Could even pull it forward and tie it to the front bumper like operators used to do with their CJs...

 

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Looking at your setup and thinking about the ergonomics of my own truck, have you looked at the Pathfinder parking brake? It's a foot-operated brake on the left of the footwell, and would free-up center console space, so the handmic could go where the current handbrake lever sits.

Granted it's a lot of work to re-engineer the parking brake for a handmic, but at least it would be off-the-shelf parts.

 

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Just the thread I am looking for (and the one that brought me here in the first place.) Going to be installing a Kenwood TM-D700.

Looking at a different way of mounting antennas. I am thinking some sort of brush guard and using the light tabs for antenna mounts.

That appears to be what the Australians do with their Navaras, usually on their passenger front corner.

 

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I am going to be using a Comet SBB-15 antenna (6m/2m/70cm) and it is over 5 feet tall so while I like JamesInTahoe mount on the bed, I don't think it will be substantial enough for this antenna and roof mounting is out for now.

Now to find which forum is right for asking about brush guards.

Do you have prior experience with folding antennas? I ask because the only experience I've had with them was a buddy's that would fold-over while he was driving. He had it installed on a base that attached to the leading edge of the trunk of his sedan. He originally bought it so that it could be folded prior to opening the trunk lid but didn't expect it to spontaneously fold while driving.

Admittedly my sample-size is literally one unit, for what that's worth.

 

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I've been wondering what can be made of that blank-panel that our later model trucks have above the radio, arrow in green:

There's some ears behind it but it almost looks big enough for a swing-out screen like some of those fancier aftermarket DVD players have. If nothing else it looks like a way to mount a remote head for the radio where it's less in the line of sight.

My SV has a cavity next to the stability control switch, down next to the 4x4 select knob. It's been a long time since I shopped for mobile radios but I thought Alinco or Yaesu had a small radio that would fit there, or alternatively a small CB might fit there. Also knocked around the idea of the trailer brake controller going in there but I'm hesitant to put that so close to the passenger since we have a baby that some day is going to be an inquisitive little girl that might want to play with the switches.

I've also been thinking about the roof console, both if the sunglasses holder could be replaced with a radio remote head unit or if the mic-pickup panel could. I guess it depends on if I do anything fancy with the differentials or not, and if I do, where those controls go. It would almost make more sense to put those controls on the panel with the hazard flasher switch since they'd be close to the 4x4 selector and away from anyone else's hands. Then again that might make for a good place to hang a handmic.

Have you considered using the aux on your factory radio as an input for the reception from your ham radio, to use the vehicle's own speakers for output?

 

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Don't think there's a lot of room behind the panel you point to with the green arrow to actually put something without chopping a lot of plastic that is supporting your center console.

The issue with running the HAM to the AUX on the radio is then you either listen to the HAM or the Radio but not both at the same time. Might be okay depending on use case, but I don't want to have to choose. Someone on the site -- just can't remember who to give the credit -- did a really nice speaker install for the mobile on the side of the center console kind of where my mic is. I may do that eventually, just haven't gotten to the point yet of getting myself to cut into the plastic on the truck.

There are metal tabs that connect to the radio itself and to the body back there, but previous years the radio was taller...

2009-2015 Frontier Radio Removal

I bet that without a whole lot more work than it takes to install these kinds of accessories, something could be done with this space.

As for cutting plastic, there are enough of these trucks in junkyards, just go buy some interior parts in your color and start modifying those instead. If you screw 'em up, who cares?

I'd you look between the can and bed you'll see a rectangular plastic vent with little flappes on it - you want see the flappers. They are intended to release pressure in the cab - when you **** the door but I think also if the airbags deploy. You access it by removing the panel behind the rear seats. It's pretty easy to access.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

When you what the door?

::grin::

 

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I finally got my radio pretty much installed. I have a General License for HAM (W6THO) and I do Search and Rescue. The radio will get used a lot more on SAR than HAM. Criteria for a radio for those interested: (1) dual band VHF, UHF; (2) 2 channel monitoring; (3) potential for cross-banding for relay work; (4) a small footprint; and (5) a good quality radio. The radio I installed is an ICom IC-2730A. This fits all of the criteria above.

Prior to doing the install I did the MARS mod on the radio to allow transmission on the full VHF / UHF range. This is necessary for Search and Rescue, which relies on commercial band frequencies.

Figured since as I read-up on radios and installs I'm getting more itchy to get my wife to get a tech license and to put radios in both the Nissan and the Jeep, might as well ask some questions about the ICom versus other options.

At the moment the only functional radio I have is a 5W Alinco HT. Bought it when Radio Shack's Tech America stores were closing down and got it for a song. For awhile I had bought-off a friend a Yaesu FT817, which had a lot of features that my tech license doesn't allow me to use. Had it ghetto-installed in my Chrysler but that car never really left town so it didn't do a lot of good. He eventually bought it back. At that time (we're getting close to a decade ago now) I had considered one of the quad-band radios, specifically the Yaesu FT8900, but just never pulled the trigger on it.

Now I look at the market and I still find the Yaesu, plus a Chinese clone TYT TH-9800 with basically all of the same features. People have modded the TYT for wideband TX too (usually to attempt CB frequencies, only to find that transmitting FM on an AM band isn't terribly effective) so it seems to have a lot of capabilities, and while the 10M and 6M frequencies are not especially useful for in-town or caravaning, might be more useful if one gets stuck out in the middle of nowhere on a backcountry trip. Throw in a CB as well and I think I would be covered for communications. I'm also contemplating frequencies, these radios can use a four-band antenna, could CB also use the same antenna if I use the right equipment to isolate so that the 10M wideband receiver on the ham radio doesn't have issues with the 11M CB frequencies.

All this is speculation on my part at this time, the baby is only six months old so I have at least a year before going out on these kinds of driving trips is an option, but figured I should start asking questions now.

 

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Hey guys..I realized this thread is a year & a half old. Maybe someone can help me.
The last Nissan truck I had was a 90 model. Thinking about getting a 2021. A few questions.
The best way through the firewall? What about behind, or under the rear seat to get to the back area, bed? Also, are the bodies now aluminum? Any grounding issues
with that? I assume mag mounts won't work. Thanks. Appreciate any input.

I haven't done mine yet, but when I was poking around the engine bay sometime ago there were these squarish plastic conduits in the engine bay up at the firewall that seem to curve up and then penetrate. I suspect that these would be the best bet if one doesn't want to make fresh holes.