Needs advice on antenna and power routing.

[MilesTeg]

I am installing a Yaesu FTM-510 in my 2DR and want a clean install with cables all tucked away. I am hoping to get some advice, from people who have done similar to my setup, on the least PITA (and non dangerous) way to route cables.

Where I am installing:

• Antenna is on a spare tire bracket
• Radio is under the passenger seat (2 door)
• Control head is mounted right behind the AUX switches on a DV8 overhead molle panel.

For the antenna cable, I'm going through the existing grommet, and I'm pretty sure I'll just pop out the passenger side trim or fish the coax through it, then just under the back floor mat tucked into the drainage (it's very rare anyone is in the back seat). But, maybe there is a better way?

I'm not at all sure about the power and the cable for the control head.

For the power, is there a way through/grommet on the firewall on the passenger side, or will I have to come in through the driver's side? In either case, what's a good route to take that minimizes how much trim/dash I have to pull off and won't lead to a fire due to wear on the power wire?

For the control head, can I run the cable up the B-pillar trim, up to the crossbar of the overhead molle? Or will I be interfering with airbags or other equipment? Is there a better approach?

I'm also open to advice on a better location for the radio unit -- except under the dash where it and the bronco will likely interfere with each other, hah.
Thanks

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[swamp2]

There are a lot of threads here with radio installs.

Did you consider a side mirror antenna mount?

I used a angled plastic vent mount for the head unit. Very slightly intrusive to a passenger but easily removable with the adjustable stalk I chose.

I brought power to mine from an upfitter switch. Both the antenna cable and power go through the unused clutch grommet on my driver's side firewall, not sure about pass side.

There are good videos for interior trim disassembly from the audio installs on YouTube. I think you probably would want to remove a least the rear floor for cable routing and even better the relevant side panel. It's fairly easy.

 

[Phil B]

Something to consider. You can mount the radio on top of the overhead molle, and mount the head below. This allows you to route the antenna cable overhead to the rear and not go through the firewall. There is supposed to be a grommet on the passenger side of the firewall, but if it's there, it's buried behind a lot of stuff. If you plan to go through the firewall and under the vehicle, there is a grommet in the bottom of the rear cargo area that you can use to get the coax back into the vehicle. From there, you can probably hide it behind the side panel without completely removing it, but it won't take much more to get it off. The Midland MXTA24 antenna cable has a screw on PL259 connector that may help, depending on how you feel about working with coax.
The cables can be run up the a or b pillar trim behind the airbags. Consider installing additional runs of wire for future upgrades.

There are lots of you tube videos that will help.




My install. When the new Kenwood is released I’m going to upgrade.

 

[AlaskaMatt]

I used the white wire that runs from the passenger footwell past the driver firewall and connected to the battery from there. Fused of course. It’s a pain to feed the existing wire grommet on the tailgate but doable. Get rid of tape from both sides first. Even tying a ground strap from gate to cabin, I went into two sets of star washers to get a good ground on my mount.

 

[Oilbrnr]

I'm putting in the same radio. I'd hoped to use the M2M glovebox mount, but the base is too big. Since we have a manual, the other mount option that uses the clutch pedal hanger is not an option either. So I'm going under the DS seat, home running the power to the battery along with the antenna up to a M2M mirror mount on the DS. Using a Comet NMO 16" flexy. Matches real close to the factory radio ant.

IMHO the upfitter wire that could be used under the glovebox is not ideal for our radios.

 

[Astronaut]

Here's how I installed my Yaesu FTM-500 a year ago...

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/usb-c-power-panel-on-top-of-dash.117604/post-2793718

 

[swamp2]

Oh yeah, for most antenna cable routing you will need to clip and replace the PL-259 connector on the end of the cable. Having gone through a plethora of connectors given all of the combinations (cable OD, insulator OD, center conductor OD, crimp type vs. solder type, etc.).

This is the connector I finally got to work with my Rugged Radios antenna cable. It is solder for the center pin and crimp for the cable OD. It requires a coax crimping tool.

https://a.co/d/04ALw2Vu

If you are using a different cable, both your connector and crimping tool/die must match the cable perfectly and given the huge number of variations in coax cable sizes, good luck and test your entire process carefully on some scrap cable.

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