Sleeker Dual Band Radio Install (UHF/VHF) ICOM-2730A

[Johnny Rebel]

This is a great setup! Not a radio guy so was curious...

Was the MARS mod needed for the radio to work for this trip? Or are you just a radio guy? I googled the mod and still don't understand if needed to run HAM and GMRS.

Also is the speaker needed because you put the unit inside the dash? Would you need it if mounted in open cab?

We've got the Yaesu FTM-400's with the MARS mod in 2 of our Broncos and they're great radios. The MARS mod is definitely necessary for them to transmit on VHF (Weatherman) and GMRS frequencies. I believe it's also necessary on the OP's radio as well.

Ours are mounted above the glove box and don't have external speakers attached. They're usable, but an external speaker would make them better, I think.

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[Arokcrwlr]

This is a great setup! Not a radio guy so was curious...

Was the MARS mod needed for the radio to work for this trip? Or are you just a radio guy? I googled the mod and still don't understand if needed to run HAM and GMRS.

Also is the speaker needed because you put the unit inside the dash? Would you need it if mounted in open cab?

If you are not a HAM operator and have no plans to get a license, stick with a GMRS radio. With a MARS/CAP mod, the radio is opened to transmit in some of the DOT frequencies in the VHF band, along with Marine VHF frequencies. In the UHF band you usually get more DOT frequencies and the FRS/GMRS frequencies. Most HAM radios can receive on GMRS frequencies from the factory.

The external speaker just provides better audio - especially if the head unit is mounted behind trim or under a seat.

 

[Dimitar]

This is a great setup! Not a radio guy so was curious...

Was the MARS mod needed for the radio to work for this trip? Or are you just a radio guy? I googled the mod and still don't understand if needed to run HAM and GMRS.

Also is the speaker needed because you put the unit inside the dash? Would you need it if mounted in open cab?

I’d highly suggest the MARS mod, it’s like jailbreaking the radio to work on all frequencies. I did it for this trip because 151 is normally receive only.

Good question on the speaker. I tried it without a speaker and it was muffled at full volume because the main unit is stuffed behind the dash. There is also a Bluetooth dongle you can plug in and use your car speakers or a Bluetooth speaker. I was already $600 deep so I just went for a cheapo one from Amazon.

 

[HPNQ420]

We've got the Yaesu FTM-400's with the MARS mod in 2 of our Broncos and they're great radios. The MARS mod is definitely necessary for them to transmit on VHF (Weatherman) and GMRS frequencies. I believe it's also necessary on the OP's radio as well.

Ours are mounted above the glove box and don't have external speakers attached. They're usable, but an external speaker would make them better, I think.

How did you mount the main unit above the glove box? I am trying to wiggle a FTM 6000 in there (slightly bigger, 0.1" taller and 0.3" longer) on a M2M plate and am having trouble getting it to fit. One drawback I have is that the radio mount is not with screws to the main transceiver, but slide-in with a lock.

 

[projectbadlands]

We've got the Yaesu FTM-400's with the MARS mod in 2 of our Broncos and they're great radios. The MARS mod is definitely necessary for them to transmit on VHF (Weatherman) and GMRS frequencies. I believe it's also necessary on the OP's radio as well.

Ours are mounted above the glove box and don't have external speakers attached. They're usable, but an external speaker would make them better, I think.

I got so nervous removing the teeny tiny little resistor and was afraid I would damage it but I did it successfully and happy with the mod.

 

[projectbadlands]

I’d highly suggest the MARS mod, it’s like jailbreaking the radio to work on all frequencies. I did it for this trip because 151 is normally receive only.

Good question on the speaker. I tried it without a speaker and it was muffled at full volume because the main unit is stuffed behind the dash. There is also a Bluetooth dongle you can plug in and use your car speakers or a Bluetooth speaker. I was already $600 deep so I just went for a cheapo one from Amazon.

We usually use 151.965 when wheeling but we are out in the middle of the Sierra mountains or places where nobody normally is so we are not interrupting anyone using these restricted frequencies.

 

[Johnny Rebel]

How did you mount the main unit above the glove box? I am trying to wiggle a FTM 6000 in there (slightly bigger, 0.1" taller and 0.3" longer) on a M2M plate and am having trouble getting it to fit. One drawback I have is that the radio mount is not with screws to the main transceiver, but slide-in with a lock.

It was a tight fit to get it in there! Not sure the larger radio will fit.

I have the M2M plate on one of them, but it didn’t fit according to the install instructions. The other one is a custom plate I made out of some metal brackets I had laying around the shop.

I ended up installing rivnuts into the underside of the support tubes above the glovebox. After installing the radio/bracket onto the mounting plate, I installed the plate into the rivnuts.

From what I remember, the FTM mounting bracket wasn’t a slide lock. The radio did sit too high in the Yaesu bracket to fit the space, so I drilled new holes in it to lower the radio a bit.

Hope that makes sense. I’ll try to get some pics tomorrow.

 

[Johnny Rebel]

I got so nervous removing the teeny tiny little resistor and was afraid I would damage it but I did it successfully and happy with the mod.

Well done! I can do a lot of things, but working on circuit boards isn’t one of them. I bought them and paid extra for the mod to keep me from ruining a brand new radio.

 

[HPNQ420]

It was a tight fit to get it in there! Not sure the larger radio will fit.

I have the M2M plate on one of them, but it didn’t fit according to the install instructions. The other one is a custom plate I made out of some metal brackets I had laying around the shop.

I ended up installing rivnuts into the underside of the support tubes above the glovebox. After installing the radio/bracket onto the mounting plate, I installed the plate into the rivnuts.

From what I remember, the FTM mounting bracket wasn’t a slide lock. The radio did sit too high in the Yaesu bracket to fit the space, so I drilled new holes in it to lower the radio a bit.

Hope that makes sense. I’ll try to get some pics tomorrow.

I just got it. I needed to move the radio further back on the M2M plate, and remove the yellow connector from the metal cross piece behind where the M2M plate sits. Now, if you orient the assembly just right you can get it in. I took it back out because I want to use a little better hardware to mount the Yaesu bracket to the M2M plate.

I was stuck with the Yaesu bracket because the FTM 6000 has no mounting holes, just the slide lock.

Thank you!

 

[fourdayoff]

Dimitar, do you think there would be any negatives to using the shorter comet antenna due to garage clearance? Jim.
Comet SBB-1 2M/70cm Dual Band Flexible Mobile Antenna (PL259)

 

[Johnny Rebel]

I just got it. I needed to move the radio further back on the M2M plate, and remove the yellow connector from the metal cross piece behind where the M2M plate sits. Now, if you orient the assembly just right you can get it in. I took it back out because I want to use a little better hardware to mount the Yaesu bracket to the M2M plate.

I was stuck with the Yaesu bracket because the FTM 6000 has no mounting holes, just the slide lock.

Thank you!

Ah, I forgot about moving that connector, but I definitely did the same thing.

I also forgot to mention that I installed dual antennas on our setups; a Comet SBB1 for GMRS and a PCI Race Radios non-groundplane whip for VHF. Each is connected to a Comet CF-4160 gated duplexer that then connects to the radio.

So far, it’s been a good setup for our needs.

 

[HPNQ420]

Ah, I forgot about moving that connector, but I definitely did the same thing.

I also forgot to mention that I installed dual antennas on our setups; a Comet SBB1 for GMRS and a PCI Race Radios non-groundplane whip for VHF. Each is connected to a Comet CF-4160 gated duplexer that then connects to the radio.

So far, it’s been a good setup for our needs.

Got it all set. I did need to notch the glovebox to clear the PL259 from the antenna. (Pro tip: If you feel some resistance when checking the glovebox, STOP. Or you will be squeezing your arm through a tiny slit to unscrew the PL259 to get the glovebox fully open.)

I mounted the control unit to a ProClip mount with a Lido adapter. I wired directly to the battery, fused positive and negative. Mic went with a Magnetic Mic to the steering column cover. Remove the cover to drill as there are wires behind it. I took the button off the mic, and countersunk the Magnetic Mic adapter so I could just screw it directly to the mic. Antenna is a Comet CA-2X4 that cover VHF through GMRS and public safety. I have a Rugged Radios GMRS with a Point 5 antenna so I didn't get the MARS mod done. However, if I do, the antenna will work. The Comet is in a Rugged radios mount and the Point 5 in a M2M bracket with an NMO mount.

Checked into a net today and was told the setup sounded excellent.

Thank you and everyone for your help.

 

[Mack]

Love it - very clean solution for mounting whatever...

It looks like weather stripping is attached to the plastic lip that needs to cut off for the lobo overhead system? is that right? If so, I wonder if you have noticed any increased wind noise right there because of that?

 

[Arokcrwlr]

It looks like weather stripping is attached to the plastic lip that needs to cut off for the lobo overhead system? is that right? If so, I wonder if you have noticed any increased wind noise right there because of that?

There is no weather strip attached to the lip. I wish I had pics, but if you watch @Dusty 's video of his install, it shows it pretty well. I have noticed no additional wind noise...

 

[Mack]

There is no weather strip attached to the lip. I wish I had pics, but if you watch @Dusty 's video of his install, it shows it pretty well. I have noticed no additional wind noise...

Oh!!! Great!!! I’m much less apprehensive now!! Thank you!

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