Ham radio question

[jhall299]

Hi,

I want to install a ham radio in my '00 Boxster. It is rather large and has a detachable head unit. I can put the head unit in one of the center pedestal spaces but the radio itself will have to go in the trunk. That means I will need to get a fiber optic cable from the trunk to the cabin. I will also need to get a cable from the battery to the radio in the trunk. It draws about 15 amps so I need a decent guage cable for power. I would really appreciate any advice on routing cables from the rear trunk to front trunk to the cabin.

Jon

[N41EF]

As an electronics guy, and a car guy I think this would be a neat idea, but I might go about it differently. The radio is what needs the current, so I would mount it int he front trunk. Depending on size it might go where the original cd changer or amp went if your's was a base car. You can find rubber gromets on both sides of the battery, if you remove the two black plastic shields out board of the battery you'll see wires going into the cabin. It should be easy to pass cable from the head unit to the raido there. You can then run coax from the radio to the antenae, mounted in the rear?

Bu putting the radio in the front you keep the power cable shorter so there is less loss, and less chance of damage. Coax is easier to run to the rear, and less chance of it being damaged and causing a problem.

[jhall299]

You're right. I could mount the radio in the front trunk and run the coax to the back. The antenna will need to go on the rear some place and that still is the real issue...how do I get a cable from the front to the rear?

Jon

[number9ine]

I agree with N41EF, the front trunk is the best place. It would be very convenient, especially if you don't already have a CD changer--you could use the mounting points to secure your radio. You're also right next to the battery as he says.

I would suggest placing your top in the service position and investigating ways to get your antenna line from the engine compartment through the dipstick/expansion tank area in the rear trunk. you could run the cable into the engine compartment via the accessory belt cover behind the seats, then over the engine (right in the same place as the shift cable assy) and into the back. All that would be left is to find your way through the rear trunk wall.

Take pictures of your solution and share with us!

Mark

[N41EF]

As far as routing the coax, follow the positive battery cable as it leaves the battery and goes somewhere. There is a plastic cover under the car that runs front to back down the passenger side of the car. I'm not sure, but I bet the pos cable runs down and through that to the rear. As far as an antenae mount I'd look around the back bumper cover for a way of making something that bolts under the car and sweeps out from underneath. I'm guessing at 15 amps you are running too much power for a mag mount. If you could find the right color rear bumper cover, might be worth buying on and cutting a stylish hole it it to run the mount through. I'm sure a purist will complain, but hey, it's a boxster. Could something be mounted where one of the bumperettes go? Just a thought.

[jhall299]

As far as routing the coax, follow the positive battery cable as it leaves the battery and goes somewhere. There is a plastic cover under the car that runs front to back down the passenger side of the car. I'm not sure, but I bet the pos cable runs down and through that to the rear.

Has anyone ever routed a wire through this plastic cover? How much room in there inside of it?

Jon

[70Sixter]

I'm sure as a HAM you have thought about interference. Be careful not to route the coax parallel and close to electrical cables. And the RF off the antenna can cause problems with the car's electronics/ECU. Government Motors, before the takeover, gave up on police cars from GM.