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2018 Tundra communications command center

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by SDCementCrew, Jan 13, 2022.

  1. Jan 13, 2022 at 10:26 AM
    #1
    SDCementCrew

    SDCementCrew [OP] New Member

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    TRD Pro Black Badges, Ceramic Tinted Windows, TRD Front/Rear Swaybars, OEM Tow Mirrors, Black TRD T-Shifter, OEM All Weather Floor Mats, TRD Skid Plate, FRAC Harness, Front Camera
    Hi everyone,
    Just wrapped up the communications “command center” in my Tundra. My vacation home is in a very rural area at the Colorado river so I am always out in the badlands with limited cell service. This setup is modular and I can move radios easily between my tundra and two 4runners, etc.

    Here is the list:

    Radios -

    Ham 2 Meter 80 watt - Yaesu FT2980R

    GMRS 50 watt - Wouxun KG-1000G

    Digital Scanner - Uniden Home Patrol 2

    Iridium Satellite Communicator - Garmin inReach Mini

    ipad Air Cellular version with Onx offline maps + high speed GPS receiver

    Antennas -
    2m Comet SBB5 NMO

    GMRS Tram-Browning BR-176-S NMO

    Mounts -

    ICS Tundra dash mount

    Various Ram mounts

    DDE4A10B-2786-4AB4-941F-CFC455937213.jpg
     
  2. Jan 13, 2022 at 10:58 AM
    #2
    fireman_pete

    fireman_pete New Member

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    Looks great. How did you mount the antennas?
     
  3. Jan 13, 2022 at 11:04 AM
    #3
    SDCementCrew

    SDCementCrew [OP] New Member

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    TRD Pro Black Badges, Ceramic Tinted Windows, TRD Front/Rear Swaybars, OEM Tow Mirrors, Black TRD T-Shifter, OEM All Weather Floor Mats, TRD Skid Plate, FRAC Harness, Front Camera
    I use 6” magnetic nmo mounts for now since I move things around. Eventually gonna go with permanent nmo fender or roof mounts.
     
    MT Madman likes this.
  4. Jan 13, 2022 at 11:05 AM
    #4
    fireman_pete

    fireman_pete New Member

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    Got it.

    I have been debating a permanent mount NMO for my dual band antenna. Just have not got the guts (yet) to punch the hole in the roof :)
     
  5. Jan 13, 2022 at 11:53 AM
    #5
    CallsignKodiak

    CallsignKodiak New Member

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    Would you mind sharing a pic of your antenna mounting location(s), even if magnetic. I will need to do something similar in the next year, albeit smaller in scope.

    Former Black Hills resident here, so I get the need for mobile comms!
     
  6. Jan 13, 2022 at 5:59 PM
    #6
    handyman

    handyman New Member

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    BFG All-Terrain TA KO2 Tires, Pillar Grab Handle, Curt Front Hitch & Winch Mount, Smittybilt XRC-8 Winch, Escort Solo S3 Radar Detector, Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller, Galaxy DX 2547 CB Radio, Center Console Organizer & Tray, ESP Rear Seat Storage, SumoSprings, Pop & Lock Tailgate Lock, AMP Bed Step, AMP Side Steps, BacFlip G2 Tonneau Cover, and more pending.
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2022
  7. Jan 14, 2022 at 10:21 AM
    #7
    Cruzer

    Cruzer Wheeling Full Size

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    And I thought I had a lot of stuff on my dash :rofl:

    IMG_6943.jpg
     
    ConcordCarlos likes this.
  8. Jan 14, 2022 at 7:22 PM
    #8
    handyman

    handyman New Member

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    Lol. In some states (mine included), both you and he would get a ticket for having that much junk blocking the windshield. Not my business however.
     
    Cruzer[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Jan 14, 2022 at 8:00 PM
    #9
    Cruzer

    Cruzer Wheeling Full Size

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    That's assuming the LEO can see my dash from down on the ground :rofl:
     
    2mchfun likes this.
  10. Jan 14, 2022 at 8:18 PM
    #10
    handyman

    handyman New Member

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    Many cops are running pickups and SUV's now. My local sheriff's office is running brown pickup trucks almost identical to mine. I'm thinking about writing them up for impersonating me.
     
  11. Jan 14, 2022 at 9:29 PM
    #11
    BLONGTX

    BLONGTX New Member

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    This is the best shit on this forum right here
     
  12. Jan 15, 2022 at 3:13 AM
    #12
    MT Madman

    MT Madman Just an ordinary guy

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    I went with the front fender since I've got a sunroof, I looked far and wide for a Platinum without the sunroof because I wanted to punch a hole in the cab for my antenna. If I knew I had the clearance I'd still do it because RX coverage is so much better.

    https://www.tundras.com/posts/2456821/
     
  13. Jan 24, 2022 at 2:14 AM
    #13
    handyman

    handyman New Member

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    Don't do that, Madman. That sunroof slides way back. You might be able to get away with it by drilling towards the rear of the cab, but that would drive much of your TX signal direction forward (not the optimal 360° signal) unless you had a metal bed cap or similar.
     
  14. Jan 28, 2022 at 2:25 AM
    #14
    MT Madman

    MT Madman Just an ordinary guy

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    The cap is fiberglass and I did think about that but that would be a long run and I'd probably make it into 2 separate lines with a connector where the cap meets the bed so 'just in case' I needed to pull the cap off. I still might go this way but I've never drilled into fiberglass and not sure what kind of stress the antenna would put on it. My go to is a Diamond NR73BNMO no ground plane but sometimes use a NR 72BNMO for better clearance.
     
  15. Jan 28, 2022 at 5:17 AM
    #15
    handyman

    handyman New Member

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    You shouldn't have any problems mounting a Diamond NR73BNMO on top of a fiberglass bed cap. The antenna is only about 3ft long and the coil-like spring should help it withstand hitting most overhead objects. Just make sure to drill the mounting hole tight so the antenna is firmly mounted. And, before mounting, you might also want to spread a little superglue or similar into the hole you drilled to stabilize the fiberglass. Probably not needed, but wouldn't hurt either.

    You might indeed want to consider drilling into the cab of the truck towards the very rear. An VHF/UHF antenna doesn't require much of a ground plane for the signal direction, so you could probably get away with it. It's the option I might choose, depending on how easily I could get to the antenna inside under the roof liner to install it. If it looks to be too much work, I'd probably go back to installing it on the bed cap.

    Anyway, my problem is somewhat different. My CB antenna was mounted on top of my aluminum tonneau cover, but the tonneau cover been now replaced by an aluminum ARE DCU bed cap. The antenna is longer and heavier than your Diamond, so mounting is a bit more challenging. My goal at the moment is to mount the antenna in the center of bed cap's roof, with the mounting point in the thin aluminum reinforced in some manner. However, it's on the back burner until the weather warms up, so I'll worry about the details then.
     
  16. Nov 12, 2022 at 2:59 PM
    #16
    gdavis9999

    gdavis9999 New Member

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    SDCementCrew (OP):
    I am in Search and Rescue here in Arizona and my service vehicle has various radios including the HomePatrol 2 and inReach Mini 1. If the HomePatrol is on (even with no connections - spkr/ant/USB pwr or GPS s) it is radiating interference that causes the inReach Mini to not reliably send tracks at intervals of 10 minutes. If I turn off the HomePatrol, it immediately sends them normally.

    I am working with the engineers with both companies to understand what the issue is. You are the only other person we can find that has this setup on the same dash. Are you also experiencing this issue? Do you normally send track points with the HomePatrol on?

    Thanks in advance for the reply, Greg


    Uniden HomePatrol and Garmin inReach on same dash.jpg
     
  17. Nov 14, 2022 at 2:19 AM
    #17
    MT Madman

    MT Madman Just an ordinary guy

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    With all the plastic they use now it's going to be a hard fix. The oscillator in either radio probably aren't shielded
     
    gdavis9999 likes this.
  18. Nov 17, 2022 at 1:05 PM
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    gdavis9999

    gdavis9999 New Member

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    I agree the shielding is probably terrible. The Garmin Mini 2 has an upgraded processor. I wonder if that would be worth checking out.
     
  19. Feb 21, 2023 at 6:00 PM
    #19
    STravis

    STravis SOB Fabrication

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    How did you run the power wires and antenna wires?
     
  20. Mar 3, 2023 at 4:06 PM
    #20
    RadioNerd

    RadioNerd New Member

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    Just got my 2023 Tundra. How are you folks mounting antennas? I'm looking for ideas and recommendations.
     
  21. Mar 3, 2023 at 4:33 PM
    #21
    ConcordCarlos

    ConcordCarlos New Member

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    If you are adding ditch lights, use a bracket that comes of of that. Makes for a no drill option possibly.
     
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