VHF radio install

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Charlieroc

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Got a new VHF for my 2120. Looking for suggestions on the install location. Directions that came with the radio recommends install 1 m or greater from compass and antenna. Many pictures of CP members' helms show the VHF well within a meter of the compass. What impact do you see on the compass or your GPS for that matter? Any pictures of your electronics layout would be helpful. Thanks.
 
Charlieroc,

Here is a pic of my 2120. The radio is mounted to the roof. All of the wiring is run down the corner, behind the dash. I hope that helps.

gpsradio.jpg
 
Put mine under the binnacle.
It's partially obscured in the photo by the helm seat.

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Thanks Capt Ron and Megabyte. I was thinking about the roof mount. Parker extended the binnacle mount area to include a cup holder, so the whole thing extends back much further than yours Megabyte. That is a good spot if mine didn't go back so far.
 
Mine is mounted in the same spot as Kevins, i don't like anything mounted above me that may obscure my vision but that's just my preference
 

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I have a 2003 2120 I mounted it low on the Dash works great and out of the sun
 

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Charlie, if you go with the roof mount, dont make the mistake like mine and mount the mic clip to the left like mine is. As soon as I remember to take my cordless drill to the boat, I will be moving mine to the right of the radio, so I dont have to stuff the wire up above the radio after every bump. :)
 
Good point Capt Ron. There are not too many places I can put the vhf out of the way of knees, elbows, or behind the chair.
 
I agree, and there is nothing worse then bangin the funny bone. My old Center Console, i had the mount down low, and I could never hear the damn thing. Im sure with the pilot house, it a bit easier, but I like having it up in clear view. The only part obscuring the vision is the mic cord, which should be rectified when moved to the right.

Honestly, Sully's dash mount takes the cake, thats really smooth. I dont have the confidence in cutting into that beautiful dash. I know for ham radios, Icom makes remote heads, so you can surface mount the head and put the body behind the dash, not sure if they make it for Marine VHF.

Send some pictures when you get it finished.
 
You're better off with a Std-Horizon set anyway and they make remote heads and mics.
 
Mine's up in the top corner too and I've been really happy with it there.
If you do something to keep the mic cord out of your way,
you shouldn't have a problem with obstructing any of your visibility. My
VHF is hooked up to my GPS so it gives me an extra time of day and gps position display.
That high corner location turned out to be a really handy spot for getting that info
at a glance and I use that display way more than I ever imagined I would.
img_9946.jpg


I remoted the mic so there's no cords dangling down in the way. I made a small
panel out of a scrap piece of fiberglass for the mic mounting clip. Been really happy with
that arrangement too. No cords hanging in my face or around my knees. The mic is
both out of my way and quick to reach when I need it.
06_IMAG0404.jpg
 
Capt Ron and rloomis, I'm liking the ceiling mount. Rloomis, how did you do the remote mike mount? Dale, I have the SH GX1150 DSC+, it appears simple for my simple mind, others are way too complicated. Thanks for the input.
 
Hi Charlieroc,
The ICOM-504 has a rear panel mount mic option that looks like this:
M504_RearPanelVersion.jpg


Some of the Standard Horizon units offer this too. Not sure if the model you have does
but I checked the GX5000S and the catalog says:
"The microphone may be remoted to the rear panel with the MEK-4 extension kit for custom installations."
 
I have this Icom remote attached to my Icom 502.
It's mounted under my Stbd washboard, but if the radio were mounted in the v-berth, this could be mounted at the helm.

31Swq0osoLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
The Standard Horizon Eclipse GX1150 is a very basic model. Mike is front mounted, remote operation doesn't appear possible. Rloomis, your cabin roof looks like mine. Is your mounting bracket held with self-taping screws into the roof fiberglass or are they screws with nuts? In that area, my roof does not have access between the liner and the top. Thanks everyone.
 
This is a picture from when the radio was first installed.
The black plastic piece that the dome light is mounted onto and covers the wiring is removed
so the VHF wires can be run from the radio into the roof.
You can just see part of the roof access hole in the upper left
edge of the picture. I run my wires through that hole and then
go through the roof inside my tuna tower frame tubing to the antenna,
or down the back edge of the inside of the cabin to join with the rest of
my wiring harness.
img_9856.jpg


If your roof is double lined, using self tapping screws through the
carpet and though the inside liner backing should be no problem since you
won't be accidentally punching any holes though outside exposed fiberglass.
I don't know if all years are double lined like that though.

I think they started doing the plastic wiring covers along the back cabin edge in 2007.
If you have an older model Parker that doesn't have the wiring drop and cover
down the back edge of the cabin, I'd just run it straight down from the radio
to the dash along the window frame corner like Sully and Capt Ron's install.


Plastic wiring cover along back edge of cabin:
img_9947.jpg


Wiring cover removed showing wires from VHF, spreader lights, anchor light, horn, and
whatever else is on the roof dropped down to join the rest of the wiring harness:
img_9860.jpg
 
Everyone has been responsive and helpful, much appreciated. rloomis, I like your setup, but I still don't see how you got nuts on the other end of the screws.
 
When roof mounting the vhf antenna, do you just pass the entire coax through a hole in the roof or do you connect to a through-roof/deck connector?
 
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