IC-7100 Ham Radio Install

[JJOhio]

So the wife said don't screw up this car with one of your radios!
I think it tuned out really well.
IC-7100 fits perfectly in the front under the cell phone dock. The cell phone dock closes and you can't see anything.
Drilled a 1/2" hold under the front console area to route the control cable.
Main rig body is in the trunk well.
Used the 12V plug in the console for power and hid all the wires. A little surgery to route the 12C wire but pretty mino.
Small discrete mag mount for 2m Hardly noticeable.
Also since the 12V only supports 12A, I reduced the power to 20%.
Seems to work well on UHF/VHF. No noticeable noise.
I'll try HF later to see how much noise there is.

 

[ceekz]

Well done! The back decklid opens fully with the antenna mounted?
-KI6RSL

 

[JJOhio]

No problem with the decklid.
I forgot to mention the SDS100 scanner in on of the pics that is plugged into the front USB.

 

[derotam]

Well done! Now you are making me want to get back active again!

-KB0INK

 

[scaesare]

Very nice.

-KF6NNR

 

[woodguyatl]

So the wife said don't screw up this car with one of your radios!
I think it tuned out really well.
IC-7100 fits perfectly in the front under the cell phone dock. The cell phone dock closes and you can't see anything.
Drilled a 1/2" hold under the front console area to route the control cable.
Main rig body is in the trunk well.
Used the 12V plug in the console for power and hid all the wires. A little surgery to route the 12C wire but pretty mino.
Small discrete mag mount for 2m Hardly noticeable.
Also since the 12V only supports 12A, I reduced the power to 20%.
Seems to work well on UHF/VHF. No noticeable noise.
I'll try HF later to see how much noise there is.
View attachment 397432 View attachment 397433 View attachment 397434 View attachment 397435 View attachment 397436 View attachment 397438 View attachment 397439

Looks nice. Forgive my ignorance but what do you use the radio for day-to-day?

 

[Tony_YYZ]

 

[SR22pilot]

Great job.

WB4KDA

 

[ewoodrick]

You might have made me want to think about getting my ID-5100 back out and installing it. I've just been too lazy so far.

Be up in the Beavercreek area in a few weeks!

WA4YIH

 

[Kermee]

I'm extremely interested in HF performance. AM band was cut from the radio in the Model 3 due to RFI/EMI, but that only seems to be when the electric motors are engaged. 73s.

 

[SSonnentag]

Very nice install.

-KC8ISS

 

[MTSN]

Nice! Curious what you use it for in the Model 3?

< In this thing, I have an FT-60R and an FTM400, but I use that for off road situations when we're traveling in a group. I also use FRS/GMRS, CB and an Inreach Explorer+ depending on who I'm with or what I'm doing.

 

[JJOhio]

Looks nice. Forgive my ignorance but what do you use the radio for day-to-day?

Just talking to local guys and other when on the road

 

[JJOhio]

I'll be at Hamvention. Probably around the AREDN mesh booth.

N8JJ

 

[pilotSteve]

Excellent! Now I'm thinking.....

73s, N7SNR

 

[rich0]

I don't really need it to be concealed, and honestly I don't care if the wires go over the top, but I'm glad to hear that power is something you can deal with. I still am waiting for delivery and just removed my panavise mount from my old car to prep it for trade in. I figured I'd scout out mounting options once I got it - I don't see a current option from panavise right now.

 

[jordanthompson]

Very cool!
W3HLR

 

[billmccl]

I did the same thing mounting an Icom ID-5100 in my 2013 MS60 three years ago. I used the through the glass antenna from Larsen to avoid penetrating Tesla metal, and was able to dress the antenna feed line unobtrusively to where the control head is mounted in my frunk (My frunk is the much bigger one in the early 2wd Model Ss). I worried that I might overheat the control head in the frunk, but it has never happened even in some hot Atlanta Summers. The speaker is mounted under the driver seat.

I have enjoyed working stations world wide via DStar from many different mobil locations. Quite a treat to work Japan, Asia, South America and Europe mobil from the MS60 while running errands to the grocery in Atlanta. I have always run full power on my 5100, the rig is driven directly off the 12v battery, and have never recognized any problems. Although I am on my fourth Tesla 12v battery after almost six years of driving the car.

I have wanted to work HF mobil, but so far the best I have done is to work my Flex 6300 via my IPad from the front seat while the wife is driving. Still haven't figured how to work FT8 from an IPad. Mounting an HF antenna on the Tesla, although possible, is more than I want to undertake.

73s....

Bill
Amateur Radio Station KK4C

 

[TEZLA3]

Nice install. I've been mulling over an install since I had to uninstall my full mobile station to sell a car.

Don't expect much HF activity with a mag mount.

W3AB

 

[lolder]

Just make sure the AP doesn't head for the hills when you Xmit like my sailboat AP did when I Xmitted on HF.
KI4NE