2012 Nissan Frontier: Yaesu FT-7900R Install

This page details the installation of my Yaesu FT-7900R Dual Band (2m/70cm, 144MHz/430MHz), Mobile, Ham Radio in my 2012 (Gen2) Nissan Frontier Crew Cab. I wanted a clean, professional, looking install but I didn't want to make any permanent modifications to my vehicle. I doing this project I took advantage of my recent DIY Utili-Track.

Assumptions

1. You want a really clean looking install and are willing to put in a bit of extra work
2. You don't want to make any permenant modifications to the vehicle

Grocery List

• Yeasu FT-7900R Dual Band Mobile Transceiver
• Yaesu YSK-7800 Separation Kit
• Comet SSB-5NMO Dual Band NMO Antenna
• A right angle Trunk Mount NMO Bracket
• A 17' NMO to PL-259 RG58 Cable (Don't go too much shorter than 17'. 15' would be the absolute minimum)
• (optional) NMO Weather Cap
• Liquid Electrical Tape
• Zip Ties
• Factory Installed Utili-Track™ or a DIY Utili-Track solution.
• 2x 10-24 Spring Nuts
• 2x 10-24 Pan Head Screws (approx 1" long)
• 2x #10 flat washers
• 2x #10 split (lock) washers
• a piece of scrap metal at least 1.6" x 1.6" inches square (see The Antenna)
• 1/8" Hex Key
• A Drill & a 13/62" Drill Bit
• Wrench/Socket Set
• 130W+ Soldering Iron (possibly optional, see Basic Information)
• Solder
• (optional) Solder Braid
• (optional) Solder Flux

Basic Information

• If you don't know how to solder or don't have the soldering tools available you can try a cable like this Comet CK-3NMO which *SHOULD* allows you to complete the install without cutting & resoldering the NMO connector. This might be a good idea anyhow as the solder was a huge pain in the ass. The large chunk of metal that is the NMO connector is a terrific heat sink...
• If you decide to mount the antenna anywhere else but where I've selected you'll need more RG-58 Cable!

Directions

Click on any photograph for a larger view.

The Antenna Cable

I decided to mount my Radio underneath the Front Passenger Seat. I plan on installing an Inverter in the future and want to put that under the Driver Seat to minimize the cable run (the primary entry point from the engine compartment is on the driver's side of the firewall) since the source cables for the Inverter will, likely, be the biggest cables I run in of my installs.

1. Cut the NMO connector off of the RG-58 Cable. I don't have a photo of the freshly cut NMO Connector but the photo below shows it cut and desoldered.
   
2. Locate the entry point for the cabling underneath the Front Passenger Seat.
   
3. Pop up the Kick Plate (pulling up part of the Weather Seal will make this easier) and feed the cut end of the cable through. At the end of the day you want the PL-259 Connector underneath the seat.
   
4. Feed the cable end back toward the rear of the vehicle.
   
5. Remove the kick plate from the back.
   
6. Pull up a bit of the Weather Seal from both the front & back (if you haven't already) and feed the cable end underneath the Center Pillar.
   
7. Remove the bolt that holds the Rear Passenger Seat Belt in place at the bottom.
   
8. Pop out the Plastic Trim Panel behind the Rear Passenger Door. Beware of the little orange buttons. They like to stay in the frame (see 2nd photo below). If this happens, pull it out with a pair of needle nose pliers and put it back in the Plastic Trim piece before reassembling everything.
   

The NMO Mount

I chose to use an NMO type antenna because I think they are the most professional looking install. Additionally I decided to mount the antenna on my recently installed Strut Channel. This had a couple advantages: 1.) I didn't have to drill any holes in the vehicle. 2.) I could use my cool new Strut Channel :) 3.) It placed my antenna such that it is almost exactly the same height as the factory AM/FM Radio Antenna.

1. The NMO Mount
   1. Drill out the 2 bottom holes on the NMO Right Angle Bracket using the 13/64" Drill Bit. This will give clearance for the 10-24 screws.
   2. Make a washer plate
      1. Cut out a 1.6" x 1.6" square from a piece of scrap metal (I used a Guillotine Sheet Metal Shear for this).
      2. Draw a line across the center of the square.
      3. Use the NMO Right Angle Bracket as guide to mark where to drill 2 holes in the square (along your center line).
      4. Drill out the 2 holes you marked off using your 13/64" Drill Bit.
   3. At the end of all this, you should have the following parts: 2 #10-24 screws, 2 #10 flat washers, 2 #10 lock washers, 2 10-24 spring nuts, washer plate, NMO Right Angle Bracket, & 1/8" Hex Key
      
   4. Take everything to the back of the truck and install the NMO bracket into the Strut Channel on the Driver's side.