Having aftermarket audio *and* radios in a car?

[K6JK]

I'm getting ready to attempt installing both an aftermarket sound system *and* a couple of radios in a vehicle. The stereo will consist of a new head unit, new speakers (duh) including a new sub (the car comes with a sub, but it kinda blows), and a 5-channel amplifier (probably an Alpine PDX-5). On the radio side it will be a D710 and an IC-7000.

The plan is to basically do both installations at the same time - I only want to take the interior of the car apart once. Has anyone done this before and do you have advice on what should be done with the audio system install to minimize RFI and avoid causing problems with the ham install?

[K0BG]

Lots of folks have. KGØSH bought a new Explorer about 4 years ago, and gutted the interior. He installed all of the radio gear, and put things back together. There are a few photos of it in the Photo Gallery on my web site. I'll say this, however. You'd best plan ahead, and have another vehicle just incase you have to run for parts. Seemingly, there is always something you forget. Oh! And buy a service manual for the vehicle too. You'll be glad you did.

[K6JK]

Lots of folks have. KGØSH bought a new Explorer about 4 years ago, and gutted the interior. He installed all of the radio gear, and put things back together.

That part I'm not worried about. I'm more worried about introducing RFI when installing speakers, subwoofer, audio amplifier, new Pioneer head unit, etc.

And yeah I'm keeping my .:R32. The Honda dealer can pry it out of my cold dead fingers.

[M0GVZ]

That part I'm not worried about. I'm more worried about introducing RFI when installing speakers, subwoofer, audio amplifier, new Pioneer head unit, etc.

And yeah I'm keeping my .:R32. The Honda dealer can pry it out of my cold dead fingers.

If your antenna is installed properly, there shouldn't be any. My friend has a serious audio system in his car. He also has a FT857, TM-V71e and three VHF/UHF PMR radios, one running on 70MHz and the other on commercial VHF/UHF channels. Oh, and a Murphy 3000 FM CB. On the roof are 9 antennas (ATAS-120 plus a dual bander and rest quarterwaves) and he has no issues but all antennas are installed via drill hole in the roof method.

[KB3WCC]

I recently finished a similar install. Pioneer AVIC Z130BT head unit, 12 component speakers, 4 channel amp, mono block amp, and L7 sub. and a set of Vizualogic headrests.

Also installed...or I should say reinstalled (all of it was stolen a month and a half ago when my Hummer was broken in to but thats another story) my RCI 2970 running on a 102 whip mounted on the right side of my bumper, a Yaesu 7800 mounted where the OnStar module used to be in the dash with a Larsen NMO 2/70 on the roof, a BCD996XT with Austin Spectra NMO, and I installed an ATAS 120a and ran the coax in pending arrival of my Yaesu 857 (both the scanner and 857 are mounted inside the center console in close proximity to the 4 channel amp and the control module for the headrests).

It all went in my H2 at the same time to avoid tearing the thing apart several times. My power and ground I went big on, 4 gauge for each of the amps, and 10 gauge to an Anderson Powerpole distro block with hard grounds to the frame.
I have had no RFI issues at all, just got back from a weekend road trip to do some off roading and hiking, had no problems at all. In fact I want to give a shameless plug to the Larsen 2/70 it is a trooper i'm pretty amazed it didnt break off a couple times.

If you ground everything well, insulate your connections, solder all your joints (instead of butt connectors when installing the stereo bits) I dont see how you will have an issue.

I truly have more stuffed into one area than should be and with zero issues thus far.

[W1GUH]

If at all convenient, put in a head unit with an AUX input. That works really well as an external speaker for your radios.

[K0BG]

There is a problem with using the existing audio system in any vehicle, and that is frequency response. Stereo systems, by their nature, are wide band response devices. As such, any hash the receive hears outside the voice frequency spectrum is also amplified. This includes the high frequency hash we all have to contend with. Equalizer controls do help, but they just aren't enough, especially when using SSB.

The recommended scenario, is to mount the speaker under the driver's seat, pointed up. The padding in the seat tends to suppress the high frequencies, while bolstering the lows. Doing so, reduces the long-term stress high frequency hash we all have to endure.

[K6JK]

If you ground everything well, insulate your connections, solder all your joints (instead of butt connectors when installing the stereo bits) I dont see how you will have an issue.

Hrm. *I'm* not doing the audio install, but I'm gonna talk to the shop about doing that. I'm sure it will take more time and thus more money but it's worth asking.

[K0BG]

Some of the worse installs I've seen have come from so-called audio shops. Make sure you pick one that's been in business for awhile, and ask one of the clients for their opinion if you can.

[K6JK]

Some of the worse installs I've seen have come from so-called audio shops. Make sure you pick one that's been in business for awhile, and ask one of the clients for their opinion if you can.

I've already had this shop do a minor install for me. They have very strong reviews and I've talked to customers. Some folks have suggested going to a two-way radio shop but I'm not sure I want to pay to have my interior removed twice - and how do I know the two-way radio shop won't screw up the stereo install if that gets done first?