FT 350 Remote Head Mount

[KD8ENS]

So I purchased a Yaesu 350, and I'm thrilled with the rig, except for the suction mount that came with the radio. It won't stick to anything. Called Yaesu and the customer service guy suggested I moisten the suction cup. Big help. That just seems to make it fall off sooner.

I've noticed several reviews online where the reviewer states that the Yaesu suction mount is worthless, so I'm giving up on it. My question is for other 350 owners. How did you mount the control head in your vehicle? I'm looking at Ram Mount and Lido. What did you use, where did you mount it, and does your mount stick longer than five minutes. Incedentally, I drive an F-150. Thanks for your help.

[K0BG]

The only mount Lido makes that's worth anything, is the goose neck one, and they don't actually make it. It is fine, unless you do off roading. Ram sells an articulated arm mount that's very good, but costs more than most would like to spend.

By the way, several folks sell suction cup mounts. As you've discovered, they really are next to worthless, and they always come off at the wrong time!

[M0GVZ]

By the way, several folks sell suction cup mounts. As you've discovered, they really are next to worthless, and they always come off at the wrong time!

I would consider using rare earth magnets. One on each side of the head unit with a matching one stuck on the surface where you want to mount it. They cost pennies on Ebay and you only need small ones.

[K0BG]

Neodymium magnets? That's great! All you have to do is slide the radio sideways, and it drops off in your hand. Nah! No way!

[K3WDT]

My solution to the less than great ftm350ar mount was making one. i made a mount that sits in the center console of my truck and superglued the suction mount to this

[M0GVZ]

Neodymium magnets? That's great! All you have to do is slide the radio sideways, and it drops off in your hand. Nah! No way!

I don't know what rubbish they sell in the USA masquerading as rare earth magnets but thats not my experience of them. Yes they will but they require more effort than you'd exert in normal radio operation.

And anyway if you slide the Icom 7000 sideways on the Icom remote head bracket, the head unit drops off in your hand just the same so how would those magnets be any different than the Icom MB-105 Control Head Mounting Bracket which costs far more?

[KJ6JTJ]

I just mounted mine this weekend. I took a hacksaw and dremel to the suction cup mount and cut out the vertical post. There's a plastic piece that goes accross the diameter inside the vertical piece. I drilled a hole throug that, and put a machine screw through it into my dash trim. Very stable mount.

[VE6YTX]

I used an old Sirius satellite radio suction mount and used the existing threaded hole on the back of the remote head. I drive a 2008 F-350 Supercrew. It is mounted just above the dash beside the driver's side window strut. I ran the Rj45 cable up through the dash behind the headlight control back to the radio base.


FTM350R Back.JPGFTM350R Front.JPG

[K0BG]

Neodymium magnets are exceedingly strong (the highest gauss of any rare-earth magnet), and on a straight-away pull they are very powerful. Yet, when they're stuck together, all you have to do is slide them across one another, and off they come. My issue is, if you have to resort to magnets to hold any gear, including antennas, you haven't put enough thought into your installation.

As for the 7000 head coming off. I just wonder how many people actually read the literature (in this case a pictorial of the mounting plate) which comes with their transceivers!

Just so others will know.....

The flat spring which holds the 7000's remote head to its factory-supplied mounting bracket, is directly over the center mounting hole threaded 1/4x20. You simply use a 1/4x20 bolt with a nut already screwed on, and screw the bolt in so it just touches the bottom of the flat spring. Then the nut is used to secure the bracket to whatever mounting arm, brace, etc., you have. This keeps the head from being removed, or accidentally being knocked off. The 706, and every other remotable Icom comes with a similar mounting scheme.

My sincere thanks to Mr. Watanabe for his ingenuity.

[KD8SES]

i have mounted mine with a cell phone mounted cup holder