KG-1000G Install

Mal

Feb 04, 2023

Hi Friends.

As one of the radio nerds around here, I wanted to put together a write up for my GMRS Radio installation. I got into GMRS from a discusion a couple years ago that was posted by BN OG @BuzzyBud. I ran an Midland 275 in my car for a while, and then when to a Radioddity DB-25G (that I really liked), but wanted to mount something with more functionality in the Bronco that wasn't going to sit in the middle of the dash.

I elected to go with a Wouxon KG-1000G radio, mainly because of the ability to remote mount the controls and stash the radio chassis somewhere else. We have an extensive repeater network here in New Mexico and the radio has a ton of slots to program, and it is 50 watts, which while overkill for what I needed, will be fine (Im of the opinion that any mobile radio north of say 15 watts is fine for trailcoms).

I have been using this radio as a basestation while I waited on my bronco, but now that it has arrived, It was time to put wire it in. I will break yo the install a few posts as it was a lot and post below.

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

LoneRanger, Daisy76

Last edited by a moderator: Feb 04, 2023

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Feb 05, 2023

#20

I like the detail as I am a DIYer also. Curious, though, I am not very knowledgeable on CB/HAM sets, but think it may be wise to have the backup comm gear. Do you have any recommendations for simple system?

Feb 06, 2023

#21

Mal
The first step was installing the chassis. I wanted to use @Mountains2Metal in dash bracket, but the space above the glove box did not fit. So onto plan B.

There is a reasonably large amount of space behind the fuse pannel on the drivers side. I was able to use one of the existing studs to secure the radio back in this space. Because the radio speakers are on the chassis, it made sense to me to have it where I could hear the unit. There is also a speaker in the mic, but I didnt want to rely upon that. The radio also has a programming cable port on the side of the chassis, and needed to be able to access that, so I ran a waterproof cat 5 pass through to that and stuck it under the dash where I could get to it.

Chassis on mounting bracket. Programming Port is the PC thingie on the side.

With the Cable pass through

The stud in the picture is what I bolted the mounting bracket onto. Gives me about 3/8inch of airflow between everything.

This is the view from underneath. I wanted to keep my cables accessible- I am not 100% on the antenna position yet and did not want a big deal to move it. The head cable plug into the front of the radio, so I plugged it in and positioned it straight up in behind the fuse box.

Any chance you can show a few more pics and angles of your mounting point and position?
Maybe a bit further out.

Feb 06, 2023

#22

Sven
I was just thinking out loud before being fully caffeinated.....Makes sense to not be there. Fist rig I've ever had with airbags...We always wrecked like real men without them. My bad. Carry on. Nothing to read here!

Yeah there is nothing in there but some wires. Its good to go.

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

Sven

Feb 06, 2023

#23

G7ibby
Any chance you can show a few more pics and angles of your mounting point and position?
Maybe a bit further out.

Sure, can, but it will be later today.

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

G7ibby

Feb 06, 2023

#24

keithward53
I like the detail as I am a DIYer also. Curious, though, I am not very knowledgeable on CB/HAM sets, but think it may be wise to have the backup comm gear. Do you have any recommendations for simple system?

I do. I think the best all around, no fooling come get me cause im broken down/stuck/hurt in the middle of nowhere system is a Garmin in-reach.
https://discover.garmin.com/en-US/inreach/personal/
They arent cheap, but that, to my mind is the best back up around.

GMRS/HAM/CB will only help you if 1) there is someone listening and 2) you can accurately relay your location. The in reach is monitored and does the second part automatically.

As always- Its best to go with another vehicle, and let folks know where you are going to be. These Satalite systems are support to that.

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

LoneRanger, JoergH

Feb 12, 2023

#25

Sorry for the delay, but here are some update photos of the chassis placement

I have the front access panel flipped down and am pointing to the radio Chassis. You can see the side of the radio bracket right beside my finger

Same here. The nut right by mu hand there is where I have my mounting bracket attached. The chassis is vertical, with the antenna and power connections pointed down.

Here I mananaged to get my hand out of the way more. I outlined the Radio chassis in blue and the arrow is pointing to the bracket

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

jimFish, G7ibby

Feb 12, 2023

#26

And in case anyone asked- here is a pic of the control unit, that doesn't look like someone's last known photo:

I also took the time to throw the SWR meter on a couple different antennas I had around the house-

The Laird Qurterwave I had initially put on tested at 1.64. Well within the acceptable range for trail coms.

I ran this Nagoya 770G on my set up on my old sedan and it was a good performer. Hower, it was terrible here with an SWR of 3.8! I think it must not have much of a ground plane in this arrangement.

Finally, I threw on this old Midland Ghost antenna. A lot of folks are not fans of this style antenna, however, I ended up with an SWR of 1.3, making this the best performing antenna I tested. So I guess I will ride around with it for a while and see how it performs in the wild.

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

magicrobots, LoneRanger

Feb 13, 2023

#27

Mal
Sorry for the delay, but here are some update photos of the chassis placement
I have the front access panel flipped down and am pointing to the radio Chassis. You can see the side of the radio bracket right beside my finger

Same here. The nut right by mu hand there is where I have my mounting bracket attached. The chassis is vertical, with the antenna and power connections pointed down.

Here I mananaged to get my hand out of the way more. I outlined the Radio chassis in blue and the arrow is pointing to the bracket

WOW!
You got that sucker stuffed up there.
I certainly appreciate the photos.
With regard to your SWR.
I got terrible swr in the 2.8 to 3.2 in that location with three different antennas.
I resorted to using the ghost with a magnet NMO mount on center of the rear roll bar with an SWR of 1.01
Almost perfect.

LoneRanger, Mal

Feb 13, 2023

#28

G7ibby
WOW!
You got that sucker stuffed up there.
I certainly appreciate the photos.
With regard to your SWR.
I got terrible swr in the 2.8 to 3.2 in that location with three different antennas.
I resorted to using the ghost with a magnet NMO mount on center of the rear roll bar with an SWR of 1.01
Almost perfect.

The Chassis on that radio is ginormous. There is lots of room back there behind the fuse block though. If I didn't have to worry about the speakers though, I would be tempted to put it in the console- I put in the trailer brake controller this weekend and there is tons of space in there.

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

G7ibby

Feb 14, 2023

#29

I got it in there.
Good job finding that spot because as big as these rigs are, there isn't room to mount anything cleanly.
So for those following i drew a little green line around the fuse block.
The red circle is the bolt that holds the the fuse block bracket to the vertical frame.
The bracket mounts to the rear of the frame.
On mine, the nut for that bolt is welded to the fuse bracket.
To mount the radio mount i had to find a nut that fit the metric bolt and then after sliding the mount on top of the protruding bolt i added the nut locking it down tight.

Mal

Feb 14, 2023

#30

Solid work fellas!

Mal, G7ibby

Feb 14, 2023

#31

G7ibby
I got it in there.
Good job finding that spot because as big as these rigs are, there isn't room to mount anything cleanly.
So for those following i drew a little green line around the fuse block.
The red circle is the bolt that holds the the fuse block bracket to the vertical frame.
The bracket mounts to the rear of the frame.
On mine, the nut for that bolt is welded to the fuse bracket.
To mount the radio mount i had to find a nut that fit the metric bolt and then after sliding the mount on top of the protruding bolt i added the nut locking it down tight.

Excellent!
The nut and bolt set up on mine was the same. I tightened that up pretty good and it isn't moving around (I had it out on some dirtbike woops like a yahoo the other day and if anything would have shook it loose, that would have).

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

Feb 18, 2023

#32

I wanted to add something I found while doing my setup.
When i had my antenna on the front pillar my swr was TERRIBLE.
hitting 3.0
I tried different antenna and different wires and all were 2.8 to 3.1
I tried every way I could to establish a ground plane with bad results
Somehow using a magnet mount I got 1.04.

So where to mount the magnet mount?
It so happens that the midland ghost on a NMO magnetic mount placed on the rear roll bar fits perfectly in the center and does not interfere with the soft-top up or down.

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LoneRanger, Mal

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