AutoCom Active 7 Smart Pictures

[wb5tty]

Finally got the last part and completed the install of my new AutoCom Active 7 Smart system. I decided to use the left locked pocket. I know it gets warm there but Honda puts the radio there in Europe. Also I avoided the inside wall of the pocket as it gets much warmer than the outside wall. I drilled a 7/8 inch hole to pass the cables through just above where I mounted the AutoCom module. I powered the unit off of my home made power distribution system. I mounted in the front of the bike because the Com extension cables are too short to reach the rear of the bike but the headset extension was just right for the wife's headset plugin.

As AutoCom tells you in the instructions; lay out the system and see if it works properly before you do the real deal install.

One picture is the AutoCom, Voltage Down-Converter, and AutoCom Dual Input for the Radar Detector. Second picture is the equipment layout up front. The third shot is my antenna mount with hidden ground plane.

I used the following AutoCom Accessory Cables:

Dual Audio Input Cell/Audio (Radar Detector) Part #57
Headset Extension Cord - Coiled Part #25
PTT/VOX/Lock Switch Part #136
Radar Detector Cord to use with #57 for Passport/Bel Part #170
Yaesu VX5 Transceiver Cord for VHF/UHF 2-Way Part # VX5
Cell Phone Cord (included) Part #50
Audio Cord (included) Part #60

The system was easy to adjust and works better than anything I have tried in the past. I called tech support to get some info about plug pin configuration and got a very helpful person to talk to. He was even in the USA and spoke english very well. The module is well built with surface mounted devices which take vibration very well.

The Radar Detector input was a little too loud so I put an 1800 Ohm resistor in the Dual Audio Input box to lower the volume.

[nm6r]

Anthony, nice install. Way to ham it up.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[04ST1300a]

I mounted mine under the rear seat where the 2 seats meet, attached to the fender well with velcro, helmet cables were plenty long from there and the phone and audio cables made it up to the RH pocket,

Radio shack sells tiny 12v fans you could mount in the pocket.

[crazykz]

Can you tell me about your HAM(?) radio setup and which antenna you used? How is that setup on a scale of 1 to 5 IYO.

Curt

[wb5tty]

Curt I have a Yaesu FT50R Dual Band Talkie and a Larsen 2/70 gain antenna. I used a Pelican 1500 to make my own top box. I used a sheet of stainless steel to support and stiffen the bottom of the Pelican Case which I use for an antenna ground plane. I have a stainless steel L bracket I used to mount the Larsen 2/70 antenna to the Pelican case. I have 2 runs of 1/2 inch flat brade from the antenna mount to the stainless steel plate. The brade is on the inside of the Pelican Case so it is hidden.

The stainless steel plate IS NOT GROUNDED! If you ground the antenna to the bike ground you will create a ground loop and have hum in the transmit audio. I do power the radio off of my home made 12VDC power distribution cable. There is a very low level noise by powering both the ham radio and Autocom off of the same power source. If I power the radio off the internal battery there is no noise in the transmit.

The hame radio setup is great - on a 1 to 5 scale it is a 5+. On the way to work I talked to one of the local hams and he had no idea I was on my ST1300. I was running at highway speed at the time. I am able to hit the local ham VHF and UHF repeater from about 15 miles out of town which I think is good for a motorcycle mobile running 6 watts. My wife has her General Class ham license and I can talk to her from the bike. I own 2 of the local ham repeaters (one VHF & one UHF) in Temple, TX so I have my own comm system. I also have a phone patch on the UHF repeater.

I selected the Yaesu FT50R because it is Mil Spec for vibration and has o-ring gaskets in the case joints. The FT50R has been replaced with the FT60R. The radios are very simular and I would replace the FT50R with the FT60R if my current radio dies.

If you have any more questions about the ham radio setup let me know, I would be glad to help you.

WB5TTY - Extra Class
Radiotelephone First Class/Ship Radar Endorsement

73

[crazykz]

Thanks Anthony. I'll keep this marked as a reference. I would like to have this as an option later down the road since I have a good riding buddy that uses one all the time.

Curt

[wb5tty]

The Autocom/Roady2 XM Radio/Ham Radio system is still working great! I have had no problems from the electronics mounted in the left pocket. Honda mounts the Pan Radio in the left pocket so I decided to put my Autocom in the same location. I noticed a new version of the Roady XM Radio is out. I was able to buy a backup Roady2 for $29 at Austin Amateur Radio Supply. The new Roady XL has a different connection set up and will not fit my custom made mount and runs on 5 volts not 6 volts like the Roady2.:04biker:

Happy Holidays,

Anthony, WB5TTY

[crazykz]

Hi Anthony,

I snag up 2 Roady2's when Crutchfield had them for $20/each over the past weekend. Now I just have to find a place to actually mount the stupid thing. ;)

Glad to hear the intercom setup is working for you. Good to see you at the BBQ in Llano over the summer.

Curt

[AZST1300A]

I wonder how the heat of that fairing pocket will affect the electronics in the summer...:confused:

[wb5tty]

It was no problem this past summer. I think the holes for the wiring help cool the pocket. As I said Honda uses the left pocket for their radio in Europe:04biker:

[bcst1300]

I had my Autocom in the tool location under the seat last year, but I have since moved it to the void under the main power relay to the left of the battery. I stuffed a bit of closed cell foam in the bottom and ty wrapped the unit to the frame. I also shortened the power leads as much as possible and tap the radio leads from the same points, ground and fuse with filters in each line to help reduce ground loops. I can still place the intercom receptacles on the left side of the bike. one by the left tank pad for the driver. and one by the left grabrail for the passenger. I have a PTT on the left bar, as well as mp3 in the right pocket and my cellphone too. Leads are 2 meters long for the inputs. the Ham or CB goes on the right bars or in a tank bag according to the weather or need.