Where to mount a PMR radio?

[NLC]

Hi - Two of us are looking at a Starcom Advanced unit to go with our Zumo 660s with our GSs. Looks like we are going to opt for PTT with a volume control nob. Where do people mount the PMR radio typically? I've read and heard the mounting the radio under the seat will limit the range of the aerial. Where do most stick the radio? Advice would be great. We were looking to purchase the Kenwood UBZ as our PMR. Thanks

 

[MotorbikeAdventures]

Hi - Two of us are looking at a Starcom Advanced unit to go with our Zumo 660s with our GSs. Looks like we are going to opt for PTT with a volume control nob. Where do people mount the PMR radio typically? I've read and heard the mounting the radio under the seat will limit the range of the aerial. Where do most stick the radio? Advice would be great. We were looking to purchase the Kenwood UBZ as our PMR. Thanks

I have seen a nice set up with interide radios with an wxternal ariel mounted on the back of the bike. UBZ's are ok but not fantastic range! Under the seat or above the Batt on R1200GS is the normal place, also could run a lead from your top box. UBZ's have clips so you can allways clip to the side of the bike just while you want bike to bike!

I would Autocom as i belive the units are a little better for bike to bike but TBH theirs not much in it! Look at big Derrek and his post as he has a lovley setup with an intride Radio and an Autocom Pro Automatic that i fitted for him.

Good Luck!

Mick

 

[AndrewD]

Hi - Two of us are looking at a Starcom Advanced unit to go with our Zumo 660s with our GSs. Looks like we are going to opt for PTT with a volume control nob. Where do people mount the PMR radio typically? I've read and heard the mounting the radio under the seat will limit the range of the aerial. Where do most stick the radio? Advice would be great. We were looking to purchase the Kenwood UBZ as our PMR. Thanks

I had a 550 and now a 660, they 'almost' render starcom redundant as it acts as the hub not the Starcom. The only radios I have had decent results from needed to be ilegal in running higher than 0.5w, the best results were the Wintec A80 with the remote ariel. I put them under the tank between the tank and the seat BUT this was on a non ABS where the Starcom was fitted in the void where the ABS would be.

Comms can get VERY frustrating, I've now dumped the Starcom for a Scala system (in my case the SRC collar in a C3 helmet). This has infinitly better comms than the PTT one way system, but other little foibles when you ask it to switch between the Zumo for navigation/phone and comms. Still been first class though.

 

[Bumpkin]

As said above; legal PMR radios have fixed antennas and are thus greatly compromised in respect of range when stowed under a bike seat, especially as this usually means that they'll be horizontal. Range will be a few hundred yards.

If you're willing to flout the law and go with a radio with detachable antenna (or adapt a legal one to have one, making it illegal) then an external antenna will see 2-3 mile range in the real world. Illegal import radios such as Puxing PX-888 has two power settings giving approx 1 watt or 4 watts (PMR regs stipulate no more than 0.5 watt). These, in reality, make a slight difference. The greatest difference is going to be by using an external antenna.

The choice of antenna is important. Most antennas need a ground plane such as an area of car bodywork which isn't available on a bike. There are ground plane independent antennas and these are the ones to go for. There's a good quality kit available from Bikers Oracle (full thread, very long but shows development) at a very reasonable price (order details).

Those I know with this kit use Autocoms, not Starcom so I can't comment on that aspect.