Here's how I did my TinyTrak3+ install, pretty complicated but it works well.

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First, a couple of facts:

I'm running a Yaesu FT-7900R, which has the mini-DIN plug in back. If your radio requires connecting to the mic and speaker jacks then this will not apply.

I'm driving an older vehicle, a Ford Ranger 4X4. I've already drilled holes for VHF/UHF and HF antennas so I don't have a problem with drilling for a GPS antenna. I prefer not to have GPS coax sneaking in the door.

I retired from the radio business and I've done my share of installs back in the day. My preference is a simple looking installation without a lot of extra switches.

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So I'll walk you through the install from +12V to antenna.?

The next step is a bit of a detour.

I needed a way to turn the TT3+ on and off, I hated the idea of hanging a switch off the dashboard. I also wanted to have a foolproof way to make sure I didn't send out a blast of data while I'm chatting on 146.52 or a repeater. A recent post in this group mentioned hookswitches and that got me thinking. I found two vintage Motorola hookswitches, two for $10 on eBay. These were the good ones, with a genuine microswitch inside. I had to rewire it so that it was closed when the mic was placed in the hookswitch, so as soon as I grab the mic to talk it kills power to the TT3+.

I don't normally buy preconfigured wire assemblies, but in this case I'm glad I bought mine from Byonics. The quality is top notch, better than I could do, and at a reasonable price.?

At this point the 12V powers the TinyTrak3+ and the other cable goes to mini-Din plug on the back of the FT-7900R radio body, mounted under my seat.

Robert Guiliano was a great help to me with the GPS module. I emailed him with a couple of questions and he recommended which GPS unit to try. His advice was dead on. I bought the "Acxico NEO-8M GPS Satellite Positioning Module" on Amazon for $10.99

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I mounted a small plastic box in the side panel of my truck, behind behind where I sit. I made a six foot cable to run from the GPS module in the box to DB-9 on the TT3+ under my seat. A hole in the other end of the plastic box has room for the SMA connector to enter and I have a bit of bubble wrap in the box so it doesn't all rattle to death.

Is that a passive or active antenna?? Many gps boards feed dc antenna power up the center conductor (through an smt choke and then capacitively couple the signal into the module).

This is a nice active antenna that also has the wire exit on the side and a magnet to stick it to a vehicle roof.? 28dB of gain gets you locked faster and pulls in more of the constellation for better positioning.

gil

Hello Bill,

Thanks for sharing with us your tricks for your install. You have given us a few ideas for our future installs.