So I spent the biggest part of yesterday and this morning installing the radio and intercom with the Rugged Radio Talon mounting plate. They really leave you in the air about the install because they provide no installation instruction for any of the equipment. The radio/intercom hookup is pretty straight forward and they do have a connections diagram available on their website, but the mounting plate is another issue!
It would be very helpful and could save you from making a huge mistake if they’d at least provide some basic information like:
* Pretty much the entire cubby hole compartment has to be cut out.
* The bracket that supports the instrument cluster off the back of the cubby has to be cut off above the support.
* There is a wire bundle from the ignition switch that lays against the left side of the cubby that you can’t really tell is there until you cut the cubby...CAUTION!!!
* You’ll have to trim the bottom of the cubby hole about 1/4” across the front.
* You’ll have to notch the sides of the cubby hole face to clear the provided acorn nuts that mount the radio to the face plate bracket.
* The bracket that comes with the face plate is designed to bolt to the back of the radio and then screws to the remainder of the original support to support the instrument cluster left unsupported when the bracket was cut.
* it’s up to you to figure out how to protect the radio from potential water damage since they aren’t really water proof, front or back!
Depending on your own level of anality, the routing of cables and wires can be pretty simple or significantly taxing, depending on how clean you want the install! I happen to be pretty anal about the finished product so it took me a good long time to figure out how I wanted everything to look and work. I needed the PTT (push to talk) buttons logically mounted for easy access when strapped into harnesses etc, the antenna cable hidden rear to front, the headphone jacks flush mounted etc, so it took a lot of disassembly and push pin removal to get it all the way I wanted it.
I think it turned out great, and I’m still waiting to receive the headphone jack mounts and the antenna mount, even though the cables are all in place and functional. But, be advised their advertising this install as Quick and Easy is pretty misleading!
The intercom works great and the Alpha Bass headphones are expensive but seem to work very well for communications. I opted for the Alpha Bass headphones because I wanted good sound quality for music. Rugged advertises the Alpha Bass headphones as these great audiophile quality headphones with amazing bass etc. well, I am a bit of an audiophile, and I’d give these headphones about a 3 on a scale from 1-10 for audio quality, but, with the right music source and proper adjustment, they can make a decent amount of bass via their built in bass amplifier, but they are certainly not a real musical headphone. They do however do a good job in muffling the loud Talon engine noise, work well for Bluetooth connection to your smart phone, and have great clarity for communication between those in your car and car to car with other radio equipped cars.
I javent had the opportunity to take the system out for a real world trail test yet, but I have every confidence that it will perform as advertised on the trail.
All in all, I think My wife and I will enjoy the system and I’m happy with the ascetics.
Just an FYI for those considering adding a system like this to their Talon, I bought all the equipment during Rugged’s 30% off sale and with all the equipment including the upgraded headphones, but not counting the flush mounted headphone jack mounts and the antenna roll bar clamp and mounting plate, the total was a bit over $1500! Not inexpensive, but hopefully will work as expected, and everyone at Rugged Radio has been very helpful and friendly!
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