I'm honestly not trying to sound like a ****, but there are all kinds of issues with your radio. That Stryker SR-89MC 10 Meter Radio you're looking at is basically an illegal CB radio sold as a ham radio. It only transmits on AM and FM and there is hardly any AM used on 10 meters. When you get your Tech license, you aren't allowed to use FM in 10 meters. Basically you're not going to get much use of the radio in the Amateur Radio Service. I also checked the FCC website and there is not a single Stryker radio listed as being Type Accepted which means you cannot legally use it in the CB radio band. All kinds of issues...
It has been said in many forums across the interwebs, "Who cares, the FCC doesn't enforce the rules anymore". While that may be kinda sorta partially true, one thing the FCC -WILL- do if you do happen to be caught using a radio in a wrong band/service is to A) fine you, and B) pull ALL of your licenses. That means you get to pay big bucks (fines typically start at $7000) for using an "amateur radio" in the CB service AND you lose that nice Technician Amateur Radio license you just worked hard to get. My career requires me to hold a number of FCC licenses. I keep track of things that could cause me to lose them!
Could you get away with it? Maybe, possibly, even probably. But if you get tapped on the shoulder by Uncle Charlie, it's gonna hurt. Really, not worth the risk and trouble.
Now that all the doom and gloom is said, to answer your original question (for when you get a legit radio! LOL), I would suggest simply running the power directly from the battery through the clutch plate (along with your antenna lead). Stop by a truck stop and get a CB radio power filter to clean up the alternator noise. Plug everything in, give a little prayer, and fire it up.
As a comparison to an over-designed and over-built setup, I am running all of my vehicle's radio gear straight from the battery, through a 100-amp "main" breaker to #6 red/black "zip cord" to behind the back seat where it hits a car stereo filter. From there to a marine-style fuse block which then feeds the radios. A 2000 watt power inverter (the reason for the #6 cable) comes off the terminals before the filter. I am running a CB radio, HF Amateur radio, dual-band UHF/VHF Amateur radio, business-band radio with 70cm/FRS/GMRS mods, and a charging pocket for a business-band walkie talkie also 70cm/FRS/GMRS modded. All of the radios are remote head with the "radio" being behind the back seat, the control heads under the dash, the walkie talkie charging pocket is under the dash. The only "iffy" thing I'm doing is using FRS on a business-band radio. I have just been very careful to keep the power limits legal and will beg forgiveness regarding external antennas not being allowed in the FR Service. I use FRS so very little anymore that it almost is a moot point. Talking to my grand daughter on her Hello Kitty walkie talkie is about it! LOL
Good luck with your Technician license, upgrade to General and/or Extra as soon as you can, and enjoy the world of radio!
73 de Paul, KC4YDY
