GME TX3340 install.

[sniegy]

Morning all,
Thought i would do a quick photo shoot fit for the UHF i fitted this morning.

These instructions are for the Discovery 4 (any model).

So here goes,
I decided to fit a TX3340 as this gives the info & all controls on the Mic' head.
So there is no need for the head unit to be fitted anywhere that would get in the way. You will need to remove the centre console to gain power from the cig lighter plug..

Remove drink holder cup insert by lifting out, Grab a hold of the drink holder & lift upwards like in the photo.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/342.jpg

This next panel just lifts out in an upward motion as you can see,

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/343.jpg

Undo the 2 screws & remove the gear knob by lifting upwards, be careful not to knock yourself in the chin as they can be stubborn.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/344.jpg

Gently lift the centre console area by lifting from the rear end upwards, you will need to set the gear lever into neutral & then lift over the gear stick.
You dont have to remove the entire unit as mine just sat neatly leaning against the gear lever. I ran the power wire with the main loom & cable tied it with it, you can solder into the +ve & -ve wires from the power plug but i had a few connectors lying around so made a male/female adaptor.
There is a split in the carpet towards the rear of the centre console, so i ran the cable in that & hid it under the carpet so you cant see it.
As you can see the clips that hold the unit are the yellow ones on the side, this gives an idea of where they are & how many.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/345.jpg

I mounted the main unit under the drivers seat, for 2 reasons.
1. there is a big amplifier under there with a nice steel cage & you can use this to mount the unit on. I made a steel plate for the unit to sit on then spaced the bolts as the cage has a lip.

2. It was easy to just run the Mic' cord to it without having to use the extended piece that would of been too long. Also the speaker faces upwards to me too. (we will see if the speaker is good enough?, its ok in the garage when its quiet, but out on the tracks will be different).

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/346.jpg

THis is what you end up with in the final shot, Just a nice simple place for the Mic' to sit. Not in the way anywhere & easy to use when i need it.

You can also see the Electric trailer brakes in the top r/h side, i fitted a RedArc remote head unit. See install at end of post
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/97935-d4-electric-trailer-brakes-4.html

I have a bracket to fit to the aerial which i am in the final process of finishing. I will do another shoot for this piece as i plan to fit this on the tail gate section.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/347.jpg

Cheers all.

[Owl]

Nice one.
I have an Icom IC-440 - speaker as well as all controls etc in the microphone. I'll be installing it in the D3 soon so may mount it similarly and I'll post pics as well. I'm away from home for the next few weeks, so when I'm back......

[trobbo]

Is there still room to mount it behind the glove box? This is where I mounted the main unit in my D (cough) 1.

[sniegy]

Depending on how big the main unit is, you may have enough room,
BUT that is where the CJB (Central Junction Box) is mounted & having easy access to this is a must.

I would rather not mount anything in the way of the CJB pesonally, as well as having an airbag there too.

[Tombie]

Pete

I dont understand why you were never a 'Hand Model' :wasntme:

Great write up mate!

[WhiteD3]

Nice one.
I have an Icom IC-440 - speaker as well as all controls etc in the microphone. I'll be installing it in the D3 soon so may mount it similarly and I'll post pics as well. I'm away from home for the next few weeks, so when I'm back......

Owl, have a look here...http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/84027-how-install-ic-440-d3.html

[Owl]

Owl, have a look here...http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/84027-how-install-ic-440-d3.html

So it's already been done!! I'm sure it'll help my install as well.
Thanks,
Ian

[Disomania]

Now I've got an idea for the IC 400. I may be able to sacrifice the front cup holders to fit the thing in. Or, I could just get a GME or IC-440 and sell the IC-400

many thanks for an excellent post

[trobbo]

I'm waiting on delivery of an icom ic440 for my D3. Whilst I haven't had a good look I was thinking of mounting the main unit either somewhere similia to where whiteD3 put his or under one of the seats. The mike will be stuck via velcro just below the passenger side centre vent.

Well that's the plan atm. let's see how it woks out when it comes to installation time...

[Bushwanderer]

Hi Sniegy,
Great write up. However, it might be useful if you edited your first post to make it clear that it's for the D4.

Best Wishes,
Peter

[gps-au]

Maybe a different approach...

Saw this on a friends D3, unfortunately my codan is too big to be done this way, but my vhf/uhf will be done with it...

Have a look at the bar under either front seat, for seat forward/back adjustment.
Consider a wooden/metal bracket on top with cutouts for the bar.
the top brace (which runs across the 2 top bars) is held in place
by short baces at each end.

You then have the distance between the 2 bards of the seat brack to mount your radio....

its off the floor, away from the under seat vents and if mounted properly, the radio is easily removed when necessary....

[sniegy]

Hi Sniegy,
Great write up. However, it might be useful if you edited your first post to make it clear that it's for the D4.

Best Wishes,
Peter
Hi Pete,
I didnt even think of that at the time, it all went together so well i just got down to business of downloading the photo's & writing it up.

If one of the moderators could update this? that would be great as i have lost the function to "edit". I think after a few days the "edit" fuction gets removed.

Cheers

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Pete

I dont understand why you were never a 'Hand Model' :wasntme:

Great write up mate!

oooooh!
5 oclock shadow!

MAKEUP!,,,


:wasntme::angel:

[discotwinturbo]

,


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/347.jpg


Sniegy,

How did you attach the mike bracket to the trim....did you screw it on, or did you use some double sided tape ? So far I have not found any tape to hold it on, and don't real want to screw into the trim.


Brett

[sniegy]

Hi mate, I thought about tape & in the end just screwed it into he dash knowing that in the future the DS tape will lose its adhesion.
It's only 2 holes that can be easily repaired;)

Cheers

[Buffomarinus]

Great post, thanks for taking the trouble.

[thomasb]

sniegy....im going to get a TX3440.................and based on this i should be able to install it myself ............not sure i understand how you made the connection to the cigarette lighter powersource ..."male female connection " ??? could you elabourate

also....how did you Get the antenna cable out to the front so that it can attach to the antenna on the bull bar ..... ....if you have any thoughts pics on this that would be
great

I have a D4 ....i had a look under the drivers side for a pathway for a cable ....but not any easy openings !!!.................and with all that wireing in D4 i dont want to do anything silly

cheers
Thomas B

many thanks

[sniegy]

Thomas,
The power supply is just that, a female to male adaptor I made up. You can just as easily solder the wires to the cable if required.
There is a hole in the firewall on the drivers side, can't see from inside, but if you remove the brake booster cover from the engine bay side & look for a grommet about an inch or so in diameter, it is on the left of the brake booster ( sitting in the car) towards the centre, that is where you can feed the cable through the firewall as it is nearly impossible on the passenger side.

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

[thomasb]

thanks pete...im afraid im not much of a mechanic .............what does the brake booster cover look like ..............and how do i remove it ...once i find the hole in the firewall it will be easy . has the grommet got anything going through or is it blank ......
ta
thomas

[thomasb]

sniegy ....also ....how did the speaker on the 3340 go under the seat was it ok with out an additional speaker
cheers
thomas

[thomasb]

sneigy ....disregard my lst question on the brake booster cover ....i found the Grommet and can get clear through for the wires

i just realised my D4 has electronic seats ....and not a lot of room to fit unit under also they can move quite a bit with possible consequences for the radio wiring .....so i will fit up in the extreme left of the driver footwell and look for powersource under the bonnet ....any suggestions ...or can i hardwire into the battery terminals ........

now that i have wireing access the installation should not be too difficult .....much appreciate your info on the grommet ....you would necver know it was there unless some one told you where to look ....apprecaite your comments on how it performed under your seat with out auxillary mic

cheers
thomas b

[sniegy]

Thomas,
My unit sits under my seat with the speaker facing upwards, I do not have an extra speaker as I can hear it all ok.
Maybe when I get older I may need an external speaker :p

Yes, you can run a twin cable to the battery direct, but make sure you run the earth to the battery earth terminals in front of the battery box.

Cheers

[thomasb]

thanks Pete ....i assume the wireing from the radio will have a positive,a negative and an earth .....and i attach the earth to the battery earth ....note in this photo there are what looks like two eartbolts out side the battery box .is this what you mean ....does ot matter which one i use ....

many thanks

thomas

[sniegy]

In previous vehicles I have run the thicker style speaker cable (figure 8 flex) to the battery direct, so you just have 2 cables to run. The positive & the negative(or earth as some people call it).
Yes that is the spot to connect the negative cable to, it does not matter which one you use.

Cheers

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

[thomasb]

ok pete ....got it ...red?positive to the positive battery conection ....black?(negative earth ?? )to the points in the body work as per the photo .............
now i just got to buy the radio and fit it ....sounds easy ......one last question ...is it hard to disconnect the MIC from the radio ?.....as when not in use this is what i intend to do

thanks a million
this makes it all understandable

thomas

[sniegy]

Disconnecting the Mic is not hard, can be a little fiddly at times but just a matter of you getting used to it.
The hardest part is the rubber cap protector that can make it difficult, when you see the unit you will understand as the cap acts as a dust protector & lock at the same time.

Cheers

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

[pohm66]

I have the SE model with the standard stereo system which means that the centre speaker cavity up on the dash is empty.

Decided to install a remote 5watt speaker up into that void and works quite well, makes it easier for passenger to hear as well.

To stop the speaker rattling around just padded out with some foam.

[bomber1]

Morning all,
Thought i would do a quick photo shoot fit for the UHF i fitted this morning.

These instructions are for the Discovery 4 (any model).

So here goes,
I decided to fit a TX3340 as this gives the info & all controls on the Mic' head.
So there is no need for the head unit to be fitted anywhere that would get in the way. You will need to remove the centre console to gain power from the cig lighter plug..

Remove drink holder cup insert by lifting out, Grab a hold of the drink holder & lift upwards like in the photo.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/342.jpg

This next panel just lifts out in an upward motion as you can see,

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/343.jpg

Undo the 2 screws & remove the gear knob by lifting upwards, be careful not to knock yourself in the chin as they can be stubborn.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/344.jpg

Gently lift the centre console area by lifting from the rear end upwards, you will need to set the gear lever into neutral & then lift over the gear stick.
You dont have to remove the entire unit as mine just sat neatly leaning against the gear lever. I ran the power wire with the main loom & cable tied it with it, you can solder into the +ve & -ve wires from the power plug but i had a few connectors lying around so made a male/female adaptor.
There is a split in the carpet towards the rear of the centre console, so i ran the cable in that & hid it under the carpet so you cant see it.
As you can see the clips that hold the unit are the yellow ones on the side, this gives an idea of where they are & how many.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/345.jpg

I mounted the main unit under the drivers seat, for 2 reasons.
1. there is a big amplifier under there with a nice steel cage & you can use this to mount the unit on. I made a steel plate for the unit to sit on then spaced the bolts as the cage has a lip.

2. It was easy to just run the Mic' cord to it without having to use the extended piece that would of been too long. Also the speaker faces upwards to me too. (we will see if the speaker is good enough?, its ok in the garage when its quiet, but out on the tracks will be different).

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/346.jpg

THis is what you end up with in the final shot, Just a nice simple place for the Mic' to sit. Not in the way anywhere & easy to use when i need it.

You can also see the Electric trailer brakes in the top r/h side, i fitted a RedArc remote head unit. See install at end of post
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/97935-d4-electric-trailer-brakes-4.html

I have a bracket to fit to the aerial which i am in the final process of finishing. I will do another shoot for this piece as i plan to fit this on the tail gate section.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/347.jpg

Cheers all.

Great photos and came in really handy for installing my unit. Now the big question where to mount aerial front or back?? Also if on the front where is the best place to go through fire wall?

Regards Bomber1

[eddomak]

Great photos and came in really handy for installing my unit. Now the big question where to mount aerial front or back?? Also if on the front where is the best place to go through fire wall?

Regards Bomber1
For the aerial mounting options, try this thread (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/149036-show-us-antennas-your-d4-d3.html) for the discussion and photos.

The standard place to go through the firewall is via a grommet where the clutch cable (on a manual model) would go through. Check out the instructions (and first 4 photos) for installing the Traxide auxilliary battery kit here (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/verandah/62580-traxide-full-power-cable-kit-d3.html#post805953).

Apparently, since talking to Tim (of Traxide) there might be another place that is even easier, lower down the firewall, but I have not personally looked yet.

[sniegy]

I did this,

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/104077-aerial-install-d3-d4-tailgate.html

[Rocket00]

Hello Pete
Can you help he with running the antenna cable once through the firewall. I plan to put the unit under the drivers seat but am unsure how to get the antenna cable from the firewall to the unit. I assume under the carpet but unsure where and how.

Your help is appreciated.

Regards
Rod

[eddomak]

Hello Pete
Can you help he with running the antenna cable once through the firewall. I plan to put the unit under the drivers seat but am unsure how to get the antenna cable from the firewall to the unit. I assume under the carpet but unsure where and how.

Your help is appreciated.

Regards
Rod

I know I'm not Pete, but I have a suggestion if you don't want to go under the carpet properly. ;)

Option 1: If you stay behind the dash towards the centre console, then towards the cubby, then you can get down between the cupholders and the driver's seat.

Option 2: Go towards the base of the driver's a-pillar, then along the door sill and exit when you get to the driver's seat.

[sniegy]

Rod,
Entry through the firewall is via a grommet on the drivers side of the vehicle. If you remove the lid from the brake booster just to the centre of the vehicle you will see the grommet & that is your entry point.

As Eddomak has said i would use No.1. Its just easier to tuck under the console section to run the cable to the where you want it & then under your seat.

HTH Cheers

[Rocket00]

Eddomak and Pete
Thanks guys, option one will be my preference. Pete, I have the electronic gear selector and power seats, is their anything I should consider with those features? Will the console come off the same way if I choose to take the power from the cigarette lighter as you did?
regards
Rod

[Torero22]

Sniegy,

How did you attach the mike bracket to the trim....did you screw it on, or did you use some double sided tape ? So far I have not found any tape to hold it on, and don't real want to screw into the trim.


Brett

Brett, To drill into the centre console of such a great vehicle is such a drastic step to take. I hate doing this in even the worst vehicles. The way to do it & so that it is reversible once you sell it, is as follows:

1) Make up a bracket of sheet metal, bend it using a vice on a work bench, you want the bracket to come up the slit of the two plastic panels of the console. By the way I said a thin sheet, the thinner the better.
2) the bracket needs to go from either an internal point where you can screw into or reuse an internal mounting screw.
3) the sheet metal brackets just bends as it comes out of the console, so that you can mount the mic clip that came with the radio to the new bracket you made.
4) the job - if you are very careful and unsure should take approx 1 to 2 hours & you do not destroy the external surface of the console. PM if you need a diagram or need me to better explain it.

Regards
Tor

[Torero22]

Great photos and came in really handy for installing my unit. Now the big question where to mount aerial front or back?? Also if on the front where is the best place to go through fire wall?

Regards Bomber1


This is a good question indeed, I was a communications technician in a past life before I became an engineer. So How does an aerial work, well it is the transmission of energy between the energy source and the ground plane. The energy source being the aerial and the ground plane being the car body. So

1) rear mounting - this would mean that you highest gain for transmission and reception is in the forward direction of the vehicle as the ground plane is the roof of the car. So your radio will be setup to communicate more efficiently towards the front of the car.

2) Bull bar or Forward Mounting - the reverse is dominant here, so your communications system is now geared up to communicate more efficiently towards the rear of the vehicle.

3) the ideal position is the centre of the roof, so that you have equal gain all around the vehicle. So on a roof rack is great & so that you don't hit trees, use a short aerial. But not too short as the taller the aerial the more gain again.

It is all a balancing act. Let me know if you need more detail.

Look at the attached drawing, red star is the aerial position, black rectangles the car and the blue oval is the gain pattern roughly and not to scale.


Hope this helps
Tor

[Torero22]

Well since there is so much interest on where to mount radios, these are my plans for when I get my vehicle next week.

I do not intend to drill into any part of my car, but intend to use a removable roof centre console which I will make out of ply & covered with matching or grey material to nicely finish it.

I intend to reuse the rear & front current roof consoles to mount a couple of sheet metal brackets and will have press studded nuts for me to screw in and remove the roof centre console as I need.

I have bought a Oricon Uhf180 radio from the camping & 4WD show, (less than half the price of the GME, $195) http://www.oricom.com.au/oricom-uhf-cb-radios/in-vehicle-uhf-cb-radios/uhf180-uhf-5watt-cb-radio-in-vehicle.html
This unit has a separate head and a remote speaker that extends from the base unit.
The base unit can be mounted anywhere out of the way & you just need to run the extension cables for the head unit & speaker up the pillar and out of one of the current light consoles.

Then I intend to mount the head unit, the speaker and mic bracket onto this removable roof console. I came up with this design as I want my vehicle to glow in the city without all the gadgets and convert to a bush beast when I go out.

If people are interested I can post pictures. If people need more detail, I can post videos and how to's.

Cheers
Tor

[sniegy]

Eddomak and Pete
Thanks guys, option one will be my preference. Pete, I have the electronic gear selector and power seats, is their anything I should consider with those features? Will the console come off the same way if I choose to take the power from the cigarette lighter as you did?
regards
Rod
Hi Rod,
There is little difference as you have the benefit of not having to set the gear shift into Neutral &/or removing the gearshift (& possibly punching yourself in the chin:p)
It all comes apart in the same way.

Cheers.

[Learner]

SNIP
So How does an aerial work, well it is the transmission of energy between the energy source and the ground plane. The energy source being the aerial and the ground plane being the car body. SNIP

Hi Torero,
As most UHF aerials are now ground plane independent, I find your post to be in error and misleading. With this type of aerial the positioning is irrelevant, with the obvious exception to mount as high as possible in order to minimise obstruction to the signal.

Best Wishes,
Peter

[Torero22]

Hi Torero,
As most UHF aerials are now ground plane independent, I find your post to be in error and misleading. With this type of aerial the positioning is irrelevant, with the obvious exception to mount as high as possible in order to minimise obstruction to the signal.

Best Wishes,
Peter

Hi Learner,

We must agree to disagree - the basic principal of transmission applies to all antenna types. Yes there are ground dependent antennas and ground independent antennas. Yes the independent one gives you better performance than the other type at the frequencies of UHF:300 MHz and 3 GHz (3,000 MHz) for AUS: 476–477 MHz
But transmission laws and basic principals still apply - even though these are human models to explain our world.

The higher frequencies do assist to increase the independence, but if you think a large metal plane called the bonnet and roof of the car is not going to affect your aerials performance you need to reconsider your thoughts. We again are talking about basic transmission theory.

Every antenna consists of a positive side and a negative side. In the ground independant version, both the negative and the positive are electrically matched to the same length and therefore much better matched and better performing.

Although a ground independent antenna doesn't need a nice ground plane to work properly, metal around the antenna will affect the radiation pattern. Don't put a ground independent antenna on your bullbar and expect the same coverage behind you as you get in front. The metal work of the vehicle WILL affect performance.

The difference is - do you want good enough or the radio and antenna to do it's job?

If good enough is good enough for you, then place it where you like.

If you want your radio and antenna to do their job and give you maximum reach without the use of a repeater. Then you better consider the aerial you use and its position. In the outback this could save your life.

I typically run several aerials, I use a long independent for open spaces & a shorter one for bush bashing.

All good though - I love a good argument.

Tor

[Rocket00]

Hello Pete and others

Completed the installation toady, unit under drivers seat and control/speaker on the dash. I went with a MobileOne 4.5dBi antenna and it is working perfectly. I just need to learn the unit and the CB protocol :)

Your advice and insights were invaluable I will post some photos when I work out how to include them the same way you (Pete) did in your initial message

Regards

[DoctorJ]

ProClip mounting platform for vehicles*|*Brodit (http://www.brodit.com/proclip.html?pn=prod&sm=pc)


for those with issues drilling into the dash to fit a handset bracket check these out. I personally have one and they are extremely simple to fit or remove without leaving a mark.

Cheers
Julian

[Landis3]

Hi, wondering how you may have got the front cover off the drivers seat to access the underneath, is there a special way to pull that sucker off, other than throwing it to the tip when i get it off ??

[l00kin4]

Hi, wondering how you may have got the front cover off the drivers seat to access the underneath, is there a special way to pull that sucker off, other than throwing it to the tip when i get it off ??
Normally if you put the seat at full height and fully forward it will give you enough access to work with in the space... I think many (most?) people have mounted under the passenger seat using the existing bracket with a few tweaks. Scott has a good write up here: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-rides/225222-scotts-discovery-4-a-8.html#post2483777


David