UHF Aerial onto Defender

[solmanic]

I am starting to get my accessories organised for the new Defender when it arrives and need to know where is a safe and secure mounting spot WITHOUT a bullbar.

If there is in fact no guaranteed secure spot then I will just fit a bar, but I thought I'd ask the question before haemorrhaging more money.

[LRHybrid100]

how about on the passenger side guard - mirror image to the radio aerial, maybe a bit tight with the heater?

LRH

[Ben]

Since I got rid of my bullbar, I mounted mine at the front of the driver's side gutter - nice and clear of any obstructions.

The cable runs along the gutter to above the B pillar (held by a little metal clamp,) then into the top of the hollow back door-seal, exiting at the bottom, where it pops into the cabin (there's a convenient gap there on my County.)

From there, it runs behind the driver's seat rails, to the centre cubby box.

I can screw on a short whip for close bush work, or something longer to get over the dunes.

I was going to mount it off the gutter above the rear door and run the cable in somewhere around the door seal, but I didn't have enough cable at the time - plus above the driver's door is remarkably convenient for getting the antenna off in tricky situations.

[solmanic]

I'm not too keen on mounting through the bodywork anywhere, so the roof gutter option appeals to me.

The more I think about it though, the more I reckon I will just get another "big" aerial and fit another bullbar and be done with it. I guess that leads me to my next query, which should get a new thread because it doesn't belong in communications - are there any local front protection options other than a full bullbar?

[LRHybrid100]

how about just installing a nudge bar like DiscoWhites and Reads90 had?

[LandyBen]

Hi there, as above, you could use an 'A' bar or similar, as this would be cheaper than a full blown steel winch bar, although this bar would provide more frontal protection. The aerial I would suggest is a ground independant type, with a spring base, which is hollow to allow the coax to travel through. This aerial is the same as types used on taxi's and police cars etc. This allows you to screw on various uhf aerials (small stumpy or approx. 40cm steel type), to suit your needs. The spring would help with branches and the like, that glance off the front. Cheers, Ben.:)

[DeeJay]

I have a UHF aerial base that fits on the windscreen base, from the County I am dismantling. Going real cheap :). Downside is that you have to drill thru the hinge and maybe the firewall. With UHF, wherever you place it, bear in mind it uses the vehicle as a ground plane and the best pozzy for all round reception is the middle of the roof.
I'm assuming the brackets the same on the new deefer
Pics attached

[Bushwanderer]

With UHF, wherever you place it, bear in mind it uses the vehicle as a ground plane
Pics attached

Hi DeeJay, That's not strictly true. By using a ground-plane-independent antenna, placement is less critical. You do still benefit, however by placing the antenna as high as possible on the vehicle.

[Xtreme]

Not sure about the 2007 'Fender but I mounted mine where the blanked off vent is on the top of the drivers side front guard. Replaced the original cover plate with a piece of 8mm plastic cut to size/shape of original cover then mounted UHF Aerial and hot shower outlet tap.
See attached pics - don't seem to be able to attach anything. Will try putting in my gallery.

OK - Pics in gallery

[rovers4]

Not sure about the 2007 'Fender but I mounted mine where the blanked off vent is on the top of the drivers side front guard. Replaced the original cover plate with a piece of 8mm plastic cut to size/shape of original cover then mounted UHF Aerial and hot shower outlet tap.
See attached pics - don't seem to be able to attach anything. Will try putting in my gallery.

OK - Pics in gallery

Hi Xtreme.

The shield of the antenna cable needs a good connection to the body at the mount site, if it is of the Non Ground Independant type - single contact 5/16 inch. Relying on the connection through the radio is not good enough.

Even if it is of a Ground independant type - two connections: central fixed pin an a nut type sleeve 5/8 inch, a good earth at the mounting point is still advisable.

A non insulated metal plate (aluminium) without paint is good.
Beware of using sisalastic/silicone and also of using stainless screws for this job due to electrolysis.

Good luck, Rovers4.

[solmanic]

how about just installing a nudge bar like DiscoWhites and Reads90 had?

Yes - good idea. I was thinking of that solution myself and will probably pursue.

[Xtreme]

Hi Xtreme.

The shield of the antenna cable needs a good connection to the body at the mount site, if it is of the Non Ground Independant type - single contact 5/16 inch. Relying on the connection through the radio is not good enough.

Even if it is of a Ground independant type - two connections: central fixed pin an a nut type sleeve 5/8 inch, a good earth at the mounting point is still advisable.

A non insulated metal plate (aluminium) without paint is good.
Beware of using sisalastic/silicone and also of using stainless screws for this job due to electrolysis.

Good luck, Rovers4.

Thanks for the advice and tips rovers4.

I must admit I'm not a technical guru when it comes to this stuff but I've had mine installed as described in my original post and photos, without any special earths, in threee Defenders so far and haven't had a problem with it.
I run plenty of club trips through both heavily timbered mountainous country and open desert country and have communicated successfully - straight line distance - of over 35kms.

[LRHybrid100]

Yes - good idea. I was thinking of that solution myself and will probably pursue.

The nudge bars on the D90s should be a LR part number - maybe your dealer could source you one?

LRH

[Xavie]

Although you don't want to go through body work and I fully appreciate that a small hole in the front bumper is a reasonable place.... It would be extremely easy to plug up if you ever removed the mount.

It is a low mount unfortunately but if your main use is convoy it is quite adequate.

You can run an earthing wire from here easily and running a cable should be simple.

I know your past this but just a thought.

[Michael2]

I've seen HF aerials on the rear wheel carrier. I suppose you could put the UHF there as well. The vehicle would form a barrier to things in front, but if you mount it on the front it still forms a barrier to things behind.

On the spare wheel carrier, you can probably mount it a bit higher, and by using a short 4Db aerial you can get a better pattern of radio wave transmission for getting around the vehicle.

If you have a telescopic light holder on a wheel carrier, then you can even raise the aerial when stationary - Base Camp Mode.

[sclarke]

OK, UHF CB mount on mine....

Just a plate bolted to the existing bolts in the radiator support...

its had a good bashing and it has not budged.... the spring in the antenna has become weaker due to tree hits, but not the plate....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/11/131.jpg

[solmanic]

That's pretty tidy - I will add it to the list of options for serious investigation.

[Outlaw]

as far as i know you can get different bonnet mounts for bolting under somewhere similar to sclarkes post above... have a look in a tandy or dick smith... or better still make a time to meet up with some GC boys and we'll help you decide after a perv of your vehicle :D

[solmanic]

I thought I should follow-up on this thread, even though it has been a while.

Well I finally got around to purchasing and installing a GME TX3220 in the Defender and got the local guys at Olbis to do the aerial installation. Excellent job! The guy made a really tidy alloy bracket which simply bolts to a couple of spare holes on top of the radiator support frame. The cable routing was also nice and tidy - wide panel gaps are good for something. Here are a couple of photos of the bracket - sorry but they are only phone quality...

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh191/solmanic42/IMAGE_042.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh191/solmanic42/IMAGE_044.jpg

Pity the internal wiring was not so crash hot but I blame this on the numnuts who installed the radio back in December. Instead of cutting off the original Land Rover connection block and soldering the new radio wires in, they just crimped some tabs onto the wires and poked them into the holes on the connector. The whole thing was wrapped up in electrical tape.

I presume when the guy went to wire in power for the UHF he must have unwrapped them and they all fell out. Obviously he put the two power pins back into the wrong holes because every time I turned the car off all the radio settings were lost. It was tidy enough but alas, I still had to pull it all apart and re-do it.

SO I thought this was a good opportunity to do it right and cut off the old connector and solder all the wires properly. Now this wouldn't have been a problem except I stupidly didn't bother to double check everything with a multi-meter and ended up soldering the connections back to the same, incorrect wires. I have now had the radio in and out about FIVE times since it was first installed. Each time I have removed another piece of useless cr@p from the whole setup - there were just too many unused wires and spare connection terminal blocks in there. By now I am getting very nervous that with all my frigging around it's only a matter of time before a really important wire gets severed from rubbing on something deep inside the dash.

I've also been plagued with annoying rattles inside the dash so this time I wrapped several of the chunkier connections in foam and that seems to have fixed it. God forbid if I ever have to pull it out again!

[JaYwALk]

Howdy - I'm just about to install a GME UHF on my Defender and curious as to how / where the coax cable has been routed into the cabin? Cheers - JaYwALk.

[roley18]

JaYwALk,

Where did you end up routing the antenna cable ? Was it from a bar on the front ?

I'm waiting on my UHF radio and antenna but have not poked around to see where to run the cable. Radio will be mounted on the side of the centre console.

I have yet to remove any of the dash on the Puma.

Dirk...

[numpty]

Dont know about the Puma, but on the Td5 there is a grommet and hole under the Cubby box which would suit. I actually brought mine in through the same place as the bonnet release cable.

Radio is mounted on rear of cubby box and remote head on bracket at front of same.