Thread: Aerial install for D3/D4 TailGate

Originally Posted by Bushwanderer

Hi ADMIRAL,
snip
Now regarding bull-bar mounts: On my D1, the aerial mount on the bull bar was attached to the top cross bar. On my D3, I suspect to comply with regs, the antenna mounts on my ARB bar are at either corner of the main bar. I haven't measured that height difference, but if using the same antenna, it would compromise the rearward transmission. I have yet to try it in anger, but to minimise this effect, I've gone for a much longer antenna. However, now that I have a roof rack, I will consider mounting an antenna on that.

Best Wishes,
Peter

Re the bullbar mounts: The way I have mounted my antenna resulted in a range imporovement of at least double using the same antenna. I was amazed at the increase in performance.





The post is held on with a bolt through the original mounting hole in the bullbar and is behind the line of the bar so should keep the RTA happy.

Originally Posted by Tote

Re the bullbar mounts: The way I have mounted my antenna resulted in a range imporovement of at least double using the same antenna. I was amazed at the increase in performance.





The post is held on with a bolt through the original mounting hole in the bullbar and is behind the line of the bar so should keep the RTA happy.

Not too shabby, but the antenna is now mounted about where most bullbar mounts would put it, at the same level as the top bar. It has one big advantage though Tote, it is out of the line of vision.

As long as it didn't get caught up in shrubbery/trees etc and fold back onto the vehicle, but using the lighter wire coil top reduces that pretty substantially.

( I think Sniegy's thread is now way off track )

Originally Posted by ADMIRAL

( I think Sniegy's thread is now way off track )

Admiral:, More discussion equals more ideas..thats the way i look at it.
WRT the aerial & how it works, well on all of my vehicles i have had the aerial at the rear (my wife doesnt like the aerial in front wobbling all about) it has worked a lot better than many of the people i go offroad with & many, nearly all have their aerials on the front of the vehicle mounted to their trusty bullbars.

Mike:, How dare you even think i would do such a thing, when i worked in the Victorian Police fitting out their vehicles it was fine, because it was their vehicles...

Bushwanderer:, I too had thought of a spring base areial on the roof & searched for months for a suitable aerial & mount. Only to find nothing easy to remove when required.

Hence why i ended up with this unit, if i do want to remove the aerial i unscrew it & throw it in the door pocket (as they are huge). I stick a rubber bung on the aerial mount on the roof to keep it safe from the weather & it doesnt look too obvious that it is there...

Cheers guys..

For UHF "height is might" and that location is the best possible for the antenna, better than any bullbar mount. Problem is most fitters put the antenna anywhere they can, and do a test from 10m away...yep works fine and call it good. A unity gain high up is generally better for offroading than a high gain low down. The fact an antenna is ground plane independent does not change this. There is also a signficiant shadow effect of the vehicle's body and again Peter's location fixes that. The worst place is low on the bumper when you'll get significant signal loss facing backwards.

Great job Pete!!

If you don't want to knock the antenna off in carparks when mounted on the roof or roofrack , not as good as the extended bullbar mount but better than down on the bullbar, is on the trailing edge of the bonnet, off to the side out of driver's view. There are two makes of mount that clamp on the edge with no damage to paintwork. The base is hinged and can be leant in when driving through brush. I have a 3db CB antenna on he right and a 2m/70cm antenna on the left. They do not hit the windscreen with the bonnet up and are fairly clear of the cabin. Work well. Easy to get the coax to them.

Hi Tote,
That looks like the 6dB/9dB antenna I had on my D1 until some lowlife decided to break it off at the base.

Best Wishes,
Peter

Hi
Just fitted my UHF antenna. I was in a bit of a spot as I know it has to be high (center of roof is best) I have a pet hate for them fitted to bull bars as I could not do it to my passengers to have this peice of wire or worse still a pole in front of them for hundreds of K,s when traveling, not to mention the line that runs down every photo and video. So this is were I fitted it No drilling Except through the black strip for the cable to run under then under the strip down the windscreen into engine bay through fire wall to me UHF Quite tidy I think.

Great, except I have a roofrack which goes on and off. Still looking at options, but Sniegy's bracket is looking pretty good. May have to be longer again though, to clear the rear rail on the rack.