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DaveCNB



Member Since: 15 Mar 2022
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 51

United States 
VHS/UHF Radio installation
Hi all. Got around to installing a compact 25W VHF/UHF mobile radio into our 2022 Defender 110 yesterday.

The radio is an Any Tone AT-778UV, which is approx 124x39x163 mm or 4.88x1.54x6.42 inches, so there is plenty of depth in the big opening in the center console of the Defender.
https://www.rigpix.com/anytone/at778uv.htm
However, since I didn't want to drill holes into the plastic center console of a new car lol, I mounted the radio to an inexpensive ~$25 cubby organizer I got off Amazon.


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After a little cutting of plastic with a Dremel tool (not perfectly straight cuts but the radio prevents anyone from seeing any minor irregularties), some drilling and mounting of the radio's mounting bracket (mounted it down flush at the bottom of the cubby organizer), the radio now sits in an easily removable tray. I also cut the rubber tray liner w/ a razor blade and straight edge so that it fits around the radio (and hides the imperfect Dremel technique):


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Super easy to pop the radio out, unhook the power connector and the antenna and the radio can be taken out of the car or stored out of sight (if that is a consideration).

I did take power from the battery under the front passenger seat (the power draw of this 25W radio is too high for the fused 12V circuits to handle) by using 12ga wires w/ an inline fuse and battery terminals to connect directly to the bolts off the ground wire and a 12V power take off.

BTW, be real careful when you do this, rubber gloves, disconnect the ground off the battery terminal first and isolate it (so it can't short accidentally, I trapped it under the rear rubber mat well away from where I was working). There is an exposed metal plate off the negative terminal of the battery that is uncomfortably close to where I was working on the bolt carrying +12V, I covered that metal with electrical tape. Did a power test, ran the wires, reconnected the negative battery cable and tested the car (fired right back up w/o any errors or anti-theft system triggering off).

It took some time but wasn't too difficult, just make sure you take proper safety precautions and have the right tools/wiring or have it done professionally.

I can get some better pictures out in the daylight (it was getting dark by the time I was done).

Now just have to figure out how I'm going to route an antenna wire and where I'm going to put the antenna.

Dave
Post #945896 15th Mar 2022 8:30pm
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DaveCNB



Member Since: 15 Mar 2022
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 51

United States 
Mounted up a roof top antenna
So I got one of Ray's excellent roof rail antenna mounts shipped out to me from the UK (Thanks Ray!!). It is a seriously nicely made piece, if you're in the market for any of the stuff he makes, be assured it is top notch.


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Here are some shots of an 19" dual band VHF/UHF antenna mounted on the right rear portion of the roof rail.


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Using a NMO mount and a coax that connects via a 90 degree angle PL-259, there is about 0.75 cm of clearance above the car's roof at the lowest point of the connector barrel.

I'm undecided on the best location for the mount, right now since the coax I have is a bit short, I have the cable coming out the rear corner/edge of the right rear passenger door. I'm pretty sure for this sort of antenna, the current location isn't optimal (better located at the center of a large expanse of metal for a proper ground plane).

But I'm looking at one of these cool compact antennas that actually likes being on a corner w/ nearby vertical metal surfaces dropping off next to it: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/can-2m-440

I'll need a longer extension cable to try to run it out the rear hatch so I can move the mount all the way to the back of the rail space available. I'll probably have to rig up some sort of ground strap as the paint on the factory rails and the mount seem to prevent much grounding to the rest of the car's body.

Then again, I'm just using this VHF/UHF radio for car to car communications and not really trying to do super long range communications so the setup I have right now might be just fine.

Any critiques, suggestions or observations about how I've set this up would be appreciated.
Post #948037 4th Apr 2022 6:08pm
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mse



Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5024

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey
Sorry...but how does the car in space 51 actually manage to use that bay Rolling with laughter Mike
Post #948128 5th Apr 2022 7:22am
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DaveCNB



Member Since: 15 Mar 2022
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 51

United States 
LOL, yeah from that angle looks like the column is blocking him, but it's actually off to the side and the guy can actually get 2 cars into that tandem spot!
Post #948134 5th Apr 2022 7:51am
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mse



Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5024

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey
Thumbs Up Laughing Mike
Post #948214 5th Apr 2022 6:53pm
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 516

South Africa 
Nice. Exactly where i fitted my radio.

Behind the brake pedal is a big (around 3 inches) round rubber grommet. make a small hole in that and run the cable through there, then run it up the A pillar in the crack on the front of the roof, to where you have fitted your antenna in the roof rails.

In my video from about 5 mins 50 seconds i show how i did mine. Hope it helps you. (sorry not such a great video as im still learning)

 "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #950472 25th Apr 2022 1:04pm
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TRGRichie



Member Since: 03 Mar 2021
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 180

United Kingdom 
Thanks very useful. L663 90ht
Post #950512 25th Apr 2022 5:26pm
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DaveCNB



Member Since: 15 Mar 2022
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 51

United States 
BruceT wrote:

Behind the brake pedal is a big (around 3 inches) round rubber grommet. make a small hole in that and run the cable through there, then run it up the A pillar in the crack on the front of the roof, to where you have fitted your antenna in the roof rails.


Great install, very clean. I was looking at a post on another Defender forum where they went via a right rear quarter panel modification (slightly tricky removal of the exterior C-Pillar trim piece but there is a rubber plug over a hole that is already in the body work to the inside of the car where you can run wires down through the interior trim pretty cleanly) to run wires up to the roof rack area. That may be an interesting way to get an antenna wire up to the rear roof area. (I didn't post the thread link from the other forum b/c I didn't know if that was allowed)

I think in the meantime, I'm looking at modifying one of these trunk lid mounts to bolt onto Ray's rail antenna mount:
https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-003079
It has a thinner gauge wire that may just pass through the boot door seals w/o much pinching/distortion so that I'm not drilling into any body panels, and since it's hinged, I could fold it down out of the way w/o dismounting an antenna for low/tight clearances.

I like the higher position of the antenna on the roof and am looking into this antenna which apparently likes a corner placement and is quite low profile:
https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-016475

BTW, BruceT, did that trick of clipping in/out the seatbelt x 10 rapidly while the car was powered up (accessories only, no engine start) help get rid of the annoying seatbelt alarm for you? Probably won't fix the door alarm while in gear though.

Dave
Post #950516 25th Apr 2022 5:52pm
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 516

South Africa 
Dave to be honest I tried it once while I was in a rush and it didn't work but I think perhaps I didn't do it correctly. I will try again tomorrow and let you know. Thank you "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #950568 26th Apr 2022 5:57am
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 516

South Africa 
finally found this thread although slightly off topic. Just a quick thank you to Dave and others who advised me on the seat belt trick. It worked the second time I tried.

Thank you "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #953820 27th May 2022 2:25pm
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zilch



Member Since: 11 Sep 2019
Location: Whitsundays & Sydney
Posts: 771

Australia 
Eventually I got the UHF installed this week, the antenna mount was from Tuff Ant
who’s kit literally is bolted to the passenger side bonnet hinge, zero drilling, just remove one
bolt, loosen the other, slide it in and then retighten the bolts that hold the hinge brackets.
The coax is run under plastic and then pushed/punched through the large steering wheel
grommet into the cabin and ran under the dash, under the diver side footwell panel and into
the centre console.

The UHF unit takes its power from fuse 2 (USB/AUX) in the passenger compartment fuse box
behind the glove box, just used a piggy back fuse and the cable ran behind the dash
and under the footwell side panel and into the centre console space..

The mic is attached to its standard magnetic holder which is double side taped to
a holdmyphone dash clamp

Apart from pushing through the steering column area, zero drilling on any of the install..
Pretty happy with the finished result


Click image to enlarge




Click image to enlarge
 yet another pommie bar steward down under

MY20 110 P400 SE Defender
MY10 3.0 RR Sport
Post #978794 19th Jan 2023 9:48am
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 516

South Africa 
very nice.
Thank you for the power take off point tip. Im going to do the same now. Ive just been using the cigarette socket with a male cigarette socket plug.
Where did you get ground from? "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #978797 19th Jan 2023 10:04am
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zilch



Member Since: 11 Sep 2019
Location: Whitsundays & Sydney
Posts: 771

Australia 
Bruce according to the auto spark they connected the UHF units earth/black cable to the
corresponding connection terminal point behind the USB/aux plug below the centre dash..

I hope they got that right Whistle Laughing yet another pommie bar steward down under

MY20 110 P400 SE Defender
MY10 3.0 RR Sport
Post #978919 20th Jan 2023 5:08am
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 516

South Africa 
Thank you very much. Going to do the same this weekend.

If smoke escapes this weekend please let me know. Laughing Laughing "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #978959 20th Jan 2023 11:40am
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zilch



Member Since: 11 Sep 2019
Location: Whitsundays & Sydney
Posts: 771

Australia 
Thumbs Up : Laughing yet another pommie bar steward down under

MY20 110 P400 SE Defender
MY10 3.0 RR Sport
Post #978962 20th Jan 2023 12:10pm
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