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| IC-706 'Control Head' BRACKET |
| WILSON Ant. Mount |
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CB radios are very usefull in Land Rovers, to communicate with one another when on green laneing
trips and other activities; apart that they look cool and fun to operate. I would strongly advice that you go for a
fixed mobile unit and not a hand - portable one, the latter runs on a battery pack and the 'rubber' antenna on them is not
very powerfull so communications will be restricted.
There are alot of good brands that one can choose from, and prices are also fairly cheap. Also available
is a wide range of different aerials (antennas) and mounting options; ranging from a fixed 'body-mount', to a gutter-mount,
or a mirror / bull bar mount amongst many others.
Rules of the Game :
- 'the bigger the antenna, the better the performance'
- 'the highest the antenna is located, the better is the performance'
- a 'centre' loaded whip is ALWAYS better than any other type
- try to opt for a 'fixed' antenna mount and not a 'magnetic mount'
- when all else Fail, 'READ THE INSTRUCTIONS' !
| CLOSE-UP of HF Mount |
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In my particular case since I am a licienced ham radio 9H1AA, I've installed the famous ICOM radio, the IC-706. This little unit is an all mode HF transciever which also includes
in it the 80 channel CB frequencies, and the VHF band. I find this radio very usefull when I am on my overland
trips abroad to communicate with fellow ham friends from all over the world.
I've installed the control - head of the IC-706 in my discovery at the overhead console
position between the interior light and the front mirror (as can be seen from the photo), using the 'opc' seperation cable
(available as an option from any icom dealer) and passing this cable from underneath the head lining and the front
pillar, routing it all the way to under the driver's seat, where the main radio is bolted to a hinged bracket.
My antenna installation incorporates a special fixed angled 3/8" body-mount by Wilson Antenna Inc.
of USA; which I bought 2nd hand from Ebay and is mounted at the lower part of the rear mud guard.
Then I have 4 different types of antennas ! 2 for CB use and another 2 for 'ham'
radio frequencies. I just swop from one another according whether I am operating on CB or the amateur bands. My CB antennas
are:- a center loaded 5/8 long whip; and a HI-Power 3000 bottom loaded 7/8 whip, both from Sirio Antennas of Italy;
and for the ham bands I use a multi -band loaded whip antenna, the pro-am AB5 by Valor antennas of USA, while stationary. While
on the move I use a set of different loaded whips from 'Sandpiper Communications' of Wales (UK) .
| IC-706 CONTROL HEAD |
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Furthermore I also replaced the factory fitted radio aerial of the discovery;
cause I wanted this hole to be utilized to install a 2M antenna for VHF amateur use; then I installed a small active wind
screen antenna to cover the normal fm broadcast radio.
I also fitted a remote speaker to the driver's side of the transmission tunnel . The
soud quality will be much clearer; however I intend to remove this in the near future and install it somewhere overhead
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| FRONT WING MOUNTED '2M' ANTENNA |
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right picture:-
shows the 2m (144MHz) quarter wave whip antenna on a standard body mount fitting
by 'bantex' of UK; installed instead of the factory - fitted radio ariel.
| SMALL EXTERNAL SPEAKER |
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below: (left)
the HF multi-band loaded whip mobile antenna, the Pro-am 'AB5' by Valor antennas
Inc. of USA. It is a heavy duty, all stainless and rugged constructed antenna. In fact I only use it while
stationery.
(right picture) shows the Hl - POWER 3000 antenna 'the top of the range' from SIRIO, Italy.
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| THE PRO-AM 'AB5' ANTENNA Data. |
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