[how to] fit a c.b. aerial to a Land Rover Discovery

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accywingy

Large Member!
Administrator
I have now managed to fit my c.b. aerial to my Discovery Yipee!!!

After a lot of pondering I decided to go for a dome mount, and a 5’ springer, purchased from www.4x4cb.com ( the service and delivery were excellent too), and for mounting decided to go for a central roof fixing.

Why the roof???

Whilst trying to decide where to mount the aerial one of the contributing factors was running the lead. So I decided that if I ran it through the roof lining and out of the roof it would minimize view of the lead, and in the event of removing the aerial, for sale etc, the hole could be grommited and would be out of view.



So here goes:-

First you require a 13mm drill, in this case due to the roof material being thin I ground a Butterfly drill (photo 1) This makes the drilling much easier and neater.





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Secondly make sure that you have enough lead to do the job, I used 7 metres with a little to spare(better too much than too little)

Once you have decided where to mount the c.b. start with the lead here and work your way to the aerial, I chose to mount the c.b. on the dash so it is easy to reach (I only have short arms J)


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so I took the lead under the drivers footwell cable tying it to the air con pipes, then remove the kick strip under the door and place the cable under it.Remove the door seal on the upright. Gently with a screwdriver prise the trim from the body and push in the lead.


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Next you need to remove the trim around the rear roof window, Again gently with a screwdriver push the lead across the top of the trim towards the window.
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Once the lead is here you need to remove the central interior light, above the fitting you will see the roof panel.

This is the bit I did not like doing. Next you need to drill the hole for the mount. I chose to drill the hole from the inside.

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Whichever side you go from be careful not to hinder thye fitting of the retractable roofbars if your disco has the extra roof rails.


Once the hole is drilled you need to mount the mount (hmmm). For ease I took out the removable sunroof, In this case I needed a long 17mm socket and extension bar.
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Once the mount is in place the lead must be pulled through the head lining, for this I used a trusty wire coat hanger, threading it through from the light fitting, I taped the plug to the end and it pulled through very easily. Once you have pulled it through you can screw on the fitting and coil the cable and store it in the roof panel.

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Once all this is done all of the panels can be refit and the aerial and c.b. checked with your swr meter.



I hope this may be of help to somebody, although it is not the only way to fit the aerial it is what I found the easiest and neatest, and I am told that being in the centre of the vehicle I will get a better ground plane??????? Personally I wouldn’t know, its my first c.b. :)


I've added a couple of pics below of the trim all back in place and looking fine, 10:4 over and out hehe!
 

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hey wingy

looks a good job done, and a very informative and easily digestible talk thru' too.....you moonlighting for haynes?! this is just the very thing this site is made for and i hope others out there take inspiration from. i certainly enjoyed reading up - and i have neither a disco, nor a c.b! 10:4 good buddy...
 
Yes i did drill it, i looked at other mount options like the mag, but when i'm weaving through the trees in a forest it won't stay on long.
And with any of the other mounts you still have to get the lead into the vehicle. So a door seal is about the only option, and i didnt want any visible wires or any that could be cought on tree branches bushes etc. I cant see any problem at all with driilling aa hole in the disco! when the mount is removed you would haave to climb onto the bonnet to see the mark..
 
It can have a problem with leaking, even when they are fitted correct as you have done. Using a decent mag-mount like one that comes with the Wilson 500 - 1000, the aerial will not come off.

A decent boot / side mount doesn't expose enough of the wire to give it the chance to catch on trees or branches. It threads in between the gap of your boot, etc like I have on the motor for my 'local' small aerial.

No leaks and I can remove it without leaving marks on the outside of the car.

Anyhow, as long as it works, who gives a monkeys!! 10-4 on that!
 
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