Where to install CB radio ??

[trsmith Member Find all posts View Profile Close trsmith]

I installed my GME in the center console
https://goo.gl/photos/TeQjkbK9ids1zp3x5
made a bracket with Heavy Duty Velcro to stick down the remote screen. When im done i just pull it all out, Simple and i love that no one would never know it was there.

[pradoprime Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradoprime]

Mate do you have a photo of your install?

how do you go seeing the controls and screen in the compartment, I guess you've spaced it forward?

Photos put up mate

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

Thanks mate, just what I was looking for.

[Piratepete Member Find all posts View Profile Close Piratepete]

Well after much deliberation & reading all the threads about Uhf radio installation, finally bit the bullet on the radio and where to install it. Bought the GME 3550s which has the sound in the hand piece (btw also has speaker in the main unit). Was going to install it myself but the guys that I bought it from, Electric Bug in Adelaide said that they could do the installation for $120.

I was most impressed by their advice & they showed me how easy it was to take the fascia off to install it behind the main centre console, right behind the centre locker/4wd switches. In all the threads I've looked at, I've never seen this location mentioned.

I took power from my auxiliary battery and both power & antennae cables passed through grommet on drivers side firewall to unit installed behind the centre console. Microphone cable is on passenger side of centre console. I will be getting a Clic-on mount for Prado 150 from Hold my phone for the mic.

I have OEM nudge bar and was going to put a "stick" aerial on there but the guys from Electric Bug said not to bother and the best place for reception was on a mount attached to the roof rails. (I noticed that the company's owner has his done this way on his FJ cruiser). They showed me pictures of a connector that is used if I put a Pioneer platform on which still enables an aerial to be used at this location.

Sorry I don't have pictures of the install behind the 4wd switch but it looked so easy to pull off the fascia. When they showed me before install, the guy had all the bits off in about 30 seconds, it freaked me out.

Anyway, I have really appreciated all the info on the threads on Pradopoint and hope that this gives others another method for their uhf installation.

[Bluedog16 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bluedog16]

I have been thinking about this for quite a while too but are still undecided.
I do like your aerial instal up on the roof with it attached to the roof rails as I don't as yet have a bull bar. Where and how does the aerial cable run and get back into the car from the roof? Any pictures you have of that would be even better.
thanks
David

[Bobcrusader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bobcrusader]

Business card holder:

[Piratepete Member Find all posts View Profile Close Piratepete]

Hi Bluedog/David... The easiest part of the install is running the antennae cable to the roof rail. I had a go myself in anticipation of fitting the uhf myself. You run the cable under the plastic cover in the bottom corner of the windscreen ( just pops out).

Then the cable fits in the groove along the side (seems made to take the cable) under the cover/track up to the roof rails. When Electric Bug did the install, they silastic the cable in the window track. That's why you see the tape on there, just to hold the cable in until the silastic sets. (They said leave it in for 2 days before taking the tape off).

The cover where the angle bracket is attached is really easy to take off. There is a video on another thread about removing the roof rails which shows you how to do it, trust me it's not hard to do. A trick they told me, because I want to put a Pioneer platform on in the future, you leave a little bit of cable slack rolled up in the roof rail cover so you can pull extra cable through. You then have an extension connector so that the aerial can attach to the platform. If you want to remove the platform, you can revert to the original set up.

Other things to consider. My aerial is fitted on the drivers side. Electric Bugs reason, when you're out bush, you might be close to trees on the lhs and there is less likelihood of breaking the aerial on trees. Because I have the Auxiliary battery, it's easier to run power f it's on this side, together with the antennae cable which goes through the drivers side grommet in the firewall. I've connected power to the auxiliary battery, based upon a lot of advice on PP. That way you can use the radio when the ignition is off. Also, you won't flatten the starter battery if you leave the radio on. Pradopointers reckon there is less chance of interference to the radio if you connect to the auxiliary.

I also have another aerial, about 600mm long which is a 6db aerial for better or longer reception when out bush. This is a RFI CD63 6db. The stubble for around town is a 1/4 wave mopole.

Really happy with the GME 3550s too. Been waiting for them to put the speaker in the hand piece like Icom & Uniden.

[Bluedog16 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bluedog16]

that's great. Thanks for the trouble you went to in your reply.
much appreciated
David

[Nova Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nova]

I have done the same with my aerial install (same little red rubber ducky from electric bug, lol). I drilled into the alloy mount inside the roof rail under the cover and bent up a stainless bracket to suit. I also have a longer whip to change to when outback and not concerned with car parks etc.

Cheers, Nova

[iDestiny Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close iDestiny]

I wanted the option of keeping as many things as portable between vehicles. So I opted for a plug & play version of the GMA TX3100. For the most part the antenna stays on the front dash... But when I need to I can extend it through the moon-roof or driver window. I used industry grade Velcro to stick the radio unit and hand set to where i want, and a couple other pieces of Velcro to keep the antenna wire nice and tucked in:

http://www.pradopoint.com/album.php?albumid=527

So far, so good.

Cheers

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I was most impressed by their advice & they showed me how easy it was to take the fascia off to install it behind the main centre console, right behind the centre locker/4wd switches. In all the threads I've looked at, I've never seen this location mentioned.

So you have yours installed right behind this panel?



I didn't think there was enough room to get at main unit in there and to be honest never thought of that location when I was doing mine.

When I purchased the Prado the UHF was installed at the front of the centre console surround under the cup holders. I didn't like it as the unit was strapped to some sort of computer module and I thought it might interfere with that. I eventually ended up with it mounted to the panel that sits under the glovebox :-



Works great and the audio is still nice and clear.

[Piratepete Member Find all posts View Profile Close Piratepete]

Hi Fido, yep right behind that panel. They said GME's fit perfectly. They pulled the 2 sides off, and the panel like you've done. If I'm able to, I'll try and get some pics of where it's fitted. (That's if I'm game to pull the fascia off myself). They have done hundreds of Prado's this way, 4 fitted including mine on the same day. Because I've got the new 3550s, I've got the sound on the hand piece ( you can also have sound on the head unit as well if you want, it's an optional setting). For $120, I thought it was worth it for a professional fitting. All done in 1 1/2 hours.

[Puddock Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Puddock]

Roof rail antenna mount

Piratepete,

Looking to install UHF antenna as you did, cable up side A pillar and onto roof rail.

Can you tell me which antenna mount you used and how is it bolted to the roof rail?

Are you happy with the RFI CD63?

ta

Max.

[Piratepete Member Find all posts View Profile Close Piratepete]

Hi puddock, it's just a right angle bracket screwed into roof rail bracket. Hole in centre where antennae cable comes out. The small antennae came with the mount. I'll post a close up pick shortly.
Both antennae work really well.
All the guys at Electric Bug had their own vehicles mounted this way, no sticks on bull bars.

[Piratepete Member Find all posts View Profile Close Piratepete]

Hey puddock, here is picture of my antennae install on roof rail bracket