UHF Antenna Install

[S.Bartfast]

I broke a small plastic part on my current antenna and can't believe how hard (and expensive) it is to replace it :grrr:
In the end I had to buy a whole new antenna but fitting it is proving to be more of a task to install than I'd anticipated.

I've come across this good post by Evil Dolf but unfortunately it glosses over all the parts I'm having trouble with - i.e. how to rout the antenna cable?

While attempting to install the antenna I discovered the car not only has a cable running to the now broken antenna at the back but also has a cable running to the front bumper to an attachment which I think was used to mount a mobile phone antenna. The attachment on the front bumper appears to consist of a somewhat universal looking mount and the other end of the cable running to it comes out right next to my CB with an identical UHF/Coax socket. Might it be possible to just fit an antenna to this mount and save running yet another cable.

If running another cable is inevitable could anyone direct me to an install guide which shows all the steps, including how to remove the various panels and carpet. I've seen many "post fix" install guides (such as Evil Dolf's) which basically say - Yeah, then I ran the cable under all this stuff to keep it neat but I'm having trouble working out how to do it myself.


Cheers,
Slarti.

[S.Bartfast]

Here are some photos of the socket on the bumper:








I'm not exactly sure what it is but the lead running between the front bumper attachment and the radio appears to contain a couple of USB sockets joined together:

I really don't know what it's about but it seems pretty clear that whoever plugged them together intended them to stay that way .

[chris0375]

There is a grommet behind the battery that is perfect to get the cable through the fire wall. Well at least there is in a crd. Where is the unit mounted in the car?

Sent from my C5503 using Tapatalk

[mowerman]

The piece on the bullbar looks like the end of coaxial and might easily take an antenna/ spring. I have a GME antenna which has the large screw in arrangement much bigger than the one shown. If in doubt just get a new antenna on place like eBay and re do it. It's easy enough. Run the cable through the firewall on the passenger side high up under the plenum chamber. You take the side panel off the dash, it just un clips. Then there is a cast alloy bracket and a bit space foam and you can push a screwdriver straight though the space foam and it comes out above the guard. You can then attached the cable to the screwdriver and pull it back through to the inside. Sorry I don't have any pics.

[chris0375]

If the usb plug has anything to do with the UHF I would remove it. Interference and resistance plays a big part in their reception and clarity

Sent from my C5503 using Tapatalk

[MDK]

Originally Posted by chris0375

There is a grommet behind the battery that is perfect to get the cable through the fire wall. Well at least there is in a crd. Where is the unit mounted in the car?

Sent from my C5503 using Tapatalk

I tried for that one for the amp cables but gave up too much work and pushed it thru a new hole in the wiring loom grommet as I don't do water crossings to really matter.

If the op can get a antenna cable plug should be able to put it thru behind the steering wheel just take the dash side panel off and there's a foam hole that should work and attach the plug afterwards. Much easier to do imo

[S.Bartfast]

Originally Posted by mowerman

Run the cable through the firewall on the passenger side high up under the plenum chamber. You take the side panel off the dash, it just un clips. Then there is a cast alloy bracket and a bit space foam and you can push a screwdriver straight though the space foam and it comes out above the guard. You can then attached the cable to the screwdriver and pull it back through to the inside. Sorry I don't have any pics.

Yeah, that's what I have been trying to do.

Obviously the cable running to that coax socket goes through the firewall somewhere and I was expecting to simply just follow the same cable but I'm having trouble getting it. The cable does indeed disappear through the fire wall high on the far left-hand side of the engine bay into what I guess must be the "plenum chamber" but I'm not able to workout where it goes after that. I'm also having trouble working out how to pull all the pieces of plastic trim off from the dash. I've been at it for a few hours and have removed lots of pieces but still can't work out how to remove the last few.

Anyway, here's a good write up showing at least a few of the steps: http://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-wr...hole-150674/#b
Unfortunately it skips the removing the "Remove the passenger side dash cover" step.

I'm also having trouble removing the larger panel from beneath the steering wheel. The previous owner installed the radio behind the cover beneath the wheel. Once you pop out the smaller piece in the middle you can poke your hand in and feel where the radio is but it's all but impossible to see what is going on in there while the larger plastic panel (the one that surrounds the smaller one and contains the speaker) is still in place.