Running Coax and Control cable for external HF antenna.

[V10-downunder]

I intend to install a Codan fully tunable HF antenna at the rear of my V10 by using the tow bar as the main mount. Has enyone had luck in bringing cable into the rear of the vehicle without drilling or doing mods? I want to leave it original.

[Arkarch]

Hi, I am involved in similiar projects and curious if you or anybody else has further experience in routing coax.

My current plan is to route coax through the rear pillars accessed from the CD changer / extinguisher access panels. Holes would be made under the hinge cover plastic molding and then routed up the roof where modified Diamond 9000 LRM's await. Some modification to the hinge covers is expected,so I have already acquired replacement hinge cover molding to restore later. All this should work well for the VHF / UHF / Microwave (2.4 ghz) antenna set.

However I am still trying to come up with a good solution for HF antenna mounts and grounding. A local HRO sales person suggested a hatch lip mount near the lighting, but I am still fairly wary of attaching anything directly to the exterior body of the car - plus there is a good chance I would be operating with the hatch up during relay operations. Your idea of tow bar is good, and I have also looked at the tow hook spots, but no upper anchor would be possible. Then there is the issue of grounding body to frame.

What have others done?

[Vegas Matt]

I haven't done anything like this, but from my hitch install I know there is a soft rubber grommet on the right rear corner near the CD Changer area. If you route it out there, depending on the thickness of the cable, you may be able to run it up toward the roof in the channel where the hatch recesses into the body. Not sure if this would work or not, but just a thought. Good luck!

Matt

[aircooled]

FWIW, here is VW's official antenna mounting guide: