Updated April 2013
Land Rover Defender 90 - 300 Tdi
RADIO & PERIPHERALS
Icom IC-2820 D-STAR UHF/VHF radio
This is a great radio, which supports D-STAR, a digital voice protocol which is gaining adoption in the US. From an overlanding perspective it’s useful as it can transmit data along with voice - including position information, which is clearly very handy if you’re traveling with a group. The radio has a reasonable large and clear display, and can be easily programmed with the right software. I’ve interfaced this radio with a Kenwood RC-D710 and PG-5J (see below) so I can also use APRS for position reporting and other data services.
Kenwood RC-D710 AX.25 TNC for APRS and PG-5J interface kit, connected to the Icom IC-2820
I’ve outlined the procedure which gives you the best of both worlds - access to the very popular and prevalent APRS network as well as the up and coming D-STAR network.
Garmin GPSMAP 478 GPS receiver with GXM30 Antenna for XM Radio and XM WX
While in 2013, it’s certainly less trendy to use a dedicated GPS unit, the GPSMAP 478 (and its siblings the GPSMAP 276, etc.) are the best GPS receivers that Garmin has made for the overlander. The units which superseded this family, notably the GPSMAP 640, which itself was released aeons ago from a technology perspective in 2008, suffered from a severe dumbing down. Happy smiley sunny face replaced isobaric charts. Sad cloud face replaced real-time dBZ radar reflectivity. Now this only really applies if you’re subscribed to the XM WX weather service (and it’s $30 per month, and is only slightly better than the good Android/iOS apps, and you need an Sirius/XM radio subscription too) and if you use the off-road aspects of the GPS. The GPSMAP 478 and family give you expert-level control over the settings and variables, so you can adapt it to your precise needs. With great mapping, including the world map and 24k quads topo maps of the US I highly recommend this family of GPS units. There are only three downsides - the screen is small (3.75” diagonal (9.5 cm) at 480x320) and the storage capacity is limited to 512MB (yes, megabytes!) proprietary Garmin data card. Finally, in this age of the cloud, you have to connect the serial card to your PC to update the maps which are updated approximately annually (not too bad for the topo maps though).
Gilsson Upgraded external GPS antennas
The GPS antenna which ships with the IC-2820 isn’t waterproof, which is odd for an external GPS antenna. The Garmin external antenna is ok, but the Gilsson active GPS antennas are well worth the upgrade. Not only are they cheaper than the Garmin antennas, they out-perform them. Mine have been exposed to the elements for around 5 years now (in 2013) and are still working perfectly. I recommend this upgrade for all dedicated GPS units and radios which have GPS capabilities.
Diamond Antenna NR770HB Dualband VHF/UHF Mobile Antenna (NR770HB)
These antennas are reasonably cheap and offer great performance. They come with a variety of mounting options, including power-folding mounts. Mine is 2cm taller than the rest of the truck and is mounted on the front bull-bar so it acts as an early warning that I won’t fit somewhere!
COMPUTE DEVICES
Google Nexus 4, unlocked GSM phone
This is my current phone, an unlocked GSM device, which is very handy for international travel (simply buy a local SIM card and off you go with a local number and cheap data). My current phone plan, a T-Mobile plan (getting hard to find, but still available at Walmart), offers unlimited data and texting and 100 minutes of calls per month - for only $30. I think it’s a great deal, and I typically tether it to my iPads and can share with others as necessary. I’m also of the view that Android 4.2 is a better phone O/S than iOS 6.1.4, allowing far greater flexibility in choice of screen configuration and widget placement. It’s also useful to have an Android device alongside an iOS device to get the best of both worlds…
Apple iPad mini, 64GB, Verizon and Wifi 7” tablet
I’ve outlined elsewhere why the 7” form factor is ideal for small and mid-size overland vehicles. While there are other devices on the market with an approximation of the 7” form factor, only the iPad mini has the right size and aspect ratio that makes it about perfect for driving - showing the correct amount of information at once. The 10” tablets are just too large and either obscure your forward vision, of get in the way of dash controls and switches. The 4”-5” phone and phablet form-factor is usable, but using a 7” iPad mini gives touch targets that are just right for you to hit quickly, without distraction, while driving (assuming it’s legal where you are). So, a device that is self-contained, big enough to be usable and small enough not to get in the way - and with a great selection of apps, in May 2013 it’s as good as it gets.
It’s also worth nothing that to get the GPS chipset (a Broadcom A-GPS BCM47501UBG), is packaged with the communications unit, meaning that if you get the Wifi-only version then you won’t have GPS. Clearly a no-brainer to get the Cellular/GPS version, I decided to get the Verizon CDMA/LTE version which allows me to have 2 communications providers while in the US. The Verizon service is also PAYG (pay as you go), so you simply pre-pay when you need it.
Quantity of RAM mounts for GPS and accessories
Keeping the devices secure is important, and I’ve trusted RAM Mounting Systems for over a decade. I’ve collected an array of their mounts, some of which are device specific, but other parts are interchangeable which allows great flexibility in exactly where the device is positioned. My oldest mount is 14 years old, and I’ve not had one fail yet.
BlackVue DR400G-HD II dash camera
After witnessing many interesting and exciting events on the road, I decided to capture those events and upload the clownery for all to see. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, simply Google “russian dashcam videos” and enjoy a great evenings entertainment!