Thanks!

We routed the head unit cable down along the plastic covering going from the center console to the shifter then came up behind it under the row of switches that has the ESP switch on it. We just got an extra long cable and it stays in the Jeep when I remove the radio. I have the regular cable in my go box. Everything was professionally done by a local company I use who install police radio and lighting systems.

I did not have to use a ground wire on the antenna. I used a Maldol eXceed Series eX-107B NMO antenna with a Comet RS-730 mount. The mount fit securely under the lip of the hard top and we ran the slim part of the cable underneath the top and sealed it very well then ran the rest of the antenna cable down the same path the other cables take to the front of the Jeep (along the drivers side).

I use Anderson Power Poles to connect the radio to the power amp (and to the amp in my go box). To remove the radio from the Jeep, I unscrew the thumb screws that hold the base unit into its mount, unplug speaker/head unit/mic/power wires from the base unit freeing it then unplug the head unit and mic. This all takes less than 5 minutes and another 5 minutes to plug everything into my go box with Alinco Power Supply DM-330MVT, APC Back-UPS 1500L uninterruptable power supply (with extra batteries), external Diamond SG700 Super Gainer antenna, and Heil Sound "The Traveler" Dual Headset with Boom Mic and I'm ready to communicate for many hours. Adding a laptop with D-RATS and I can do digital messaging, file transfer, and email over the D-STAR system we have statewide in Georgia. Rock and roll baby!

Joel

 

I don't have it mounted directly on the carpet under the driver's seat. There is a good 1 inch space there for airflow. And, the IC2820 has an automatic fan system that only comes on when needed (apparently there's a temp sensor in the base unit). I only hear that sucker come on after I've been transmitting for a while (10+ minutes) so I know it's not overheating. Plus, with Georgia summers consistently hitting 97+ degrees, I think it would get a lot hotter from that than from transmitting and I still don't hear it come on as often as I thought it would in the Jeep.

Joel

 

I DID install the radio under the driver's seat. Well, actually "I" didn't... my installer did and they sealed everything after using metal screws to get through the floor.

Joel

 

I built a bracket that allowed the mounting on the seat mounts. This way I have airflow above and below the radio.

 

With the 2820 can you run the power straight to your battery? Or will it need a little more juice? Nice set up btw!