2014 JGC - Ham Radio Install

16241 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by jfinca, Jan 7, 2017

doofoo

Discussion Starter · Jun 18, 2013

Saw a few people asking about install options for ham radio on here a while back.

I just finished a install in my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee tonight (almost done) but wanted to post some pics and info.

Icom 880H D-Star 2m/70cm radio (Trunk mounted)
Icom SP-35 Speaker (Mounted in passenger side floorboard)
Larsen 2m/70cm thru-glass antenna (Drivers side rear window)
Rigrunner 4008 (Temporary, 4005 will be here tomorrow - 4008 is for home - Trunk mounted)

DC Power in is run from the battery under the passenger seat. Fused at 40AMP, then fused again in the rigrunner. From the Rigrunner it is fused at 25AMP running to the IC-880H located in the rear tire-well.

The radio is activated on key via a relay fed from the key activated trunk cig-lighter outlet.

Remote cable run from the trunk to the front for remote speaker (front passenger foot area), head unit is located in the "ashtray". Nice hidden install. My wife drives the Jeep on a day to day basis so this will keep here happy.

I apologize for some of the pics, they are grainy from being taken on my phone. I'll get better pics in the next few days.

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Overland1

· #2 · Jun 18, 2013 (Edited)

Great pics... and great radio (the more I read up on it, the more I am interested) with an excellent installation; been thinking of D-STAR lately, but no such activity locally (yet). Meanwhile, My wife takes delivery on a new 2014 WK2 in a couple of days.

We have been using Yaesu FT-8900R's (we both like 6-M FM

) in the WK's and Maxrad mag-mount antennas, but I am not yet sure if the curvature of the roof on the WK2 will accommodate this, and the location of the control head would interfere with her (predicted to be) occasional use of the USB and SD ports. The Yaesu control head is (HxWxD) 2"x6"x2", so I will have to measure that "hidden" spot where your control head is mounted to see what will fit.

About those magnets on the rear fo the control head; are measurements (diameter and placement) available? I was thinking that Small metal plates could be used (for them to adhere to) that may not interfere with the SD/USB/DC sockets.

Thank you for the excellent description and pictures... this will help a lot.

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sndrsk

· #3 · Jul 15, 2013

Very nice install. I never really got into the RigBlaster and Powerpole thing though. When I got my WK2, I had to decide between APRS and my ID-800H with D-STAR. I chose APRS, but I do miss D-STAR at times.

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Overland1

· #4 · Jul 27, 2013

Got my wife's FT-8900R installed this afternoon; after the "measure a bazillion times, cut (or drill) once" approach, it was quicker and easier than I thought. Not sure how she liked the idea of using her new WK2 as a test mule, though.

I used the larger of the two studs on the battery clamps, ran the power cable through PowerPole connectors (to facilitate a later addition of other stuff) and back to the right rear "tub" in the cargo area. The control head is on a RAM mount in the forward cup holder, Everything works great, and there is now no ignition noise on 6-meter FM, as the power cables do not run near the engine compartment. Absolutely no drilling, although if the 3-M Dual Lock adhesive strips fail to hold the radio in place, then a couple of holes will be necessary.

The best thing, aside from how well it works, is that there is no cable visible, except for a very short section of thin black cable to the right of that cup holder.

Many thanks for the ideas and pictures... made this task a lot easier.

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jinksnyou

· #5 · Aug 4, 2013

How is the Larsen 2m/70cm thru-glass antenna (Drivers side rear window) working for you ?

Any problems, performance or recommendations ?

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Overland1

· #6 · Aug 4, 2013 (Edited)

jinksnyou said:
How is the Larsen 2m/70cm thru-glass antenna (Drivers side rear window) working for you ?

Any problems, performance or recommendations ?

I almost went that route, but stuck with the Maxrad mag mounts; they work well (more gain) and hang on well (even at highway speeds with strong headwinds and crosswinds).

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doofoo

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 4, 2013

jinksnyou said:
How is the Larsen 2m/70cm thru-glass antenna (Drivers side rear window) working for you ?

Any problems, performance or recommendations ?

Working out great for me.. Nice clean install, pull the antenna off when I don't need it (just unscrew it and throw it in the back).

Going to install one on my Golf TDI in the next couple of weeks. No complaints here.

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vk2fngg

· #8 · Jun 7, 2014

Awesome Install mate i recently got some ideas from you install and did my WK2 yesterday and my girlfriend is the same just put a switch in and shes happy..

Cheers Nick

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robertss1

· #9 · Dec 2, 2015

Any new installs out there? I am considering several options for antenna mounting other than through the glass as I would think the rear defroster wires would create some issues with signal loss as well as going through glass.

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tomk

· #10 · Dec 2, 2015

this looks potentially interesting: AUSJEEPOFFROAD.COM - AJOR - View Single Post - WK2 UHF antenna mount

That pic might be somewhere on this forum as well..

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robertss1

· #11 · Feb 3, 2016

I have my Kenwood TM-710G installed now. No photos yet but will once I get the antenna issues buttoned up. I am on my third iteration of antenna mounts.

The radio body is mounted to the floor (lid to driver side electronics compartment) under the driver seat. The head unit is mounted on a gooseneck mount attached to the driver seat bolt. The wiring is tucked under the carpet and runs into the center console. Power and ground are both fused and attached directly to the battery.
A secondary speaker is temporarily installed in the USB/Power compartment in front of the shifter...still evaluating if that is where I want to leave it.

1)Roof magnetic mount---not at all convenient and I often forget to take it off when entering the garage.
2) Rear glass mount--did not like the SWR and lack of range
3) I had a 5/8 mounted on the rear tailgate of my previous car (2001 Acura MDX) and it worked great. The Jeep has too much glass up too high on the gate to mount it to get the antenna over the roof line.
4) Ordered a new 55" dual band antenna that will reach over the roof line. Just waiting for it to get here to mount it and see if it will work mounted to the tailgate on the driver side just below the tail lights on the tailgate. Will route the cable up the tailgate and into the electrical grommet on the driver side and then under the head liner and down the pillar; under the carpet and into the radio which is under the driver seat.

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BigCat

· #12 · Feb 4, 2016

robertss1 said:
I have my Kenwood TM-710G installed now. No photos yet but will once I get the antenna issues buttoned up. I am on my third iteration of antenna mounts.

The radio body is mounted to the floor (lid to driver side electronics compartment) under the driver seat. The head unit is mounted on a gooseneck mount attached to the driver seat bolt. The wiring is tucked under the carpet and runs into the center console. Power and ground are both fused and attached directly to the battery.
A secondary speaker is temporarily installed in the USB/Power compartment in front of the shifter...still evaluating if that is where I want to leave it.

1)Roof magnetic mount---not at all convenient and I often forget to take it off when entering the garage.
2) Rear glass mount--did not like the SWR and lack of range
3) I had a 5/8 mounted on the rear tailgate of my previous car (2001 Acura MDX) and it worked great. The Jeep has too much glass up too high on the gate to mount it to get the antenna over the roof line.
4) Ordered a new 55" dual band antenna that will reach over the roof line. Just waiting for it to get here to mount it and see if it will work mounted to the tailgate on the driver side just below the tail lights on the tailgate. Will route the cable up the tailgate and into the electrical grommet on the driver side and then under the head liner and down the pillar; under the carpet and into the radio which is under the driver seat.

I did almost the exact same setup as you in my WK2 and JKUR. I mounted my speakers (ham and CB) side by side using small Niteize clip hooks from the cabin edge of the overhead console and since I have a Gobi roof rack it was easy to mount my Diamond NR770HB to that just in front of my audio antenna and a stubby mag mounted CB antenna running the cable in thru the top of the back hatch tucked into the weather stripping down to the spare tire well then under the backseat and floormat to my radio body under the passenger seat.

Love the radio for APRS.

2013 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 5.7L V8, 2015 JKUR AEV

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robertss1

· #13 · Mar 29, 2016

I'm still messing with the antenna mounting on this car. There is not a good place to put a reasonable dual band antenna. My initial desire was to put one on the rear tailgate door but there is too much stuff in the way, pinch detectors on both sides, plastic bumpers that are riveted in place, the glass is very thick and leave no room to mount a lip mount, etc.

I may break down and buy a cheap set of crossbars for the roof and put a motorized Diamond mount there. I am looking at all other options first including a hood/fender mount but I dislike the location and drilling holes in the fender to mount it.

Roof mounting (NMO) is not an option for many reasons not the least of which is the huge sunroof and the side airbags and cross members up there. I also don't want a hole in the roof and the height would be too tall for the garage door of the antenna I want to use.

I have not totally given up on the glass mount on the tailgate but I have strong doubts it will work with the thickness of the glass and the tinting.

On another note, I replaced my radio head mount with a longer one to get the radio head out of the way of my leg and to allow me to see it better. I does wiggle a bit more but not so bad I can't use it while mobile. I went from a 18" to a 22" front seat bolt mount. I attached the mike to the upper part of the gooseneck just below the radio head mounting bracket. It is attached with cable ties so it can be rotated out of the way when I don't use the radio.

Still pondering it all.....

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jfinca

· #14 · Jan 7, 2017

robertss1 said:
I'm still messing with the antenna mounting on this car. There is not a good place to put a reasonable dual band antenna. My initial desire was to put one on the rear tailgate door but there is too much stuff in the way, pinch detectors on both sides, plastic bumpers that are riveted in place, the glass is very thick and leave no room to mount a lip mount, etc.

I may break down and buy a cheap set of crossbars for the roof and put a motorized Diamond mount there. I am looking at all other options first including a hood/fender mount but I dislike the location and drilling holes in the fender to mount it.

Still pondering it all.....

Did you ever figure out the best antenna setup?
I have a 2016 GC and right now am just running a cheap o mag mount but need something a little more permanent. Like you, drilling hole through the the roof will never happen. I was hoping the Larsen glass mount would perform reasonable well, if not through the rear tailgate window possibly in the rear quarter back window.

Thanks,

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