Motorola Astro Spectra Install 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee 

Awesome! I love the classics installed in modern vehicles!

Would like to see more about this topic 😊

Thank you great setup & KEEP THEM COMING

As a former installer and later a FCC licensed repair tech, I can tell you it is very difficult to assist someone in installing any device in any vehicle since every vehicle is different and each individual has different requirements. Currently I am in the process of installing an XTL5000 in my own car. In order to make the control head less visible I decided to eliminate a small cubby under the radio/ CD player and replace it with a custom made bezel that will mount the head under the radio and recessed into the dash. Battery lines go straight to the trunk which is always a hassle getting through the firewall. Under the hood main leads go directly to the battery but first the pass through a pair of 50 amp power pole connectors which are protected by weatherproof boots. Both leads run through weatherproof Maxifuse holders and then to the battery. Both leads to the battery need to be fused. The power poles are there to disconnect the Brick in the trunk in case one needs to jump the car. The reason for fusing the negative is that if a ground fails anywhere in the ground the brick which is mounted to the vehicle and the chassis of the brick is at negative potential, the circuit in the car that has a fault with its negative could potentially be run through the radio ground and overloading the wire and setting it on fire. This was the explanation from MOTOROLA Training way back in the day. As for everything else it’s a simple mounting in the trunk under the rear shelf. Also a word from a wise old Ham in the past. Even though our spouses or children my not be radio geeks, take the time to show and explain to them how the cables are run between the battery, control head cable are routed through the car or truck. Why they would need to carefully remove all of the cables safely without cutting, especially the control cable between the HHCH or remote head. These are the hardest cables to obtain and the most expensive cables. A complete radio is easier to sell than a chopped cable set with the radio should we become SK's, God forbid.

Regarding your power.... There is a main power lead for the radio, as in the Red and Black heavy gauge wires. The smaller Red lead is an Ignition sense, or power sense to allow the radio to power up, depending on the programming. YOU NEED TO FUSE THOSE RED (POSITIVE) RADIO/BATTERY LEADS!! Fuse them as close to the power source, the battery in your case as possible. If you have a problem with your installation the FUSE will protect your vehicle from catching on fire... Look at a Motorola radio manual, view one on line. The speaker leads are indeed designated by a stripe or ridge on one of the wires in the pair. Be very careful NOT to GROUND any speaker leads on Spectra or Astro Spectra radio.

Nice install! Is this set up or can it be set to use on ham bands? I like just having a head unit. My other radios I have this big come steal look. How do you program fq? Also could you show your antenna set up? You said south mountain!! I’m near the white tanks. If you need a radio check let me know I have UHF ham ( if that will work) thanks