See the Jeep Gladiator for yourself at Dayton Hamvention® 2025
Summit Racing—DX Engineering’s parent company—took a 2023 Jeep Gladiator and installed a bunch of parts and accessories, making this already fun-to-pilot road warrior more versatile, stronger, and an absolute blast to drive wherever the spirit of adventure leads you, whether cruising on the interstate or carving up trails.
This video series chronicles Project Roamin’ Gladiator upgrades using parts available at Summit Racing.
The Jeep’s extreme makeover included the addition of beefy crate axles, balanced front and rear driveshaft assemblies, an air suspension system, improved front and rear disc brakes, adjustable tie-rod assemblies, snorkel intake system, steering stabilizer, rock sliders, front bumper with bull bar, rear bumper with hitch, projector headlights and flush-mount LED taillights, front and back seat covers, mini-programmer, 12,000-lb.-rated winch, and the list goes on.
Here’s what the Gladiator looked like a few weeks ago:
But wait, there’s more.
Enter DX Engineering
This year marks the 25th anniversary of DX Engineering becoming a part of the Summit Racing family. To celebrate this milestone and the strong relationship between gearheads and hams, DX Engineering roared into the project by equipping the Roamin’ Gladiator with three mobile transceivers and compatible antennas that make the Jeep fully capable of handling UHF/VHF, HF, and GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) communications.
The mobile radio installation makes the Gladiator ready for basic communication, emergency operating, fun on the air (think roving during State QSO Parties), pulling up for a POTA activation on a rainy day, or just about anything else you want to do on the available amateur bands.
If you’re coming to Dayton Hamvention® 2025 (May 16-18), check out the Roamin’ Gladiator on display at DX Engineering’s booth in Building One at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio.
This neat, clean, and smartly designed mobile installation was completed by the professionals at Airwaves GPS, a company founded in 1993 to serve the fleet management technology needs of customers around Northeast Ohio and the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. Justin Weideman, Summit Racing technical advisor and on-camera video host (you can see him performing both duties in the Gladiator upgrade videos too) joined the ham radio mobile installation team for this project.
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Here’s What DX Engineering Added to the Gladiator:
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Transceivers
To handle long-distance communication, ham-radio-licensed drivers of the Gladiator now have quick access to the popular Yaesu FT-891 HF/50 MHz All Mode Mobile Transceiver (YSU-FT-891). The rig’s 32-bit floating-point DSP (Digital Signal Processing) optimizes QRM rejection; delivers a cleaner, clearer signal; and reduces operator fatigue. The FT-891 provides a stable 100W output (25W AM) and features a multi-tuning knob, pop-up menu, and full support of the Yaesu ATAS-120A Active Tuning Antenna System, which we’ll get to in a moment.
An Icom ID-5100A-D VHF/UHF Digital Transceiver (ICO-ID-5100A-D) adds local communication capabilities to the Gladiator’s comfortable cockpit. It features a dual receiver that allows you to receive two bands simultaneously, an intuitive touchscreen interface that provides quick and smooth operation, and a DV/FM repeater list function that helps you access nearby repeaters, even when you are visiting an area for the first time. Read more about repeater operation and repeater etiquette at OnAllBands.
The control heads of the FT-891 and ID-5100A-D are dash-mounted in the Gladiator via a Ram Mounts Tough-Track Mobile Device Mounting Bracket (RMI-6082) and Ram Mounts Adjustable Track Ball Mounts (RMI-5085). Also used were Consolidated Wire Microphone/Control Head Extension Cables (CEW-RJ45EXT, CEW-RJ12EXT).
Editor’s note: Stay tuned. You’ll be able to watch the rear-seat panel installation and other phases of the mobile radio project in a Summit Racing/DX Engineering video to be released soon.
A Rugged Radios Jeep Two-Way GMRS Mobile Radio Kit (RRD-JP1-GMR25, waterproof version) provides communication with all other GMRS and FRS (Family Radio Service) radios, regardless of brand. The kit comes with a handheld microphone, GMRS-tuned antenna and mount, low-loss double-shielded antenna coax cable, mobile radio mount, and hardware.
Rugged Radios Jeep Two-Way GMRS Mobile Radio Kit (Image/Rugged Radios)
About GMRS
GMRS uses channels around 462 MHz and 467 MHz, just above the amateur radio 440 MHz band. The most common use of these channels is for short-distance, two-way voice communications among individuals using handheld radios, mobile radios, and repeater systems. An FCC license is required to operate a GMRS system, but unlike obtaining a ham radio license, no exam is required. In 2017, the FCC increased the license term from five to ten years. You may apply for a GMRS license if you are 18 years or older. If you receive a license, any family member, regardless of age, can operate GMRS stations and units within the licensed system. Read more about GMRS and FRS at the Federal Communications Commission website.
Amateur Radio Antennas
A Yaesu Auto Active Tuning Antenna (YSU-ATAS-120A) is connected to the FT-891 to provide coverage on 40, 20, 15, 10, and 6 meters. The antenna, designed for use exclusively with Yaesu transceivers that support ATAS, uses microprocessor-controlled voltages that are sent on the coaxial cable to adjust the antenna radiator length for best SWR. The antenna extends 75.1 inches.
Why was it chosen as the HF antenna for the installation? Ask this DX Engineering customer:
“The ATAS-120A makes mobile radio a real joy. No fiddling with all the different band antennas. Just select the band, the antenna tunes and you’re on your way.”
A Comet Mobile VHF/UHF Vertical Antenna (CMA-SBB-5) is connected to the ID-5100A-D to let the Gladiator’s mobile operator communicate locally through repeaters. The black antenna measures 38 inches and, in the words of a DX Engineering customer, “works great right out of the box.”
Both antennas were mounted with a Larsen Right Angle Bracket Mobile Antenna Mount (LSN-TMB58B) and fed with a Comet 3D4M Standard Mobile Lip Mount Cable Assembly (CMA-3D4M). The assembly comes with 13 feet of low-loss coax with gold-plated PL-259 connectors. The connectors have a removable barrel so the coax can be routed easily through small holes or tight places without removing the entire connector.
Communication Speakers
The upgrade included installation of two DX Engineering Communication Speakers (DXE-281) mostly hidden under the driver’s side dash. Ideal for mobile use, the DXE-281’s 3-inch speaker cone and rear-ported cabinet help to tailor audio response to optimum communication frequencies for clear, crisp sound. The heavy, durable permanent-magnet voice coil requires between 5 and 8 watts of audio drive for best results.
Summit Racing & DX Engineering: Perfect Partners
Like the Roamin’ Gladiator, your own project deserves the best parts and wise guidance from amateur operators and automotive enthusiasts who have been there. Looking for mobile transceivers, mobile antennas, antenna mounts, and more for your own mobile radio installation project? You’ll find everything you need at DX Engineering.
Need gear to turn your ride into the vehicle of your dreams? Visit SummitRacing.com and make it happen.
