I got the 2900 mainly because it has really good reviews for it's ability to work in the heat without an external cooling fan. From what I have read the radio itself is very rugged and can take lots of dirt and dust etc being thrown at it. I got a Diamond dual band 2m/70cm mobile high gain antenna (NR770HB). The antenna will easily handle the 75W output I can push out of the radio and I don't need to ground it.