UHF brands

Post by **silatman** » Sat May 31, 2008 3:31 pm

It seems like the general opinion is a UHF is one of the first things that I should be looking at getting.
What then are some of the entry level brands or models that I should be looking at or avoiding?
Also as I am a complete novice in this new sport of mine what about antenna's? there seems to be a huge range in size and price.
I live and 4wd in areas that are fairly hilly (SW of WA) or it will be beach trips.

Cheers guys
Silatman

Post by **-Scott-** » Sat May 31, 2008 3:38 pm

Icom seem to have an excellent reputation, but I don't know much about them.

I'm happy with my GME 3200, but I think there's better models these days.

I read a comparision test a few years back, and Unidens always started suffering reception problems before the GMEs.

Post by **Slunnie** » Sat May 31, 2008 4:20 pm

Yeah, Icom make some exceptionally durable 5w handhelds.

GME are pretty good and reliable in my experiences. You'll probably find a few TC3200 and remote head TX3400's on the market these days now that GME have updated/upgraded their range.

Aerials.... oh man. Every man and his dog has an opinion on these. IU find the GME AE4700 series to be excellent. For hilly terrain the lower db aerials will produce a better transmission pattern, and for the flats a higher db tx pattern is better. I like the fibreglass aerials as they transmit really well but more so because they don't break or bend in the bush. The wire aerials are a lot more subtle for the road though. I run the GME AE4705 usually ands its a really good compromise. In the outback etc I run the AE4706. For cheapies the AE409L is excellent when setup as a 6db.

Post by **blkmav** » Sat May 31, 2008 5:25 pm

Prestige currently has a special on the TX3440 including antenna.
http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index.php ... ts_id=1537

Post by **-Scott-** » Sat May 31, 2008 5:43 pm

blkmav wrote:Prestige currently has a special on the TX3440 including antenna.
http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index.php ... ts_id=1537

Looks like a good deal to me.

Post by **silatman** » Sat May 31, 2008 10:50 pm

I sat down had a good long talk with myself abouts "needs" and "wants" and have decided that a pair of 1W hand helds are all that I need, and the full car mount, and the you bewdy antenna, were really overkill.
All of my driving will be line of site stuff. Biggest distance out to maybe a 1000 meters or so.
What I'm really upset about though is the price of all this stuff, $400 minimum for a basic uhf set up, supply only of course. $250 each for decent spotties or heaps more for HID's. $600 for a snorkel, C'mon for moulded plastic!
Seems everything that requires any sort of adreneline brings $$$$ with it, maybe its a curse.

Post by **Goatse.AJ** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:03 am

Why not buy 2nd hand? Even cheaper.

Lights? Do some stop tests and then work out what sort of penetration you REALLY need out of them. WAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy too many people have been sold the idea that you need to be able to see 600km down the road to be "safe" or comfortable at night.

Post by **zagan** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:51 pm

AJFeroza wrote:Why not buy 2nd hand? Even cheaper.

Lights? Do some stop tests and then work out what sort of penetration you REALLY need out of them. WAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy too many people have been sold the idea that you need to be able to see 600km down the road to be "safe" or comfortable at night.

I want the lights that make the other driver eyes bleed, you know for when their lights are out and they are blinding me or have high beams on while they go past even after I've turned off my high beams in front of them.

Post by **blkmav** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:09 pm

zagan wrote:
AJFeroza wrote:Why not buy 2nd hand? Even cheaper.

Lights? Do some stop tests and then work out what sort of penetration you REALLY need out of them. WAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy too many people have been sold the idea that you need to be able to see 600km down the road to be "safe" or comfortable at night.
I want the lights that make the other driver eyes bleed, you know for when their lights are out and they are blinding me or have high beams on while they go past even after I've turned off my high beams in front of them.

Is your name Wayne Kerr?

Post by **Slunnie** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:19 pm

Hmmm, sounds like short sightedness also.

Post by **Tom0** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:00 pm

Most people don't need a $400 uhf.

Get a basic unit off ebay, like http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GME-ELECTROPHONE ... dZViewItem

Or a remote head if you need it, http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GME-Electrophone ... dZViewItem

Then get a cheap little hand-held to go with it, for when your navvy is out of th car screaming at you "LEFT HAND DOWN... NOW STOP!!" so he/she can be further away (safer) and not have to yell over your sports exhaust (easier). A little handheld can be had for next to nothing (you could get 2 for $50)

That said, I have a few VHF multifrequency (ie I pick the frequency so I dont just stick to 'channels' handhelds, a few UHF multifrequency, some UHF CB hh's, a marine VHF hh (waterproof), a UHF radio watch, and in the car - CB, UHF, VHF marine, and a packet radio set up over 3G/wireless networks. But I like radios.

Post by **bogged** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:33 pm

silatman wrote:... and have decided that a pair of 1W hand helds are all that I need.

until your mate is round the corner, and your sinking in that creek..
you maynot need the $400 radio at moment, but many GME 3200's go for under $200 on ebay.

1watt wont call for help if your family gets bitten by a snake, or has an accident.

Post by **Tom0** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:06 am

Neither will a S watt when you're in a gulley. Get an EPIRB.

Post by **Goatse.AJ** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:49 am

NEVER rely on UHF CB for getting you help in an emergency....

It's easy to get a Foundation Ham license, and then you have access to a heap more repeaters. MANY times I've been able to get medical help for people in rugged/remote areas on the 3 watt 2m ham rig where there was no mobile coverage and no UHF CB coverage.

Post by **bogged** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:12 pm

from patrol4x4 forum

have a used gme tx3200 for sale in very good nick. looking for $150.00
0403364469.

Good incar 5w with good ariel UHF is not the be all and end all but gives you better chance than a mobile phone or 1w hand held. The 5watt will get ya mate whose a few klms away or round a few corners....

Ham is good, but why not go HF or Sat Phone... cost, space etc all come into it.

Post by **DIRTY ROCK STAR** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:18 pm

silatman wrote:I sat down had a good long talk with myself abouts "needs" and "wants" and have decided that a pair of 1W hand helds are all that I need, and the full car mount, and the you bewdy antenna, were really overkill.
All of my driving will be line of site stuff. Biggest distance out to maybe a 1000 meters or so.
What I'm really upset about though is the price of all this stuff, $400 minimum for a basic uhf set up, supply only of course. $250 each for decent spotties or heaps more for HID's. $600 for a snorkel, C'mon for moulded plastic!
Seems everything that requires any sort of adreneline brings $$$$ with it, maybe its a curse.

champ why buy such pricey gear???
2nd hand uniden UHF $100-$150 antenna on ebay to suit $30.
nitestalker lights $200 for a pair.
snorkel either plastic, the 4wdsystems place has some cheaper ones.
or go to an exhaust shop and get one bent up out of polished staino cost me $100.
you dont have to buy heaps good gear champ.

Post by **bogged** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:46 pm

DIRTY ROCK STAR wrote:you dont have to buy heaps good gear champ.

what he said is great advice.

Post by **rogantriton** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:34 pm

hay bogged, do you still have that gme tx3200 for sale?

Post by **turps** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:52 pm

Slunnie wrote: Aerials.... oh man. Every man and his dog has an opinion on these. IU find the GME AE4700 series to be excellent. For hilly terrain the lower db aerials will produce a better transmission pattern, and for the flats a higher db tx pattern is better. I like the fibreglass aerials as they transmit really well but more so because they don't break or bend in the bush. The wire aerials are a lot more subtle for the road though. I run the GME AE4705 usually ands its a really good compromise. In the outback etc I run the AE4706. For cheapies the AE409L is excellent when setup as a 6db.

If going the fibreglass aerial. I wouldnt go the 2.1m or what ever they are. I had one on my shorty. And all though it was fantastic at getting recption where others couldn't. It brought down shit loads of sticks and crap onto my bonnent and roof.
I replaced it with a AE047 or something like that. Its the wire looking one. It worked fantastically in the Vic high country and awesome in the desert

Post by **dano80** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:16 pm

Yeah, for my money, I went with the GME, maybe a little more money than, say a Uniden. But they are made in OZ, and I suppose tested in OZ.
Which also means parts should be alot easier to get a hold of.

Dano.

Post by **bogged** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:45 pm

rogantriton wrote:hay bogged, do you still have that gme tx3200 for sale?

wasnt mine was on another forum, but has sold.

I had one bout 6mths go forsale, but gone.

Post by **Jeeps** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:00 am

Just make sure it's got 12.5khz spacing because you might need it in the future...

mmm... icom...

Post by **Mark2** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:46 pm

I have a 25 watt Philips PRM8025 for sale - $200.

Frequency range is 450 - 520 Mhz. UHF CB 1-40 + whatever you want programmed in the other 60.

Post by **mikeyoda** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:51 pm

ICOM ALL THE WAY ITS INDISTRUCTABLE...

A bit hard to use ( menus) but you get the hang of it.

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