High powered UHF CB radio info please

[PLAU]

Hi

I have a 5 watt Uniden UHF CB but my mate has a 25 watt TAIT. I think the model is TAIT 2020?

Listening and talking on his at 5 watts is so much clearer then any other 5 watt I have used.

There is also some others like ICOM and Phillips and MCS and PRM which some go up to 35 watts!

I have read that the TAIT hads an overheating problem due to too small heatsink. Dont know if it is true as my mate has had no problems.

I know it would be illegal to use over 5 watts with big fines so it is not for this use, but I have been told they are better quality units and have better receivers also.

Also where would you get a proper suitable antenna for these?

Any ideas?

Anyone have one?

Thanks
Phil

[crispy]

Problem is you have a Uniden...lol. They have terrible audio quality.

The Taits sound better as they are a commercial radio and cost like 4 times as much to initially buy compared to your uniden.

I haven't ever heard of the overheating prob with taits, but my experience has mainly been with mid band VHF radios, but running one at 5 watts would never have that prob.

The pro's of getting a tait is that you will be able to reprogram the radio for narrow band when that comes in next year for the 80 channels.
The downside being is they are starting to get on a bit in age and towards the end of their service life. I would be looking for a series 2 radio if I went down that path.

As for antennas most off the shelf uhf cb antennas should be fine.

[PLAU]

Whoops after looking again it is not a Uniden. I guess as they are common, I just assumed it

It is a 5 Watt GME - maybe thats the problem Are they any better?

Phil

[DamTriton]

Most domestic (GME, Uniden, etc) units are designed to put out 7-10 watts then "detuned" down to 5 watts during final testing. Much easier to design a bit of overhead into the things and have a 100% pass rate than to barely scrape a design through and "fail" a lot of them. You need to go to 10x the power to get an effective doubling of signal strength so going fo an extra 5 watts on a design that puts out 5 watts is irrelevant. The extra 20 watts of the Tait is close to irrelevant, but it will make up for this by having a better receiver. The main limiting factor in most designs is the quality of the receiver, as you noted.

The best place to start though is with the power supply and antenna connections. Make sure they are all good, clean connections, with good earths. Radio should be earthed at the mounting (radio chassis) point and also have the power earth run directly to the battery.

Antenna base also needs a good earth to the chassis. Antenna should be mounted clear of any major metalwork. Antenna will be a bit directional depending on where it's mounted, mounting on the rear end of the vehicle will give better forward transmission/receiving (ground plane effect - even with ground plane independent antennas), on the middle of the roof about equal fwd/rearward Tx/Rx, and on the bullbar better rearward Tx/Rx.

Low gain antennas (3-4.5dB) are good in hilly areas (vertical cross section radiation pattern like a donut), high gain antennas are good on the flat long stretches of road (radiation pattern like a disk)

[crispy]

The GME do have better audio quality over the uniden IMHO.
What model GME Radio is it?
As Damkia said having the extra tx power wont make a huge difference but a correctly chosen and mounted antenna will!

[PLAU]

Hi

It is a TX4200

Another thing I just noticed which may be a big problem is it has some sort of "window glass mount antenna" like the old mobile phones?
Not a normal antenna outside

Any good?

Thanks
Phil

[crispy]

TX4200 is starting to get fairly long in the tooth so probably have degraded in sensitivity over the years.

The glass mount antenna will be your problem though, they never seem to tune up very well and generally aren't installed correctly.

Best bet would be to replace the antenna and see how it goes before replacing radios

[PLAU]

Hi

I thought that might be the problem

I sold the LC and picked up the same model Lexus LX470 today (found one at the right price and liked it just for the extra luxury for the wife and 3 kids) so I will buy a new UHF for this car hopefully tomorrow but I will put a good antenna on it too!

This car doesnt have a cb at all so for a new UHF where should I look or what brand do you think since I am now starting from scratch? I guess a GME or?

At least I know the ins and outs now from this thread

Thanks
Phil

[crispy]

I'd be looking for something that is compatible with the change to narrow band next year.
Unless you need something right away, I'd hold off buying till next year or find something that is reprogrammable.
Otherwise prestige communications online store has good prices and service.

[Blythe]

Just remember in Australia it is illegal to use any radio over 5W

You can get all sorts of power from overseas but if you are caught with it, it will be confiscated and you will be fined