What type of radio AM or UHF?.

[RN]

I am contemplating purchasing a CB radio. I will mount it in the dash pod in my Mav. I see some of the rigs have both AM and UHF. I have no idea of the advantages of both or what SSB does. A mate has a radio but I forgot to ask him what type it is. Can an AM talk to UHF and vice versa.

If a vehicle is going to have just one radio what type and brand would you all suggest.

Bruce

[MissDrew]

UHF, its clearer and has a better range.

Nobody has CBs anymore and still use them.

no uhf can not talk to am cb

[Woop]

UHF works well over short distances--goes furthur by the use of repeaters. Generally only line of sight. Audio quality better than CB. Antenna mounting is more critical than AM. Radios more popular now than AM

AM again only good over short distances, but at night unlike UHF can travel very long distances--eg around the globe by the 'skip' principle. SSB mode improves AM transmitter efficency allowing transmissions to go 'a bit further'. AM/SSB HF transmitters--Barrett/Codan go a long way on 100W and even 10W

Nick

[GUJohnno]

I have both.
Only because at first I could only afford an AM radio. Later I bought a UHF which works much better, much clearer.
Now I never use the AM radio and I probably wont fit it in the new consol I just made as most of our club members have UHF, even if it is only the cheap handheld units (that work quite well).
It is generally accepted that the GME is slightly better than the Uniden radios. Although there isn't much in it. I have a Uniden with a ground independant GME arial and it works as well, if not better, than most in the club.
Probably the quality of the arial will have more effect than the make of radio you get.

[sambo]

I have a Uniden with UHF and am built into the same unit. Works really well. I can talk to people on the other side of the city here in adelaide on the UHF.

[GUJohnno]

Checkout this link
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=37208
2nd hand Uniden for sale

[dieseldude]

I've got an AM you can have with aerial lead and aerial for $50 if you want one.

Nice cheap way of getting into it.

All in VGC

Cheers

[RN]

I have PM'd Sambo.

Thankyou for all your responses.

Road Nazi

[rockcrawler31]

[quote="Guts"]UHF, its clearer and has a better range.

Nobody has CBs anymore and still use them.

no uhf can not talk to am cb[/quote]

almost right mate

CB's actually have the better range by themselves. This is because they utilise the upper end of the HF spectrum (28Mhz) UHF's are clearer but are generally limited to 5klicks unless you are using the services of a repeater. Range for a CB is almost unlimited depending on power output as they can use the skipping effect of the Ionosphere.

UHFs and CB's cannot talk to eachother because they are on different frequencies.

AM is simply a term used to describe the modulation method ie. how the information is carried on the frequency.

If you want comms, go with the UHF as yes, they tend to be clearer and you can get the range with the repeaters, and are great for use in convoys and day to day use. You can also get into conversations with the truckers on the highway whenyou get bored, just ask what the local regional callup channel is when you get to a truckstop. I use both as it means that when i go into longer range trips i can get away with not using a HF (read - very bloody expensive) by putting a signal amplifier on my CB. (for those of you about to flame me - i know this isn't a hundred percent reliable)

[dieseldude]

If you have a UHF don't even bother switching it on ing the city. There are way too many c0ck heads that dribble sh1t on there all day long. This is why I still have an AM cb radio. The only way my mates and I can communicate without tossers coming on and interfering.

I have heard that truckies are starting to install AM's again dut to the traffic on UHF frequencies. Olbis communications told me this by the way.

[V8Patrol]

I use both

Reason being ........... as rockcrawler31said

The UHF is great for "line of sight" situations and a signal can be sent/received over a distance of 5k's without the use of repeater stations ( a repeater station receives your signal and resends it therefore adding to the range of the signal )

The CB on the otherhand absolutely kills the UHF in hilly terain, we've had situations where 2 rigs are less than 1k apart and the UHF was totally useless, in that type of situation we have held contact for up to 10k's using the trusty ole CB.

AM , LSB, USB...... AM is basically what the frequency is 27.000 mhz, and the LSB is "Lower Side Band" and the USB is "Upper Side Band"..... both USB & LSB have a "cleaner signal", a far greater range over AM but they "use the same AM frequency"....you "hear" indestinct mumbling if you listen to a LSB / USB user when you are on AM.

If you are serious about fitting a radio then I would suggest going UHF for starters as they are like a$$holes....every body has one ! then if your needs justify it, then buy an CB radio as a back up.

Kingy


Definitions:
CB Radio = Citizens Band Radio
UHF Radio = Ultra High Frequency Radio
LSB = Lower Side Band
USB = Upper Side Band

p/s
CB radio was born because ppl wanted a radio frequency to use when on the road, Its a stable frequency that is little used these days so its virtually clean of idiots and their foul language.

10/4 good buddy






CQ CQ CQ delta xray........
Southern Radio 280 callem em by ........

[RN]

I dug out the old Shakespere AM CB SSB/LSB 23 channel from the garage. It came with a car I bought 20 years ago. Forgot I had it.

It still works but doesn't have an antennae for it. I wonder if it is still able to be utilised these days or is it past its technilogical prime?

[bogged]

UHF anyday