Outer Limits 4x4 Board

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Hmmm, sounds like short sightedness also.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

what he said is great advice.

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

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

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.

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.

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

mmm... icom...

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.

ICOM ALL THE WAY ITS INDISTRUCTABLE...

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