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UHF Radio

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 5:05 pm
by picko
Hi fellow jeep owners

Im about to purshase my first set off CB Radio. I want to spend between $300-$400

Can anyone recommend any paticular brand I have been looking at Uniden CB's

Thanks..

Re: UHF Radio

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 7:20 pm
by Steve F
picko wrote:Hi fellow jeep owners

Im about to purshase my first set off CB Radio. I want to spend between $300-$400

Can anyone recommend any paticular brand I have been looking at Uniden CB's

Thanks..


Ive been very happy with my GME TX3400, it has a remote head, is easily mounted and is Australian made :)

Cheers
Steve

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:58 pm
by CrazyNuts
Uniden UH-012. Nice and cheap and does the job just great.

Spend the money you saved on a better antenna :)

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 11:22 pm
by JEEP1
GME TX3400 works great

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 11:45 pm
by Jeeps
For that money you could get an Icom for $399. It's better quality than Uniden or GME and has more features.

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 11:51 pm
by CrazyNuts
Jeeps wrote:For that money you could get an Icom for $399. It's better quality than Uniden or GME and has more features.


The Uniden UHF-012 only costs $256 delivered :)

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/default.a ... openmenu=1

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:07 am
by JEEP1
i knw some1 who had all the police channels on his 2 way how can u get them on there?

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:50 am
by Thor
uniden, GME, icom. all good IMHO.
uhf's with programmable channels can have police ones entered. i.e GME 3400.etc
ebay is great for getting one. take your pick - including gps, remote face.etc

Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:47 pm
by Steve F
JEEP1 wrote:i knw some1 who had all the police channels on his 2 way how can u get them on there?


My local Tandy was closing down so I bought a Uniden Scanner for $30!!! Has the police channels preprogrammed and has the advantage of being portable. It works extremely well for the price its a UBC57XLT, I know it's an old model but for $30 its brilliant :)

I've never bothered getting the Police channels programmed in my GME

Cheers
Steve

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:55 am
by Jeeps
The GME Electrophone TX4400, Uniden UH-013 and Icom IC-400 PRO are all USER programmable for extra channels like emergency services. I've got the Uniden UH-013 but my choice would be the Icom and if i were buying again i would get that as it's the toughest on the market and probably has the best/solid performance too and lots and lots and lots and lots of cool features. I've used this radio in the SES and it's a ripper, you can't kill it. Secondly i'd get the GME but although last on my list, my 013 is excellent for small spaces because of the remote head.

for the police and such,
GME has 20 extra receive channels
Uniden has 40 extra receive channels
Icom has 88 extra receive channels

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/default.asp?category=UHF+CB+Radios&subcat=Icom&openmenu=1

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 10:40 am
by franco
anyone have an opinion or use the Uniden GPS105?

Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 6:22 am
by trex_Aus
I have had a TX4400 in my Patrol for a few years now, been to Mt Moffat, The Cape and Lawn Hill. It has been real good and saved me a lot of money in fines (CH40). I have 41 for emergency services, 43 & 44 for Police, they make entertaining listening.
We have just bought a Jeep (Grand Cherokee) and looking to get it set up for touring. It will need a TX4400 for starters, then dual batteries, then ???? To get it as functional as the Nissan.
It is a very comfortable wagon and performs well so far. Pity the wheels are different, now I will need another set for off road.

Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 6:22 am
by trex_Aus
I have had a TX4400 in my Patrol for a few years now, been to Mt Moffat, The Cape and Lawn Hill. It has been real good and saved me a lot of money in fines (CH40). I have 41 for emergency services, 43 & 44 for Police, they make entertaining listening.
We have just bought a Jeep (Grand Cherokee) and looking to get it set up for touring. It will need a TX4400 for starters, then dual batteries, then ???? To get it as functional as the Nissan.
It is a very comfortable wagon and performs well so far. Pity the wheels are different, now I will need another set for off road.

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 9:35 pm
by Firegod
UHF CB....
The Uniden and Icon can be programmed with extra receive channels, usually cost about $20-$60 at most commercial comms dealers.

But, (always a but), Police are changing to digital communications and unless you can lay your hands on a digital radio (Motorola, app $1400 to $1600), you will only hear digital encrypted signals soon.

The GME is Aussie made and owned, you can check out their showroom at Gladesville. They also have a fully programmable commercial version of the TX4200 available, (the TX5200), for about the same price plus programming. Will take 40Ch UHF CB and a heap of extra channels if ya like.

I was in the comms business for over 17 years. Also check commercial dealers, swap meets and trading post for other radios you can get programmed up for your needs. there are some great Kenwood and Motorolas around sometimes.

Oh and Unidens are cheap for a reason, I find most don't transmitt to full capability and aren't made to handle our weather extremes. Most have a very short life....


:twisted:

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 10:44 pm
by Jeeps
Firegod wrote:UHF CB....
The Uniden and Icon can be programmed with extra receive channels, usually cost about $20-$60 at most commercial comms dealers.

But, (always a but), Police are changing to digital communications and unless you can lay your hands on a digital radio (Motorola, app $1400 to $1600), you will only hear digital encrypted signals soon.

The GME is Aussie made and owned, you can check out their showroom at Gladesville. They also have a fully programmable commercial version of the TX4200 available, (the TX5200), for about the same price plus programming. Will take 40Ch UHF CB and a heap of extra channels if ya like.

I was in the comms business for over 17 years. Also check commercial dealers, swap meets and trading post for other radios you can get programmed up for your needs. there are some great Kenwood and Motorolas around sometimes.

Oh and Unidens are cheap for a reason, I find most don't transmitt to full capability and aren't made to handle our weather extremes. Most have a very short life....


:twisted:


What's your opinion on 5w handhelds like the GME or ICOM?

Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 10:53 pm
by Firegod
5Watt is the legal limit for UHF CB and also practical power limit for handhelds. Practical because otherwise you would need a car battery on your hip.

The ICON is technically a better radio by way of its design and components, but that doesn't mean better value. It gets sold with a more limited antenna then the GME as well. All in all is a nice radio, I am unfamiliar with their current accessories at the moment.

The GME is generally better value $ wise if you shop around, although I believe they are being sold now at the same RRP??? The GME has more product range and easier to get accessories. For about $80(give or take) + wiring + antenna, you can get a car kit which turns the portable into a 5Watt car kit.

It has a radio cradle/clip, extension speaker and microphone, with the benefit of pluging into a vehicle mount antenna for better range. (Rec a roof mount or elevated feed with high gain whip). It also chargers the battery while it is plugged in.

The GME TX6200 also has 20 extra receive channels for scanning UHF users such as Police/Firies etc...

Dollar for dollar I'd lean towards GME. Very reliable, easier on the hip pocket, more gadgets and Australian all round.

Don't forget to get best value out of a handheld, hold it away or up from the body when transmitting. The human body is something like 90% water and is rather effective at absorbing UHF signals, especially when the portable is sitting on your hip...

:twisted:

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:00 am
by ODD BALL
Have any of you looked into running VHF radios? We are giving them a shot here in Alaska & we are getting some good results. I live in Anchorage & from my house I was able to chat with a friend that was over 50 miles away on a trail run. :lol: We are near the point of putting up a repeater to get more distance out of the radios & hope to have that up in the spring at the latest. I will let you all know how well it works then.

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 8:32 am
by Snapey
Hey Odd Ball - great to hear from the Tundra. UHF is the standard frequency (along with the old 27mHz CB) for land communications here in Oz. VHF is used mainly for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore. Also we already have an extensive network of repeater stations for UHF all over the country, so range is usually not so limited

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:16 pm
by ODD BALL
Snapey wrote:Hey Odd Ball - great to hear from the Tundra. UHF is the standard frequency (along with the old 27mHz CB) for land communications here in Oz. VHF is used mainly for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore. Also we already have an extensive network of repeater stations for UHF all over the country, so range is usually not so limited
Sounds like you guys have a good thing working out that way. We hope to the 1st repater up this spring. We have alot of high mountains to set up on but we would like to find a spot that will be easy to get to for service work if need be. What kind of range are you guys getting with uhf? What have you found to cause bad signals?