Which UHF?

DangerDave

New Member
I am in the market for a good UHF radio and antenna. Ive used the GME Electrophone in the past with reasonable results. Its been a few years since ive needed a radio but with the plethera of equipment available, its all confusing. Any suggestions on particular brands or models would be good. Also which Antenna?

Cheers
David
 

cptmud

New Member
need a bit more info, how much do you want to spent, any particular features you want, do you want a remote head, din size radio, waterpfoof ??
 

Sambartom

Active Member
Hi mate i have a Uniden sundowner in the 4x4 witch i have had for 4 years now and still works well.I also have one in the house witch i can talk to Sale with no probs.The antennas i use are GME the big white ones...You can get the sundowner from dick smith for about $350 i think..As you live in h/p go see G and C in Cranbourne they are good for cb's.....
 

cptmud

New Member
If you go to G & C comunications, tell them that you saw them on going 4wd and he should look after you. Top ppl to deal with
 

Sharky

New Member
I haven't tried too many but I went for price & bought a GME TX3200 & a 1' spring base with a 4' long, 6db gain arial. I believe 6db is about all the gain you'll get out of most 2ways like this. In the city with repeater stations etc I can talk to people more than 30Km away, but in tall forest, about 2km is the limit. If you know someone who can or will do it, the 3200 can be programmed to have a private sub channel unique to yours & another 2way, as well as a local police channel of your choice but as I said, you need to know someone as it's not exactly legal, just possible.

It's simple, easy to use & cheap @ around $350 w/out arial. I paid about $60 for my arial but I can't recall what the spring base cost but it was worth it. I've used arials without it & they usually get swiped by a tree. There are different size srings so make sure you get the 1 that suits the weight & height (it matters @ 100kph) of you arial. Don't be fooled by arial size. Bigger isn't always better if your unit can't receive or put out signal to that magnification if I can call it that.........can't think of the right word right now.
 
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DangerDave

New Member
Great info guys, The model im thinking of getting would be a remote head model as there is not a lot of room in the jeep for a full size (din) radio. Price really is not an object as I believe you get what you pay for. I would however like a spring base aerial that could be removed (unscrewed) when not 4x4ing.

Thanx for all your input

Dave
 

Pure Yobbo

Moderator
One of the guys up here has got a GME with all the controls on the handset.

Tends to be a pain in the butt. With GME if you hold down particular buttons at the same time you can disable functions. Last time we went out he wasn't able to transmit as somehow he had managed to disable that function.

The TX3400 is a nice unit - remote face and still a normal handpiece. A mate of mine has one in a Jeep works a treat.

Cheers
 

DangerDave

New Member
Yeah, I was looking at the GME 3400 remote system as well on the web. It seems to have all the features I want and is not outrageously priced. I think I have the nessessary information to make an informed decision.

Thanks all for your input, i appreciate it. Hope to catch up with a few locals in the future.

Dave
 

Sambartom

Active Member
9dbgaine or 12db antennas are the best if you can get one but they cost$$$...You could always make your own you know......
 

Fox Shooter

New Member
Icom 400pro with software change so I can adjust between 5W , 11W and 25W outputs. The antenna is a RFI 6db ground independant antenna.
 

Fox Shooter

New Member
But it is illegal to run more then 5 watt unless you have a license......;)

Technically yes it is but the likely hood is very remote and most of the time I use 5W except when travelling in the outback ( reach cattle station repeaters ) I'll switch over to 25W.
 

Sambartom

Active Member
Technically yes it is but the likely hood is very remote and most of the time I use 5W except when travelling in the outback ( reach cattle station repeaters ) I'll switch over to 25W.


Thats all good mate i wish i had 25w UHF...lol.. i do run 100watt on 27meg..:D
 

Fox Shooter

New Member
Well you can just get a normal UHF and use it through a linear amplifier these come in all sorts of power ratings from 25W ( or just slightly bigger would be a good option ) and up to 400W I have seen ( but not advisable ).
 

cptmud

New Member
another option if you want higher output is to buy a converted comercial unit like the phillip's 900
 

knot_gillty

Active Member
9dbgaine or 12db antennas are the best if you can get one but they cost$$$...You could always make your own you know......

Long open roads they are the best but if you do a fair bit of bush driving in the hills then i would recommend probably the 3 or 4.5db.
 

phs

Well-Known Member
Long open roads they are the best but if you do a fair bit of bush driving in the hills then i would recommend probably the 3 or 4.5db.


i agree a 12db would be useless in a bush with hills 12db is for flat areas

i got a 4.5 id recomend the same
 

Mudduck

New Member
Hi guys, I would go for just about any modern UHF that fits where you want it, as they are all pretty good. 25 watts or higher is of little consequence as its the antenna and placement of such that makes the difference. With this in mind I would go for a GME AE4705, its the medium length white stick. You can get a longer one for outback travel or a short one for around town or not 4bn.

Also big amplifiers can cause problems as many mobile antennas can not handle high power. 50 watts is usually the max.
 
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