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Digitalk 3w handheld UHF any good?

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 21:34

GASGQ

Hi all,

Considering a handheld UHF and stumbled across the Digitalk DC1060 3 Watt UHF Cb at Prestige comms.

See the bottom of Site Link

Anyone got or used one of these?

What sort of rep do digitalk have?

I know GME/uniden/icom are all good but the features on this one particularly 3watts and an external antenna option appeal to me esp at $154.

For $154 I would consider it with an external antenna as an alternative until I can afford a proper in car unit.

Cheers
ThreadID: 47298 Replies: 6
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AnswerID: 250234   Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 23:08

Mick replied:

I don't know about Digitalk at all GAS, but my advice is don't buy it until you are sure of its quality. You are safe with the ones you mention - I have a GME TX4400 and a little Uniden. They both give excellent transmission I'm told. Of course the little one is only good for a couple of kms unless using a repeater. One thing to consider also, the Digitalk at 3 watts will use a fair bit of battery power. Check out how long between charging/replacing. The little Uniden at half a watt is quite economical - if used when travelling - on all day and some chat it gets 3 days from 2 X AAs. Friend with a 2 watt replaces his in under 2 days. Just a couple of things to consider.
Reply 1 of 6
FollowupID: 511418   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 08:26

Patrolman Pat posted:

"They both give excellent transmission I'm told." You obviously haven't spoken to Doug T (WA) on your Uniden yet. He won't be able to hear you clearly. ;)

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FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 511556   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 20:59

Mick posted:

Yes Pat but that's because Doug's set is not installed and set up correctly. Reception quality is just as dependent on antenna and tuning as transmission is. That's a common trap that novice operators like Doug fall into. They blame poor reception on poor transmission of others without rectifying their own problems. I've spent countless hours explaining to Doug the basics of good quality reception and transmission and how to achieve but it all falls on deaf ears and he just insists that it is the "other blokes" radio. I'll keep trying because it's sad to see someone so unhappy.
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 511790   Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007 at 06:48

Mike Harding posted:

You're a troublemaker, you are :)
FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 250252   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 07:54

Member No 1 replied:

for 154 dont expect good performance
if you want to be heard and have good hearing get any of the better two...gme/icom

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Reply 2 of 6
FollowupID: 511417   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 08:26

Member - Kiwi Kia posted:

The prices are dropping all the time. $154 may just be a realistic price these days. I don't know anything about that brand but as with a lot of other things we are seeing a lot of 'badge engineering' ie. sold under one brand name but actually identical to another brand when you look inside the box. Worth checking out further.
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 250275   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 10:26

David N. replied:

I've just done an extended trip in company (many thousands of kilometres) with a mate- he had one of these units working with a small magnetic base external antenna on his roof, and it's performance was quite good.
Not quite the "punch" of my 5w unit with hi gain antenna , but not far behind.
I was quite impressed.
Cheers
Reply 3 of 6
AnswerID: 250304   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 14:22

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

"For $154 I would consider it with an external antenna as an alternative until I can afford a proper in car unit."

2 weeks ago, I bought a brand new DIN-size in car 5watt unit. Its a Uniden UH088sx, which is identical to the unit I've been using for the past 9 years. Cost was $237 delivered to the door (Ebay purchase from Prestige Comms). I also bought an aerial setup from Electric Bug - $46 for the coax lead, base, PL259 connector and Stubbie Aerial. I'll make my own bracket.

So, for under $300, I've got a new in-car 5watt UHF and aerial.
Mt Finke
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Reply 4 of 6
FollowupID: 511560   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 21:01

Mick posted:

But that's double what he wants to pay so what is the relevance of telling him that?
FollowUp 1 of 10
FollowupID: 511584   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 21:48

Member - Phil G (SA) posted:

Mick,
Have another read of the original post - he only gets the set for $154. He also says he'll buy an external antenna, and I'd guess that will easily take him over $200. IMO may as well get a proper set than spend $200+ on a no name brand that needs batteries, won't transmit as far and is a PITA to use in teh vehicle because its a handheld. He may have thought he'd be looking at $500 for a 5watt set and aerial.

Cheers
Phil
Mt Finke
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FollowUp 2 of 10
FollowupID: 511592   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 22:40

Mick posted:

Phil,
Have another look at one of the follow-ups. A bloke said he bought an aerial setup from Electric Bug - $46 for the coax lead, base, PL259 connector and Stubbie Aerial. Maybe he's lying?
Why ever do you think he was thinking he would pay $500?
FollowUp 3 of 10
FollowupID: 511598   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 22:53

Member - Phil G (SA) posted:

hehehe I was the bloke. Mick, walk into a UHF radio shop, and ask them how much would it cost for set, aerial, mount etc and they'll tell you $500+.
\He can buy my suggested set and aerial for $237 and $46 for a basic aerial. Thats only $80 more than his no name handheld. What would you buy??
Mt Finke
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FollowUp 4 of 10
FollowupID: 511740   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 03, 2007 at 21:16

Mick posted:

Well done Phil you saw straight through my "bloke" joke. What would I buy? I have already bought a GME TX4400 - "top of the range" - several years ago, but that's as irrelevant as the advice you gave.
FollowUp 5 of 10
FollowupID: 511779   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 03, 2007 at 23:52

Member - Phil G (SA) posted:

Mick, Mick, Mick......sorry I didn't get your "joke".....:-((
I still don't get it......

The relevance is in the last line of GASGQs original post (thats why I quoted it in my original reply). He really wants a "proper in car unit" like yours or mine. His no name Digitalk 3w handheld is costing $159 delivered; While the Uniden UH088sx (same performance as your 4400) with 2 yr warranty is $237 delivered. If I was GASGQ, I'd spend another $78 and buy the real thing.

The thing thats irrelevant here is that you and I are wasting our time because GASGQ has obviously moved on and hasn't replied to anyone's post. Maybe he's gone down to SuperCrap and got a $10 Digitalk handheld like they had on special recently. At least that way he'll only lose $10 rather than $159.

And speaking of relevance, when someone asks for a caravan park in the south of Sydney, why would anyone answer Narrabeen???????

Cheers
Mt Finke
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FollowUp 6 of 10
FollowupID: 511957   Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007 at 22:12

Mick posted:

Just for starters TX4400 has 60 channels, yours has 40 and that's not even mentioning the more sophisticated electronics and circuitry.
I give up why would they answer Narrabeen? Because they don't have a compass? Or maybe they reversed the polarity on the batteries in their GPS? Or maybe they went to Narrabeen on a Sunday. :))
FollowUp 7 of 10
FollowupID: 511959   Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007 at 22:15

Mick posted:

It also has selcall and CTCSS. Chalk and cheese but you get what you pay for!
FollowUp 8 of 10
FollowupID: 511965   Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007 at 22:51

Mick posted:

ahah! It took some searching but I tracked it down and I have an answer for you! It was not me - it was mick and I am Mick. There's a subtle difference but you will probably have noticed it by now. Pay attention to detail my good man. I really enjoy those extra 20 channels and the advanced circuitry. Oh and I also don't make spelling mistakes. My lower case counterpart does! :)
FollowUp 9 of 10
FollowupID: 511977   Submitted: Thursday, Jul 05, 2007 at 07:46

Member - Phil G (SA) posted:

Cheers Mick :-)))))
Thats amazing. I was a bit surprised when you genuinely had no idea about the reference to Narrabeen seeing it was recent. We'll have to call you Big Mick, and the other guy Little Mick!
All a bit of fun.
I'm no radio buff, have no use for selcall on a UHF, so I buy what I need. I have no idea what CTCSS is but my new one has it too, my old one didn't.

Anyway, just about to hop into the truck and off to Warraweena.
All the best
Phil
Mt Finke
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FollowUp 10 of 10
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AnswerID: 250414   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 23:11

Motherhen replied:

Digitalk are one of the cheapies sold on eBay. I got mine from eBay and chose the known brand of Uniden, and have been pleased with the reception. I find it hard to hear what someone is saying on the 2way, but found the little hand helds very clear.
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Reply 5 of 6
AnswerID: 250868   Submitted: Thursday, Jul 05, 2007 at 09:58

Shaker replied:

Forget all the brand name snobs, the Digitalk will most likely do all that you will ever need.
Reply 6 of 6