Hand Held UHF GME Uniden 5W or other

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 10:18

ThreadID: 101608 Views:4169 Replies:2 FollowUps:5

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Derm

Hi i am a newbie to ExploreOz and just getting back into camping with the family having bought a Jayco Expanda. We have just done our first trip over Easter which the family loved. We will be taking 14 weeks to do a half lap of Oz later in the year and are nearly done with the planning, rig etc as we started last year. I have been reading about the need for a UHF radio and the extra safety that it can provide, if ever needed not to mention how handy it can be when on the road or bushwalking. The question is, i would prefer to have two hand helds rather than a base and one handheld. This will provide more flexibility when bushwalking etc as the kids have differant levels of endurance due to their ages so we will most likely be separated at times. Our friends have experienced this on their recent trips around oz but were handicapped as no mobile reception was available.
After reading all the blogs and researching online, I am thinking of either of either a GME or Uniden 5W setup with maybe an aerial mounted on to a roof rack which can hook up with the handheld inside when traveling. The Uniden looks like it is more suited to this as it appears to have a trickle charger and extension mic/speaker that the unit can sit in when travelling. Have read mixed reports online about Uniden, and product review witht the GME unit, but most others say they are all good. Uniden has three year warranty while GME is one year. Could anyone please help or advise if i am on the right track and if this is possible at all.
Cheers
Derm

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Reply By: The Bantam - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 10:33

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 10:33

The bottom line is that a hand held for an in vehicle radio is a very poor second.

AND a hand held will always be hamstrung by the line of sight issues of UHF regardless of its output power.

I'd be inclined to buy and install a basic in vehicle radio with a permanently mounted antenna and consider a pair of lower power or cheaper hand helds

I have a pair of GME 670s....compact 2 watt units & they seem a fair thing....one thing I would do is upgrade the rechargable batteries that come with them.

There are heaps of choices out there.

cheers

AnswerID: 508638

Follow Up By: Derm - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 12:21

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 12:21

Thanks Bantam,
That doesn't sound like a bad idea, might be interesting to see what the cost would be by doing it that way as compared to my idea.
I know the area that you are in impacts on the range but with clear line of sight what sort of range would 2W's be around.
Cheers,
Derm

FollowupID: 786191

Follow Up By: The Bantam - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 13:08

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 13:08

Transmission range.
OH.....let me think...puts on cerimonial white coat.....turns on smoke machine.......does tribal dance.......consults crystal ball......reads entrails dead computer....checks alignment of stars and wind direction.....mumbles some mumbo jumbo.

I HAVE AN ANSWER
2 to 12 Km.

Serioulsy prediction transmission range is more a a dark art rather than a science.

The advertising department will always come up with figures.
Half watt units are mostly claimed as about 3Km, some claim 5Km
One watt units will often be claimed as 5Km
2 watt units will be claimed as 5 or may be as much as 10Km
5 watt units will very often be claimed as 12 to 15...and this derives from the horison equasion and how tall you calculate the people are.

None of these claims are real

Radio reception depends on a great deal of factors, in clear open country with low background RF noise you will go a very long way
If you are in the city or at an event where there is a lot of radio transmission going on your reception range may be very poor indeed.

Line of sight and obstruction are the predominating factors on UHF.

cheers

FollowupID: 786196

Follow Up By: Derm - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 15:20

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 15:20

Thanks Bantam,
I guessed thats what the the answer would be.
Now looking at what models would suit and then new world of antennas.
Will talk to the specialists.
I just wanta go camping.
Cheers,
Derm

FollowupID: 786207

Follow Up By: The Bantam - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 23:52

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 23:52

The best bang for buck antenna is a 6db elivated feed unit like the GME AE4012K2.
Just about every aerial manufacturer makes one....and there is a very good reason for that.

cheers

FollowupID: 786261

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 12:25

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 12:25

In My View..............If you are happy to outlay $ for two mainstream 5w handhelds, then for the same $ you could probably buy a basic 80 CH mainstream in-car 5W kit and a pair of decent 2W handhelds. GME is Aussie made and they have a great reputation - I have a GME 5W HH, but in-car I chose an Icom 400 pro (those features suited me better). My HH are the
Uniden 2W kit. ..... this kit seems great to me - lots of usage options via the copious accessories provided - they perform very well in my view - we use them a lot for safety and convenience (at home too). If you require first hand advice on installation and usage, then buying locally is the go - if not, consider Prestige Communications online for a guide to keen pricing - they have very good deals on bundles and kits etc.

AnswerID: 508649

Follow Up By: Derm - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 15:34

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 15:34

Hi Darian,
Thanks for the reply, i am looking at the Uniden units now and how a base unit would work with my car. Seems by choosing the option that you and Bantam suggested i could nearly end up with a base and 2 hand helds for the same price.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Derm

FollowupID: 786208