UHF 40 v 80

Sooner or later you have to upgrade. 40Ch, or more correctly wide band, is planned to be phased out in 2017 and you may not be able to get it upgraded at some point.

The only real useful thing about 80 channels is that there are less fools on the upper 80 channels.

Hootsmon
From what I found out when I had my TX3100 upgraded, some are user upgradable and others have to be sent to GME. My TX3200 isn't upgradable at all.

Possibly if it a recently made TX3220 it might be user accomplished by a switch on and press various buttons in a certain sequence. Some are. The Serial number ID's which are or not.
My 3100 wasn't and I sent it to GME, around $80 to have the mod fitted.

If you have to send it to them you have to decide on the worth of it for you or do you just buy a new model to get the 80ch.
Only way to tell the ful story is to contact GME or website for the info for your actual unit.

Decisions decisions.
Cheers
Ross M

Hi Hootsmon

From what you have just said, it tells me one of either two things.

You have just aquired a second hand TX 3220 from somewhere.......

Or just have just purchased it from some a shop that has very old stock, and I mean years old.

It has now been law in Australia now for a number of years regarding the now standard 80 channel UHF Radios and any radio that you purchase from any retail shop must already be 80 channel only.

It was no secret that the Australian Government were changing the law with the introduction of the new narrow band frequencies and to help consumers out, well before the law was implemented, Standard Communication made a number of changes to help consumers out.

Some radio models within certain serial number ranges were upgradable by either a couple of processed to save the customer the expense of going out and having to buy a new radio. Older radios, still within the serial number range could only be upgraded through a dealer at a very small charge to to the consumer, while later model units were upgrade able by the end consumer by following the easy procedure.

What a lot of people are not aware of is that it is now illegal for anyone to buy or sell a standard 40 channel UHF Radio.


Cheers


Stephen

Spoke to GME and they can upgrade it to 80ch for 160 bucks inc shipping. It has to go to Sydney for a physical upgrade apparently.

Might just use it on 40ch till the police kick down my door or stop me at a road block and shoot me for breaking the law. Then buy an 80ch ICOM400

From the GME website:



"All models with serial number prefix’s 011 (November 2010) or earlier as well as TX4400 and TX4600
models with serial number prefix’s 101 (January 2011) or earlier are unfortunately not able to be
upgraded to 80 channel narrow band operation. From serial number 106xxxxxx onwards, all the
above models will be factory enabled for 80 channel operation.

Compatible GME radios can be either User upgraded or Dealer upgraded depending on the model.
Please refer to the table above."

Cheers

John

I see mine is in the not upgradeable list. Will just have to keep using the 40 until one day someone wont answer which I suspect will be many years.
Cheers