DIN sized UHF radio unit

Hi Phillip

Go for the 100% Australian made, 5 year warranty GME, compared to the Chinese made
Uniden.

They are a very reliable top unit and is din size with a large front speaker. A good robust antenna to match up with the radio would be the AE4705.


Thats my two bobs worth anyway.



Cheers



Stephen

Two comments, being part of your question - GME is 'Aussie made' - and they have a reputation for performance and reliability. As for that wire antenna in one of your links - they are very prone to snapping off, where the wire emerges from the antenna base (flexing to and fro = metal fatigue at that point). Not to be dismissed though....if you wrap that junction point in quite a few layers of self amalgamating rubber tape, it will cushion the wire and absorb some of the flexing - I've used that method on an HF antenna - it'll probably outlast me !
A din size radio, with the controls in the microphone might be the best solution (if anybody makes one).

there is another reputable brand that is afforadable and that is ICOM.....still too rich for my money but plenty prepared to pay for the quality.

Personally Id go for the GME.

as for the aerials.

The best bang for bucks UHF aerial on the market is the gme AE4017K2....or a similar unit from another manufacturer......they all make one...there is a very good reason so many aerial companies make this aerial.

Get it mounted high and clear and it will outperform many aerials costing far more....particularly if they are mounted in a poor location like the bullbar.

forget mounting anything on the bulbar it is possibly one of the worst places to mount an aerial.
Forget big white sticks.....they perform no better and cost a hell of a lot more

get it up on the rack with a knockdown mount.

as for wire aerials breaking off.....this is an over stated problem.....my nephew has one on the bullbar ( worst place for vibration) of his navara ute and it has been there for over a decade..besides a replacement wire mast is cheap as chips.

If you realy are dead against a wire mast buy the exact same aerial built as a fiberglass whip...in GME that is an AE4018K1...other make a similar aerial.

There is a plethora of slighty different aerials that are electrically identical.
black, silver, wire mast, fibreglass mast, slightly lighter, slightly heavier, with and without spring lighter and heavier springs......but this elivated feed 6.5dbi aerial form remains the best bang for bucks and possibly THE most popular UHF aerial ever...for good reason.

regardless of the radio you buy..an extension speaker of decent size is worth the trouble and expense.....the speakers in the radios are pissy and do the sound and your ears no favours.

cheers

Icom by a mile.
Commercial quality radio that has been detuned to 5W for UHF CB use.
We have 5 unit in base and mobile installations and are very happy with the performance.
There is a DIN mount kit available for easy to access in dash use.
Try here for Prestige Communications.

Is it possible to hook up the UHF radio units to your radio headunit thus using the speakers of the car?