Cheap CB hand held Radios

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 12:13
ThreadID: 108621 Views:2406 Replies:9 FollowUps:11
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Morning all from the wink Kangaroo Island!
Maybe a bit of topic but I would like to buy some cheap CB hand held radios and I saw on ebay a brand called "Oricom" ... I did some search on internet but I did not find any review about their products.
Anyone here in this forum is using one of these radios?
Thanks heaps!
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Reply By: luca_ki - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 12:14

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 12:14
I mean windy kangaroo island ....
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Reply By: Member - Frank P (NSW) - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 12:22

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 12:22
Pretty cheap, I think, and you'll get what you pay for.

We have an Oricom set of 4 cordless phones. The keypads on the phones are ordinary to say the least, with keys sometimes requiring multiple presses to register. Hopeless when trying to respond to telephone menu systems.

If that's an indication of Oricom's general quality control then shop carefully.

Cheers
FrankP

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Follow Up By: luca_ki - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 12:23

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 12:23
Thankyou Frank
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Reply By: Member - Rosss - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 13:04

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 13:04
Have an Oricom mounted under the dash with all controls on the mic, one of the best radios I have owned, easily up there with all the GME's and Uniden, have the mic mounted beside the stereo and can easily here the speaker loud and clear.
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Follow Up By: luca_ki - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 14:08

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 14:08
Thanks Rosss
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Reply By: Ross M - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 16:46

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 16:46
luca_ki
Oriental Communications = China. I know lots of things are made there and some under licence.

Despite them working OK, I wouldn't regard them as up there with Uniden or GME.
As mentioned you get what you pay for and while normal comms is OK, now there is another 40 channels stuffed in between the old 40 to make 80 channel units now.

If the frequency separation isn't accurate n both transmit and receive you may get some hearing of other frequencies mixed in. I haven't experienced that but many others have reported such happenings.
Just for simple talk you may be happy, if scanning and relying on scan ability and performance then it may be a different story, as the scan rates are slow on an Oricom when compared with other makes.

A radio has to have a basic ability but it is the aerial which determines the real performance.
Handhelds are different to in car systems and can't easily be compared.
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Reply By: gerard m2 - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 17:18

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 17:18
We have a set of Oricom 2 watt handhelds and have found them to fantastic. They have a great 3 year warranty and we cannot fault them, they are great value for money and we couldn't justify spending quite a lot more of our hard earned on either GME or Uniden.
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Follow Up By: luca_ki - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 18:00

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 18:00
Thanks Gerard,

Which model are you using?
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Follow Up By: gerard m2 - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 20:16

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 20:16
Hi luca ki

It's the UHF 2180 twin handheld pack, picked it up at the Perth Caravan show earlier this year in a kit with ear pieces and carry case for about $139 or $149. Originally wanted Uniden as we have had them in the past but the deal and the warranty could not be beaten, but more importantly they work well.
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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 22:40

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 22:40
Hi Luca_ki

They are a cheap unit to purchase, and there are far better radios on the market to spend your money on.

Off subject, but what part of the Island are you from? We love the place and it is always a great place to visit.


Cheers



Stephen
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AnswerID: 535570

Follow Up By: luca_ki - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 22:45

Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 22:45
Thankyou Stephen,

I'm from Kingscote. Not originally .... I'm actually italian but I'm living in KI since now 15 years ...
I'm going to buy those cb radios for my guests. I'm a tour operator and I'm going to organise some "Tag Along" tours for my italian guests so what I need is a basic cb radio to keep in each car so the can follow me. No need to scan or fancy stuff .... I will do all the commentary outside the vehicle, I need the radio so I can warn them when to turn off the main rd ...
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Follow Up By: Krooznalong - Monday, Jul 07, 2014 at 13:03

Monday, Jul 07, 2014 at 13:03
Ciao Luca
If you use standard convoy procedure then no need for radios for the purpose of not losing anyone in the convoy. Works well in out 4WD club.

So do heaps of Italians come to KI?

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Follow Up By: luca_ki - Monday, Jul 07, 2014 at 14:21

Monday, Jul 07, 2014 at 14:21
Yes Krooznalong, I fully agree but I have to deal with people who don't have any idea about travelling in convoy ...
It is also nice to be able to ask them to keep an eye un those tree because we may have some "fluffy buts" there ....
eh eh
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Reply By: Dion - Monday, Jul 07, 2014 at 21:37

Monday, Jul 07, 2014 at 21:37
Instead of Oricrumbs, maybe a couple of tin cans joined by a bit if string between the vehicles would be more reliable. Also by keeping the string taut between the vehicles also doubles in keeping the convoy together.
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Follow Up By: Member - Rosss - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 14:57

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 14:57
I take it you have more experience with Tin Cans than you do with Oricom Radios, otherwise you would not post such stupid crap.
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Follow Up By: Dion - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 15:18

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 15:18
FFS, lighten up Rosss the Toss. If you can't handle light hearted humour and p155 taking, stick with your Oricrumb.
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Follow Up By: Member - Rosss - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 16:27

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 16:27
You must feel BIG now, dropped to the level of calling people names. Have fun.
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Reply By: olcoolone - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 09:02

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 09:02
Cheap...... and your a tour operator who needs them for a commercial venture.

There is a big difference in quality when using a radio a few times a year to using it every day or week.

I would look at GME or Icom as support and availability of replacement parts would be a lot quicker and more readily available.

There is nothing worse for a paying guest to be let down by tour operators who skimps and use failing equipment. it can ruin a whole trip.

Luca this is you livelihood and a wise person only pays once.

If you look at it short term then yes there is a big difference in price, but if you look at the long term the difference in price may be $20 per year for something that will last longer and be more reliable.

Too many look at the short term monitory gains and forget the long term monitory gains.
AnswerID: 535645

Follow Up By: luca_ki - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 09:05

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 09:05
Fully agree but I will not use those radios every day. I run 4wd tours where my guests are on boar with me and I just started the option to follow me as Tag Along so at the moment I have nobody booked yet ... I guest 95 % of my tours are hosted and if the TAG Along adventure is going to be successful I will invest more money on radios ...
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Reply By: AlbyNSW - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 06:49

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 06:49
Not going to comment re brand but on our last trip one of the convoy vehicles vehicle radio was playing up so he switched over to his handheld which he had two different brands of, one a well known the other a cheapy
We found him very hard to interpret with one of the radios as it was not a clear transmission, he was right behind me and signal was not a problem but speaker and microphone quality made it difficult and I was constantly asking him to repeat his transmission
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