UHF hand held radios

Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 11:13
ThreadID: 108656 Views:2810 Replies:10 FollowUps:6
This Thread has been Archived
Hello everyone,
i have been doing some research aout buying a pair of UHF hand held radios. I intend to use them for tag alongs and reversing the camper trailer.Uniden gets mixed reviews and now I am lookimg at GME.I would appreciate a few words of advice.Cheers.
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: rocco2010 - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 11:43

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 11:43
Gidday ted

If you do a search you will find lots of threads on the merits of various handheld UHF radios.

In your situation, for convoy stuff, I would go for a fixed installation. You always know where the radio is, one less thing rattling around in the cabin, no worries about batteries and chargers and better performance.

Costs a few dollars more but a handheld that it is out of range is not much value.

I have a GME. Works fine for me.

Cheers

AnswerID: 535728

Reply By: Robin Miller - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 12:28

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 12:28
There are 3 ranges of radios TED

Dirt cheap items like Supercheap are selling for $30 a pair these are ok for your reversing.

Then there are mid range items often around $199 a pair from Uniden etc and these have better but limited performance and have issues with reliability after being dropped etc.


Then there are top range items whose receiver matches the transmitters performance and will do your whole job but realistically you can't count on much more than a km car to car.




This is probably the best one, it can also be got without external mike, and can fit external antenna (with adaptor)

(Note there is also UH078 delux model with model with 2 batteries and a couple of extra features)


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/UNIDEN-UH076SX-NB-UHF-HANDHELD-5W-RADIO-CK078-CAR-CHARGER-PACK-3-YR-WTY-NEW-/231274841431?pt=AU_Electronics_Radio_Equipment&hash=item35d90e0557#ht_2973wt_1091

Robin Miller

Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 535731

Follow Up By: Member - bbuzz (NSW) - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 15:28

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 15:28
I have the Supercheap ones for reversing and we also tested them between Cobar and Dubbo,. The signal broke up when we were about a km apart.
They use AAA of which I buy a bulk pack.

I have a 5 watt unit installed in the car I lost signal about 2 km away. They could hear me but I couldn't hear them.

Horses for courses. If you decide to get an in-car model your handhelds will still have a use.

bill
Bill B

Member
My Profile  Send Message

1
FollowupID: 819651

Reply By: Member - Allan L2 - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 15:41

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 15:41
Hi Ted,
I have two GME radios, one installed in car for better performance & a handheld unit for reversing to trailer etc. That covers all bases for me.
Cheers,
AnswerID: 535740

Follow Up By: Member - Ups and Downs - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 19:59

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 19:59
Yep, same here.
1
FollowupID: 819675

Reply By: Knothome - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 18:01

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 18:01
I have hand held Uniden UH075 and unless you can see the other person practically useless.
AnswerID: 535745

Reply By: 489 - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 18:59

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 18:59
I run 2 Icom handhelds away from the vechile as well as a remote head Icom fixed under the seat in the ute. Icom radio's are not cheap, but i have always used them over the past 20+years. They are robust and I have not had a problem with them. -
location - Warragul -Victoria
life is too short, so out and about enjoy

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 535749

Reply By: garrycol - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 19:22

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 19:22
I bought two of these radios off ebay 5 years ago when they were 40 channel at the time.

Cheap UHF Radios

Since then I have upgraded them to 80 channel.

They were cheap but their performance is more than a match of the high priced competition. They are 5w, external aerials can be connected, remote speaker microphones and power supplies that replace the battery are also available.

I often used them as my sole radio when 4wding and are a great radio - as I said I have had these for 5 years and are still going strong and equal high priced radios.
AnswerID: 535751

Follow Up By: olcoolone - Thursday, Jul 10, 2014 at 08:47

Thursday, Jul 10, 2014 at 08:47
Have they got a C Tick approval, if not then they are illegal for Australia.
1
FollowupID: 819698

Reply By: Member - Judy and Laurie - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 22:32

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 22:32
Hi I have used a 2nd set of hand held for reversing and recovery situations, there great . I also have a set of new (used once) hand held oricom uhf 80 channel radios still in box for sale if interested. cheers judy
AnswerID: 535759

Reply By: The Bantam - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 22:34

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 22:34
I have a pair of GME TX670s.
I use em for short distance communication for work.

They are a 2 watt unit and seem to be a pretty fair thing.
They come with rechargable batteries fitted but when you run out of charge you can load them up with normal AA batteries.

they can be baught as singles or as a pair with a duel drop in charger.

They will take a speaker mic or a head set.

There will always be limitations in range with hand helds regardless.

These are a good compromise on cost, performance and quality...we cant all afford ICOM or Motorola.

cheers
AnswerID: 535760

Reply By: Ted R2 - Thursday, Jul 10, 2014 at 12:31

Thursday, Jul 10, 2014 at 12:31
Thank you all very much.Most helpful indeed.
AnswerID: 535779

Follow Up By: Member - graeme W (WA) - Thursday, Jul 10, 2014 at 20:50

Thursday, Jul 10, 2014 at 20:50
Bought two 5watt radios off ebay about 4 years ago, with car charger,they sit in it, have a 10klm range, 80 channels,scan etc and from memory cost about $100 for the pair.
Cheers Graeme.
0
FollowupID: 819781

Reply By: Member - Noel-Lisa - Saturday, Jul 19, 2014 at 01:07

Saturday, Jul 19, 2014 at 01:07
Hi Ted R2

Take a look at jcar product

1-5w 80ch
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=DC1065

.5-3w 80ch waterproof
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=DC1074

I hire radios out and have found these to be as good as GME & Uniden

Noel
AnswerID: 536277

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Saturday, Jul 19, 2014 at 12:44

Saturday, Jul 19, 2014 at 12:44
Good info Noel

In practical terms do you know if the 5 watt version gives better range then the WP 3 watt version?

Having the option of being waterproof would be handy
0
FollowupID: 820358

Follow Up By: Member - Noel-Lisa - Sunday, Jul 20, 2014 at 09:53

Sunday, Jul 20, 2014 at 09:53
Hi Ted
Yes the 5w unit will give you more distance, the advantages of a selectable wattage is if your using the unit close range you can select e.g. 1w and it will save battery life. Larger distances select 5w.
Hope this helps
Noel
1
FollowupID: 820398

Sponsored Links