Which UHF?

Submitted: Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 16:38
ThreadID: 11260 Views:2213 Replies:9 FollowUps:13
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I still have my relic Super Cheetah AM/SSB and it's staying put, but I would like to also install a reliable UHF radio into the Patrol. Any hints or tips on good brands of radio, antenna/mount etc? Thanks and regards..K&J
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Reply By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 16:43

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 16:43
something with ctcss (spelling)....... mount you 6db antenna on your gutter,,... the higher the better..... dont mount it on your bullbar... uhf is critical to height...
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Follow Up By: K&J - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 16:49

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 16:49
Thanks Voxson, much appreciated. Still gutter mount even if the antenna is ground independent?
K&J
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Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 17:00

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 17:00
Yes.. A ground independant is perfect for the gutter mount on the gutter of the roof....(buy a folding style so you dont have to take it off every time you go under a carport)....
I am no expert on late model uhf's but all i am hearing is that the ctcss and the selcall units are the way to go...
I use a motorola industrial strength uhf which is a few years old.... All of the operations are on the mike so the base part goes under the seat and the only thing in view is the mike....
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Follow Up By: Baz (NSW) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 19:52

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 19:52
Voxson, i'm doing the same as K&J, my old CB is a Ferris 5000 i have been told that my original coax is still alright for uhf is this true ? but i have a problem no gutter on roof, i have the mount between the guard and bonnet up close to the windscreen.

Baz.
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Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 20:20

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 20:20
Hi Baz........ I have used old 27meg cable and it has worked fine... I think i am even using it at the moment.....

As far as mounting the antenna at the bonnet height, well that will work ok and plenty of people will say the same thing because it is true but the truth of the matter is that the higher the uhf antenna the better it will work....

Uhf is such a radical wave 470-odd meg with such weak power the signal can only travel so far before it runs out of steam and when you mount an antenna on the bullbar the tip can still be lower than your own roofline and your own car can sort of be a restriction if the signal is coming from that direction....(weak power = 5watts)

Yes i am being pedantic but if i was doing a fresh installation i would definately get the antenna high in the air, but if you havent got gutters not much you can do about it.....

27meg cb's have a cruisier wave so with the fact that they transmit 12watts of power and rely on weather conditions (ionsphere) *spelling* it is not so important where their antenna goes....

I hope no-one argues with these comments too much....

Regards Grant.........
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog Morgan (Geelong) - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 18:06

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 18:06
Hey Grant, where on earth did you get the "radical" and "cruiser" terminology from. In 27 years of playing radio I have never heard these terms before but hey it sounds cool and I'm all for it. What the hell do they mean though.

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Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 22:28

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 22:28
Heya Mad Dog... I am just trying to explain in the most laid back way i could with a possible easy understanding..... (Radical as in >> Harshly up and down, large waves,,low power but good clarity...etc.... and Crusier as in >> Slow flowing, easy going, depends on weather conditions...etc...)

I am actually reading my post in hind sight thinking what a dumb way of puting it... hehehehe...........

Can i take it all back......????? Can we forget i said it?????
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog Morgan (Geelong) - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 00:21

Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004 at 00:21
No way man, can't beat thinking for yourself. Wish I'd thought of it :)
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Reply By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 17:03

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 17:03
Roger Roger Voxson! That's it, the higher the better. You would really need a ground independant if you are mounting it to your gutter as your gutter only has a metal ground plate to one side (either left or right). The only time a non-ground independant will work very well is if it is mounted directly in the middle of your roof or a boot of a sedan. If it's not in the centre, then it will be very directional. I don't like the idea of drilling holes in the middle of my roof, it might hamper the roof rack! ;-)

AnswerID: 50409

Reply By: K&J - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 17:16

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 17:16
Thanks for the info guys. Gutter mount and no holes sounds good to me. Regards..
AnswerID: 50411

Follow Up By: Member - Bernie. (Vic) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 18:48

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 18:48
Hi again
All depends on where you are at the time , and how high you are remember its line of site, on 4.5db Boronia to Seaford, Boronia to Bolte Bridge, Bulleen to Youyangs, Bulleen to Wombat Forest, & Bulleen to Hume/ring road...I have a window of about 200 metres.
If you look at these its a long distance but its high area to high area,
on the flat in convoy have got at least 10k.
I'm currently using a 150mm long (stubby) 2.1db & its fine but not sure about the range. Hope this is some help.

try www.gme.net.au for info

Cheers
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Reply By: Member - Bernie. (Vic) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 17:41

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 17:41
Hi K&J
Have had no problems with antenna on the bullbar, GME is the go
3200 is small & has all the options mentioned above, 3400 is a bit dearer but has a small remote head.
Cheers
AnswerID: 50413

Follow Up By: K&J - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 18:16

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 18:16
Thanks Bernie, I've heard GME is a reputable brand, I'll check it out. Do you find range is reasonable with the bullbar mounted antenna?
Regards
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Reply By: keepsmilin - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 18:25

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 18:25
Hi K&J
I have a GME 3400 with a 6db antenna, mounted on the bull bar, a very powerfull unit, and have no complaints, have the main unit under the seat and have no need for the exterrnal speaker.with the head unit mounted in amongst the heater switches Its a piece of piss to install, and very compact.
good luck Neil
AnswerID: 50419

Follow Up By: PerthGQ - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 18:29

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 18:29
G'day Neil,
Very handy to know it can go under the seat as I was hoping that could be the spot.
Cheers..Keith
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 22:13

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 22:13
Perth.
Under seat not a good idea, as 99.9% of cars leak, and if you go thru a creek, and get stuck, or takes a while to get thru, you will fry your radio.

just sold my 3400 good unit.
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Follow Up By: PerthGQ - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 13:25

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 13:25
Truckster, thats a very logical point! I sure dont want to find out when its too late. Thanks
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Follow Up By: Member - Ed. C.- Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 15:17

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004 at 15:17
I have my 3400 (main unit) mounted under centre console (GU)..
cradle is screwed to underside of storage bin (between seats), & I cut out an "access opening" at bottom of rear panel below ashtray (rear seat footwell), so the unit can be removed in the case of any "doubtful" water crossings etc...

Head unit is mounted directly beneath heater/aircon controls, extn. speaker in front of T'fer lever, & mike above spkr...
All very neat, & nothing gets in the way of anything else...
Very happy with set-up..
Regards, Ed. C.
Confucius say.....
"He who lie underneath automobile with tool in hand,
....Not necessarily mechanic!!"

Member
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FollowupID: 312340

Reply By: Topcat (WA) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 19:41

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 19:41
Hi, see if you can pick up a secondhand Phillips 620. They are a good reliable UHF radio with both simple & duplex channels as well as full scan & will not cost you a packet. Cheers.
AnswerID: 50426

Reply By: PerthGQ - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 20:14

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 20:14
Thanks to all for the great help. Very much appreciated and probably enough to break the piggy bank open.
Safe driving.
Regards..K&J
AnswerID: 50436

Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 22:05

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 22:05
GME TX 3800!! :D :D :D

GME shat on Uniden hands down.
AnswerID: 50452

Reply By: Baz (NSW) - Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 22:41

Monday, Mar 15, 2004 at 22:41
Me to, thanks fellow's for all the info and thanks voxy.

cheer's Baz.
AnswerID: 50459

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