Colorado 7 UHF placement

Submitted: Saturday, Aug 01, 2015 at 15:24
ThreadID: 129621 Views:3561 Replies:5 FollowUps:10
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I Picked up my brand new Colorado 7 yesterday and love it so far. Heads to ARB in a couple of weeks to get colour coded bullbar fitted and a few other things.

I've kept my UHF out of my old vehicle, a Uniden sundowner uh100. Old but reliable and in like new condition so didnt see any reason to get rid of it. Except maybe the issue with finding somewhere to put it.

I had it fixed at my left leg in my patrol. Drivers side of the centre console. Not sure it's going to fit there in the colorado.

Ideas on where might be good spots to fit it? Considering an overhead console, or perhaps doing something in the compartment up on the centre of the dash.
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Reply By: GerryG - Saturday, Aug 01, 2015 at 18:42

Saturday, Aug 01, 2015 at 18:42
That's the problem with these new vehicles; no-where to fit bits and pieces. I had to buy a new "split system" unit for my D Max. The main unit is hidden up under the dash and all the controls are in the handpiece. That's no help to you though with your old unit. GerryG.
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Follow Up By: slats - Saturday, Aug 01, 2015 at 19:06

Saturday, Aug 01, 2015 at 19:06
Tell me about it. Did consider the space under the steering wheel but theres a port there. I'm unsure exactly what its's for but I reckon my UHF jammed in front of it may get in the way. "Sorry honey the old UHF wont fit. Need a new one"
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Follow Up By: landseka - Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 11:53

Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 11:53
I fitted my UHF into that space in my MY15 D-Max, I put it to one side of that OBII (??) port that is used for service diagnostics to connect to the car.
I also put my electric brake controller to the other side of the port. Both units can be easily removed to provide access to the port when required.
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Saturday, Aug 01, 2015 at 21:44

Saturday, Aug 01, 2015 at 21:44
Those old Sundowners are literally HUGE compared to the latest models, Slats. The new units are not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes, can be mounted easily using Velcro and/or zippy ties if necessary, and have 80 channels and the other fruit like scan, selcall, scan suite and even switchable power, like the latest Icom IC-450.

The old sets take up a lot of room and could cause substantial injury in an accident. Use some of those points to get the okay for a new one. :-)

Bob

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Follow Up By: MY D-mAx - Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 09:17

Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 09:17
Have to agree with Bob Y on getting a new unit.
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 10:19

Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 10:19
Have added this photo as an example, Slats.

Procrastinated long and hard about where to site this UHF, and was reluctant to drill any holes in the console, so chanced on a roll of double-sided tape from Bunnings. Mounted it as shown and it hasn't moved in over 12 months, including during a very hot Summer.



FYI, the UHF is a GME "Plug-n-Play" kit, at less than $300, and set up in our Falcon sedan. Only use it to monitor Ch40. If I was fitting one to a 4wd, I'd spend more for one with all the fruit on it.

Bob

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Follow Up By: Sigmund - Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 13:19

Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 13:19
+1 to considering a replacement.

I have a MU-X which is v similar to the Colly 7 and a split unit box goes under the left driver side kick panel connected via RJ45 or the like to the handpiece with controls. Tidy, audible. The handpiece can be disconnected and put away between trips.
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Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 15:53

Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 15:53
40 channel UHF CB sets probably only hare around 2 years life left before the big chop. I would suggest that anyone getting a new vehicle should get a new 80 channel unit and not contemplate refitting the old unit.


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Follow Up By: MY D-mAx - Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 17:06

Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 17:06
Totaly agree with you Peter
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Follow Up By: KevL64 - Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 17:56

Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 17:56
What's this "big chop" you allude to Peter?
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 21:17

Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 21:17
A few years ago the UHF radio bands were reorganised so that the radio channels were split to provide twice the number of channels. The UHF CB band was part of this restructure. There is a period of grace where we are permitted to continue operating our old 40 channel radios. The decision will be made next year as to when this period of grace will end. The big chop is expected to be somewhere in 2017.

All radio transmitters in Oz must be licensed. There are several types of licences that transmitters may cover different classes of transmitters. The licences that that we operate low power devices like radio linked microphones, CB radios and model radio control under are called Class Licences. You can read about the CB Class Licence here. The class licences specify that the radio transmitters must conform to specified standards. After the period of grace has expired, the standard covering the 40 channel equipment ceases to be a standard for CB radios.

After the expiry date, if you operate your 40 channel equipment then you are operating unlicensed equipment.
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Reply By: slats - Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 19:51

Sunday, Aug 02, 2015 at 19:51
Looks like a new UHF is the only possible solution.

Been looking around. Now I'm not cheap and I understand you get what you pay for and the Colorado is off to ARB for a colour coded deluxe bar, red arc brake controller and a few other things. I see them as important and safety related so see good value.
So doesnt mean Im cheap for looking at the cheap ones.
Now I'm looking at UHFs and they range from $149 up to $500ish. Happy to spend the money but just need some justification. Given my old uniden UH100 is still going after all these years and still like new that might be all the justification I need.

Recommendations on a good replacement...
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Follow Up By: Stu & "Bob" - Wednesday, Aug 05, 2015 at 11:01

Wednesday, Aug 05, 2015 at 11:01
I am a bit biased towards Icom gear.
There are plenty of 400Pro's kicking around, a good set, capable of 128 channels, and programmable.
Keep your eye out on ebay and the other usual sites, sometimes you can pick up a bargain. I recently bought an Icom F-6023 commercial UHF for $100. Reprogrammed with 5W 80ch CB, all is good. My UHF gear is all Icom now, F-2010 in the car, 400pro in the ute and F-60V handhelds between the two.

Beware of some 40ch normal CB radios that have simply had the EPROM replaced, as these may or may not be narrowband capable. This will cause interference on the channels either side of the channel in use.

In any case, get quality gear and you will only have to get it once.

HTH
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Aug 03, 2015 at 19:06

Monday, Aug 03, 2015 at 19:06
slats,

For starters, the current UHF units have 80 channels.
The UH100 was a reasonable unit (had one myself) but is probably time to upgrade.

There are units with remote heads, the unit being mounted against the firewall or anywhere else convenient, there are ones with all controls and speaker on the Mic head and GME have recently released a full 5 watt unit with the whole unit/faceplate not much bigger than a pack of ciggys.

Check out This link from Prestige Communications.
My mate has just purchased one for his Pajero, which he has mounted in the ashtray space above the radio.
$216 dollars is a very good price and GME is an Australian company.
Bill


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Follow Up By: slats - Sunday, Aug 09, 2015 at 21:12

Sunday, Aug 09, 2015 at 21:12
Well the old uh100 is on ebay http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=301703023325&globalID=EBAY-AU

Got a new GME unit on the way. Winning
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