UHF Radio

I have a GME 3200 which is a compact unit which can just attach to the underside of your dash with 2 screws and no fitting hassells. I have had problems with some other models but not with GME which is the preferred radio of mining companys and the local comms supplier also has a lot less hassels with them and the GME support they recieve. Main decision for you is what functions do you want and weather you want a remote head unit to fit into the dash or a smaller unit to fit under it

Hi Geoff & Janice,

For what it's worth I'm sure theres a bit that pops up that says search the archives before you post a question.

Given that this is asked at least weekly if not twice a week it wouldn't be hard to find.

I'll stop whinging now and answer the question (thus encouraging/condoning the no search just ask mentality I guess.)

It largely depends on type of vehicle and options available for mounting. Some vehicles have a DIN sized spot just waiting for a TX4xxx from GME to be bolted in, or a GME TX3xxx and a DIN adaptor for it.

Other vehicles have nowhere to put it and people get inventive like the bloke I met last weekend who had mounted a TX3200 in his RAV 4. Put it vertically in the back of the console (CD box/armrest bit) so that the cord came out the front of the lid. Bonus being that the thieving ba$tards that steal them can't see it either.

I don't like roof consoles as they tend to cause head injuries in RTA's. I don't fancy sucking veges through straws in a nursing home. I spent the extra and got a TX3400 and mounted the Tx/Rx up behind the glove box and the head unit up near the mirror. It was a bit of work but it has been worth it. I initially installed the body down in the left hand kick panel but it filled with water when I drowned the truck and I was lucky it still worked when dried and cleaned, so I gave it a little more altitude.

As for what brand there's not much in it. Go a brand name radio like Uniden or GME and get what you like. Things to look for are metal mounting button on the back of the mike - plastic ones break. GME used to use plastic but I think all theirs are diecast now and you can buy spares.

I've only one beef with the GME's and that is that I don't like the way their PTT switch is mounted to the PCB in the mike. The mechanical restraint is not optimal but that's purely a techy thing. If it fails it needs the joints that connect it to the board resoldered. I repaired one for a bloke at Well 12 on the Canning who hadn't been able to talk to his mate for 2 days and he was stoked. It's an easy repair but shouldn't be necessary and a tech would probably charge more than a new $30 mike just to look at it.

I can't see the point of getting the GPS/UHF combo from uniden, likewise I can't see the point in the combo AM/UHF unit as AM is pretty much dead, though it offers some distance advantages they aren't much good if noones listening.

All the mobile UHF's are 5 watt (legal limit) so there's nothing much in it there.

As for an antenna. Something like the AE4018K2 (I think) which is the GME ground independant fibreglass whip on a reasonably heavy duty spring is the way to go. The wire ones break on the corrugations, usually right at the base of the whip.

If you ever have that happen cut a 15cm length of wire and clamp it back in the base using the grub screw. It's a suitable emergency antenna and will give reasonable performance in a convoy.

We broke a wire whip on the Canning (surprised it made the Tanami crossing after we bent it on a wedge tailed eagle at Kulgera really...) and I made one out of the wiper backing from the burnt out ford explorer. Did the trick until I replaced it with an approximately 4.5db gain whip wound out of fencing wire found at the bottom of the Well 33 wind mill. When that died we bit the bullet and bought a new antenna at Leinster.

Anyway enough rambling. (Can you tell night shift is slow tonight?? Not too many emergencies. Is it bad to wish ill on others so that my shift would go faster??)

Hope I've answered your questions a bit.

Dave

ICOM IC400PRO
Pricey but tough as nails, user programable recieve only channels, really annoying beep when you turn it on, but as I said tough as nails. Full steel chassis and mike.
Antenna, just a ground independent 6db from GME, which gets further than a mates GME and his monster fishing rod antenna.
All the mates have GME GX3400(remote head unit) and are really happy with them, I just wanted a DIN size unit and liked the ICOM over the GME.
JMHO.

I have a uniden UH013 and I am very happy with mine. It's a very compact unit and you can put it just about anywhere in your car. The face can also ditatch so you might want to put the speaker and brian of the unit under the dash or under the seat and the face plate next to your handbrake or somewhere nice

Icom 400 Pro and the GME 4400 - both excellent performance.... I chose the former - suppliers can suggest the best antenna for your needs. I use the elevated feed GME jobby - with screw on wires of different lengths for different purposes. Has worked very well recently in the bush, comming with a variety of other UHF types.The Icom has a repeater sniffer - I think that is worth something (you don't need a list of repeaters then).

Like others have said, all the units are limited to 5 watts, so theres no difference in performance of the set. Get one that fits into the best spot in your vehicle.

What does matter is the aerial. If you want a good performing set, best option is to have the aerial roofmounted. UHF is line of sight, so higher works better.

I use a short rubber stubbie aerial on a swing-down gutter mount for 99% of the time. Its indestructable, cheap, and works better than any bullbar mounted aerial I've come across. I also have a 6Db whip that sits in the back on the few occasions I want more range.

Cheers
phil

Thanks very much for the responses I received regarding the UHF transceiver and aerial. They were all most helpful.

GME without doubt.. Best there is for the money

As for where to shop, Prestige Comms in Perth do overnight freight for $0 last time people here shopped there

Have a search of the site, theres 129420394 threads on radios.

I have just ordered, online, a GPS105 from Uniden. It is a UHF and GPS in one unit. I also ordered a RFI CD900 6.5dB antenna. I have conducted extensive research into these two items and have been impressed with feedback. I will post all my findings when I have played with them here.

PS: Prestige Communications is the cheapest place in the world to get stuff. The UHF was at least $100 cheaper than anyone else......

www.prestigecomm.net.au>>>>>>>>>>Check it out!!!!!!