UHF Combo

David, the TX 4400 will be able to transmit further to the handheld unit as it transmits at 5W. The Uniden only transmits at 0.5W, so although (distance and terrain) dependent, the set in the vehicle may not be able to hear the little Uniden. At $139 there is the GME TX 610 handheld with 1W of power, or go to it's bigger brothers - ($400 - $500) with selectable 1W/5W.
I, don't have anything to do with CTCSS, so someone else can answer that.

Cheers,

Dion

I'm not sure what you expect from CTCSS, but yes it will work between the to brands as the code is built in, all it does is mute your radio until it receives the coded tone then unmutes so you can here the transmission, the only privacy you get is that you don't hear any transmittions that don't have the tone code as a preamble to their transmission, everyone can still here you. I looked at this when I bought my new set, and also the scramble facility that was offered. CTCSS is used to deny access to repeaters in the USA but I don't think it is used here in Aus.

without wanting to interogate anyone, why do you want to use ctcss.
Our work network runs on ctcss, but that is due to malicious interferance from outside giving us no alternative.
With CTCSS, you can not hear if others are trying to use the channel, and you may well interfere with their quite legitimate use of the channel. Yes you can set most radios to "lock out" while busy, making it impossible for you to transmit while the channel is open but this is frought with problems.

Yes the two units will communicate if they are set to the same CTCSS code (the actual frequency rather than the manufacturers code system).

If you just want to talk to the driver to guide around obstacles etc then the uniden handheld will be fine, but if you plan on relying on it for any sort of distance then you nedd to accept that these are essentialy upmarket kids radios and simply do not have the power output to achieve this.

The new GME handheld is good but is still only 1w, as are the icom Joeys. If you are interested inthe 5w versions IMHO you can't go past the ICOM IC40s, next in line would be the GME TX6000 and a distant third to anything made by uniden.

hope that this is even a little bit useful.

David, Agree with the comments above, go for more expensive hand helds, for better Tx and Rx.

From using Icom IC-40S and Electrophone TX6000, while mustering over a number of years, I would disagree with Chopper and say that they are equal.

Icom are robust and rarely, if ever, break down, but they are DEAF compared to TX6000. E'phone are good on Tx and Rx, but need to see tech occasionally when subjected to hard use ie cushioning the fall of speeding motorcyclist, when they hit stump/gully/steer. Chopper hit mark when he said Uniden are distant 3rd.

TX4400 are Rolls Royce of UHF, except for remote TX3400.

Buy the best aerial you can justify, Polar are good on size/price /performance ratio. hooroo...

I think we're getting a bit off track from what David was asking. Those expensive Icoms might be good units but David is looking at an $80 Uniden. I'm considering the same thing - a good quality in-dash unit and a cheap hand-held. As far as I can see the GME and Uniden would be a good combination.

Stephen.

Thanks all for your info:very much appreciated.
I Do want a good car unit hence the TX4400- but I think at this stage that the half a watt will probably do for the hand held at this stage....
Possibly 6 or 12 months down the track I'll wish for something better but I have to watch the cost or my other half will be somewhat "unhappy".
Thanks again all

CTCSS will work between the TX4400 and the Uniden, but the code numbers do not match up (the GME has an extra 12 tones), so you'll have to use the list of CTCSS frequencies to match the 2 radios.

Keep in mind when using CTCSS that everyone can still hear you but you can't hear anyone else. Therefore you have to check (use the busy indicator) that someone isn't using the channel before you transmit, otherwise you will really annoy people and quickly become hated.