Philips 620 UHF
Submitted: Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 12:15
ThreadID:
4376
Views:
4218
Replies:
9
FollowUps:
3
This Thread has been Archived
shaky
does anyone have any first hand experience with this radio? I'm on a budget so the better units are not an option at this stage
Reply By: shaky - Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 12:33
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 12:33
oops, I meant the Philips 320; but
feedback on either unit would be appreciated.
AnswerID:
17505
Reply By: Simon - Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 13:28
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 13:28
you would be bettet off with a handheld for around $90 than a 320 Shaky. They must be over 20 years old now, and they wernt very good when new!
Even a 620 i wouldnt buy, you could give it to me but i wouldnt buy one.
AnswerID:
17507
Follow Up By: shaky - Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 13:50
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 13:50
Simon,what was wrong with the 320?
The reason I'm looking at these units is to get an affordable 5W set up.
FollowupID:
10979
Reply By: Bob - Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 14:13
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 14:13
Shaky, Agree with Simon, the biggest downer of 320 would be age. We had one over 20 yrs ago. Another point would be the PAL plug on rear for aerial, you aren't able to interchange with other current UHF's available at present, if need arose. Think receiver on 320 may have been a bit "deaf" too.
Think Andrews Communications offer 2nd hand UHF's at reasonable prices, with a bit more youth on their side. Hooroo...
AnswerID:
17508
Reply By: Simon - Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 16:20
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 16:20
Yes they are a bit deaf and the ones we hsd were forever being fixed (cracked solder joints mainly I think) and they had an annoying habit of changing channels whenever they wanted to. Spend the extra money and get Uniden or Electraphone, I have an old Electaphone in my ute (one of the first ones) and it still works fine.
AnswerID:
17509
Reply By: Mick n Sal - Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 16:46
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 16:46
Shaky,
We currently have one in our 4Runner ... Yes they are somewhat deaf, they have what is now a non-standard antenna connenction for UHF use, they do not have a duplex function ( so using a repeater gets tiresome _REAL_ fast ), the mic socket is prone to mechanical failure. Having said that, they are ok for close convoy work, but I wouldn't pay for one. Ours was a gift that req'd some mechanical repair.
Hope this helps.
Mick n Sal
AnswerID:
17513
Follow Up By: Mick n Sal - Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 16:51
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 16:51
PS. If budget is an issue, consider GMEs new TX610 handheld. I bought one a couple of weeks ago as a spare /
camp radio and am very impressed. 1 Watt, all the good features, and it'll fit in your pocket.
Mick n Sal
FollowupID:
10983
Reply By: shaky - Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 20:44
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 20:44
Well, the Philips ain't a good idea; what about the GME TX4000? What sort of prices do they sell for S/H?
AnswerID:
17529
Follow Up By: Simon - Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 20:57
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003 at 20:57
How much do you want to spend shaky?
If you look around you canget a new radio for around $250, so id expect a second hand GME or Uniden could go as low as $100- $150?
Theres a Tandy brand around too, a rebadged uniden, theyd be ok.
Check out Trading post, Cash Converters ect.
Good luck.
FollowupID:
10988
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Monday, Apr 14, 2003 at 01:32
Monday, Apr 14, 2003 at 01:32
look on www.ebay.com.au or www.sold.com.au or www.tradingpost.com.au for prices on varoius units.
Also As others have said, try a hand held unit. You can get 5w handhelds..
or Maybe dont waste your $$ on something dodgey now, save up for what you need - something reliable.
AnswerID:
17553
Reply By: Dion - Monday, Apr 14, 2003 at 12:46
Monday, Apr 14, 2003 at 12:46
I started off with Phillips
UHF radio's. The FM 320 can be retrofitted for about $20 to have duplex function enabled, and scan. Scan is single mode only. I then progressed to a FM620 which is still in use in Dad's Hilux. The only thing against the Phillips is after using GME units where you appreciate GS/OS, selcall, suddenly makes the Phillips look antiquated, but still a decent radio, just not as functional.
You can still have the end of the coax fitted with a PL259 connection for use with other UHF's, and either have a short flylead with PL259 on one end and PAL on the other, or change the PAL connection over to flylead with PL259 connection on it like GME units, or a PL259/PAL adaptor.
Don't write the Phillip's off.
Cheers,
Dion.
AnswerID:
17577
Reply By: Dion - Monday, Apr 14, 2003 at 12:50
Monday, Apr 14, 2003 at 12:50
I started off with Phillips
UHF radio's. The FM 320 can be retrofitted for about $20 to have duplex function enabled, and scan. Scan is single mode only. I then progressed to a FM620 which is still in use in Dad's Hilux. The only thing against the Phillips is after using GME units where you appreciate GS/OS, selcall, suddenly makes the Phillips look antiquated, but still a decent radio, just not as functional.
You can still have the end of the coax fitted with a PL259 connection for use with other UHF's, and either have a short flylead with PL259 on one end and PAL on the other, or change the PAL connection over to flylead with PL259 connection on it like GME units, or a PL259/PAL adaptor.
Don't write the Phillip's off.
Cheers,
Dion.
AnswerID:
17578