uhf radio..which one?

Have to agree with John 101%, GME make very good gear and there radios are made in Australia.

We use a AE409L mounted on the front guard but we use a commercial Icom IC-2010 radio.

You will find you will use the UHF more then you thought especially when in convoy.

Regards Richard

CTCSS is a very handy feature, but I'd suggest that as Jeff stated he's not planning on using it for convoy work, it's probably not a feature he's likely to use.
Having said that, most vehicle radios that I'm aware of have that ability now anyway.


Out of interest, using CTCSS in a convoy has great advantages . . . until someone from outside your group wants to speak to you (beit to tell you of upcoming hazards, let you know how many vehicles in their convoy, let you know they're overtaking etc). Do you use it much in convoy work, and do you think the infrequent downside could outweigh the benefit, or not??!

I personally use CTCSS very often. I have an icom in each of our families vehicles. My wife and i often convoy as we work together and are picking up and dropping off work vehicles regulary and we usually have our 2y/o with us. Living in the country (but not remote) means we often have a long drive and CTCSS allows us to chat if need need be without our daughter hearing any desirable language. I also have an icom handheld which i use around our property to keep in contact with the house. Although i don't get much riff raff at our property it's used anyway.

I also use CTCSS almost exclusively on 4wd trips with mates as we're on main highways on the east coast which are full ot babble.

A friend owns several commercial repeaters and CTCSS is required to talk on them. Most commercial and emergency repeaters/freq use CTCSS as although they are the only ones using the frequency by using CTCSS it also helps block unwanted signal overload from non-cb electrical equipment. I have a handheld scanner (icom) which has a tone decoder so it only takes me about 5-10 seconds to find out which CTCSS tone a radio is using.

I am an Icom person through and through but i also own several commercial icoms as well as my 400pro's and 41s :)

However on extremely remote roads i wouldn't use CTCSS and would use a common channel like ch40.

Thanks Jeeps!

We use CTCSS also and are often a bit beyond uhf range of the home block/bases. I often think it would be handy to be able to stick in a uhf repeater, only accessible with CTCSS. I haven't bothered looking in to it though as I'd assume it's not allowed.

Guys once you get one and use it you will see the advantages of having one. Handhelds in a car are a compromise and quite often a pain in the you-know-what. Get a GME as they are top quality and easy to use and get someone to explain how to use it and to explain the channel usage as well as how repeaters work. Most people get a UHF and don't really know the best way to use them and the limitations of them or how repeaters work.

Cheers Darryn