Handheld Radios

Submitted: Monday, Aug 04, 2008 at 20:10

ThreadID: 60487 Views:2712 Replies:10 FollowUps:1

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Bunny

We are two couples about to take off on a 3 month trip - it has been suggested that we should purchase a GME TX650 hand held radio set. We had intended to stay in contact by text/mobiles, but perhaps these are okay. Does anyone have any experience with them. We intend to travel together so distance should not be a problem. We see an advantage in also being able to perhaps communicate with truckies in our vicinity, i.e. to indicate that we will pull over ASAP etc. etc.

Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

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Reply By: The Rambler( W.A.) - Monday, Aug 04, 2008 at 20:23

Monday, Aug 04, 2008 at 20:23

Just remember that any hand held uhf radio has a much reduced range due to not having an external aerial, but if you are in close contact all should be well.

AnswerID: 319029

Reply By: Member - AJB (VIC) - Monday, Aug 04, 2008 at 20:33

Monday, Aug 04, 2008 at 20:33

Haven't used the GME but have used Unidens for similar exercises and they are great. Range is good enough when travelling in 'convoy' and useful for many other occasions. They are cheap and do the job. Can talk to other travellers if I feel like it but their main role is for our vehicle to vehicle communication. They are good for around property, as a baby monitor and on worksite. Many uses.

AnswerID: 319036

Reply By: Oldsquizzy (Kununurra) - Monday, Aug 04, 2008 at 21:10

Monday, Aug 04, 2008 at 21:10

I have a 3 watt gme tx650 and find it good. Wife uses the one in car and I use it in the tinny when fishing off cape dommet, has worked up to about ten klms across water clear as a bell and take it when I wander off into the bush looking around. It does have a flexible external antenna and a charge lasts us all day even in scan mode. They can be charged from 12 or 240 volt.

AnswerID: 319050

Follow Up By: Member - kevin Y (SA) - Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 10:13

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 10:13

they work great for fishing for sure, the cook has tucker ready when i get in

FollowupID: 585634

Reply By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 07:02

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 07:02

Bunny,

UHF is ideal for car-to-car if you're in reasonably close proximity. And you don't have to worry about phone coverage for the text messages, remember that once you leave the city area's, phone coverage is scarce. Listening in to the truckies is a good idea, you'll get traffic updates and police activity updates, but around the cities you'll also get the full extent of their vocabulary, away from the cities they're not too bad. Worth it for the info anyway!

Cheers

Brian

AnswerID: 319102

Reply By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 10:33

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 10:33

Also check out a twin pack of UH065sx from uniden , which are under $250 on ebay.

Simple things like the included speaker mikes , and variable level mute make them very practical for that application , espically when mounted on dash in a mobile phone holder.

There have been other recent posts discussing this , so it might be worth a search

AnswerID: 319136

Reply By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 10:34

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 10:34

If you only about car-to-car communication in range up to 1 km any el-cheapo UHF CB walkie-talkie will serve you well.

Cheers
Serg

AnswerID: 319137

Reply By: Brett H - Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 11:56

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 11:56

I too will be looking to get a new uhf radio for my 100 series.

One thought I have had but couldn't find is this.
Why doesn't one of the radio manufacturers produce a 5w handheld radio which has a similar type car kit that a mobile phone has. That is, when plugged into the car kit it uses a vehicle mounted ariel as well as the standard type microphone but can be unclipped and then used when walking around like a standard hand held.

Maybe there is one out there but I haven't seen it.

AnswerID: 319151

Reply By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 12:55

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 12:55

I think you will find any name brand from a reputable dealer will be fine. I would suggest that you get one that has buttons that you don't need a magnifier to see !

AnswerID: 319160

Reply By: RobAck - Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 19:27

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008 at 19:27

You can overcome the limitation of range with hand helds by selecting one that has a detachable antenna. You then get an external antenna with a magnetic base and coaxiable cable with a connector that screws in where you have taken the little antenna from the hand held. We use them all the time as hire radios and for training and they work perfectly.

Regards

RobA

AnswerID: 319225