UHF antennas

please stay off channel 40 use 18 with the rest of the bicky dippers.

G'day Jon

I have a similar set up to that which you are looking at, but bought a different brand.

The difference between the 4.5db and 6db (or 9db) is that they are more suitable for different terrains.

The way I understood it when I bought mine, the lower number db was more suited to hilly terrain, the higher the number got better reception (distance) in flatter terrain.

I went with 4.5db as an all rounder, and am quite happy with that. Mounted on the bull bar too, no worries.

As for Bert's comment above, you may well want to stay off ch40, as it is mainly frequented by foul mouthed ingnorant people. However, if you can put up with the bad language and poor grammar, you can sometimes obtain useful info re road conditions etc, from the polite, better educated truck drivers. Bicky- dipper is spelled 'Bickie'.

Have fun, Dave

Hi Jon

The first and most important thing to do is make sure that what ever radio you buy, make sure that it is 80 channel upgradeable.

Open this link and go to page 12 and it will explain the antenna differences as well as any other information that you may require:

http://www.gme.net.au/public/pdf/brochures/land_b.pdf

Cheers


Stephen

Hi happytravelers

have a read of the following info supplied by exploroz, it give a good overview of the do's and don'ts. Don't take too much notice of that ignorant prick bert546, most of the members and visitors here are very helpful.

Cheers and happy travels

Hi Happy travelers,

About 4 years ago I knew about as much as you guys and so I was looking, just as you are, for some answers here on EO.

I bought a radio as suggested by several contributors and next set about getting the aerial.

One fellow said "don't bother with those expensive ones just go to superthingy and buy their 6 Db (about 5 foot long) aerial and their bullbar mount and lead combo. All up price was about $60 I think.

I took the advice given and it works brilliantly.

I get about 50 K line of sight and pretty good in the hills as well.

Apparently the higher the DB gain the longer the distance in open country and the lower the DB gain the better in hilly terrain.

Hope this helps.
Cheers, Bruce.

The 4018K1 will do the job perfectly.

An added advantage is the the height of it is just above my roof line so if it will go under something the car will too.

Really handy in low carpark buildings

I was about to say the same as some of the above.

A few points in one post as a summary and alternate ideas to those above:

1. Whichever radio you get make sure it can be modified or reprogrammed to work with the new 80 channels when ever they become mandatory. I read recently that the new GME's can be easily programmed for the 80 channels.

2. I would also not worry about getting a bundle of antennas for different terrain. Get a 9db or a 6db and settle with that. It is also a good idea to put a spare antenna in the car as they can vibrate off on corrugations or you may even hit a tree and snap it. Considering the inadequacies for long distance UHF get one of the ones shown below ("Z Bracket") that mounts on the side of the bonnet. You don't have to drill any holes and it is then not being subjected to as much vibrations and hazards as the bullbar. Add a spring as shown in the second image to allow the antenna to bend if you do get a tree that close. Or hit a big bird. Don't laugh. I hit a crow that snapped an expensive triband amateur radio antenna once. Snapped it right off.

3. I suggest you look at mounting the radio up off the floor and not on the center console. If you get stuck (unplanned) in water, having it down low could be disastrous for the radio. Look at a roof console. Personally I have it on the floor and am moving it at the next upgrade. And very soon at that. Money is the only reason its not up there now.






I hope this helps.

Phil

Phil

I just bought a uhf antenna kit from supercheap last week. Its made by Benelec. Its a ground independant type with a heavy spring base. Came with 2 antenna's, one 3db and one 6db. Also came with 5mtrs of coax with connectors. Cost aprox $120 from memory. Tried it out on the weekend and i definately got more range from it then my old ground dependant base and clearer reception.

wizzer

Hi There

The aerial db deals with the type of signal the aerial sends out, basically the higher the db the flatter the signal (good for long distance - open flat terrain), the lower the db the more 360' the signal (better for hilly terrain).

http://www.olbis.com.au/ap_template/subcat_antennas.asp

Check out the above, it explains it better than my humble words and has pictures.

Most decent aerials have a spring base so that is fine. If installing it yourself, keep the coax away from power cables as it can interfere with signal quality.

I am not an expert on aerial grounding but someone here will know. The GME elevated feed is a good antenna, and you can change tips with different db's to suit flat open areas or hilly terrain for not much $$

Hope it helps a bit.

B

GME make great radios as does icom. you can buy a dual antenna kit also it gives you a short stubby one for round town and hilly country and just change over to the longer one for outback flat country. Some GME dealers will give you a great deal if you buy a radio from therm THe base is sprung and they are ground independent , no tuning required and work well. Mount as high on bulbar as you can to give as much clear line of site for the signal . THe newer mic on gme are a pain though you really have to push them in hard to make them work.