UHF antennas

Hi guys

I'm a complete novice as far as uhf radios and antennas go, so I'm hoping someone more knowledge able might be able to answer a couple of questions for me.

I'm looking at getting a GME TX 3100 radio but I'm not sure about the antenna. Some state 4.5db gain and others 6.5db gain, what does this mean? Also what is meant by the term elevated feed and ground dependant or independent? I'll be mounting it on a bull bar so will need a spring base unit. I've been looking at the GME AE4012k2 or AE4018k1, both spring base models.

As I said I'm new to this so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks Jon
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Reply By: bert546 - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 21:32

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 21:32
please stay off channel 40 use 18 with the rest of the bicky dippers.
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Follow Up By: Member - Pedro the One (QLD) - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 21:45

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 21:45
Very helpful ........... !!
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Follow Up By: happytravelers - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:58

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:58
One day bert546 you may wish to ask a question on this forum, I only hope people show you more respect than you are giving me.
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Follow Up By: Member - bungarra (WA) - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 23:29

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 23:29
bert546

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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 09:55

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 09:55
Hey Bert I am often on channel 40 talking to truckies negotiating a way to let them pass and I get nothing but thanks from them.

We all have to use the road so we all had better get along and help each other.

Truckies are the priority as when I am out there with the van on the back I am not trying to earn a living. So to that end I am, as I said, always on 40 as well as 18.

A pleasant word of advice would have furthered your cause more than your comments have.

Next time you see a vanner in front holding you up and they have a UHF call them up and ask if they can help you pass. You blokes know the road so you can advise where the next best passing place is up ahead.

You guys are the professional, so to speak, so what about a bit of assistance to help you when we are out there. I know you will get the odd one who doesn't give a #### but they are in the minority. We all have to put up with them.

Have a good one Bert,
Cheers, Bruce.
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restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: Member - Bucky - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 11:25

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 11:25
There is no rules about what channel you use, unless signposted in that area...

Otherwise it's open slather.

Ch 40 is considered the call up channel, and from there you may choose basically any channel you want to yak..You will also learn new swear words if you listen for any time. The bigger the town/city, the worse the problem is..I never run ours in Melbourne, unless I need to learn new swear words.

Ch 18 is considered for caravanners

Overall they are a handy tool for having a yak, and for directions in unfamilair areas. Just be a little carefull

Cheers
Bucky





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Follow Up By: Mike DiD - Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 11:32

Sunday, Apr 03, 2011 at 11:32
It's ILLEGAL to use Ch 5 or Ch 35 for anything but Emergency communications.
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Reply By: Member - The Bushwhackers -NSW - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 21:59

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 21:59
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

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Follow Up By: happytravelers - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:48

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:48
Thanks Dave

That's what I was after, a simple explanation. Most helpfull.

Jon
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Follow Up By: Member - Pedro the One (QLD) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 02:12

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 02:12
Sad case, that fellow .............
check his previous forum contributions ........ ???
Pretty negative attitude apparent all round --- be a real asset on another forum.!!
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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:02

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:02
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
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Follow Up By: happytravelers - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:49

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:49
That's a really good link Stephen, thanks

Jon
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Reply By: Wilgadene - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:06

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:06
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
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Follow Up By: Wilgadene - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:06

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:06
http://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Accessories/UHFRadio.aspx
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Follow Up By: happytravelers - Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:52

Sunday, Mar 06, 2011 at 22:52
Thanks Wilgadene

Jon
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Reply By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 09:41

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 09:41
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.
At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 10:28

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 10:28
Jon I should have added that ground independent means the aerials do not need a ground plane at their base. You merely bolt them to your bull bar or whatever you are bolting them to. The earth at the mounting point (read bullbar or whatever) is there to earth the shield in the cable to block out interference from other sources.

Bruce.
At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: happytravelers - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 20:45

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 20:45
Thanks Bruce

Jon
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Reply By: Snoopyone - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 09:49

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 09:49
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
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Follow Up By: Snoopyone - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 09:53

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 09:53
In opposition to the Berk I would say stay on channel 40 when out of the cities as it is the one that will give you the most info.

Nothing worse than coming around a corner in WA or NT and find a house the width of the road coming towards you.

It does happen and only on chan 40 will you know.

Chan 18 is for swapping recipes and other inane things IMHO. I never ever use it.

The truckies out of the cities arent as bad as the idiots in town, you get the occasional one but have found 99% OK

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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 10:11

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 10:11
You cracked me up with that opening sentence Snoopy.

You are dead right about the truckies around the cities and along the pacific highway.

Talking to one trucky and he said they are referring to the Pacific as Sesame Street these days. Its where a lot of the kids learn their trade driving trucks. LOL

You can pick them too.

Cheers, Bruce.
At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: Dave(NSW) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 10:56

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 10:56
Sesame Street is the Hume Hwy, named that in the 70s because of the younger drivers carrying on like idiots.
Cheers Dave..
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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 11:24

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 11:24
Hi Dave,

I was aware of that but this trucky I was talking to said they used to call the Hume that but it had shifted to the Pacific now.

Quite frankly I would not know as I am not in the trade so I just go by what others in the trade tell me. Guess I am a mushroom in that regard.

Cheers, Bruce.
At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: Dave(NSW) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 12:09

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 12:09
Times have changed,
The Brisbane run used to be mainly the old fellows (retirement run) LOL
Cheers Dave..
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Follow Up By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 12:47

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 12:47
I 2nd the GME 4018K1. Its a good quality aerial and will do most things Ok. Sort of jack of all trades master of none.

Ignore Bert he is obviously a poor deluded fool who gives the vast majority of Truckies a bad name.

Cheers Wilko
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Reply By: vk1dx - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 11:06

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 11:06
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
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Follow Up By: happytravelers - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 20:43

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 20:43
I appreciate the trouble you've gone to in posting those diagrams Phil, and your advise, thanks.

Jon
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 21:27

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 21:27
Hi Jon

And thanks for dropping back to say hi. So many don't bother.

Phil
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Reply By: wizzer73 - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 13:42

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 13:42
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

AnswerID: 447566

Follow Up By: wizzer73 - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 13:46

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 13:46
Also meant to say that when I'm touring the highways I normally leave my radio on priority scan. Say you are using ch26 for your convoy, make this your priority channel and scan the others. That way you always hear the truck warnings on 40 as well.

wizzer
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 16:05

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 16:05
Hi wizzer (unknown name)

The problem with scanning is that whenever the well spoken users are on channel 40, your car will be filled with profanity and extreemly bad grammar. I "seen" or "me and Jim" etc. Plus all the colourful unprintable words and phrases. We don't normally swear and also try to be a good example to the children, so why would we want to listen to it. Certainly any children in the car should not be subjected to it.

Personally the radio is on channel 18 when touring, unless all you hear is what the mob near you are having for dinner, or something just as boring. When we are out with the club its on the club channel. Other that that its off.

Naturally for something like the Simpson its on for safety (ch10 I believe).

Phil
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Follow Up By: wizzer73 - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 18:16

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 18:16
Good points Phil. When I'm touring the hwys I'm normally by myself or with friends so the language is ok. When i'm with my kids i turn it down real low. However, i must say over here in the west when out of the metro area, the langauge isn't a problem. As someone else pointed out its good to hear the warnings when wide loads are approaching. On a trip last year coming from the pilbra to perth via the gt northern hwy there were 6 extra wide load conveys heading north. These extra wide loads took up the whole road so it was good to have some advanced warning. Also when I'm been overtaken by a road train its good to converse with the truck driver to let them know when its safe to come back over.
cheers
wizzer
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Follow Up By: Snoopyone - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 18:26

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 18:26
Agree fully wizzer
We had the same with a Pilot who was asleep and we just managed to find somewhere to pull right off.
Always good to talk to the truckies as well they appreciate it. Usually!!!!!



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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 19:17

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 19:17
Sorry guys but I still do not see the need for switching to CH 40. You can use your blinkers with the overtaking trucks. For oncoming I would suggest you clean the windscreen. Sorry but I couldn't resist that. Not trying to be mad at you but why can't you see them coming. Thats the pilots job. Even if you miss them.

Also Snoopy (again unknown name) I find your claim that a pilot failed to let you know a wide load was coming is a little hard to swallow. Especially if you were towing.

Maybe you were not thought of as a threat and it was only a small load. Maybe you were not towing a heafty caravan and the road was wide enough. You did not give us any of these details. I have seen plenty of wide loads being preceeded by a pilot and both the pilot and truck fitted nicely on their side and neither warned us. Maybe that was the situation. Purely a "technical" wide load. Yeah I know you have REAL BIG loads over there for the mines etc. But we have the same here and I have bnever had a problem.

Sorry guys but this is getting way off topic and we will be shot.

Phil
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Follow Up By: wizzer73 - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 19:27

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 19:27
Haha phil, yes my windscreen is clean and sometimes i drive with my glasses on too. lol all in jest.

bang bang
wizzer
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Follow Up By: Snoopyone - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 19:53

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 19:53
Very hard to see around corners. He was not far enough in front of it as they usually are

It was a wide wide load and he failed to give widths .

Had to get right off due to the terrain. Van is certainly big enough.

Nothing worse than seeing a vehicle with a CB aerial and not being able to get a response.

If you dont want to use it why have it.

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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 20:03

Monday, Mar 07, 2011 at 20:03
I use the same antenna for other services. I just switch radios in the car with a coax switch. I also use it for polaces like the Simpson and it is obligatory for club outings.

I just don't know why the big emphasis on channel 40 with all the swearing and thought it would have been better to tell a newbie that it is there if you need but you certainly don't have to scan it.

Anyway I think we have been on the wrong track for enough.

Cheers

Phil
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Reply By: sweetnam - Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 10:26

Thursday, Mar 10, 2011 at 10:26
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
AnswerID: 447839

Reply By: Member - SKL - Saturday, Apr 02, 2011 at 16:08

Saturday, Apr 02, 2011 at 16:08
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.
AnswerID: 450091

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