40 or 80 channel UHF Radio question.

Thank you 'just goin'. From the look of the replies I have I might have opened a can of worms! You have all confirmed my suspicions about the 40/80 debate and I thank you all. Regards, Stanley

Hi Stephen,
A question mate, How will the authorities know that you're still using a 40Ch unit and how would they enforce it? just curious.
I'm not trying to stop Stanley from buying an 80ch unit, he should be purchasing the new UHF, but why do the old UHF's become illegal when they will still work.

Cheers.

Hi Hairs

How they will enforce it will be anyone guess, but the transmission from both unit is very unique and you can tell who is using either unit.


Cheers


Stephen

Fair enough,
Yeah I have a two & half year old GME XT4400 and it's serial number isn't compatible for the upgrade.
I guess I'll be having to buy new in a few years time.
Thanks again
Cheers

Jon

I also have an 11 year old TX4400 and cannot be upgraded. But I'm going to hold out and wait and see if it works. If it doesn't I'll buy a new one, if it does even better, and besides the places I use the radio I doubt there will be any radio enforcement police in those locations.
MM

The "digital ready" hype is just that, and nothing more than a sales plug, like digital-ready tv antennas. The mode of transmission is analgogue, unlike say, police radios, which are digital modulation.

The 40 channels have been cranked out to 80 channels by interleaving the extra channels between the existing channels; ie, the channel spacing has been halved.
And bringing it into line with commercial VHF and UHF channels which have been using the spacing for years.

Two issues:
The receivers on the new 80ch sets have a narrower bandwidth to suit the new channel spacing
The transmitters in the new 80ch sets transmit a narrower bandwidth.
It is possible that some of the transmssion from an old wide-bandwidth 40ch set will spill over into the adjacent 80ch frequencies, creating interference.
Similarly, it is possible that intermediate 80ch frequencies will interfere with one of the 40ch frequencies, as the 40ch receiver bandwidth is too wide to reject it.
So bascially, there are interference issues between the two standards which is why the 40ch sets be eventually phased out. In reality, you would probably only experience this in buit-up cities.
Unless you're offered a 40ch for almost free, I'd be buying an 80ch. Check outPrestige Communications.
cheers
Gerry

Dear Stephen L.,
Thank you for your information. It is as I suspected with the 40/80 differences.
It would seem that I have opened the proverbial can of worms on this issue!
All your replies are appreciated and have helped me to clarify my confusion and doubts.
Thanks agian,
Regards, Stanley

Thank you 'olcoolone' for your reply.
you have confirmed my thoughts.
Regards,
Stanley

Dear Allan,
Thank you for your reply.
The topics page was the first place I visited with regard to communications before I went on actual search and costings for the units.
Regards, Stanley

I have just purchased a new GME uhf. The model has 40 channels that is upgradable to an 80 channel set that you can do yourself, with the instructions on their web site. I am going to leave mine as a 40 channel set until there are more 80 channel sets around then I will change it to an 80 channel set. See the GME web site and the instructions are simple.

Thank you, 'Troll 81'
Your information is invaluable.
regards, Stanley

G'day
You can get one of these hand helds on eBay for under $260 delivered & they are 80 channel models (well 77 usable ones)

NEW UNIDEN UH076sx 5 WATT WATERPROOF RADIO 3 YEAR WARRANTY.

5 Watt (12km line of sight for this one) is the same power as a fitted one, and you can always fit a bigger ariel to the car so will not only be the same power but range too & they have all the latest technology & features. Beauty of a hand held for me is you can take it with you when hiking . It's even waterproof to 1 metre so if you fall in a creek - no worries!

I bought 2 of them 1 for me and 1 for the missus (phones don't work everywhere)
Cheers
Nigel