What UHF radio

I have seen but not used the Icoms IC400. It appears to be very robust and the auto squelch is better than anything else available at present. Talk to WACB, they have them on the shelf.Get out there & have Fun!!!

Hackie,

Don't know the Icom unit though we have a couple of similar units in a repeater here, and have never had a problem in 4 or 5 years. Have been using GME gear for 20 years, and I don't think you can beat them. Aussie made, to boot.

As for handhelds, we have 2 Icom IC40S, and in 5 years, have only needed one battery replaced, and one set went the Doctor. The Icoms don't "hear" as well as the GME TX6000, but as shown they are probably more robust. The TX6000 are a good set, but seem to need a battery every 12 months, and are regular visitors to the Doc. This could be related to who uses the radio, and the care/or lack of it.

The Icom and GME are the pick of UHF radios, the problems we have had are in direct relation to the work we do, mustering etc, so often the radios have to cushion the users fall, off bikes and horses.

By buying another 4400, you could swap them over if need be, between base and vehicle.

Hooroo...

the 4400 also gives you those extra channels.Cheers,
Stuart
- To err is human, to moo bovine -

I'd go the GME for a base as they are a better radio.

The Icoms main benefit is that they are indestructible, but they aren't technically as refined as the GME - although still way better than Uniden

With the ICom IC 400 Pro, do you have to use a computer to put in the extra 88 channels or do you programme it like the GME 4400?

ICOM are the ducks guts.
But GME are excellent too.

We've got 7 IC40s and 5 IC40jr at work, only one of the jrs has needed repair, which was replaced under warranty (intermittent PTT). If used in a proper battery conditioner, the batteries last for years, (we've got batts that are 5 years old in IC40s and still going strong)

All of our vehicles however run GME TX3200 or 3400.

Go the ICOM, GME's are great too, but the ICOM is definately the "comercial" strengh unit, for UHF use it is only useing a fifth of its rated output(25watts). So tough even if there be a need you could beat somthing to death with it(yeti's and the like). Only one short fall with the ICOM, which is the destruction manual is seven shades of useless. And at the moment LAKECOM has them for the same price.

Thanks to you all,
Mind you I still have no idea which way to go. There are plenty of pros and cons with both units. I might just have to stick a photo of each one on the dart board.

And for Dave, Re: the new Icom HH. They're available down here in Melbourne. They call them an IC4088S, with CTCSS, 1/4 wave fixed antenna (Should have kept the folding one), and still only run at 1/2 watt (Don't know why they didn't push that to at least 1watt, but I think it has something to do with other countries only allowing 1/2 watt on UHF)