The difference between UHF radios

[McGirr]

In the market for a UHF for the cruiser and looking for advice on what makes a good uhf radio.

To me they all receive and make calls and I understand it depends on the antenna but for us novices if they are all 5 watt do you need the expensive model or is it best to spend extra on the antenna.

I was looking at the Oricom in the repco catalogue for $199 with an antenna as a pack. They have a 3 year warranty. It is a 80 watt channel.

Yes some brands are better than others but even in those brands is it worth spending more and do you get more !!!

Mark

[Manjimike]

How do you want to mount it?
Remote head with the main body out of sight?
Do you want all the controls on the microphone?
Do you want the selcall?

a lot of this makes the difference 

cheers
Mike

[McGirr]

How do you want to mount it?
Remote head with the main body out of sight?
Do you want all the controls on the microphone?
Do you want the selcall?

a lot of this makes the difference 

cheers
Mike

Good points regarding the mounting and microphone controls ... What's  selcall !!

[BigJules]

Go GME Mark, they're Australian and first rate.

[TOPNDR]

I have an Icom 440, recommended because there's surprisingly little room up front in a Cruiser.  The main radio's tucked behind the dash, and all controls on the hand piece, which included the speaker. 

[BigJules]

Icom is also a top brand, couldn't recall the name earlier.

[McGirr]

I have an Icom 440, recommended because there's surprisingly little room up front in a Cruiser.  The main radio's tucked behind the dash, and all controls on the hand piece, which included the speaker.

They sound great but if the microphone goes the expense to replace it would be $$$.

What I want and may look at is the main body hidden but apart from all these options they all pick up the same signal. In the old cruiser I had one with the main body hidden and just worked with a couple of channels to contact the group on the trip so is having a basic model but a better antenna or when they say 6db are they all the same in receiving and sending. I know the bigger the antenna the better signal.

So the question is apart from all the different set ups and features does one 5 watt model produce a better reception is the main question I am looking for taking into consideration the antenna. If I had a gme, Oricom, Uniden or icon all at 5 watts is it just brand name or they roughly will pick up the same signal.

Mark

[Duchess]

I guess it probably is a case of you get what you pay for...

I have had the GME UHF radio in my car but this time round, I'm going for the Icom 440n. I want the features all in the handset with the bulk of the radio set hidden behind the dash. Sure GME have a similar radio but their speaker is still in the radio set, which kind of defeats the purpose if you ask me.

Clarity of incoming and outgoing calls is important to me, as mostly, you're in a noisy environment inside a car.

Interestingly, our radios in the RFS trucks are Motorolas. They seem to give good service in that environment.

I suppose you are planning on using your UHF in some of Australia's harshest environment and if a good proven brand like an Icom or GME is going to give you good service, then I suppose it is worth the money. If the Oricom (for example) can't take it and gives up on you on your first trip with it, then I suppose you claim on your warranty and swap it for something better.

My local auto sparky told me that the GME remote handset replacement is worth $100. They haven't had to replace many but those that have have been mistreated and thrown around in tractors and trucks. I guess if you make an investment like that into a radio, you look after it right? 

[Duchess]

I know the bigger the antenna the better signal.


Mark

Not necessarily.

Rather location for the better a signal!! 

Mounting the aerial on the front of the car is not the ideal place. Ideally, the centre of the roof is the spot but who wants to drill a hole right there? So most aerials go on the front of the car.

[Manjimike]

Good points regarding the mounting and microphone controls ... What's  selcall !!

Check out page 11, Mark

http://www.gme.net.au/public/pdf/manuals/tx3340-4_im.pdf

 

[POD]

Hey Mark, have a look at this mob. They are VERY well regarded in the scheme of things and will happily answer your "technical" questions and probably recommend the "perfect" set-up for you situation, even if you intend to buy one locally rather than from them. You'll also find they are pretty good with their pricing.

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/

For me, I will probably go an Icom next time. IMHO they are the best on the market (I have a GME at the moment), sturdy, METAL BODY in this model http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=378&products_id=2896 . May look at the remote handset when the time comes.

[Manjimike]

I know the bigger the antenna the better signal.

The higher the gain of the antenna, the flatter the signal pattern ( imagine squashed donut and radiating from the centre). This is great for flat terrain.
With a lower gain antenna the pattern is more like an unsquashed donut, so the signal will have less radiation out horizontally than the high gain one, but will include more signal radiating up at an angle which is great if you are in hilly areas.
Hope that makes sense 
 
Mike

[McGirr]

Thanks guys for the information. I have been looking at prestigecom and they have a heap to look at. I may look at setting it up under the seat and go for a remote handset.

Mark

[POD]

Thanks guys for the information. I have been looking at prestigecom and they have a heap to look at. I may look at setting it up under the seat and go for a remote handset.

Mark

I always keep my radios and stuff as high as possible. If you get stuck in Nolans Brook this time, and you get water in . . .  I know there'll be a sh!t load of other damage to other gear but why subject electrical equipment to that if you don't need to. If you were to get an Icom 400, as an example, and mount it up near the mirror, or even near the gear levers . . .  Well, just my opinion. Either way, your truck, your toys, best of luck with it.

[Symon]

Well I will go against the grain here and recommend Uniden.  I've owned dozens if them over the years and never had a problem with any of them. 

I have one of the remote units in the cruiser and I'm quite happy with it.

GME are good units too.  icom are commercial grade, which are a bit of overkill for what we use them for.

As for antennas, height is might.  The bigger the better.

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[Muso]

+1 Symon. I have Uniden and at the time I purchased them, they were the only one with a 5watt handheld.

I don't have a 4WD so I can't get up goat tracks to get to the top of a hill, but I can unclip the handheld (on my sunvisor) and walk up the hill if needed.

I have 4db (for hilly areas)and a 9db (for open spaces) antennae on the vehicle, although I have to put the stumpy back on to go walkabout. I also have a pair of 1w Uniden for closer communcations.

[Chippy76]

Like Symon I too will recommend uniden, whilst all the other brands (icom, gme etc) have their merits, and I am sure are very good products. I have only ever installed unidens in my trucks. I currently have a (very outdated now ) uh090 , it is a uhf/am, and a VERY reliable unit. Might be time to upgrade soon tho.

Unlike Symon I have to disagree about antenna choice tho. Bigger is not necc better.
Antenna size is very much terrain dependent, but who can be bothered to change antenna as you change terrain ..... ?
So I have found that a good quality mid range 4.5dB fibreglass whip , with elevated feed is a good compromise. Living on the downs I regulary travel between mountains and open plains, and have found good reliability in this setup.

more inof on antenna choice can be found here ... http://www.olbis.com.au/ap_template/subcat_antennas.asp

On the issue of handpiece replacement price, I have never replace a handset, but then I do look after my equipment.

Cheers Chippy

[Patr80l]

Another vote for Uniden.
I've owned a small Uniden 27MHz which was simple but bullet proof, a GME UHF for many years which had great reception and signal but occasionally cut out (never diagnosed so not necessarily a fault with the set)   I sold this one with my 80 Series because I couldn't find anywhere to mount its single DIN size in the Patrol.   
Currently have a Uniden UHF with remote mic.   The radio itself is small and has all controls on the front panel, so if you like you can use the second, simple mic with just a single PTT button that was also included in the package.   It has a speaker in the mic as well as the main unit and the volume of each can be controlled independently.   There is also a jack for an external speaker.   Currently in the VW the radio is under the passenger side of the dash and the mic plugs into the rear of the centre console.   In the GU Patrol it was under the driver's seat.   It uses the same plug as computer network cable so you can extend it as far as you like.
I also have four little 1W Uniden handhelds.   They are great but have an appetite for AAA's which seem to drain even when they are turned off.


With regard to antennas, as Symon says, height is great but the roof is not always practical.   I had my GME 6dB mounted on the roof rack on the Patrol with a hinge arrangement I made so that it would fold flat for low branches.   It's ground plane independent which is just as well because it is currently mounted on the front guard of the Touareg which is plastic!

(I won't clutter the thread with too many photos, so look at http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii153/gjwgjw_photos/IMG_4277.jpg and http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii153/gjwgjw_photos/IMG_4278.jpg if you want to see my antenna arrangement.)

[XJeepers]

+1 for Uniden.  Had one of the new ones in the Jeep since may and it has been great. Had some cheap handhelds before this and the speaker and mic were rubbish.


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[Manjimike]

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

Those pictures describe it better than I did 

 

Mike

[jeeps]

I've been running a couple of Icom in-car units (400pro, 221, 621, 208 etc) for a couple of years and i have a couple of IC41 5watt handhelds i use daily. No dramas with any of them.

cheers

[Bennlexx]

You can't go wrong with one of the major brands - Icom, Uniden or GME.  From my 25 yrs of 4WDing I have a personal preference for GME.

[Symon]

Unlike Symon I have to disagree about antenna choice tho. Bigger is not necc better.
Antenna size is very much terrain dependent, but who can be bothered to change antenna as you change terrain ..... ?
So I have found that a good quality mid range 4.5dB fibreglass whip , with elevated feed is a good compromise.

Happy for another point of view, but in my opinion when it comes to antennas size is everything (is in other areas too, just don't believe what women tell you).  I have two antennas, both are 6db, one is about 1m long and the other is 2.1m.

Around town I use the 1m, and out in the scrub I use the 2.1m.  The big one definitely outperforms the little one. 

Your setup with a 4.5db and a high feed is the way to go if you don't like having a big 'bogan stick' on your bullbar.

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[Chippy76]

Symon,

Drawing on my experience as a signaller in the army, I can tell you that size isnt always better.  The location is more important than the size of the antenna. Radio waves are very dependant on terain and the surrounding ground plane.(hence why the best mounting spot is centre of the roof) I have no probs with large antenna in the right terrain, but  the old "bogan stick" will have its limitations in certain environments. Dont get me wrong , it will most likely out perform my 4.5dB in the right conditions.  But IMHO there is no "one size fits all" answer, more of a "one size fits most".

Cheers Chippy

[Duchess]

Sorry Symon, but I'm in Chippy's camp on this one too...(I know, you taught me soldering but when it comes to size...a Woman Knows Better!  )

I know that our RFS trucks don't have massive aerials, rather they have small ones mounted above the cab. The only time we have problems out here with them is when we're in the shed (surrounded by tin) or in the mountains that seem to have a mineral that disrupts the radio signal. Otherwise, they seem to do quite well with rather small looking aerials.