UHF Radio options

[BirdMan Member Find all posts View Profile Close BirdMan]

I am looking to buy an in-car UHF radio on a budget.
I previously purchased a GME tx670 handheld on recommendation that GME was better than Uniden. I have been quite underwhelmed with this radio in that it runs out of battery quickly, and when in convoy picks up some vehicles loadly and others quietly. This is not related to distance or terrain. The others in the convoy all have in-car units and say that they get equal volume from all of the vehicles. On my last use of it, it stopped transmitting all-together, so am less than impressed.
I would prefer to get an in-dash DIN unit so I don't need to worry about drilling holes or remote mounting, or speaker psoition etc etc. and this has brought it down to the GME TX4400 and the Uniden UH500SX. I can get the Uniden for around $250 with aerial and the GME for around $400 for the same setup.
Based on my experience with the GME handheld I'm a little reluctant to spend the extra $150 on the GME, even though I am told they are a better unit.

Has anyone had experience with both units and can comment? Has anyone else had issues with the tx670? Should I send it back under warranty ?

cheers,
David

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: UHF Radio options

If you wanted top quality in a CB I'd look at the ICOM units as well.
A little more expensive but these are used a lot in commercial and industrial applications so should stand up to your requirements.

Having said that you should have no issues with ap orerly installed GME in-car unit. With any in car unit, the antenna is the most important item for good performance.

compare them all here :

http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-02.htm

Not sure what is the issue with your portable, sounds to me like it has a fault from the issue you describe. An FM receiver should not have differences in volume for different signals. No transmit could be related to a battery issue ( a flat or fualty battery will show up on transmit more than receive, as transmit draws more current.). If it is still under warranty I would be sending it in for a check over.

[pradopom Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pradopom]

Re: UHF Radio options

G,Day Birdman
I have the GME TX4400 I fitted it in the dash under a single din cd player quite an easy job and looks good as well,I have had no dramas with the radio at all,it has the extra scan only channels that I think are worth the extra money,overall a great radio..POM

[Mick R Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mick R]

Re: UHF Radio options

With regards the TX 670, if it is still under warrenty send it back with your list of complaints. With regards Uniden, they're a good unit provided they aren't treated too harshly, GME are a much stronger unit. ICOM are stronger again and can take plenty of off road abuse, however my next door neighbour works for QLD rail and tells me that ICOM are in all the trains and that they are forever being tinkered with, as they always seem to have some fault with the inner workings. I have had both Uniden and GME and I now only use GME. I was going to try ICOM out until speaking to said neighbour. I run a TX 3440 in the 4bee, keep a TX 610 in the glovebox, and when I'm on the bike I have a TX 6200 with an in-helmet mic and speaker setup, so the wife can nag me when she's following along in the car. I also have the higher gain aerial on the 6200. Haven't had a problem with any of the units so far.


Mick

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Re: UHF Radio options

Hi Birdman,

I have the UH400SX, which I understand is the same as the UH500sx but smaller in size. It works like a treat. Never given any trouble. I have the remote microphone, which makes it much more user friendly.

Personally I would go with the Uniden unless you want to support local industry.

Greg

[A10 Member Find all posts View Profile Close A10]

Re: UHF Radio options

I am also looking at getting a UHF but am unsure about how proposals to change the band width and create 80 channels instead of the current 40 will affect current radios.

Will this mean that current radios will not work when the new channels are implemented commencing in the near future.

I gather from the ACMA site that current plans are for the 40 channel system to not be supported from around 2016.

Can anyone who understands radios please provide any advice.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: UHF Radio options

I am also looking at getting a UHF but am unsure about how proposals to change the band width and create 80 channels instead of the current 40 will affect current radios.

Will this mean that current radios will not work when the new channels are implemented commencing in the near future.

I gather from the ACMA site that current plans are for the 40 channel system to not be supported from around 2016.

Can anyone who understands radios please provide any advice.

If reading the info correctly, they are just narrowing the bandwidth of each channel from 25kHz to 12.5kHz. They are not going digital yet, which would definitely mean a new set.
Modern sets may be type approved for both 25KHz and 12.5KHZ operation so a retune and reprogram is all that is required.
If buying a new one, get a written guarantee from the manufacturer or dealer that they will be able to upgrade it when the time comes.

Info below copied from site http://www.uhfcb.com.au
The Australian Communications and Media Authority today announced important changes to the allocation of frequencies available for use by UHF CB Radio operators
Changes from a 40 channel system to a new 80 channel system are expected to occur in two stages over a five year period
Stage one effective from January 1st 2011 will see
The frequency allocation extended upwards by 6.25 kHz to accommodate an additional 12.5 kHz channel
All simplex voice channels will transition to 12.5 kHz bandwidth
Repeater channels will transition to 12.5 kHz bandwidth, to create space for additional repeater channels to be added in stage two of the changes
Telemetry channels 22 & 23 remain unchanged
Licensing rules regarding repeaters will be relaxed
The changes will give UHF CB Radio operators access to 38 simplex channels
It is expected that by January 1st 2016 all repeater owners would have updated their repeaters to 12.5 kHz capable equipment, then stage two will take place and an allocation of an additional 8 repeater channels increasing the total number of channels for repeaters to 16
UHF CB Australia applauds the changes made by the ACMA but some tweaking is still needed in our opinion to eliminate any confusion with the changeover process