Help please with radio's

Poppy sore eye · Senior Member

Help please with radio's

johnno02 · Veteran Member

Hi,

The Larger of the two(Mobile Radio) is really all you need,as it has a Microphone with it.

the Smaller unit (Handheld CB) is very handy,if you are away from the Vehicle

and need to communicate,with the "Base",or anyone else.

I don't use UHF CB,as I have Amateur Gear,However,I believe

the Uniden is as good,or better than a lot of the others out there.

One thing you Must also fit to your Motorhome,is a Good Quality

External Antenna,this is Needed for Communications with the Hand

Held Unit,or anyone else,using the UHF CB Bands

Any Radio,Regardless,of what type, is only as good as the Antenna

Connected to it,

No Antenna,and even a $5000.00 Radio is useless.

Hope this helps you a bit.

John

jetj · Guru

I got a very reasonable Chinese UHF radio from Ebay, 5 watts but had to program the 40 cb channels into it.

EDIT Meant 80 channels.

-- Edited by jetj on Thursday 11th of July 2013 03:05:09 PM

GaryKelly · Guru

Like you, Poppy, I'm no techie either but I bought a pair of Midland hand-helds on eBay on spesh for $90. I haven't used them yet but they seem okay. Without an external antenna they have a range of a couple of kilometers (depending on terrain) which I figure is fine for keeping in touch with vehicles behind or wide loads in the vicinity, etc. I've heard that Uniden is a good brand. I've also heard of Midland. It's the no-name cheapies I'd be worried about.

Wombat 280 · Guru

I have an ICom 440 not sure of the ID for the latest 80 ch model and I also have to 40 ch Icom hand held units I now use the handheld more as it gives me the range of the bigger unit and I can plug in an external aerial if the range drops off. The hand held also gives me that away form vehicle contact if I walk into a camp spot to check it out or wade a creek before entering while Mrs Wombat is in the vehicle , they also have saved our marriage a few times when either of us are reversing into tight spots . Handy on the beach when fishing and I start to wander up or down the beach away from the camp site . Like all radios the aerial is the most important bit of gear . Suggest you look up aerials on the web and see what each has to offer to your communications needs.

PS. If going hand held units you can get a magnetic roof mount aerial and plug it into the unit to increase the line of sight range On a good day if all the planets align and god sits on your shoulder you may get 20Km line of sight in flat country. All these units incar or portable mainly used for keeping in touch with you traveling mate, get one that has a scan function ,very handy

-- Edited by Wombat 280 on Thursday 11th of July 2013 07:57:50 PM

justcruisin01 · Guru

I have been looking at a new radio as well, the listed one is a mini version, suitable to fit in some of the newer cars where space is limited.

However they have a top mount speaker, which mounted against any surface will give a muffled sound but they do have a 3.5mm jack socket in the rear to allow an external speaker mounted in a suitable area for clearer conversations.

From what I can gather you have the 40 channels as per the older units, then 40 that are used by the emergency systems & to be able to hear these you need to have this setup via a laptop to receive only, not to transmit. I was told that this section of the mini unit struggles with a suitable volume level.

This info is based on inshop assistance, I to will be getting a second opionion.

So far I think that if you have to room to fit a full sized unit it would be a better system with front mounted speaker, also the 3.5mm s****et if required & a better display face. As said you need a very good ant & if possibile mounted as high as you can to avoid shielding by the roof of the vehicle.

The hand held are very usfull in combination with the incar unit when it comes to onsite parking ,one person going into the park office &/or shop etc.

Uniden are a good brand, I have been running one for 20plus years with no problems & over the worst roads/tracks this country has to offer.

JC.

leevin · Senior Member

Poppy sore eye wrote:
I have looked at eBay and found what I think would be ok, UNIDEN UH7700 NB UHF RADIO 80 CHANNEL +710SX NB HANDHELD RADIO+4WD+CAR+VEHICLE
But I really have no idea on specs or price. Please recommend what you think I need, would this unit do the job at a fair price or should it be something different?
Thanks in advance.

This is the UHF that we have.

No troubles & the hand held is great for the reversing navigator to warn of any obstacles when reversing.

Remember to keep it simple.

Mark · Senior Member

http://www.uniden.com.au/RESOURCES_MAIN/pdfs/UH038SX-2NB_OM.pdf

We have a pair of theses handhelds above (link above) and we have

http://www.uniden.com.au/australia/p_uh7760nb index.asp

one of these base units in the car (link above) in the car.

The handhelds are great for when we are buggering around on a camp site or free camping and I go off for a wander, and we also use them when we go walking in the gorges in the NP's for safety reasons.

The one in the car is great for chatting to the truckies and letting them overtake or visa-versa, and, when reversing into a tight spot, the wife uses one of the handhelds and I have the one in the car on the same channel and she can tell me what I need to do/avoid.

Definatley a great way to go and saves so much arm waving, hollering and shouting.

Mark

Poppy sore eye · Senior Member

Thanks for the response, even some of these were a little technical far me you will eventually get to know How really dumb I am on some things.

as I understand I am on th right track, mark are you saying that two handhelds and a base unit is the better ssolution.

Leevin, thanks for the simple response, what do you do for the aerial?

Mark · Senior Member

Poppy sore eye wrote:
Thanks for the response, even some of these were a little technical far me you will eventually get to know How really dumb I am on some things.
as I understand I am on th right track, mark are you saying that two handhelds and a base unit is the better ssolution.
Leevin, thanks for the simple response, what do you do for the aerial?

Hi Ya Poppy Sore Eye

Hope your okay, maybe if we look at this from another angle, it might be easier.

How about I ask you a few questions....................
Q: Do you want to listen and/or talk to the truckies and other travellers whilst on the move? Y/N
Q: Do you want to use UHF to talk to each other when manouvering? Y/N
Q: Do you want to use UHF to talk to each other around the camp or whilst away from the car? Y/N

Let me know the answers and we can go from there. smile

Regards

Mark

-- Edited by Mark on Friday 12th of July 2013 09:02:12 PM

Poppy sore eye · Senior Member

Thanks Mark, that's a yes yes yes.

your help is appreciated

Mark · Senior Member

See PM

Regards

Mark

Mark · Senior Member

Poppy sore eye wrote:
Thanks Mark, that's a yes yes yes.
your help is appreciated

You need a fixed UHF in the car and a pair of UHF hand-helds.
You will also need a fixed antenna on the tug, a 6DB (Decibel) Gain antenna is the most appropriate for UHF giving you a combination of distance on the flat and over the hills.

That's the nuts and bolts for the forum, PM is a bit about personal use and preferences.

Regards

Mark