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Post Info TOPIC: UHF Radio


Guru

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UHF Radio


Iv'e got a couple of newish GME sets JC, the GME user manual says (when a new narrow band radio receives a signal from an older narrow band radio the speech may sound loud and distorted-simply adjust you're radio volume for best performance)

No mention anywhere of a scrambler/unscrambler, however, a lot of incoming traffic (I assume from 40 ch sets is unreadable) so the are certainly compatibility issues between the the old and new formats.

 

80 channel gets the job done for me without any major problems.



-- Edited by Santa on Sunday 28th of July 2013 10:08:09 AM

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Cheers,

Santa.

Moonta, Copper Coast, South Aust.



Guru

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Researching the new 80ch uhf, been told that they need a voice scrambler to enable them to recieve the old 40ch annolog signal,apparntly the cheaper units do not have this.

True or false?

I am looking at a Uniden UHF7750NB.

Thanks.

JC.



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Be your self; there's no body better qualified !                    "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"

 

JC.

 


 

                                             

                

    

                          

KFT


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FALSE,

The Uniden is a great bit of kit and will communicate with all other UHF cb radios including the old 40 channel sets. I will be upgrading to a similar set in the next couple of years.

frank

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Avagreatday.

Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW



Chief one feather

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I have a GME as well Jim and all seems fine to me however here in Townsville I ignore a lot as there are idiots around as in any city. I choose to ignore with not responding as to not encourage them.

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DOUG  Chief One Feather  (Losing feathers with age)

TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy

DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV  (with some changes)

 



Guru

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When a narrow band receiver receives transmissions from wide ban transmitters there only should be a little distortion. If the distotrion is very great it probably means that the modulation of the transmitter is too high or one of the sets is off frequency. If you or a friend have some control over the transmitter you should take it to a service place and get it seen to. Whilst the set is there, get the serviceman to set the transmitter deviation reduced to the specification of the narrow band sets.

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PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 



Guru

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Do you guys have a sign on the back of your caravan or MH to say you have a UHF radio on board?

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Gary

Ford Courier with Freeway slide-on called "PJ". www.aussieodyssey.com

KFT


Guru

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Yes Gary, mine says "UHF 18" and is on the front and the back of the van but I also scan 40 so I can hear wide loads etc.

frank

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Avagreatday.

Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW



Senior Member

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justcruisin01 wrote:

Researching the new 80ch uhf, been told that they need a voice scrambler to enable them to recieve the old 40ch annolog signal,apparntly the cheaper units do not have this.

True or false?

I am looking at a Uniden UHF7750NB.

Thanks.

JC.


 what a total load of crap . Sorry to say but you have been badly misinformed . Know nothing about any late model Uniden sets (and dont want to).

I have a 40 channel GME TX3340 in 1 vehicle and a 80 channel GME TX3345 in another and have travelled together over 2000k and used the radio's all the way with out any problem . I also have a GME TX380 40 channel hand held which I use for work communicating with all brands and models UHF and have no problems . 

Any reason that you are restricting yourself to Uniden ?



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Guru

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Tim thetruckie wrote:
justcruisin01 wrote:

Researching the new 80ch uhf, been told that they need a voice scrambler to enable them to recieve the old 40ch annolog signal,apparntly the cheaper units do not have this.

True or false?

I am looking at a Uniden UHF7750NB.

Thanks.

JC.


 what a total load of crap . Sorry to say but you have been badly misinformed . Know nothing about any late model Uniden sets (and dont want to).

I have a 40 channel GME TX3340 in 1 vehicle and a 80 channel GME TX3345 in another and have travelled together over 2000k and used the radio's all the way with out any problem . I also have a GME TX380 40 channel hand held which I use for work communicating with all brands and models UHF and have no problems . 

Any reason that you are restricting yourself to Uniden ?


 I would not say I am restricting myself to a uniden, I have one that has server very well for the last 25yrs in the same vehicle,& I wish to keep it there.

I require another for a new vehicle & what I am seeing is that GME are far mor expensive.

JC



__________________

 

 

Be your self; there's no body better qualified !                    "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"

 

JC.

 


 

                                             

                

    

                          



Guru

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Date:

Tim thetruckie wrote:
justcruisin01 wrote:

Researching the new 80ch uhf, been told that they need a voice scrambler to enable them to recieve the old 40ch annolog signal,apparntly the cheaper units do not have this.

True or false?

I am looking at a Uniden UHF7750NB.

Thanks.

JC.


 what a total load of crap . Sorry to say but you have been badly misinformed . Know nothing about any late model Uniden sets (and dont want to).

I have a 40 channel GME TX3340 in 1 vehicle and a 80 channel GME TX3345 in another and have travelled together over 2000k and used the radio's all the way with out any problem . I also have a GME TX380 40 channel hand held which I use for work communicating with all brands and models UHF and have no problems . 

Any reason that you are restricting yourself to Uniden ?


 Tim, you may already know this so ignore it if you do, but the TX3340 is user upgradable to 80 Channel by the follwing method:

1. Select Channel 7.


2. Switch the radio OFF then ON again.


3. Select Channel 23.


4. Switch the radio OFF then ON again.


5. Select Channel 39.


6. Switch the radio OFF then ON again.


7. Select Channel 15.


8. Switch the radio OFF then ON again.


9. Select Channel 31.


10. Switch the radio OFF then ON again.


If the upgrade was successful, channel 80 will be displayed.

See here for more info.

The TX3340 is listed in the table on the page.



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Senior Member

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Thanks troopy , yes I am aware and have tried that plus a dealer upgrade but mine is about 2 or 3 days before the upgrade , I can get it done at GME for a small cost , but as yet havnt worried about it .

Just cruising , i also had a early Uniden UHF which was a great radio and never let me down .
At 1 stage when I was doing interstate the UHF in the truck was playing up and I wanted to change to a remote head unit and like you I bought on price and got a Uniden . It spent more time in the shop being repaired , I was given another new out of the box and it did the same thing . In the meantime my old set had being away for repairs (damage was caused by a spike when I jump started the truck) and I am still using it .
Why do I swear by GME . designed and built in Australia , local service centres and lastly reliability . I use a TX380 hand held daily and it gets knocked around and have had no problems with it either .

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Guru

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Tim thetruckie wrote:

Thanks troopy , yes I am aware and have tried that plus a dealer upgrade but mine is about 2 or 3 days before the upgrade , I can get it done at GME for a small cost , but as yet havnt worried about it .

Just cruising , i also had a early Uniden UHF which was a great radio and never let me down .
At 1 stage when I was doing interstate the UHF in the truck was playing up and I wanted to change to a remote head unit and like you I bought on price and got a Uniden . It spent more time in the shop being repaired , I was given another new out of the box and it did the same thing . In the meantime my old set had being away for repairs (damage was caused by a spike when I jump started the truck) and I am still using it .
Why do I swear by GME . designed and built in Australia , local service centres and lastly reliability . I use a TX380 hand held daily and it gets knocked around and have had no problems with it either .


Must admit I find both of my GME's 1 x TX670 hand held & 1 x TX3500 mobile, easy to use, good clear reception (a lot are not, they transmit a signal that's barely readable) and seem to be pretty robust and reliable.

As a matter of interest Tim, they may well have been once made in Aust, however they are now made in China (isn't everything) sorry to be the bearer of bad news.smile



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Cheers,

Santa.

Moonta, Copper Coast, South Aust.



Guru

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Date:

Santa wrote:
Tim thetruckie wrote:

Thanks troopy , yes I am aware and have tried that plus a dealer upgrade but mine is about 2 or 3 days before the upgrade , I can get it done at GME for a small cost , but as yet havnt worried about it .

Just cruising , i also had a early Uniden UHF which was a great radio and never let me down .
At 1 stage when I was doing interstate the UHF in the truck was playing up and I wanted to change to a remote head unit and like you I bought on price and got a Uniden . It spent more time in the shop being repaired , I was given another new out of the box and it did the same thing . In the meantime my old set had being away for repairs (damage was caused by a spike when I jump started the truck) and I am still using it .
Why do I swear by GME . designed and built in Australia , local service centres and lastly reliability . I use a TX380 hand held daily and it gets knocked around and have had no problems with it either .


Must admit I find both of my GME's 1 x TX670 hand held & 1 x TX3500 mobile, easy to use, good clear reception (a lot are not, they transmit a signal that's barely readable) and seem to be pretty robust and reliable.

As a matter of interest Tim, they may well have been once made in Aust, however they are now made in China (isn't everything) sorry to be the bearer of bad news.smile


 Nope, I just checked in the mirror, no "made in PRC" on me.. wink



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Senior Member

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Santa wrote:


Must admit I find both of my GME's 1 x TX670 hand held & 1 x TX3500 mobile, easy to use, good clear reception (a lot are not, they transmit a signal that's barely readable) and seem to be pretty robust and reliable.

As a matter of interest Tim, they may well have been once made in Aust, however they are now made in China (isn't everything) sorry to be the bearer of bad news.smile


 Santa I just had look on the back of the TX380 hand held and you are right it is made in China .Af as my 2 in vehicle sets the base unit is a bit hard to see in the dark but I will check up on them .   



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Guru

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Date:

Tim thetruckie wrote:
Santa wrote:


Must admit I find both of my GME's 1 x TX670 hand held & 1 x TX3500 mobile, easy to use, good clear reception (a lot are not, they transmit a signal that's barely readable) and seem to be pretty robust and reliable.

As a matter of interest Tim, they may well have been once made in Aust, however they are now made in China (isn't everything) sorry to be the bearer of bad news.smile


 Santa I just had look on the back of the TX380 hand held and you are right it is made in China .Af as my 2 in vehicle sets the base unit is a bit hard to see in the dark but I will check up on them .   


 I made a similar mistake a while cack, loudly proclaimed online that I had bought a quality Swedish made battery charger, someone suggested I check the small print in an obscure spot on the charger, sure enough "made in China"

Packaging is very misleading, in the case of the charger the fact that it was designed in Sweden was plastered all over the box, If I were a paranoid type I would suspect the intention is to mislead.

 

 

 

 

 

 



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Cheers,

Santa.

Moonta, Copper Coast, South Aust.



Guru

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I just checked the web site for the Chinese made GME radios, and they have some really nice looking units in the range now, and it appears the price difference between others and GME has significantly reduced since last I looked.

There is one new unit in particular that caught my eye, it is the TX3100, it comes in a kit, but I suspect you can also buy it separately, it is incredibly small, but is still a full 5W unit. 

For modern interiors this is very appealing.

Some of their remote head units also look very neat.

Specs wise, they are all pretty much the same.



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Retreat Brampton

 



Senior Member

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As another stated the information about 'voice scrambler' is incorrect. First thing is, you do not need to rush out and purchase a 80 channel radio, especially if you already have a working 40 channel unit.

Both 80 channel and 40 channel units are compatible with each other.
The difference being here is the new 80 channel units are narrowband (12.5 KHz) whereas the older 40 channel units are wideband (25 KHz).
Just from this most should work out the obvious problem, if you can call it that.

A 80 channel talking to a 40 channel will sound 'tinny' for want of a better description as it uses only 12.5 KHz of bandwidth in which to transmit it's signal (I'm trying to keep this simple without tech talk) and in some cases the audio may seem low compared to what you're normally used to.

On the other side of the coin, a 40 channel talking to a 80 channel will in some cases sound loud and maybe over deviated, or distorted as one other poster said, if the person with the 40 channel speaks a bit lower then there shouldn't be such a great problem.

The basics of this whole thing are 40 channel radios are going to be around for a long-long time yet. I have two of them myself with no intention of upgrading them to 80 channel models, why would you? Honestly think about what you are going to achieve by upgrading? Apart from the perceived glory of saying you have an 80 channel radio, you're really not going to gain anything relevant to your pursuits.

Sure there may be additional repeater channels on 41-48, but don't fool yourself, it is going to be a number of years (if ever) before you will see repeaters operating on 41-48, and then only ever likely in large metro areas.

There is a decline in, shall we call them the standard repeaters? (Repeaters 1-8). The cost to set-up and maintain a repeater is huge, and often without any form of supporting income it's up to the owner(s) to pay all the bills. Not only is there equipment and maintenance costs, there are site and power fee's to pay as well, along with annual licence fee's.

At around 3000-4000 for a basic repeater (including duplexer, controller, racking, psu, antenna, coax etc), not including site fee's and licencing it's an expensive hobby to run a UHF CB repeater. And to add to this, all new repeaters now must conform to the 12.5k bandwidth. Which is why you are now seeing a higher number then normal of UHF CB repeater licences for sale on the likes of eBay

My feelings, if you can get a new 40 channel radio (and they are still sold) new cheaper, buy it. It is still going to do all you need to do. Most people are not just going to throw away their 40 channel radios and run out and buy an 80 channel unit. I am pretty sure most truckies won't, nor farmers - why would people like spend money needlessly on a radio that isn't really going to improve anything for them? Nomads should work on the same theory - what will it improve for you? Honestly, nothing.

If you don't already own a 40 channel UHF CB, then you are probably going to be looking at a 80 channel unit.
Any radio from the big manufacturers will serve you well. GME-Electrophone, Uniden and Oricom. I have a GME-Electrophone TX472s (and oldie but a goodie), and two Oricom units, one is 40 channel (UHF-088 - 40 Ch), and the other 80. The 80 channel unit is the micro UHF-300, it's most appealing feature is it's size - it is a very small and compact unit, allowing it to be fitted almost anywhere. Both the Oricom units work just fine and have never faulted.



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www.vkportable.com.au
www.forums.vkportable.com.au



Guru

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Thanks for the replies, I agree why update if the old unit is still ok but in this case I need another unit for a second vehicle.

JC.



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Be your self; there's no body better qualified !                    "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"

 

JC.

 


 

                                             

                

    

                          



Senior Member

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Date:

justcruisin01 wrote:

Thanks for the replies, I agree why update if the old unit is still ok but in this case I need another unit for a second vehicle.

JC.


 Two cans with a piece of string.   More string for long distance transmission.



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Guru

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Date:

Keith19837 wrote:
justcruisin01 wrote:

Thanks for the replies, I agree why update if the old unit is still ok but in this case I need another unit for a second vehicle.

JC.


 Two cans with a piece of string.   More string for long distance transmission.


 I know what you mean, LOL but would gen Y ?disbeliefnodisbeliefnodisbeliefno

JC.



__________________

 

 

Be your self; there's no body better qualified !                    "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"

 

JC.

 


 

                                             

                

    

                          

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