I have an Oricom unit with controls on the mike. Have found it very good. It came as a kit complete with matching aerial.
UHF range can vary considerably depending on terrain and atmospherics but the Oricom on reasonably level terrain has received transmissions off road work crews from over 30ks out on occasion, which really surprised me.
We have a GME XRS370C UHF radio. All standard controls are on the handset. The main box is set behind the dash board. Good Australian brand. It gives great reception and transmission. The display is an OLED display which is easy to see in full sun. The unit can be connected to your smart phone via Bluetooth to customise various buttons, and to create and share scan lists. Many other features are available using XRS Connect Location Services such as mapping features, locations of other nearby XRS users, etc.
I suspect most UHF CB use is single channel (40) or, perhaps, scan there is rarely need to change anything on the radio.
I use Amateur Radio extensively and own a number of radios some with mic. controls, some not and find I very seldom use the mic. buttons (other than PTT); one problem being there is no visual feedback so when you press a mic. button you're never really sure what, if anything, has happened.
Mic. control buttons can be useful but, for me, they are far from essential and would not affect my buying choice.
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
I suspect most UHF CB use is single channel (40) or, perhaps, scan there is rarely need to change anything on the radio.
I use Amateur Radio extensively and own a number of radios some with mic. controls, some not and find I very seldom use the mic. buttons (other than PTT); one problem being there is no visual feedback so when you press a mic. button you're never really sure what, if anything, has happened.
Mic. control buttons can be useful but, for me, they are far from essential and would not affect my buying choice.
could be a visual thing as with the mike control most of the unit is hidden up under the dash ,out of site . with all the electronic things we have in the cabin these days dash/console space comes at premium .
could be a visual thing as with the mike control most of the unit is hidden up under the dash ,out of site . with all the electronic things we have in the cabin these days dash/console space comes at premium .
A fair point.
In my current vehicle (Holden Trailblazer) I have decided not to install a radio (a first for me) as it's just too difficult to fit it and do the wiring. I have a UHF CB plugged into the cig. socket and a magnetic mount antenna with the radio sitting on the passenger seat. This, of course, is a major reason why I'll never again be able to consider marriage :)
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
I suspect most UHF CB use is single channel (40) or, perhaps, scan there is rarely need to change anything on the radio.
I use Amateur Radio extensively and own a number of radios some with mic. controls, some not and find I very seldom use the mic. buttons (other than PTT); one problem being there is no visual feedback so when you press a mic. button you're never really sure what, if anything, has happened.
Mic. control buttons can be useful but, for me, they are far from essential and would not affect my buying choice.
The beauty of using my GME XRS370C is that the hand held mic includes a comprehensive display of all features. Therefore there is full visual feedback of all button pushes.
I can use my handheld mic with control and display quite well on windy roads. No matter where the controls are placed, I'm highly unlikely to change them while moving on a winding road however I know where scan, squelch, volume and channel change are located without looking. They're all easily manipulated with a thumb. GME TX3550.
Displays on handheld mic,might be alright on a flat open road,you won't be using it on tight winding hilly roads.
I would be less inclined to lean over and fiddle with the type that do not have a mic with remote operation. It would be much more risky reaching down with a set mounted under the dash.
I would not be fiddling with either type on very twisty roads.
-- Edited by PeterD on Sunday 3rd of October 2021 10:44:07 PM
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
