advice on handheld radio

[Bazzle218]

Hi all, I am going to the Cape ( Far Nth QLD) at the end of the month and i'm chasing advice on a reasonable price handheld that i can throw in my pocket so if i'm off fishing away from the group i have a menas of contact. Any advice appreciated saying that the unit will be used 2 to 3 times a year. Baz:angel:

[d@rk51d3]

I've bought a couple from www.409shop.com, and they've been great. We use them at work, where the (not so cheap) 1watt units crap themselves and drop out all the time.

The unit I use is the Wouxun KG-UVD1P (do a search here to find the specs http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/21885-hand-held-uhfs-anyone-got-gme-tx610-3.html )

Spare batteries, chargers, antennas, external hand mikes ............ all at great prices.

I recommend getting a spare antenna (can break if you're not careful, just screw the new one in), 1700mah battery (gives you up to 3 days light use, or a good day of solid use), and the dual charging dock that lets you charge the radio AND the spare battery at the same time (via 240v or ciggy lighter). Oh, and a programming cable too. I got the USB version, but there is also a serial cable available too.:cool:

Pricing is in US dollars, and includes all postage.

[Fluids]

So I'm assuming that the KG-UVD1P will allow you to program the new frequencies that will be allocated when the channel spacing are split to 12.5, but until then you can just run the std 25 splits for the current 40 channels ?

I don't need a HF radio, that facility is just a sweetner if I decide to look into a foundation licence, but I'm also in the market for a UHF set _now_, and since the frequency change is coming, I'd prefer to hold off on a fixed install in the disco, and go with a handheld (which I would have got anyway to keep intouch with the car/base), which can be reprogrammed when the newer sets start to hit the market and we have 80 channels to play with.

I've check the KG-UVD1P and it looks the goods ... at that price it's a winner!

What say you ?

(Oh, I forgot to ask, 400-480 Mhz unit, or the 420-520 Mhz unit - Which one is likley to give a better scanning/listening range across those two frequency ranges ??)

Thanks
Kev..

[d@rk51d3]

The splits or steps are easily changed (both via the unit or PC from memory), so no problems there. (5.00, 6.25, 10.00, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00, 100.00)

It's easy to program via a computer. You can view the channels on the unit as: Number (1-148 as stored on the unit), Channel name (you can give the channels short names eg: UHF40, SES2, POL56 etc.) and Frequency. Frequency gives you the ability to scan the whole range, not just the programmed channels, but unless you know the exact frequency of a channel you want to switch to, say UHF18, it can be time consuming to switch between modes.

One thing I have done is to actually have channels set to transmit on one freq, and receive on another. Should work in a repeater situation I think. You could even program the new channels into the software now. It's just like filling in the cells of a spreadsheet, then save it as a separate program and flash it to the unit later.

I got the 420-520, although the spare antennas are advertised as 400-480. Not sure if there would be a difference though.

[rockyroad]

If you want to keep it simple then go with the tiny uniden handheld uhf radios. They are super small so they can go around your neck on a lanyard or in a pocket and you know they are quality item.

About 2 years ago I picked up a twin pack for only $66. A four pack was $99.

[Fluids]

Thanks d@rk51d3 !

I ordered the KG-UVD1P + accessories from 409shop. $188US delivered (about $225AUD).

Got the radio, spare 1700mah battery, dual charger, carry case, serial programming cable, rainproof speaker/mic', and a spare antenna (420-520mhz). Pretty good value I reckon !

Thanks again!
Kev..

[d@rk51d3]

Have fun. :cool:

[Fluids]

Well it turned up today. That was pretty quick!

Forgetting about all the extra's I bought, for a $130AUD radio (with it's included accessories) this is a no brainer! Works a charm. Anyone wanting a handheld uhf would be a fool to pass up one of these ... even if you never use the vhf side of the radio, it's still a bargain. The radio will cover UHF CB, UHF 70cm amateur, VHF 2m amateur, VHF Marine ... plus whatever SES, Fire, etc, etc ...

There's yahoo group for the radio. They have AUS UHF CB frequency files ready for download. I had the thing programmed and running the 40UHF channels in less than 3 minutes. What a corker! :) ... I used the serial cable under Vista, and didn't even have to set a com port, just plugged in, ran software, uploaded the yahoo groups file and bingo! ... when we change to 80 chanels reprogramming this will be a breeze.

d@rk51d3 .. the extra antenna I ordered is labeled 420-520 ... like the included one is 420-520 ... and there's about 20mm difference in length. :) Both seem to work fine.

Time to run in some VHF marine frequencies.

Kev..

[d@rk51d3]

Glad you like it. For the money, I think they're awesome.

My replacement antenna is also longer, but labelled for the lower freq. Still seems to work good, though.

Wish I found the Yahoo group.............. I damn near went crosseyed typing in all the TX/RX frequencies.:D

We did the Ngarkat border track on the weekend, and it was nice to have your own channel for your group, while listening to a second channel at the same time, eavesdropping on other groups.:)

[Fluids]

Thanks again for the heads up on this radio :)

Kev..

[Fluids]

Just a quick FYI on this radio.

From the very northerly end of Stockton Beach with approx' 12m elevation above sea level, to Newcastle/Bar Beach/Merewether at approx' 40m elevation above sea level ... straight line distance across water on a clear cloudless night, this handset transmited & recieved loud and clear by all reports ... that's a straight line distance of approx' 35-40km ! Running in simplex mode. No repeaters.

Very impressive! (Running handheld with the std flexi antenna.)

... and if anyone wants the .tw file with all the new 76 UHF channels entered and ready for upload to this handset (new channels start Jan-2011), just PM me !

Kev..

[d@rk51d3]

Impressive.:cool:

I saw a clip on YouTube, where they were getting close to 100km from the VHF band on these. Although, they were in a multi storey building.

[go-disco4]

Hi All,

Thank you for all this info. May be exactly what I need.

1. Not having owned any CB before, I know that you do not need a licence to use one, but do you need a licence to import one of these? or whether they need to comply with Aussie standards before they allow them in?

you guys obviously bought them without problems

2. Read an American website where they reviewed this model, and they mentioned that the unit got very hot when charging. has that been a problem with you, especially when charging in the car?

n9ewo.angelfire.com/kguvd1p.html

The reviews here seem to be favourable
eHam.net Home - Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) Community Site (http://www.eham.net/)reviews/detail/8172

3. Will the Yahoo user group give you all the 40 CB legal frequencies?

4. Does the duplex repeater fundtion work?

5. DOes the VOX work?

many thanks

[d@rk51d3]

No problems bringing them into Aus. The Americans have restrictions though.

Haven't noticed any excessive heat while charging, although there have been reports of the odd faulty transformer.

Haven't used the duplex, I just programmed ch 1-9 with standard tx/rx frequencies, and programmed an extra set of 1r-9r for repeaters with the appropriate tx and separate rx frequencies.

Haven't used the vox function, either.

If you want a frequency set to look at, I can email mine to you. You can then load it up in the free software and have a play at setting up your own program.

[go-disco4]

many thanks

[FFR]

Hi,

In addition to what have been said about the KG-UVD1P, it allows to store the entire UHF 40 CH band in wide band mode, as well as the entire UHF 80 CH band in narrow band mode (even sharing the first 40 frequencies, the new band plan imposes a restriction regarding the spectrum occupied by each channel, which have been reduced from wide band mode to narrow band).

All these settings can be selected/stored by hand, but doing it with a PC is waaaay easier.

Additionally, the remaining memories (it stores up to 128 frequencies) can be programmed with other services in both VHF and UHF band, as it is a dual band radio (something as VHF WX channels or the like might be useful).