uhf questions - remote mic etc

[stewie110]

Hello,

I am currently looking to buy a UHF radio for my defender 110... I have some questions relating to the various options that I am hoping to get some feedback on.

Looking at the GME Range there are basically three different "types"..

1. Standard "i.e controls in the unit"
2. Remote Mic (with the controls on the mic)
3. a standard mic, but with a split unit.

I am wondering if there is any real difference in terms of usability, I was originally looking at the remote mic units because I thought it maybe more easily managed having a single unit hidden away.. then just have the mic and controls up and visible.. Someone I know has said they used to have that and it was annoying... does anyone have any particular experience guiding me any way?

[MR LR]

I would never get one with the contorls on the unit, they are fiddly, get bumped and are expensive when you break the remote...

I have a split unit in the disco, UHF is bolted to the transmission tunnel, head unit (display) is scewed underneatht eh drinks tray and the handset hooks onto the dash, a similar set up would work well with a deefer (my radio came out of a deefer).

The advantage of the big traditional units is you can tune the channels to certain frequencies... like the police channel... but mine you can't :(

Cheers
Will

[Disco Muppet]

I would never get one with the contorls on the unit, they are fiddly, get bumped and are expensive when you break the remote...


X2, the ones with the control on the unit are bloody expensive, and pretty fragile from what I've heard.



I have a split unit in the disco, UHF is bolted to the transmission tunnel, head unit (display) is scewed underneatht eh drinks tray and the handset hooks onto the dash, a similar set up would work well with a deefer (my radio came out of a deefer).


X2 again, I've got mine set up like that except the main unit is wired in underneath the steering column, tucked up in the fuse section.
Piccy

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/08/803.jpg



The advantage of the big traditional units is you can tune the channels to certain frequencies... like the police channel... but mine you can't :(


Not an issue these days as the coppers run HF ;)
IF you have a Bearcat scanner on the other hand..... :angel:

[JackH]

I don't have the GME unit I bought the iCOM 440 UHF with the remote handset. I have the unit sitting out of sight behind the panel under the steering wheel and the remote mic on its holder attached to the coin tray just to the left of my leg; so easy to access. Plus where the remote is sitting it doesn't get bumped or knocked about.

I like the remote handset...it's not fiddly...very easy to use...easy to hear plus the main body is not taking up any room in the cabin. Mine also has the option, as I guess GME would as well, of having a separate remote speaker if needed.

Cheers

[Disco Muppet]

Yeah, the main issue with mine is its a PITA to use if you have the drinks tray open.
Deffs go GME or ICOM, they are the two best brands IMHO.

[MR LR]

X2, the ones with the control on the unit are bloody expensive, and pretty fragile from what I've heard.



X2 again, I've got mine set up like that except the main unit is wired in underneath the steering column, tucked up in the fuse section.
Piccy

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/08/803.jpg



Not an issue these days as the coppers run HF ;)
IF you have a Bearcat scanner on the other hand..... :angel:
Mine is mounted just above yours on the dash part as opposed to the console, you can see where the moulding is concave, its screwed to the vertical(ish) bit. My unit would have gone under there, but it was a temporary install that stayed permanantely :/ i was supposed to the selling the car for my aunty and bought it after driving from Wagga to Grenfell and back to Sydney, i loved it!!!

I know a bloke with his set to a police channel... they must use UHF for some things, you find out where the radars are etc.... not that i ever listen when i'm driving his ute...

Cheers
Will

[Disco Muppet]

From what I know, the HP cars might monitor the truckie channel, and apparently they use UHF for certain areas e.g the mount panorama one is supposedly 26....
I have an iPod app that acts as a scanner, and I just use that...
The truckies always mention where they are on CH 40 too...

[Nathan]

I've got the icom 440 remote mic, what I like most is the speaker is in the mic as well which makes it much easier to hear... but maybe that's because I drive a Defender!

N

[Slunnie]

I have no doubt the HP police montor the UHF - its in their best interests also. They'll also know when its time to move.

I've got a split unit and its great. Installed the same as Disco Muppets. If I did it again I would buy the handset with the controls on the handset to get the unit right out of the way and minimise the junk on the dash - I like it looking standard. Yeah, it might potentially break, but so might everything else and then again it might also not break. My GME must be over 10 years old now and it has been pretty robust. I've done 1 bush repair to the speaker when the speaker cone wire fatigued (fixed in a desert camping ground with a sheet metal soldering iron) and when an almost dry joint off the circuit board gave up (fixed on my kitchen bench with an electronics soldering iron).

[Slunnie]

I've got the icom 440 remote mic, what I like most is the speaker is in the mic as well which makes it much easier to hear... but maybe that's because I drive a Defender!

N
Thats a good idea. I use an external speaker mounted above the rearview mirror.

[Disco Muppet]

I have no doubt the HP police montor the UHF - its in their best interests also. They'll also know when its time to move.

Also the fact that most of them run a UHF tagged antenna.
But that makes sense, if you want to know if you've been spotted, who better to listen to than the spotters :)



I've got a split unit and its great. Installed the same as Disco Muppets.

Technically, mine is installed the same as yours as you did it first! :D

[Banjo_pluker]

[QUOTE=MR LR jnr.;1732276]I would never get one with the contorls on the unit, they are fiddly, get bumped and are expensive when you break the remote...

X3 never had to replace it but I have found it always bumped onto the wrong channel


The advantage of the big traditional units is you can tune the channels to certain frequencies... like the police channel... but mine you can't :(

The police are going to locked digital so no one will hear them soon (legally)

[Utemad]

We've got the GME remote mike units in two of our work cars.

One thing to keep in mind is that the GME units have the speaker in the main unit not in the microphone.
Personally I don't like them as they are very fiddly to use.
I thought we would have to get an extension speaker in the Prado as the main unit was mounted behind the glovebox but it is still very easy to hear by the driver. The Landcruiser has it mounted behind the dash in the centre and it is a bit hard to hear.

I have a GME Tx3200 in my Disco1 mounted to the standard roof console with double sided tape. Been there for a few years now and I really like it's position and ease of use. Easy to hear as the speaker fires out the bottom of the unit right into both front occupants ears pretty much.
I had a Tx4400 in my last Rodeo and it mounted in a spare DIN spot so looked factoryish.

I also vouch for the ease of damage of the remote mikes. It is easy to drop any microphone when you miss the hang up holder if you hit a bump etc when offroading.

[patclan]

I have a Uniden 7760 with controls on the mic, it has a speaker in the main unit and one in the mic so can hear it anywhere. I don't find it fiddly or bump it out of channel, the buttons are sort of flush so you nothing to bump unless you have bump it with some unfortunate accuracy, the good thing i like about it is I just unplug the mic and put it in the cubby box, then there is no sign of it being there so no temptation for anyone to take it.