Old UHF radio... worth fitting?

[Sirocco]

Hey guys,

New to Aus and new to radios :o :D

Staying with family down in Vic at the moment and I have been given a choice of UHF radios. The cleanest/newest is a Pearce Simpson Leopard III. there are also a phillips and GME model but they look older again.

Its old, 40 channel but seems ok. There is also a big Mobile One fibre glass antenna, smaller whip, cables, ext. speaker etc.

Is it worth fitting this? Or should I buy a new one? Just wondering if it is worth the effort. Im guessing it would be used when meeting up with others etc. We have a sat phone for when we do a trip across to SA, WA and the NT next year also.

what do you think?

G

[isuzutoo-eh]

Plenty of people still use 40 channel, I am one of them, and since the 80 channel radios also use the old 40 channels there is little chance in being incompatible. Much better using what you have than spending money on soething that won't be all that much more useful than the freeby.

UHF is really only a short distance radio system, ideal for convoys and club trips but not to be relied upon as a safety measure when travelling remotely.

[Sirocco]

Thanks Mark,

Is there any way of testing it once fitted? I read somewhere that UHF does not need setting up. Is this true?

G

[PTC]

Plug it all in, Hit scan on the radio and go for a drive. See who you can find to have a chat with. No set up required. Though some of the models you are able to program in frequencies over the top of normal UHF range. Not needed though for normal use.

[Sirocco]

Plug it all in, Hit scan on the radio and go for a drive. See who you can find to have a chat with. No set up required. Though some of the models you are able to program in frequencies over the top of normal UHF range. Not needed though for normal use.

Im not sure this one has a scan function :angel: but I see what your getting at.

Had a better look at it all today and I just need to sort out some cables and a DIN mount to get it in my cubby box. New toys, great.

G

[snowbound]

Yeah times have changed? Back in my day (early 80s) we had to uses meters to set up the SWR and solder up plugs and god knows what else! I installed a new UHF in "Rangella" recently and was amazed at how simple it was.

[Chops]

G'day Gareth,
Just plug it all in, and it should be good to go. You can do this without actually mounting it all up in car, but you will need to do the ariel the right way, as correct earthing is important. I'm not sure of the models your referring to, but so long as its UHF and got 40 channels, it'll be fine for what you need. As you said, you have a Sat phone too, so your well covered.
When you've finished installing it, just ask for a "radio check", and if all well, you'll get a reply. See if you can find out where they are, so you can sort of check how well/clear your getting out.
You've also got a couple of forum members down where you are, so you might be able to get some help from them too.

[Sirocco]

G'day Gareth,
Just plug it all in, and it should be good to go. You can do this without actually mounting it all up in car, but you will need to do the ariel the right way, as correct earthing is important. I'm not sure of the models your referring to, but so long as its UHF and got 40 channels, it'll be fine for what you need. As you said, you have a Sat phone too, so your well covered.
When you've finished installing it, just ask for a "radio check", and if all well, you'll get a reply. See if you can find out where they are, so you can sort of check how well/clear your getting out.
You've also got a couple of forum members down where you are, so you might be able to get some help from them too.

cheers Chops.

Started work at ARB today so I have not got the time I use to have, never mind. Will get it rigged up at some point, thanks for all the pointers guys.

[Sirocco]

Ok its in. wired to a ciggy plug for now for testing. Worked well on the driveway with a handheld unit 20m away.

Problem is, drive down the street and within 100m, nothing!

What do I check? assume antenna problem. will it need to be earthed to chassis? Its an old set-up remember so it may need it.

Thanks again.

G

[Chops]

Probably an earth issue.

I remember having to grind various sections between the bulbar and the chassis and motor to ensure the earths were all good on my old D1.
The other thing is your antenna may require tuning depending on what sort it is.

I cant find it now, but one of the UHF sellers, cant even remember which one I have,, :eek:, has a really good table for which ariels are best for which radios.

[Kevin B]

Check its actually thecorrdct antenna and its not an old 27mhz cb one, some of them do look the same, its not easy to tell thought, make sore the centre conductor and the sheild of the coax are not touching thats a common fault, easy way to check it pop a multimeter between the two and check continuity if it beeps or theres a fault, thats common to, lastly the antenna could beout of tune, a broad chech for this is while your playing around with it put your fingers on the chassis of the radio were the antenna plugs in, if it gets rather warm its out of tune, thats the transmit finals heating up, blow them and its not an easy fix to do at home, hope this helps

[Sirocco]

Hmmmm,

Thanks guys. Will try the earth cable from the base of the springer to the chassis and see if it helps.

Its a Mobile One antenna, installed through a monster springy base.

How do you 'tune' them?

G

[superquag]

If you must tune then......

With a 'Standing Wave Ratio' meter. a.k.a. "SWR" meter.

Simply put, you lengthen/shorten the antenna till you get the desired reading when transmitting. (Everything else mentioned above being correct etc)

As you can guess, making the antenna longer is'nt as easy as cutting a bit off, so you cut & read, cut & read, .... nearly there... cut and -:o:mad::( - gone too far..

Also known as a SWeaRing Meter.

Leave this to someone very experienced. (The antenna trimming as well as the swearing.....:p )

[Kevin B]

Hmmmm,

Thanks guys. Will try the earth cable from the base of the springer to the chassis and see if it helps.

Its a Mobile One antenna, installed through a monster springy base.

How do you 'tune' them?

G

How long is the antenna exckuding the spring, does the coax disapear into the base of the spring or does the spring and antenna screw to a mounted base, try posting some pics we can give you a better idea if we see it.