Best UHF?

[wardy1]

I need to buy a UHF for the D4.
I’ve had Icom, Uniden and GME in the past and can’t fault any of them. Been seeing a few Oricoms around also.
Obviously I don’t want to spoil/clutter the interior so I’m leaning toward one of the units where the actual unit is under the dash and the controls in the mic.
What do you all recommend ?

[loanrangie]

Dunno about best but Repco have an Oricom kit with the buttons/display on the mic for $239, my remote GME has the base unit tucked in near the foot rest.

[bob10]

After looking around, check this site out. Normally you can buy here cheaper for the same product found elsewhere. They sell just about everything to do with comms.


UHF CB Bundle Packs (https://www.prestigecom.net.au/uhf-cb-bundle-packs)

[pop058]

Have you considered a 5W handheld. Most nowadays have the facility to remove the antenna and connect an external aerial. My new 80 channel also has a plug in microphone.

[RobMichelle]

If got 2 oricom and wont get another, 1 the Mike wires in plug all came off, other one they saying they cant here it clearly, I've always had gme in the trucks and will probly bo back to them, my experience

[Hopalong]

I have a remote gme in the D2 over 19 years still works fine Had several aerials on the gutter. original microphone but its almost had it

[loanrangie]

I have a remote gme in the D2 over 19 years still works fine Had several aerials on the gutter. original microphone but its almost had itHad mine 17 years and apart from a new mic cable has been faultless , in its 3rd vehicle now.

[p38arover]

Why do people post these questions in General Chat when there is a specific area for this: https://www.aulro.com/afvb/communications-car-audio-and-electronics/ [bigwhistle]

[wardy1]

After looking around, check this site out. Normally you can buy here cheaper for the same product found elsewhere. They sell just about everything to do with comms.


UHF CB Bundle Packs (https://www.prestigecom.net.au/uhf-cb-bundle-packs)

Bought the Uniden 5060. Price was better by about $10 than any other site I found[emoji108]

Thanks for the responses guys

[wardy1]

Why do people post these questions in General Chat when there is a specific area for this: https://www.aulro.com/afvb/communications-car-audio-and-electronics/ [bigwhistle]

The reason I put it there is because like many others, I go to general chat first. I was looking for fairly quick response and got it.

Thanks

[p38arover]

The reason I put it there is because like many others, I go to general chat first. I was looking for fairly quick response and got it.

Thanks

That's the problem. D4 owners seem to be the worst for that. Try New Posts instead to see new posts

[bob10]

Bought the Uniden 5060. Price was better by about $10 than any other site I found[emoji108]

Thanks for the responses guys

I bought the same unit. Happy with it, plenty of volume from the handset. Free postage is a bonus.

[sid]

I've got an ICOM IC-410Pro, it's got a remote head and with an extension speaker tucked between the seat & console very easy to hear over the noise of the TD5 Defender cabin. Have been very happy with it.

[kelvo]

I also fitted a 5060 to my D4. Used the Lab Electronics antenna mount Aerial Bracket (http://www.labtronx.com.au/aerial-bracket.htm) for the AT880 antenna. Mounted the 5060 under the passenger seat using existing holes in the bracket already there. Then wired the 5060 power into the permanent 12V electric seat supply already under the seat. This is fed from the main battery, not my aux battery, but shouldn’t be an issue for me.

[AK83]

Oricom UHF380 head unit(the mic with all the controls) .. feels a lot flimsier than a new modern GME.
In saying that tho, nothings gone wrong with the Oricom I installed into brothers car now.
I had it one year at least, then found a good deal on the GME XRS370 so got that too.
Head unit on the GME feels like granit compared to the Oricom.

I've had GME's fail tho. Two 40 ch TX3400s(??) ... like loanrangie said .. mic cables!! ... disintegrate every few years, and one of the mics stopped working too(not due to the disintegrated cable).

Oricom UHF380 vs GME XRS370

sound quality about the same.
transmit quality is slightly better on the GME.
Audio volume through mic head is slightly better on the Oricom. (never used the in body speaker as the radio unit is always hidden)

As said before, head unit on the GME is impressive, mush less so on the Oricom(but never failed in any way .. just feels light and flimsy) both easy to use once you know your way around them.
Oricom feels more ergonomic due to it's larger size and lighter weight tho, but the quality of the GME always takes precedence in overall terms. GME is still as easy to use as any other microphone.

If you listen to any other channels, extended/emergency types .. eg. I set my GME to the fire channels to listen for activity in case of bush fires or whatever:
This is where the GME blitzes, with it's bluetooth/app setup. Monumentally tedious to try to program in 400 extra channels in the Oricom, but with the GME app, even tho it only holds 80 or whatever, using the app to locate an area, an extended channel range .. etc. Almost a little too geeky/fun!

[WhiteD3]

I had the Icom 440 in my D3 and D4. Lab bracket on the bonnet, radio under the driver's seat and the handset socket cable tied to the lower side of the centre console (hidden by the passenger seat). This arrangement meant I only plugged in the handset when needed. I liked the 440 for the ease of use and auto power off function.

Had the Uniden UH8060S in the SDV6. Cheaper but not a patch on the Icom.

Nothing in the D5 as yet but I might go a handheld. Maybe a GME TX6160. Aerials are an issue as I'm told there's no existing cable entries into the cab, unlike the D4.

[laney]

I have a gme been a very good unit my son has a uniden under dash unit excellent unit .

[wardy1]

I also fitted a 5060 to my D4. Used the Lab Electronics antenna mount Aerial Bracket (http://www.labtronx.com.au/aerial-bracket.htm) for the AT880 antenna. Mounted the 5060 under the passenger seat using existing holes in the bracket already there. Then wired the 5060 power into the permanent 12V electric seat supply already under the seat. This is fed from the main battery, not my aux battery, but shouldn’t be an issue for me.

G’day Kelvo,
Any chance of a pic of your install under the seat please?
Wardy

[kelvo]

G’day Kelvo,
Any chance of a pic of your install under the seat please?
Wardy
Not much to show really. I opened up holes 1 and 3 in the UHF bracket by about 2mm, I was then able to use the existing holes in the under seat bracket, then short bolts to come in from under the bracket with the nuts on top. This was a bit of a fiddle. Antenna and handset cables then run under the carpet into the centre console. Antenna cable came into the cabin through the, now very full, grommet on the drivers side. Power for the UHF taken from the permanent 12V supply for electric seats, already under the seat, then grounded to the under seat bracket.

[wardy1]

Thanks mate, appreciate your help

[wardy1]

Hi again Kelvo, trying to work out which wire you hooked up to for powere?

[kelvo]

Hi again Kelvo, trying to work out which wire you hooked up to for powere?
The brown with purple trace, marked as Pwr1 & Pwr2 on the attached photo. They are both from the same 45P fuse in the fuse box behind the glove box.

[l00kin4]

Hi Wardy,

A lot of info and ideas in these threads too:

ICom IC-450N installation plan (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/224534-icom-ic-450n-installation-plan-3.html)

UHF Radio recomendations and mounting locations (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/251272-uhf-radio-recomendations-mounting-locations.html)

David

[ramblingboy42]

Tanaka

from the mouth of an indy uhf installer.

[rick130]

Tanaka

from the mouth of an indy uhf installer.Just googled and no hits??

[ramblingboy42]

hmmm, I wonder if I used the right name......thinking hard ....ouch.

[ramblingboy42]

got it....Tait is the brand I was recommended.

[rick130]

hmmm, I wonder if I used the right name......thinking hard ....ouch.[emoji23]