UHF Amplifier

[Deffy]

Hey guys anyone know where I can get a UHF amplifier, say 10 to 50 w. I'm trying to avoide getting a car unit, even then their amplification is not so good unless you spend big $$$. I'm in Sydney, but am open to getting via the net.

[Tusker]

Pretty sure they're illegal.

Regards
Max p

[weeds]

yep thought 5W was the maxium output allowed

[feral]

He didn't ask if it was legal or not :eek:

He just wants to find a supplier :angel:

[Deffy]

They were available in abundance when I was in Singapore last year, as cheap as $150 for 80w amp.

Know any? PM me.

[weeds]

He didn't ask if it was legal or not :eek:

He just wants to find a supplier :angel:

good point, some of the mods we do on our car are not legal as well

[waynep]

Leglalities aside, its possible to to add an "afterburner" betwen your radio antenna port and aerial, that would up your transmit power, but how you gonna switch it out on receive mode ?

[tombraider]

Bingo!!!

Not only are they illegal, they're a waste of freakin time and money!

Man, I lived in the 27meg / UHF heyday...

We ran 1000w linears on the 27meg sets and blew the people away (ever seen a 9 foot stainless glowing? we have) ran receive amplifiers, co-phased antennas...

Heck, we even mounted a home base 27 mhz antenna AND a 12 element UHF beam (with rotator) to a vehicle (and used it!!!!)

Been there, done that, its boring and pointless....

Theres no point using one, why shout to someone when they can only whisper back? Defies the point of 2 way communication.

Tombraider

[Phoenix]

yep thought 5W was the maxium output allowed

I wish somebody would tell truck drivers that :rolleyes:

[JDNSW]

Maximum legal power on UHF CB is 5w. Since UHF propagates almost completely line of sight, increasing power merely allows you to shout over the top of other users, which won't win you any friends. I have found that range is almost the same using a handheld on 500mW as with a vehicle mounted set on 5w. Main thing that matters is the height of the aerial - where I am (base antenna about 10m above ground) it is nearly impossible to get someone 2km away on the other side of the hill, but no problems with another base station with a high antenna on top of a mountain 100km away.

No, I don't know where you would get a linear amplifier.
John

[rangieman]

yep well put tombraider:p

[Outlaw]

But on the otherhand woud be a good option to have available as an emergency system if stuck out of range and not having a HF radio :o

[tombraider]

But on the otherhand woud be a good option to have available as an emergency system if stuck out of range and not having a HF radio :o

Unreliable, you couldnt receive to confirm reception of message.

Frequency is wrong, wont carry far enough - still line of sight...

Cheaper insurance would be a SSB 27meg system, even they are unreliable.

Tombraider

[lokka]

But on the otherhand woud be a good option to have available as an emergency system if stuck out of range and not having a HF radio :oG'day
This why i run a 32watt phillips and have done so for the last 7 years best uhf by far .

[Deffy]

Good feedback guys, so it appears that I can reduce fuss, cost and still be legal with a higher antena on 5w or a 32w philips.

A comment on the 2 way radios, such as the typical one you pick from Tandy Dick Smith etc.. I've never used one and been happy with the clarity or reception, compared to a VHF Yaseu 5w amplified to 40w which I had overseas. So can you recommend any specific model you've had good experience with?

[JDNSW]

Good feedback guys, so it appears that I can reduce fuss, cost and still be legal with a higher antena on 5w or a 32w philips.

A comment on the 2 way radios, such as the typical one you pick from Tandy Dick Smith etc.. I've never used one and been happy with the clarity or reception, compared to a VHF Yaseu 5w amplified to 40w which I had overseas. So can you recommend any specific model you've had good experience with?

Probably not much help, as I have no new ones, but both my Landrovers have Uniden UH-077s one bought new, one from Cash Converters. Apart from a microphone replacement, no problems with either. Using a SS centre loaded whip on the bullbar in both cases. My tractor has a UH-001 and I previously had one in the 2a. These have a tendency for the display to go bad. My base station is an Electrophone TX 470T, also from Cash Converters, which has never given any problem.
John

[p38arover]

Man, I lived in the 27meg / UHF heyday...

We ran 1000w linears on the 27meg sets and blew the people away (ever seen a 9 foot stainless glowing? we have) ran receive amplifiers, co-phased antennas...

Heck, we even mounted a home base 27 mhz antenna AND a 12 element UHF beam (with rotator) to a vehicle (and used it!!!!)

Been there, done that, its boring and pointless....

Theres no point using one, why shout to someone when they can only whisper back? Defies the point of 2 way communication.


I remember one the blokes I worked with in OTC once set up a amateur band transmission using one of the 30Kw transmitters at Doonside connected to one of the rhombic antennae that were aimed at the UK. On the receive side, he had a receiver at Bringelly connected via a similar rhombic antenna.

Now these rhombic antennae weren't small. They were hung from four 200 ft (60 metres) high masts set up in a diamond pattern (hence rhombic) and each leg of the antenna was probably a hundred metres or more long.

He did get reports back from the UK about being the best signal ever received from a VK (Australian) ham.

Ron

[rangieman]

I remember one the blokes I worked with in OTC once set up a amateur band transmission using one of the 30Kw transmitters at Doonside connected to one of the rhombic antennae that were aimed at the UK. On the receive side, he had a receiver at Bringelly connected via a similar rhombic antenna.

Now these rhombic antennae weren't small. They were hung from four 200 ft (60 metres) high masts set up in a diamond pattern (hence rhombic) and each leg of the antenna was probably a hundred metres or more long.

He did get reports back from the UK about being the best signal ever received from a VK (Australian) ham.

Ron

mmmmmm in english ? :wasntme:


and thats why i drive a defender the simple things in life:p

[JDNSW]

I remember one the blokes I worked with in OTC once set up a amateur band transmission using one of the 30Kw transmitters at Doonside connected to one of the rhombic antennae that were aimed at the UK. On the receive side, he had a receiver at Bringelly connected via a similar rhombic antenna.

Now these rhombic antennae weren't small. They were hung from four 200 ft (60 metres) high masts set up in a diamond pattern (hence rhombic) and each leg of the antenna was probably a hundred metres or more long.

He did get reports back from the UK about being the best signal ever received from a VK (Australian) ham.

Ron

I remember in the early sixties (when there were no TV stations outside the capitals) I was living in Roma in Qld., and a bloke there set up a rhombic antenna tuned to the channel two frequency (a lot smaller than the one described because of the higher frequency, but still pretty big). He was able to receive channel two from Sydney, sufficiently well to see a picture, but definitely not good.
John

[p38arover]

I remember in the early sixties (when there were no TV stations outside the capitals) I was living in Roma in Qld., and a bloke there set up a rhombic antenna tuned to the channel two frequency (a lot smaller than the one described because of the higher frequency, but still pretty big). He was able to receive channel two from Sydney, sufficiently well to see a picture, but definitely not good.
John

That would have been good to see.

Ron

[langy]

If the above hasn't dissauded you from your quest, then try ex commercial UHF sets - Philips, Tait, Standard, etc, They run at 20 w power. Trade in your 5w set and get a commercial set progammed to CB specs. Best buy from my point of view is a Tait T2020.

[lokka]

Good feedback guys, so it appears that I can reduce fuss, cost and still be legal with a higher antena on 5w or a 32w philips.

A comment on the 2 way radios, such as the typical one you pick from Tandy Dick Smith etc.. I've never used one and been happy with the clarity or reception, compared to a VHF Yaseu 5w amplified to 40w which I had overseas. So can you recommend any specific model you've had good experience with?G'day deffy
the best and simplest way for you to get on air and b heard is to go for a icom 400 pro verry compact and ultra reliable can be modified via computer and software by a tech who knows wat he is doing to give you 25watts output also can have extra recive channels so u can listen to your favorite emergency services just like a scanner depending on were you are situated there plenty of people who will sell you this raido but be carefull woh dose the mods i had one done for my father about a year ago it only got turned up no xtras buy a friend of mine who is a top notch tech for the measly sum of 25 dollars you could try andrews com in sydney or up here in newcastle prosound is the place raidos vary in price from shop 2 shop you can get one up here for under 400 dollars n if u ask nice you will b able to have it pre moded on pick up .For antane the best choice for a hi power set is a 3db gain mounted at roof level on on a gutter mount i love the R F I brand mopole only 300mm total hight but raidiates the best better than any 6db elevated feed antane out performs my old 6db mobile one mega blaster and craps all over those big white flag poles u see on every second ute u pass wiyh a bullbar them big white ones are only good for show try n use one whilst mobile totaly useless why you say because they are to wind affected they lay back at speed which throws your raidation pattern all over the place and you sound like crap so little antane means little or no wind affect at speed and you still sound great .if u need any more info just post what u need to know and i will respond usualy within a few days cheers n beers for now mate good luck

[Bush65]

The Icom 400 Pro is a good radio.

The programming software is readily available, and programming so that a front push button can change between 1, 5 and 25W is simple.

MB Radio Electronics http://www.mbradio.com.au sell the cable to connect the radio to a computer for downloading/uploading the program.

If you have the test equipment, the power can be increased beyond 25W (some claim 45W) using the adjust software, but then they get hot and require a cooling fan.