Those all in one radios

[Aaron]

Disclaimer - I know nothing about radios, at all. I can turn on my UHF, and thats about it.


I was just wondering how those all in one combo radios are. They have VHF/UHF/HF/Coffee making facilities

Is there any disadvantages ?

To me it seems like the best option ? Less clutter, all in one box etc ?

[Disco Steve]

I have the Uniden 2in1 UHF/AM and I think it is fantastic. they work just as well as having seperate units. as you said less clutter in the cabbin.

[Aaron]

ICOM IC-7000 HF VHF UHF RADIO (NEW) 1 YR WARR'TY IC7000 - eBay Transceivers, Ham Radio, Radio Equipment, Electronics. (end time 15-Dec-07 15:13:10 AEDST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ICOM-IC-7000-HF-VHF-UHF-RADIO-NEW-1-YR-WARRTY-IC7000_W0QQitemZ150191785942QQihZ005QQcategoryZ467 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

This isnt an item Im about to buy, just to show what Im on about.

[tombraider]

Unless your into DXing on SSB a 27mhz set is as useful as a Betamax Video:p

[Treads]

I have just recently installed 4 dual band Alinco Dr-620's in work vehicles (with another 6 to go). They are absolutely brilliant bits of kit! Tx on UHF is 35 watts (selectable hi-mid-lo down to 5 watts) whilst VHF is up to 50 watts.
Obviously you need an ACMA license (not particulary expensive) for the VHF side of things. But for a 4wd club or the likes it would be a great advantage over UHF cb. Much better foliage penetration and no idiots can stuff you around by transmitting over the top of you or just blocking the channel.

I'm now looking into a tri band HF/VHF/UHF for my rig. Anyone have suggestions for brand/model?

[solmanic]

ICOM IC-7000 HF VHF UHF RADIO (NEW) 1 YR WARR'TY IC7000 - eBay Transceivers, Ham Radio, Radio Equipment, Electronics. (end time 15-Dec-07 15:13:10 AEDST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ICOM-IC-7000-HF-VHF-UHF-RADIO-NEW-1-YR-WARRTY-IC7000_W0QQitemZ150191785942QQihZ005QQcategoryZ467 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

This isnt an item Im about to buy, just to show what Im on about.

ooohhhh.... Star Trek!

If you're changing over to something like this I might have to buy the UHF back off you :D

[waynep]

Not sure if 27MHz is going to be of much use these days.

You might be better just buying a UHF and maybe buying an EPIRB as well. One of those those new 407MHz oones.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I'm now looking into a tri band HF/VHF/UHF for my rig. Anyone have suggestions for brand/model?

How low is the HF on these tri-band and are we talking about sets designed for amateur radio use or for HF commercial use like the Codan and Barrett.

We already know that many of the top quality amateur stuff doesn't stand up to the rigours of 4WD.

Diana

Addit: I must say that the old 27MHz am CB did have much better coverage in the bush than does the UHF CB and you are no longer likely to have the caravaners and truckies come over on top of you these days. But I rarely find anyone who still has 27MHz CB in their vehicles. Still prefer the old low band VHF on a dedicated channel for coverage however. Perhaps we could have a national LROC/LRC dedicated VHF channel.

[Aaron]

ooohhhh.... Star Trek!

If you're changing over to something like this I might have to buy the UHF back off you :D

If you can wait long enough, you can have it for free. But im not sure when i will get arround to buying this new toy.

[Aaron]

Would I need 3 aerials ?

[JDNSW]

The plus is that it takes up a lot less space (and that is short in any vehicle). The minus is that failure of any component of it is likely to leave you without anything, plus it is more expensive than a single set, although cheaper than two or more. And any of these radios are pretty reliable these days anyway.

But the big question is "do you need UHF plus VHF plus HF plus coffee making?" I would think the first thing to do is work out whether you really need all the facilities or, indeed, any of them.

John

[Aaron]

My biggest attraction to HF is the ability to make phone calls on it, from anywhere.

[scrambler]

My biggest attraction to HF is the ability to make phone calls on it, from anywhere.
For my edumacation please - what's the call cost? Line rental? How does it compare to the GlobalStar satelite phones? (or whatever they're called these days).

[Lotz-A-Landies]

But the big question is "do you need UHF plus VHF plus HF plus coffee making?" I would think the first thing to do is work out whether you really need all the facilities or, indeed, any of them.

John
John - as long as it can make a decent expresso in the morning, I don't care how many bands it has! :D:D:D:D

Diana

[shorty943]

Don't know how many aerials.

After a round and about Google search.
It appears the "Sea Simba" finished at the Sea Simba II.
Most references are to motor yacht's, over 20 or 30 years old.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

For my edumacation please - what's the call cost? Line rental? How does it compare to the GlobalStar satelite phones? (or whatever they're called these days).
Go and check out Radtel Network Fee Schedule (http://www.radtelnetwork.com.au/callplan_schedule.html) the cost for the basic plan is $120 for 12 months access and $0.99/min call costs.

Compare that with Globalstar satellite (http://www.globalstar.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=198&Itemid=572)with a minimum of $35.00/month ($420.00/year) and $1.80/min with $0.60 flag fall. Worst of all is that satellite reception can be more problematic than HF.

Diana

[Treads]

Would I need 3 aerials ?

G'day Aaron,

You could use a dual band antenna for the VHF/UHF side and a duplexer for the HF, but most duplexers you'll find are for VHF to UHF.
I'm running a triplexer (evilbay bargain) in my work car atm. But only have the VHF & UHF connectors hooked up (it's only a dual-band radio).

I saw a massive difference in SWR readings when I dumped the multi-band fibreglass antenna for 2 seperate tuned steel whip antennas. VHF for work band on center of roof and UHF on boot edge mount. I get close to 1:1 on the VHF @50w and about 1.6:1 on UHF @35w.

On a disco I'd probably want an independant ground plane UHF on the edge of the bonnet (L or Z mount), VHF whip on the low part of the roof above the front seats and the HF on a RWC mount at back.

A couple of our work cars had SWR problems running VHF & UHF on bonnet mounts due to proximity of antennas at the kind of wattage involved here (Alincos can receive on both VHF and UHF at the same time).

Still fiddling with setups though :angel:

PS I think I'll stick to a dual-band set + a seperate HF radio for my vehicle. Murphy should only screw with one at a time!

[Aaron]

i think i will perhaps keep my UHF and buy a dedicated HF. Thats this week anyways, surely by next week id have changed my mind.

Thanks everyone for your advice.