Thread: CB Radio?

I got a gme Ae4018k1 for me and a mate, they are in the middle of the DB range so make a good all rounder and I beleive you can get different wands for them.

Although my application and frequency of use may be different here in NZ!

I like the GME AE409L antenna.
It's ground plane independent, (so not fussed about where you mount it), can be configured as 6 dB or 9 dB gain, and does not block your view if mounted on the bulbar.
Also it's made of flexible stainless steel, so will flex if it hits a tree branch or carport roof!

Alan

Originally Posted by Rurover

I like the GME AE409L antenna.
It's ground plane independent, (so not fussed about where you mount it), can be configured as 6 dB or 9 dB gain, and does not block your view if mounted on the bulbar.
Also it's made of flexible stainless steel, so will flex if it hits a tree branch or carport roof!

Alan

I was originally looking at this one but was turned away as apparently it isn't suitable for bull bar mounting?!

Originally Posted by BadCo.

I was originally looking at this one but was turned away as apparently it isn't suitable for bull bar mounting?!

Not sure why that would be. I have mine mounted on the bullbar, and it seems happy enough.
Being ground plane independent, it's not fussy about what it's mounted on in terms of its electromagnetic performance.

Unless it's something to do with pedestrian safety perhaps?

Alan

Originally Posted by Rurover

Not sure why that would be. I have mine mounted on the bullbar, and it seems happy enough.
Being ground plane independent, it's not fussy about what it's mounted on in terms of its electromagnetic performance.

Unless it's something to do with pedestrian safety perhaps?

Alan

They said it would rattle to bits. Not sure of the difference between the bull bar and anywhere else on the car...

Maybe they had a few returns in the past?

It has been said that metal fatigue from vibrations will snap the aerial if mounted on the bullbar, but over many many years use I've never seen it happen (urban myth? )

From a ped safety pov and your own convenience it needs to be mounted on a tab behind the b/bar.

I've been reading this discussion out of interest and my observation fwiw is that if a cheapo set is working ok, then its performance in the field will not been noticeably less than the most expensive icom. It might not have all the gimmicks but who uses all of them anyway.

That being said, I've just bought a pair of 5w gme handhelds for a use that vehicle mounted 12v radios wouldn't cover. They were $400 for the pair GME TX6150 5W 80CH Wproof UHF CB Handheld Radios + Hardcase, seemed like reasonable value considering the included extra chargers but they will have features that won't be used.

Not sure on the new ones (since they went to 80 channel) but the TX427S from Electrophone was a cracker. I pluggled my 20 year old Uniden AM/SSB set in the other day and it still goes!

Do people use the extra channels? Are they useful?

Originally Posted by dickyjoe

Do people use the extra channels? Are they useful?

While there still alot of 40ch sets out there the extra 40 are nice to find some clear bandwidth without idiots attached !

... but that will eventually change.