Thread: Advice on hand held walkie talkies

I think it is worth having 5w radios
GME example:
GME TX6150 CommKit 5W 80CH UHF CB Handheld Twinpack
https://www.gme.net.au/catalogue/han.../tx6150tp.aspx


But if you think 2w would be enough (personally I think you'd be disappointed)...
GME example:
GME TX675 Twinpack 80 CHannel UHF CB Handhelds


If you need a cheaper option Oricom (often sold through Repco on special) is a brand that works OK

Mostly any established brand will have similar performance, most incl some GMEs are sourced from China

Watch out for the claimed distance achievable - this assumes ideal conditions which rarely exist in practice.

For example 5w handheld in steep country = 4km line of sight or less

I bought a couple of these:
:: Uniden Australia ::
Alloy body, very tough- although my workers managed to smash off the belt clip on the first day... Apart from that, it's a great unit. Comes with a proper car cradle with 12v adapter so you can use it in the car if you wish. Speaker mic is good and loud, no distortion. Good rubber aerial that can be unscrewed to fit a larger fixed aerial for in -car use, though an adapter is required. 2 LiPO batteries, everything you need. I got a pair in the tradies pack, comes with a nice weatherproof case for under $500 on fleabay.

I've had a uniden like that for the past 5 years and has been great. Sturdy and good quality too

Whatever you get, try it out first.
I have a great old Uniden. (UH077 I think.) I decided to get one of those kits of two. Uniden, of course. I bought a cheap kit, made in China. Under $100. I was very disappointed with the quality or lack thereof.
Whatever you get, see if you can try it out first. In store should give you enough of an idea.

Originally Posted by 87County

I think it is worth having 5w radios
GME example:
GME TX6150 CommKit 5W 80CH UHF CB Handheld Twinpack
https://www.gme.net.au/catalogue/han.../tx6150tp.aspx


But if you think 2w would be enough (personally I think you'd be disappointed)...
GME example:
GME TX675 Twinpack 80 CHannel UHF CB Handhelds


If you need a cheaper option Oricom (often sold through Repco on special) is a brand that works OK

Mostly any established brand will have similar performance, most incl some GMEs are sourced from China

Watch out for the claimed distance achievable - this assumes ideal conditions which rarely exist in practice.

For example 5w handheld in steep country = 4km line of sight or less

We have the GME TX675 twin pack.We use them at work and when away as well,found them to be great.

Their range is so much better than the old 2w GME we had for ages.

Cheers all. Ended up buying the tx6150 kit with the water proof box. I'll get round to using them soon. Better do a little reading on what channels to use but more importantly what ones not to use

That's what we got too - we've found them quite good except the scan isn't fast (not much need to use it for the purpose we got them though).

The sep mic/speaker is good as well if you've got the radio in/on a backpack or belt.

We've found that the battery time is at least as good as what is claimed.

Very good piece of kit for when a group splits and takes different paths.

I know the OP has already bought his radios, but I thought I would add my 2c
In the fire brigade both town and rural and on the farm I have used most radios, simco and Icom are the best IMO and my fav is Icom (ic-41s) I use these in Brigade and also I have two of my own on the farm they are small and really tough. Mine have been wet covered in cow poo and dropped on rock more times than I remember, my misus dont ask how many times They are super clear too.
Best budget radios are IMO Quansheng, they are a programmable dual band (vhf uhf) radio. Clarity is not at the level of an icom, but it is still very good. When you bear in mind that you could buy a stack of these for the price of a single icom radio it is very good indeed. I have a couple of these as spares for the farm and they have had a bashing too, not as tough as an icom, but for the money they are stunning.
Simco are a bit big, GME are not as clear as the icom and I dont think as tough either, icom my clear fav
Chris