Reply With QuoteI've had a few over the years.
Just pulled a TX3400(old timer 40ch) out of my brothers D2, and I used one myself for about 20 years-ish(originally installed in my 79 RRC) and moved from car to car as they came and went.
For the D1 tho, I wanted to update the TX3400 so went with an Oricom UHF380. Good unit that it is, for what I wanted(scanning emergency channels and stuff) it came across as to complicated in some ways.
The other thing that felt weird was the slightly flimsy quality of the microphone.
Mic has controls and is the head unit.
My impressions of it, and the "controls in the mic" system is that I'd never go back to an old system.
A very short while back I replaced my Oricom with a newfangled GME XRS 370.
Awesome(for my purposes tho)
If you want the ability to set it up easily or if you want to scan and listen on other channels, this is the way to go.
The app allows you to download the channel lists off the net, name them with an appropriate system and then upload them to the radio.
So channel 351 on a normal scan list, becomes 'CFA Valhalla' on the XRS radio!
A bit exy at about $500 for the radio alone!.
Superb quality mic and controls tho. Far better than any other radio I've used/owned.
We have TX4600's or 4400's in the trucks at work, and while the units seem to be nice, I'm not overly impressed by the mic unit.
I don't think they'll be all that durable for some reason.
Other GME observations are that on both the TX3400's I now have (my original and the one of of the D2 my bro just bought), the mics have the exact same issues where the plastic of the mic has deteriorated, and the coiled lead has frayed at both ends.
XRS mic has a feeling of quality that is a few orders of magnitude higher tho. Only issue is that with all those electronics within, it is a bit on the heavy side. Not a major issue, but a point I noted.
Oricom UHF380 is still a nice piece of kit tho. The lack of quality feel in the head unit is more about the feel rather than it feels like it's going to fall apart any time soon. button clicks and stuff.
Time will tell, it went into bro D2 the other day.
In terms of display(I have bad/failing short eyesight, so it's important to me) .. both head units are pretty easy to read.
GME head unit is a bit easier to read when going through menus.
For the Oricom I need to wear my +1 'Woolies' glasses to see the icons more clearly.
In every day use tho, neither displays require that I wear the glasses, which would probably cause me to crash whilst driving!
sorry for the long post.. but.
You say that the next radio you get is to replace a stolen one from the RRC?(if I'm reading this right).
If that's the case then, I suggest a radio like the Oricom/GME with the controls in the mic as the way to go next.
I'm always worried about scumbags stealing stuff too, and to advertise that there's an uber radio in the car is something I'm going to avoid where I can as much as possible.
What comes in the radio kit makes it a bit harder to make a neat install where you can quickly disconnect the head unit, but a simple and cheap additional ethernet connector is all that's needed.
Install the radio unit somewhere hidden and run the cable under the dash/console with a small hole cut somewhere of your choosing.
The cable is run to that point, and the hole is squared out so that the ethernet connector protrudes out of it by a few mm(maybe 5 or so)
The radio head unit is then easily connected/disconnected as needed.
If you want I can post a pic of my install to show you what I mean.
It's neat and simple, and takes about 2 mins to dismount the massive GME aerial off the bullbar leaving only the spring base as the clue that I have a UHF .... somewhere
Hope that helps in some way.
) and could be handy. 
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