Thread: UHF recommendation for a new 4x4 driver

ultra compact GME TX3100 or its brother the TX3140 (?) if you want a microphone with all the controls in it

other options are the GME TX3400/3440, uniden UH015SX or icom IC400/IC440

I'm installing an IC-440 this weekend. With the controls the mic head I won't have anything to mount within the cabin and can just disconnect the mic when not in use.

Some of the upper end hand-helds have the ability to connect an external antenna, and also a hand operated microphone.

The setup is probably bulkier and messier than a cab mount, but does give the option of "going walkies".

The hand-held setup will probably cost more too, with the good units retailing around the $500 mark for something that is also waterproof/resistant.

Personally, I've been looking at the Icom IC41-s for a handheld, but can't commit myself to spending the money.

Yep, hear you on that. I always prefer to buy once, buy quality and try to ensure that if I am compromising that it doesn’t ultimately lead to dissatisfaction. A good tool invites you to use it whereas you avoid using ones you don’t like. This always comes at a cost unfortunately. I really don’t like the idea of buying a cheap throw away unit and contributing to our huge consumer waste problems!

I have a trip coming up on the 9th August so might borrow a handheld for that and then reconsider my options.

I’m also wary of having too many gadgets floating around the cabin. If I can mount a unit that the Mrs can’t see then that might be a fair way to go. On a long trip the cabin gets pretty cluttered with mobile phones, Bluetooth mic/speaker, GPS, ipod, DVD players. Something I can also easily remove from the car if I sell it is also preferable.

I can recommend the Chinese hand helds. Very good value for money. 5 Watt UHF CB Handheld Radio/Scanner,DTMF,SELCAL - eBay CB Radios, CB Radio, Radio Equipment, Electronics. (end time 27-Jul-09 07:45:39 AEST)

You can see lots of video reviews over at Youtube

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFn_6fFX5S8&feature=related"]YouTube - Wouxun KG 689 Small Look[/ame]

Thanks for finding the item on eBay, hadn’t seen that one in my searches. Cheap, Chinese, eBay, electrical however always ring the alarm bells for me. I’m sure there are some great buys out there but it is always a bit of a lottery. The GME tx6100 at around $270 looks a safer bet to me if I was to go down that path.

Ashes,

You want to make sure any handheld you buy, can do 5 watts as a minimum. The good part about a decent quality handheld is that you can rig up an external antenna with 6-9db gain and get excellent coverage. A must really if you're going into an area that doesn't have Next-G coverage. I believe Yaesu does a very good handheld at reasonable bucks but the model number slips my mind at the moment. I have a liking for HYT's, but you need to have either a dealer mate or a lot of money if you want to program them up to do anything outside the normal 1-40 UHF CB Range.

Icoms are great if you're into the whole programming side of things and want to use channels outside of the CB range - i.e. if you know people with frequencies - These are often good if you want to keep away from the normal chatter of truckies and the crap they go on with (Listen to channel 40 in any capital city during a week day/night and you'll see what I mean...) The icom programming cables are cheap, and the software is readily available on the internet.

I'm getting right into the radio communciations thing at the moment so if you have any questions, I can certainly find out the answers for you.

Cheers,
-Adam.

Originally Posted by Ashes

Thanks for finding the item on eBay, hadn’t seen that one in my searches. Cheap, Chinese, eBay, electrical however always ring the alarm bells for me. I’m sure there are some great buys out there but it is always a bit of a lottery. The GME tx6100 at around $270 looks a safer bet to me if I was to go down that path.

Ashes, just on that post - there are some really good chinese handhelds out (there's some absolute $h1t as well) - Yaesu and Woxun are both very good handhelds and I can vouch for these...

Cheers,
-a.