Handheld UHF opinions please

[KittyKatSmack]

Aaron and I are looking at buying a new handheld UHF

GME Electrophone TX610


They have hands free kits available which negates the problems with the law too
(handheld uhf can get you into the same trouble as talking on a mobile phone these days)

Can anyone tell me within the next couple of hours, whether or not this is a good unit? Considering it is less than $100 to buy too.......

Cheers!

[mrpayner]

I'd be interested in getting one too Kitty, *cough* group discount! *cough*.. I've been checking some out for myself, the 1Watters are more expensive than $100, so this seems like a bargain. Unfortauntely the website doesn't state line of sight range, but for a 1W it's ususally up to the 5km mark i believe..

AP

[Cosmo Dude]

Originally Posted by KittyKatSmack

(handheld uhf can get you into the same trouble as talking on a mobile phone these days)

Cheers!

Um I believe it's the other way 'round. Back in the CB days it was illegal to use a hand held communications device whilst operating a motor vehicle and Mobile phones fall into that category.
[rant]
Although it's OK to drive with a big mac in one hand a large fries in the other and the monster cola between your legs keeping you boys cool whilst you symaltainiously apply makeup in the rear vision mirror and yell at the kids in the back seat for picking each others noses.....
Some consistancy would be nice.
[/rant]
Now that's off my chest yeah if there were to be a group buy I'd probably be in that

[platypus]

NSW CB's are all ok, as in QLD.... but yeah you think it would be bad... oh well never stopped me before!!!

as to the CB - get it, get 2!!!

best thing is your on standard AA batteries from the looks of that - that will be a good thing for you - your old .5w CB's were dropping out over v. small distances... i know my uniden 040xr is .5w and has a brilliant range!

GME are a good manufacturer as well!!

[Mizda_Mazda]

CB's are cool, saves money for the phone bill.

I saw a 2watt Uniden CB at Dicksmith a week or so back for $100. I tried to convince my mate to get one but he reckons they're **** but their not aslong as you keep within the range of line of sight.

In SA they've gone nuts with CB and when i was there i couldn't find a free chanel without some one talking BS on there. Canberra and sydney channels are pretty quite.

Presonally i've got a Uniden UH-042XR and is good enough for me. About 2km of good range or line of sight.

[KittyKatSmack]

Well we went across this afternoon and bought the unit, and they will do group buys too!

We are inside my flat listening to the tools on the 4WD track over there.
They are over a km away and not line of sight, and we are listening to them (hero's!!).

So far no problems, and there is a voice activated headset or microphone/speaker set up available too.

Oh, we also bought a free standing hammock!!!

It ROCKS!

[chicaboo]

I gave the Uniden uHo39p CBs a go today and thought they were ok at first, I was picking up about 6 cars ahead at a guess. But later on when I was at the back of the group, even though I could see cars 1km ahead of me I got no signal from them, just noise. So Iam taking the pair of 0.7watters back to trade up to 1 uHo44xr with 2w power. 2w is the single most powerfull non 2way you can get I understand. Next step is a 2way with tripple the price tag but with 5w and repeater capability, so I think the 2w will do and I won't need 2 cut my car up.

Gav.

[Cosmo Dude]

I have, if I can be stuffed finding it, a Pearce Simpson Super Puma (sorry it doesn't have a cute number) 40 channel AM/SSB Citizens band two way radio, 5' whip antenna, SWR meter etc...
Line of sight from Mt. Bunniong to Geelong and skip from Ballarat to Qld.

Hand held is handy but can't beat a perminant installation

[Asterix]

I thought the 610m was worth $250-$300.
From my experience with handheld UHF, you can't beat ICOM, but you pay for it.
I used to be a surveyor & have used several brands & the best I used was an ICOM IC-40 (?) which I think was worth around $600. I'm not ure about the power/wattage but I could hear a colleague 15kms away, as the crow flies.
I bought myself a pair of "Talk City" brand for $99 each & they sucked the big one. 300m apart & you cannot understand each other if the recieving unit is on the ground or if one person blocks the signal with their body.
A friend bought a pair of Uniden's for around the same price & they went at least 2 kms through a metropolitan suburb.

OK, I got off the subject of the original qn...

[twilightprotege]

maybe qlder's who want to upgrade (ie me) can do a bit of a group buy?

this is the jaycar 1.5w : http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productVie...p;SUBCATID=760

dicksmith's 2w : http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.fi...ogs/CTG0001005

or if you want to go all out : dicksmith's 5w : http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.st...uct/View/D1779

[sacah]

Group buy on the Jaycar or the dse 2w, count me in...

[platypus]

gavin, the 2 w is the broadcast power.... the other people prolly had crappy cb radios

don't trade em in until you've had a good chance to test them out....
get a friend or soemthing to take one, and get a nice distance on them - preferably in the car

[twilightprotege]

we'll have to see if dickheadsmith can go GB price - otherwise the jaycar one has discounts for 5+ and 10+ purchases

what difference would there be between the 2w and 1.5w radios? the jaycar says 8km line of sight, the ******** says 5km (but is more powerful???)

[KittyKatSmack]

Originally Posted by Cosmo Dude

I have, if I can be stuffed finding it, a Pearce Simpson Super Puma (sorry it doesn't have a cute number) 40 channel AM/SSB Citizens band two way radio, 5' whip antenna, SWR meter etc...
Line of sight from Mt. Bunniong to Geelong and skip from Ballarat to Qld.

Hand held is handy but can't beat a perminant installation

Well if that Puma wants to come and visit a Kitty, I'll look after it for you Cosmo!

Would certainly help on the MX5 cruises, and keep Aaron busy juggling handsets, LOL!!!

[chicaboo]

Yeah guys, since it's a while until the next cruise I don't mind going a full refund on my gear so that I can go into a group buy in the near future.
Personally I think the Unidens are greeat units and I'd rather go for the qaulity of the uHo44xr 2w than the Jcar model. The other Gav and I were 20m or so apart and were having trouble getting decent clarity of each other. Yet the guys with the permenants I could pickup quite well...

[Aaron]

I have a Jaycar Trade account.....

Basically bumps the pricing up into the new volume category from whatever the 'volume' you're buying is....

A.

[twilightprotege]

GB organiser???

i'd be happy with the jaycar one (digitec i think) if we can get the $94 price

[KittyKatSmack]

FYI peeps....

There are people in the mx5 club that want to do a group buy of the TX610's, and I can get for $95 each as long as I get 10.

We will be up in QLD at Xmas time again, so you won't have to pay postage either, although they DO have to fit into the MX5 with MY luggage (or lack thereof)

:lol:

[twilightprotege]

gee at only 1w it doesnt sound like such a great deal.

[arden]

TX610 Package 1
Fantastic value.... Package includes
# 1 X TX610 UHF CB
# 4 X AAA NimH Rechargeable 650mAh NiMH Batteries
# 1 X 240 Volt Plug Pack Charger
# Free express courier delivery Australia-wide

ALL FOR THE PRICE OF $94!!!!

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/defaul...amp;openmenu=2

cHECK it out, theres 2 other options available