Is anyone still using the 40 channel uhf radios or is it time to update.
vanTas said
10:09 PM Jul 9, 2023
Unfortunately a case can be made on both sides of the argument. It depends on what you want and what your needs are.
If you have a mounted 40 ch unit, add an 80 ch hand-held. They can be used together, with some distortion/lower level output, but they still work.
On their own you have the best of both worlds.
landy said
10:38 PM Jul 9, 2023
That's what we have and no plans to change any time soon. The setup still seems to work fine for us.
Possum3 said
08:23 AM Jul 10, 2023
Welcome to the Forum Black Pete.
Choice of communication devices depends soley on your perceived needs. To most Nomads getting messages to/from vehicles intending to overtake, occasionally relaying a message to travelling companions in another vehicle, or finding out where Mum has disappeared to in a Supermarket, 40 channel UHF will cover all of these.
Actually, a small low-powered handheld transceiver is sufficient for most uses - If you are trekking in remote areas, you may perceive the need for an high power 80 channel unit whereas in reality a PLB would be a better option.
Ozzie_Traveller said
09:48 AM Jul 10, 2023
G'day Pete
Yeah mate ... my GME unit was installed 20 yrs ago when I bought the MH I am still enjoying, and the radio keeps on going nicely
When / if?? it eventually goes-to-god, then I will get the new 80-ch unit
As to daily use, it's operating most days that I am on the road (ie-12-months each year) and I very rarely see a need for the upper channels
Truckies + road traffic controllers + most others are quite audible on the lower 40 channels, so what's to bother about?
Hope this helps
Phil
Cuppa said
11:27 AM Jul 10, 2023
Problem with a 40 channel is that you may not know whether the truckie using an 80 channel has heard you or not, because you may or may not be able to hear his/her reply.
Possum3 said
11:39 AM Jul 10, 2023
Cuppa wrote:
Problem with a 40 channel is that you may not know whether the truckie using an 80 channel has heard you or not, because you may or may not be able to hear his/her reply.
All trucks monitor #40 - If they are too far away to hear, what's the point of attempting to talk to them?
Cuppa said
11:50 AM Jul 10, 2023
Possum3 wrote:
Cuppa wrote:
Problem with a 40 channel is that you may not know whether the truckie using an 80 channel has heard you or not, because you may or may not be able to hear his/her reply.
All trucks monitor #40 - If they are too far away to hear, what's the point of attempting to talk to them?
It has been discussed previously & I have direct hands on experience. The issue is a compatability one. Can vary from unit to unit, so you can't know without direct testing. The volume from an 80 channel unit to a 40 channel unit , using channel 40 (or any other channel) can be so low as to be inaudible inside a moving vehicle.
---------------
From https://www.readytrekgo.com.au/a-beginners-guide-to-40-80-channel-uhf-radios/
What is the difference between 40 and 80 channel UHF radios?
Okay, now for the question on everyones mind. In 2011 the channel bandwidth was split in two from 25kHz to 12.5kHz, doubling the number of available UHF channels from 40 to 80.
Obviously, the main difference is that one has 40 channels available and the other has 80. While both the 40 channel and 80 channel UHF radio use the 476.4250-477.4125MHz radio spectrum, the 40 channel radio is a wide-band radio (expecting a signal of 25khz), while the 80 channel radio is a narrow band (expecting a signal of 12.5khz).
Do 40 and 80 channel radios work together?
Simply put, yes. An 80 channel UHF can communicate with someone who has a 40 channel UHF (using only the first 40 channels of course), and vice versa.
The only issue here is that due to the difference in bandwidths, the person on the 80 channel may sound quiet and be difficult to hear to the person using the 40 channel. Similarly, a 40 channel can come through distorted or significantly louder due to their varying bandwidths.
For the best possible signal, it is recommended to have units that use the same bandwidth, either 40 channel with 40 channel, or 80 channel with 80 channel.
--------------------
In my case the 5w GME 40ch handheld could only hear transmission from Icom 80 ch (on various channels, including 40) with volume turned to full & the handheld hard against my ear. Volume was too low to be heard over the noise of a running vehicle. This was with both users looking at each other & about 30 metres apart.
-- Edited by Cuppa on Monday 10th of July 2023 12:02:23 PM
Black-Pete said
10:31 AM Jul 11, 2023
Thanks for the replies, I have just bought an 80channel to go in the tow vehicle and I will retain the 40 channel in the work ute.
Is anyone still using the 40 channel uhf radios or is it time to update.
If you have a mounted 40 ch unit, add an 80 ch hand-held. They can be used together, with some distortion/lower level output, but they still work.
On their own you have the best of both worlds.
Choice of communication devices depends soley on your perceived needs. To most Nomads getting messages to/from vehicles intending to overtake, occasionally relaying a message to travelling companions in another vehicle, or finding out where Mum has disappeared to in a Supermarket, 40 channel UHF will cover all of these.
Actually, a small low-powered handheld transceiver is sufficient for most uses - If you are trekking in remote areas, you may perceive the need for an high power 80 channel unit whereas in reality a PLB would be a better option.
Yeah mate ... my GME unit was installed 20 yrs ago when I bought the MH I am still enjoying, and the radio keeps on going nicely
When / if?? it eventually goes-to-god, then I will get the new 80-ch unit
As to daily use, it's operating most days that I am on the road (ie-12-months each year) and I very rarely see a need for the upper channels
Truckies + road traffic controllers + most others are quite audible on the lower 40 channels, so what's to bother about?
Hope this helps
Phil
All trucks monitor #40 - If they are too far away to hear, what's the point of attempting to talk to them?
It has been discussed previously & I have direct hands on experience. The issue is a compatability one. Can vary from unit to unit, so you can't know without direct testing. The volume from an 80 channel unit to a 40 channel unit , using channel 40 (or any other channel) can be so low as to be inaudible inside a moving vehicle.
---------------
From https://www.readytrekgo.com.au/a-beginners-guide-to-40-80-channel-uhf-radios/
What is the difference between 40 and 80 channel UHF radios?
Okay, now for the question on everyones mind. In 2011 the channel bandwidth was split in two from 25kHz to 12.5kHz, doubling the number of available UHF channels from 40 to 80.
Obviously, the main difference is that one has 40 channels available and the other has 80. While both the 40 channel and 80 channel UHF radio use the 476.4250-477.4125MHz radio spectrum, the 40 channel radio is a wide-band radio (expecting a signal of 25khz), while the 80 channel radio is a narrow band (expecting a signal of 12.5khz).
Do 40 and 80 channel radios work together?
Simply put, yes. An 80 channel UHF can communicate with someone who has a 40 channel UHF (using only the first 40 channels of course), and vice versa.
The only issue here is that due to the difference in bandwidths, the person on the 80 channel may sound quiet and be difficult to hear to the person using the 40 channel. Similarly, a 40 channel can come through distorted or significantly louder due to their varying bandwidths.
For the best possible signal, it is recommended to have units that use the same bandwidth, either 40 channel with 40 channel, or 80 channel with 80 channel.
--------------------
In my case the 5w GME 40ch handheld could only hear transmission from Icom 80 ch (on various channels, including 40) with volume turned to full & the handheld hard against my ear. Volume was too low to be heard over the noise of a running vehicle. This was with both users looking at each other & about 30 metres apart.
-- Edited by Cuppa on Monday 10th of July 2023 12:02:23 PM