I am just having my car wired up for the van should I put a UHF radio in it do people still use them if so what do I consider, any help appreciated.
Dickodownunder said
07:10 PM Nov 29, 2018
Yes, they are very handy item of safety equipment.
Highway communication is essential particularly with trucks and oversize loads.
GME is a quality brand that many use.
I would avoid those cheap units from some retailers.
With all uhf equipment the quality, length and position of the aerial is important for quality transmission so seek the advice of a reputable installer.
GME have many various configurations with their model range that suit varying installations.
Tony Bev said
08:42 PM Nov 29, 2018
People still use them to talk to the truckies
I have been on some bitumen roads, after heavy rain when the sign says, soft edges
I would not wish to be accidentally pushed off the road, or to force the truckie to take a chance and go wide, and get pulled off the road
fwdoz said
11:11 PM Nov 29, 2018
I had a GME in my last vehicle, but chose a cheaper antenna. The antenna crapped itself when I went on corrugated roads up in the Vic High Country. Changed to a GME antenna & that was the bees knees.
New car came with a decent Uniden unit in it & it is very clear. Also came with a good quality antenna.
Both of these brands are good, but make sure you shelve out a bit more for a decent GME antenna.
Mike Harding said
06:33 AM Nov 30, 2018
Yes, you should.
And especially so if you intend to travel off the regularly used bitumen roads.
Truck drivers, invariably, use channel 40 - the language can be colourful. "Repeaters" occupy channels 1 to 8 (and 31 to 38) inclusive and your radio needs to be configured to use them - read the manual. Do not use these channels for simplex comms.
In cities, and some country towns, UHF CB is the medium of entertainment for many with an IQ below 90 and it's usually best to switch it off when in town.
Stretch60 said
09:37 AM Nov 30, 2018
And GME is Australian designed, owned and made in Australia.
not so grey nomads said
09:50 AM Nov 30, 2018
Hi Mike great advise but I need some translation. What are "repeaters" and what is "simplex comms"
Thanks All
Aus-Kiwi said
09:51 AM Nov 30, 2018
Yes . Also have another mobile one to use for backing, parking or communicating away , you do t always have mobile service .
Possum3 said
10:04 AM Nov 30, 2018
We have a Fitted Oricom UHF 300 and Carry Two Uniden Handhelds used for backing and when we separate when in towns (Child bride can look at shoes while I'm in another part of town doing Men Stuff), also used when we go on walks at interesting places away from vehicle.
Dickodownunder said
10:10 AM Nov 30, 2018
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Yes . Also have another mobile one to use for backing, parking or communicating away , you do t always have mobile service .
Yes I should have added that I bought a cheap set of two handhelds from the Supa dear Auto and they work fine for reversing directions and the grandkids found them fun when out in the bush.
I cant remember the brand without going out to the car but the set of two were about $50.00 and as I said, they are ok. but each time they are switched on you have to re select the channel you want as they dont hold the last setting.
My car set is usually on ch 40 but I use ch 39 for reversing etc.
As Mike Harding mentioned you should not use the repeater channels or any of the allocated and emergency channels.
Here is a list of channels and their allocations. If on the highway stay on ch 40 and for any private communication use only the Simplex channels.
Ch 18 is the channel that caravanners sometimes use but it is useless unless you absolutely need to hear what they did yesterday or what they are having for tea tonight. You will soon work it out when you have one.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Friday 30th of November 2018 10:16:28 AM
Mike Harding said
11:27 AM Nov 30, 2018
not so grey nomads wrote:
What are "repeaters" and what is "simplex comms"
Have a look at this page for a description of a repeater:
Communication through a repeater is often referred to as "duplex" communication (although technically it's not!). "Simplex" is when station 'A' and station 'B' communicate directly without using a repeater.
Leshill said
11:35 AM Nov 30, 2018
Select a Gme set with remote microphone controls. All functions availble on the mic.
Works for me
not so grey nomads said
12:37 PM Nov 30, 2018
Hi guys I am looking at the GME radio's the more expensive one has a 2.1 dbi radome antenna and the slightly less expensive one has a 6.6 dbi antenna the price differance isn't an issue but I don't understand the dbi is higher better or is lower better? or what is the differance.
Mike Harding said
01:04 PM Nov 30, 2018
not so grey nomads wrote:
but I don't understand the dbi is higher better or is lower better? or what is the differance.
How long do you have? :)
If you are really interested do a search on my user name and antenna gain - I wrote a piece on the a year or two back.
Buy the 2.1dBi antenna.
Aus-Kiwi said
01:32 PM Nov 30, 2018
Yes if your going to be havachat with two or so conversations . Both change to an usused channel .. Ive heard the strangest conversations !!
not so grey nomads said
01:34 PM Nov 30, 2018
Thanks Mike I found the thread.
cheers
Mobi Condo said
05:55 PM Nov 30, 2018
We would NOT be without ours! So useful to talk to transports in an effort to make their passing safer for all. We ask them where the safest place for us to pull off is to give them the road. Usually the reply with "stay as you are mate and maintain your speed and we will handle it".
Ger08 said
11:54 PM Dec 2, 2018
Mike Harding wrote:
not so grey nomads wrote:
but I don't understand the dbi is higher better or is lower better? or what is the differance.
How long do you have? :)
If you are really interested do a search on my user name and antenna gain - I wrote a piece on the a year or two back.
Buy the 2.1dBi antenna.
Mike I couldnt find your post, but for the long plains of outback WA, QLD etc I would certainly be using a 6.6dBi antenna.
>for the long plains of outback WA, QLD etc I would certainly be using a 6.6dBi antenna.
I understand why you say that and there is some merit to it but:
Most UHF CB comms is car-to-car (truck) over a kilometre or two and just about any external antenna/transmitter will handle that OK in flat country. I suspect most people do not put out CQ calls on simplex CB hoping to make a 50km distant contact. Of course they may do so if trying to hit a repeater but again I suspect this is rare - how many CBers when driving on the plains seek a repeater chat? And if they can hit a CB repeater they can almost certainly hit a mobile phone cell too.
Additionally, as discussed in my linked post, the concept of useful antenna "gain" from a mobile antenna at 477MHz is a very random affair involving totally unpredictable RF lobes. Indeed a higher gain antenna *may* give you lots of gain but all in the wrong direction - you have no way of knowing what it's doing.
For mobile CB use a lower gain antenna is generally better. It's not great in any direction but it puts a bit of RF out in all directions and that's normally what the user wants.
I am just having my car wired up for the van should I put a UHF radio in it do people still use them if so what do I consider, any help appreciated.
Highway communication is essential particularly with trucks and oversize loads.
GME is a quality brand that many use.
I would avoid those cheap units from some retailers.
With all uhf equipment the quality, length and position of the aerial is important for quality transmission so seek the advice of a reputable installer.
GME have many various configurations with their model range that suit varying installations.
I have been on some bitumen roads, after heavy rain when the sign says, soft edges
I would not wish to be accidentally pushed off the road, or to force the truckie to take a chance and go wide, and get pulled off the road
I had a GME in my last vehicle, but chose a cheaper antenna. The antenna crapped itself when I went on corrugated roads up in the Vic High Country. Changed to a GME antenna & that was the bees knees.
New car came with a decent Uniden unit in it & it is very clear. Also came with a good quality antenna.
Both of these brands are good, but make sure you shelve out a bit more for a decent GME antenna.
Yes, you should.
And especially so if you intend to travel off the regularly used bitumen roads.
Truck drivers, invariably, use channel 40 - the language can be colourful. "Repeaters" occupy channels 1 to 8 (and 31 to 38) inclusive and your radio needs to be configured to use them - read the manual. Do not use these channels for simplex comms.
In cities, and some country towns, UHF CB is the medium of entertainment for many with an IQ below 90 and it's usually best to switch it off when in town.
Thanks All
Yes I should have added that I bought a cheap set of two handhelds from the Supa dear Auto and they work fine for reversing directions and the grandkids found them fun when out in the bush.
I cant remember the brand without going out to the car but the set of two were about $50.00 and as I said, they are ok. but each time they are switched on you have to re select the channel you want as they dont hold the last setting.
My car set is usually on ch 40 but I use ch 39 for reversing etc.
As Mike Harding mentioned you should not use the repeater channels or any of the allocated and emergency channels.
Here is a list of channels and their allocations. If on the highway stay on ch 40 and for any private communication use only the Simplex channels.
https://www.radioindustries.com.au/uhf-frequencies.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItOLk5Nz63gIVFhSPCh0sxQFEEAAYASAAEgLX3_D_BwE
Ch 18 is the channel that caravanners sometimes use but it is useless unless you absolutely need to hear what they did yesterday or what they are having for tea tonight. You will soon work it out when you have one.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Friday 30th of November 2018 10:16:28 AM
Have a look at this page for a description of a repeater:
https://www.dcs2way.co.uk/news/what-is-a-radio-repeater.htm
Communication through a repeater is often referred to as "duplex" communication (although technically it's not!). "Simplex" is when station 'A' and station 'B' communicate directly without using a repeater.
Works for me
How long do you have? :)
If you are really interested do a search on my user name and antenna gain - I wrote a piece on the a year or two back.
Buy the 2.1dBi antenna.
cheers
Hi Ger08
Look here:
https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t63305460/uhf-cb-antenna-gain-discussed/
>for the long plains of outback WA, QLD etc I would certainly be using a 6.6dBi antenna.
I understand why you say that and there is some merit to it but:
Most UHF CB comms is car-to-car (truck) over a kilometre or two and just about any external antenna/transmitter will handle that OK in flat country. I suspect most people do not put out CQ calls on simplex CB hoping to make a 50km distant contact. Of course they may do so if trying to hit a repeater but again I suspect this is rare - how many CBers when driving on the plains seek a repeater chat? And if they can hit a CB repeater they can almost certainly hit a mobile phone cell too.
Additionally, as discussed in my linked post, the concept of useful antenna "gain" from a mobile antenna at 477MHz is a very random affair involving totally unpredictable RF lobes. Indeed a higher gain antenna *may* give you lots of gain but all in the wrong direction - you have no way of knowing what it's doing.
For mobile CB use a lower gain antenna is generally better. It's not great in any direction but it puts a bit of RF out in all directions and that's normally what the user wants.