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Post Info TOPIC: UHF Radio Changes
GrumpyOne


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UHF Radio Changes
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Hey Guys n Gals,

For those who are looking at buying and those with 40 channel UHF units are you aware that there are changes afoot.

The standard for these radios is soon to change from the 25Khz band spacing (40 channel) to a new 12.5Khz band spacing with 80 channels of which 77 channels will be open access and 3 channels for specific access (eg. emergency/data communications etc...) as allocated by the Government (ACMA).

The new units being released into stores at the moment have the words "77 channel ready" which simply means that they will be programmable once the new system is in place.

As with all the changes this is being phased in over a period of time but the new system should be in place by the end of 2011 with the old 40 channel sets being phased out over the next 2 to 3 years.

Make sure that if you buy a new UHF radio it is either capable of the new system or is programmed for the 77 channels. I have been informed by a friend who is knowledgeable in the radio communications field that the new and old will talk to each other but there will be some incompatibility between the two.

Be safe and seek advice from a suitable seller who knows radio communications systems, not just the casual guys n gals at the electronic dick or the like....

Hoo Roo Happy Days

Grumpster



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gubby


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I also understand there is a difference between the radios that are 77 program ready, some of the radios have to be sent away to be reprogrammed whilst others can be changed by the users, another question to ask...



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Wombat 280


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Why the change . Is a change for the sake of change or is there a truly valid reason for change Just like mobile phones as soon as it works they want to change it

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jimricho


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I haven't followed this at all but do the frequencies of the existing channels remain unchanged?

Post edited to add the following....

Ok I think I can now answer my own question... (bit like a session of Q & A ???)

The first 40 channels will remain unchanged in both frequency and designation.

An additional 40 channels will be added and these will be designated channels 41 to 80.

Channels 41 to 48 will be duplex (for use with repeaters) channels in the same manner as 1 to 8 are.  (Their "paired" channels will be 71 to 78).

So... We can keep using our old 40 channel radios on a "business as usual" basis with access to the first 40 channels.  We will only need the new radios if we wish to access the new channels - 41 to 80. On that information I'm not about to race out and buy a new radio, I'll be waiting until the need becomes pressing.

A bit of technical crap....

Channels 41 to 80 will be interleaved between the existing channels and channel spacing will be reduced from 25 Mhz to 12.5 Mhz (channel 1 is 476.425 MHz, Channel 41 will be 476.4375, Channel 2 is 476.4500, Channel 42 will be 476.4625... etc, etc)

Jim

PS: Channels 61, 62, 63 are not used, hence the total of 77 not 80.



-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 28th of June 2011 08:49:36 PM

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GrumpyOne


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Hey Guys n Gals

Thanks Jim for that, I have been informed that there will be some incompatabilities between the two sets, this was from a radio tech who work with these radios day in day out as a tech.

Where did you find that info Jim, I would like to reference to it on another forum I am involved with. All I have been able to find is the new channel spacings etc... then again I had a female look so prob missed it... smile

Cheers

Grumpster



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jimricho


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G'day Graeme,

That info came from UHFCB Australia http://www.uhfcb.com/index.php  (A site worth bookmarking)

more....

http://www.uhfcb.com/80-Channel-UHF-Information.php

http://www.uhfcb.com.au/80-Channel-Radio-Conversions.php

http://www.uhfcb.com.au/News--and--Events.php

It would be interesting to find out the incompatibilities from your radio mate.

(I'm going to be on the road from tomorrow so I may not be logging for a few days)

cheers,

Jim

(PS: It was a bit remiss of me not to put those in my earlier post.)



-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 30th of June 2011 06:03:34 AM

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PeterD


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jimricho wrote:
It would be interesting to find out the incompatibilities from your radio mate.

 The problem will be adjacent channel interference between the wide and narrow band sets. Users are expected to have to suffer adjacent channel interference during the change over period, however they should not expect to cop it after the changeover period.



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jimricho


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Thanks Peter, that had occurred to me but I was interested in Graeme's tech friend's take on it in case it was something else (possibly as well).

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