CB radio selection for touring

J_KZ-1 · Veteran Member

CB radio selection for touring

msg · Guru

I have a GME. The best thing about it is that it is hands free. Just depress the button on the steering wheel keeping you hands free to steer.

You are right it is expensive, but it has lasted well so far. 8 yrs. Don't know about the Oricom but with the aerial on the roof of the MH I get excellent line of sight reception.

Its also Australian made I believe.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Either will do the job.
If it is 5W, it is the detail of the features that cost the $$s. Choose what you want to pay for. The performance will be the same as the cheapest one if you get the right antennae in the right place.
My choice is to have all the controls on the hand piece.
Cheers,
Peter

J_KZ-1 · Veteran Member

Once again thank you members for advice.

Will look at the different specs for both GME and Oricom. I am led to believe the are both Oz products, which gave me the thumbs up.

Cheers,

John.

PS. Need correction after further checking Oricom is Oz coy but manufactures in Korea.
-- Edited by J_KZ-1 on Wednesday 17th of March 2021 08:23:36 PM

-- Edited by J_KZ-1 on Wednesday 17th of March 2021 08:53:12 PM

Derek Barnes · Senior Member

I have the GME unit. It works well, is easy to use, and the OLED display is easy to read even in the sunlight.

Greg 1 · Guru

The Oricom unit we have has all the controls on the handpiece enabling me to hide the actual unit under the dash. It has proven to be an excellent radio and I can recommend it. I am using the aerial that came in the Oricom kit and mounted on my bullbar and get up to about 30ks range with that depending on conditions. I have had GME products in my boat and they have also performed well so I think whichever you choose it will do the job for you.

Mariner30 · Senior Member

30 k's range these days is exceptional,

Not sure whether the repeater network is still around...l don't think it is in Vic.
I remember 5- 10 k's being the max between my workmates in central Vic on the Hume and GV highway and those aerial were on primemovers

J_KZ-1 · Veteran Member

Thanks for the input: Derek, Greg and Mariner,

I have GME on boat now (vhf). only because of legislation, dont use it for anything but logging in and out with coast guard.

Port Phillip bay is fairly safe dont use the radio for chatter, but this long distance touring is a different matter. Mobile works in the bay if radio doesnt.

Thanks for the input: John

-- Edited by J_KZ-1 on Friday 19th of March 2021 10:27:29 AM

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

John,
I believe GME is made in Australia, while Oricom, Uniden are Asian sourced. I have used Uniden for over 35 years with no troubles.
My current one was even easier to install as I didn't need a console or special bracket. All the controls are on the handset - whether that it's as good as being on the set, I don't know. Wires are becoming thinner - more easily broken.

PeterD · Guru

Mariner30 wrote:
30 k's range these days is exceptional,

Not sure whether the repeater network is still around...l don't think it is in Vic.
I remember 5- 10 k's being the max between my workmates in central Vic on the Hume and GV highway and those aerial were on primemovers

I don't think 30 km range is exceptional today or at any time in the past. The physics relating to radio communications have not changed. You will get varying ranges depending on the situation you are in. There are things like ducting, obstructions, knife-edge diffraction and Fresnel zone clearance that affect your range that is achievable. If both of you are on hilltop positions you can get some phenomenal ranges. The aircraft accident inspectors had transceivers with 100 mW outputs. They would not communicate where two sets were within sight of each other but on the other hand, they would talk to flying aircraft tens of miles away.

The trucks on the Pacific Hwy use CB channel 29 because of confusion with trucks on the New England Hwy. There are many elevated places on the New England Hwy that have good communication paths with the Pacific. Add to that there are many ducting situations through the valleys that provide communications. The truckies were not able to tell whether they were hearing a local truck or one on the other highway so they made the decision to change the channel on the Pacific.

The maximum range at a particular spot is so variable that the maximum range listed in advertising is just a load of BS. The maximum range is limited more by the transmission path than power. People make a great point of using handheld units with the larger Tx power outputs, however, all the old ACT Police UHF sets I used to maintain way back when were only had 1/2 W transmitters and there was mot many places in the ACT that the cars with their 25 W transmitters would get through and the portables would not.

Mariner30 · Senior Member

As l said in the other post l drove trucks for 30 years and used both 27 megs and VHF band radios,
Before that l used different radio bands in different jobs l had from 1975 on, including State and Federal Govt agencies,

I was also a keen CBer back in the late 70's when 27 mhgz really became popular..." Buy our cars...get a free CB radio "

Vic Police
CFA, Taxis as well as the truck driving years using VHF and UHF radios,
for various outdoor activites, 4WD, hunting groups and boating,

The only times we had long distance work comms in the work semis was when the repeater network was in use, ( 80's- 90's ) there were repeater stations on every major hill between Melbourne and Seymour, where l was based, there were other repeaters on other major highways,

We had a base station set up in our facility with a large aerial professionally installed on the single storey roof,

We could talk to the drivers on the way to and around Melbourne ( approx 100 k's ) but ONLY, ONLY when they were in close proximity to a repeater station,

If the bloke in the office missed that call he would have to wait untill the truck turned up in the yard to organise unloaders etc etc

Once the repeater network started being turned off due to greater mobile phone coverage and increasing phone use UHF radios became just a way of communication between short range highway truckies and other road user groups, travellers, 4WDS etc,
The towers are still there, but not the actual transmitting/ receiving equipment.
I've never heard of 30k VHF transmissions, apart from on the repeater network.
I stopped driving semis 7 years ago.

We also currently have 5 boats with VHF radios. ( 6 ) in Tas, where repeater stations are used.
Away from the repeaters ( in the gaps ) it's just short range line of sight communication.