Uniden /GME UHF Radios, What have you got? And aerials?

[17triton]

After selling my old Uniden 40ch uhf last week I'm on the hunt for a new 80ch unit. I have a bit of time before I need to hit ebay (fathers day) so was just wondering if people would like to give me some real world advice on their radios? I only like the Unidens or GME's so I thought if you could tell me what model and features you like or loath that would be great.
Cheers Matt.

 

[crackacoldie]

I had the uni den model with the controls and remote speaker on the mike. Had the base unit replaced twice under warranty as the remote speaker stopped working. Eventually I replaced it with a similar specced Icom and had no further issues. Only thing is the icom base unit is Larger to mount

 

[17triton]

Thanks @crackacoldie , the Icom are normally a bit dearer than the Uniden aren't they? I will have to check them out now, do you know what model yours is?

 

[burnsie]

Hey @17triton I have a GME TX3540S which is mounted behind the dash and I just plug the hand unit in when needed. Have been using it for just under 12 months and it hasn't had any problems. I do like there new antenna range as they can be switched out so you can use a 2.1db or a 6.6db with the same base and cabling you just swap the antenna depending on the trip you are doing.

 

[chartrock]

G'day Matt, I have an icom 440n. It is an 80 ch with all the controls and speaker on the handset although there is a socket for an extension speaker. I think they retail around the $400 mark but I bought mine through my grandson and his father (now an ex son-in-law) so got mates rates. It's a good unit but I do get a lot of distorted comms and I a not sure how far away they are, I have no problems in close communication.

 

[crackacoldie]

Mine was the IC-420 which has now been superceede day the IC-450

 

[17triton]

Thanks Guys for the info and I will be adding the Icom to the list but I will probably be looking around the $300 range so will see.

 

[Colsar]

Hi @Triton just fitting up a new GME 3540 also , with all controls on mic, base unit under dash. had plenty of gme units before without any issues so i guess i stick with what works for me. Have also heard good news about Icom but dearer.

 

[17triton]

Hi @Triton just fitting up a new GME 3540 also , with all controls on mic, base unit under dash. had plenty of gme units before without any issues so i guess i stick with what works for me. Have also heard good news about Icom but dearer.

I will put the 3540 on the list then as well thanks @burnsie and @Colsar. PS You're tagging the wrong Triton again lol.

 

[yabbietol]

G'day Matt, I have an icom 440n. It is an 80 ch with all the controls and speaker on the handset although there is a socket for an extension speaker. I think they retail around the $400 mark but I bought mine through my grandson and his father (now an ex son-in-law) so got mates rates. It's a good unit but I do get a lot of distorted comms and I a not sure how far away they are, I have no problems in close communication.

I also have and ICOM, I have the older 440PRO which was reprogrammed from 40CH to 80CH a few years ago, the reprogramming cost me a bottle of red wine and the radio was about $450 a few years ago. The radio is the best UHF radio I have ever owned (and I have owned and operated quite a few). It does need a decent aerial, quality connectors and the aerial must be tuned. I have two aerials a large one for remote country and a smaller GME for around town. The ICOM also has very good reception and because of this I have to turn up the squelch to cut out distant transmissions. It does however with the larger aerial have very good receive and transmission range though on most occasions I just use the smaller aerial.
ICOM are a quality radio near the higher priced and of the market, they are often used by commercial
organisations. I do not regret buying mine and it has already moved vehicles once and will be moved whenever I buy another 4WD so in the long term it has been good value.

 

[Bellbirdweb]

GME and ICOM are both excellent radios.

You can also pick up some excellent 2nd hand commercial radios such as Motorola MCS2000, XTL5000 or older models which will give excellent service.

 

[Crusty181]

Hey @17triton Ive got the old 40ch GME TX3440 which apparently can be upgraded to 80ch. Its has a very compact under dash mounted main unit, and a the remote mic which is a great way to go. Mines old but I think the current remote GME models are similar size etc with 80ch. Had mine for years and its been a reasonable radio with no issues.

The mic cable plug is a 8P8C style, like your run of mill ethernet cable. I mounted an 8P8C adapter/joiner in one of my dash blanks and ran a short ethernet cable from the main radio box to the adapter, behind the dash. The remote mic just plugs into the dash plug, no head units or wires or crap. Very neat and you can just unclip the mic from the dash plug and chuck it in the glovebox.


I only use my radio so other people who I may have cut off or just generally annoyed can contact me directly so they can abuse me and throw barrages of naughty words at me. Ive even added the obligatory CH18 sticker to the back of the van to help them out. I naively thought that I would be talking to other vanners when I put the radio in ..... but alas, it didn't work out that way. Sometimes I use it to experience the attempts to string a world record amount of swear words together in one sentence ... theres many many candidates for that one.

 

[Bmhdg76]

Hey @17triton Ive got the old 40ch GME TX3440 which apparently can be upgraded to 80ch. Its has a very compact under dash mounted main unit, and a the remote mic which is a great way to go. Mines old but I think the current remote GME models are similar size etc with 80ch. Had mine for years and its been a reasonable radio with no issues.

The mic cable plug is a 8P8C style, like your run of mill ethernet cable. I mounted an 8P8C adapter/joiner in one of my dash blanks and ran a short ethernet cable from the main radio box to the adapter, behind the dash. The remote mic just plugs into the dash plug, no head units or wires or crap. Very neat and you can just unclip the mic from the dash plug and chuck it in the glovebox.
View attachment 34141 View attachment 34142

I only use my radio so other people who I may have cut off or just generally annoyed can contact me directly so they can abuse me and throw barrages of naughty words at me. Ive even added the obligatory CH18 sticker to the back of the van to help them out. I naively thought that I would be talking to other vanners when I put the radio in ..... but alas, it didn't work out that way. Sometimes I use it to experience the attempts to string a world record amount of swear words together in one sentence ... theres many many candidates for that one.

Will be taking note of that idea @Crusty181 for our next vehicle as will be changing ours to a GME remote head unit as well.

BJ.

 

[Bluey]

just brought a uniden uh8080nb uhf/ scanner $ 298 d/smith on sale hope its ok we have them at work but not the scanner ones so see how it goes should get it in a few days

 

[Kenshi123]

Hey mate we have the uh8060S model by uniden and it does everything we need it to. I am no expert on UHF radios though, so someone with more expertise/knowledge will know better. I got it from fleabay a while back for about $260 with an aerial. I guess that because I only really use it for passing road trains or in a 4x4 convoy I am happy with it. No issues and I have had it for about 8 months I think. Cheers mate.

 

[Smergen]

I like your solution @Crusty181, was thinking of doing something similar as I don't really want the handset hanging around 100% of the time when I only need it a low % of use... Got me thinking.

 

[17triton]

Hey mate we have the uh8060S model by uniden and it does everything we need it to. I am no expert on UHF radios though, so someone with more expertise/knowledge will know better. I got it from fleabay a while back for about $260 with an aerial. I guess that because I only really use it for passing road trains or in a 4x4 convoy I am happy with it. No issues and I have had it for about 8 months I think. Cheers mate.

Same use as me really 95% in convoys . I like @Crusty181 set up though very neat.

 

[Crusty181]

I like your solution @Crusty181, was thinking of doing something similar as I don't really want the handset hanging around 100% of the time when I only need it a low % of use... Got me thinking.

I owe you for the cooking tips:target:

 

[Bluey]

Same use as me really 95% in convoys . I like @Crusty181 set up though very neat.

I wouldnt have looked last night at them but for your post saw they where on sale so thanks I guess this forum is good at spending money

 

[Colsar]

Hi @17triton , fitted up the gme 3540, pretty happy with it, supplied with a seperate socket for mounting mic elsewhere, base unit pretty small and tucked under dash nicely, whilst keeping good sound from the speaker, i purchased a seperate speaker but it didnt need it. Neat