Gme TX3100 uhf radio kit. Best deal?

[stu_71]

Hi you learned gurus!

Is this the best deal for a GME TX3100 uhf set please?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-ph ... 367765.htm

I've contacted the seller direct but not heard back just yet.

I'm keen on this model due to the small size and everyone else seems to have one!

Also I'm wondering which antennae to get. I understand higher 6db will get further but should I be looking at a 2db for the 4wd hills? The sellers kit is a 2db but I don't know.

Any experience with either would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[coxsy]

we got one for the 40 , we had no problems with reception

[stu_71]

You got the 2 db version, coxsy ??

[coxsy]

just asked , was a awhile ago we got it, couldn't tell what my uniden is either

[Crash bandicoot]

No, for that price you should get the antenna to go with it, I have one of these great radio's good range with the 80 Ch aussie parrellel import radio antenna, picked up the whole set for 239.00nz including mounting kit and antenna (1200mm long whip) i usually pick up transmissions 5-10 km away and in a line of sight have had it work from the fordel turn off on SH3 to Mt Curl road north of marton about 25 kms straight line

[stu_71]

Sounds like you have the 6db antennae (1200mm), Crash? No issues in the hills?

Where did you get it from please?

[skid]

I got mine off the same trade me seller

except mine came with aerial and spring base for aerial etc etc

was listed as a 4wd package

[Crash bandicoot]

got mine when the NZ dollar was 79c AU, now it's almost dollar for dollar so dont be paying much more then 250 for the whole set.

No issues in the hills, was just coming into petone/whitby and could pick up skids radio chatter at rallywoods last kiwi challenge
the kit i got is the TX3100VP aerial + 5 odd meters of cable (for trucks)

you can still get it direct from GME

https://www.gme.net.au/catalogue/fixed-mount-radios/uhf-477-mhz-radios/tx3100vp.aspx#.VUX7wZOzY2w

[stu_71]

I got mine off the same trade me seller

except mine came with aerial and spring base for aerial etc etc

was listed as a 4wd package

Yeah. Seen that one skids. That's the one I was going to get. Comes with the short 2db aerial for $322.
You had any issues with reception?

The 2db is supposed to better in hills but sacrifices range. The longer 6db is vice versa.

[stu_71]

Thanks Crash
I'm going to start searching some Aussie sites now. See what I can find....cheers

From all your posts above no one seems to be having reception issues with either type of antennae so doesn't seem to matter ??

[Crash bandicoot]

each to there own. i find being the 5watt is powerful enough in the short range even with the long range antenna. to get everything clearly as most short range transmissions i transmit or receive is within half a km

[derk]

whatever aerial you use you're going to have plenty of times when the reception is shit or non existent a reasonable size external speaker makes a big difference to clarity those built in speakers are tiny

[catalystracing]

whatever aerial you use you're going to have plenty of times when the reception is shit or non existent a reasonable size external speaker makes a big difference to clarity those built in speakers are tiny

^^^, made the biggest difference for me.

[skid]

I got mine off the same trade me seller

except mine came with aerial and spring base for aerial etc etc

was listed as a 4wd package

Yeah. Seen that one skids.

You had any issues with reception?

got it, installed it myself, never really got good reception, could follow people down the road and unless they were no more than 500m ahead I could chat otherwise it was crackly and crap

someone nicked the aerial off mine and put a crappy replacement on that was lying around which made it no better

had a replacement bought for me at xmas and installed that with a mate who actually knew what he was doing and holy crap what a difference, reception is faaaaaarking awesome now

apparently theres a certain way to splice and connect the aerial cable

[stu_71]

Dunno how to post pictures but if you look at page 2 of this link you'll see the supposed difference between the short 2db antennae versus a longer 6db

https://www.gme.net.au/media/469502/Lan ... _B_web.pdf

[Crash bandicoot]

yep pretty much the higher the rating the narrower the arc they operate in but as the arc gets narrower it also gets longer (distance) but unless your trucks upside down in a ditch they all seem to work well within the usual operating ranges expected of them, just the higher ones will work across several topographical features

[stu_71]

I'm keen on that package deal you posted Crash. Just gotta find it now in Aussie for a decent price

[Ant]

I got mine off the same trade me seller

except mine came with aerial and spring base for aerial etc etc

was listed as a 4wd package

Yeah. Seen that one skids.

You had any issues with reception?

got it, installed it myself, never really got good reception, could follow people down the road and unless they were no more than 500m ahead I could chat otherwise it was crackly and crap

someone nicked the aerial off mine and put a crappy replacement on that was lying around which made it no better

had a replacement bought for me at xmas and installed that with a mate who actually knew what he was doing and holy crap what a difference, reception is faaaaaarking awesome now

apparently theres a certain way to splice and connect the aerial cable

Yea I think this is my problem too, tried a couple of different aerials and types of aerials with the same result. I think I need to take it in somewhere and get them to do the cable connections.

[stu_71]

Well I've searched and searched. Found plenty of Aussie dealers that sell both the kit and the unit on its own.

Yes they are cheaper over there but by the time you add freight ($40-80 AUD) it ain't really worth it. Bugger!

So now looking for a good NZ deal instead...

[derk]

that joker from trademe you listed in the first post (marine electrical solutions in picton) is pretty good to deal with hes been selling radios for a long time and provides good support, if you have a look on the priceme site you might save 10 bucks elsewhere but maybe not after including an aerial and freight

[stu_71]

Ordered from marine electrical solutions in the end. The Aussie guys weren't playing ball with freight. Got a good deal. Great service. Very happy

Learnt a few things on the way like the 3100 has been superseded now and I needed help with the antenna choice as there are lots of options for all kinds of different applications.

Just got to plumb it in now