Offroad-Express

I'm looking at getting a uhf radio, one that i can use in the 8 wheeler truck, to communicate with the silage chopper driver. I also want to take it with me when 4 wheeling, so have been considering either a 3Watt handheld
http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-ph ... 867053.htm
GME also do a 5Watt hand held, for $299
OR a "plug and Play" 5 watt.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-ph ... 505571.htm
has anyone got any suggestions or advice?(i'm a CB newbie)

I wouldn't bother with anything less than a 5W unit. Handhelds used in vehicles are usually limited by the fact the antennas inside the vehicle and the audio level is low. A lot of people use handhelds in vehicles mounted in a phone mount connected to an external speaker, charger and antenna. The plug and plays are good but the cigarette plug connections can sometimes let them down. If I were using a plug and play I'd chop off the lighter plug and fit a proper connector instead. Hope this helps.

http://www.navcom.co.nz/landprs.php

Hi Blake grab one of the zares 4.7w 40ch handheld units from navcom. I can tell you how to mysteriously make it into an 80ch

Great range, cheap and outlast the unidens and gmes for battery life. Can adjust output power for close range stuff too. Will also take an external mic etc and comes with car lead.

Had mine for a few years now excellent units.

Those tx3100s are super small and compact and I see a lot of them being used. They'll fit into some ashtray slots! That will be more then you'd ever need for your application. Just turn it on to the uhf chopper channel and you're away. Mount it anywhere.

If you're deaf get the optional external speaker as well. Most poor comms are caused by operator error, people love to speak with the mic too close to their mouths which causes distortion.

There's a non plug and play option also which is a bit cheaper which is great too.

Like others have said get the best aerial you can afford. And yes I'd fixed wire in it rather than use a cig plug but up to you if you're swopping and changing it out etc

Can you provide more info on this Navcom option please, Zed? Sounds good.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=30980

The zares units are imported and configured by navcom. A very basic uhf prs with a hi and lo power mode. Decent antenna too for a handheld. I did a lot of research before I bought mine and I couldnt be happier - for the price its an excellent radio, I was pleasantly surprised

Others here have them sure someone will chime in. I cant remember what the manufacturers brand is but its quite common. Takes std external mic/speakers etc

we had a couple of uniden hand helds on the 42nd traverse this weekend, talk about suck the life outta batteries.

fork out the money for the GME PRS 5 watt for the dash of your truck. will fit nicley where the drink holder is as the drink holder in the R20 doesnt really hold much when bouncing around offroad.

Shop around. Try searching Zares, Wouxun and Baofeng on TradeMe if you decide you want a cheap handheld. Sometimes there's $50 difference on the same unit depending on where you buy it from. If you decide a mobile's the way to go as well as the specialist places have a look at the Repco, Super Cheap Auto and Dick Smith mailers as they all sometimes have very good deals. And yeah antennas - get a good one. About as much point buying a good radio and a cheap antenna as there is buying a good 4WD and taking it on the 42 Traverse with bald ATs.

Have we sufficently confused you yet... ?

Hey Zed does the 80 ch Zares mod narrow band them as well? Ta...

Other thing I forgot to mention about plug and plays is that of course you have to feed the antenna cable out somewhere which usually means jamming it in a door shut (sooner or later stuffs the cable) or feeding through a gap in the window (bit chilly sometimes)...

these work well .and cheap as , http://www.ebay.com/itm/111148986736?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

sig wrote:these work well .and cheap as , http://www.ebay.com/itm/111148986736?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Second that and heaps of extras available for them as well

i looked at some of the handhelds in the fliers. Background research revealed really REALLY bad reviews.

Gyxx wrote:Shop around. Try searching Zares, Wouxun and Baofeng on TradeMe if you decide you want a cheap handheld. Sometimes there's $50 difference on the same unit depending on where you buy it from. If you decide a mobile's the way to go as well as the specialist places have a look at the Repco, Super Cheap Auto and Dick Smith mailers as they all sometimes have very good deals. And yeah antennas - get a good one. About as much point buying a good radio and a cheap antenna as there is buying a good 4WD and taking it on the 42 Traverse with bald ATs.

Have we sufficently confused you yet... ?

Hey Zed does the 80 ch Zares mod narrow band them as well? Ta...

Repco et al generally only sell the 0.5W stuff...great if you are standing next to each other or fairly close but not so hot if you are further apart. Really want a 5W if handheld.

Technically the mod enables you to set any frequency you want to any channel, and I believe you can independently set the channel width as well but not so sure on that one sorry.

Cheers Zed. If you'll have a look again at my earlier post you might notice the first thing I said was "don't waste your time with anything less than 5W" or words to that effect. If you read a bit further you'll notice I said "If you decide a mobile's what you want look at Repco, SCA etc". If you do mod any Zares units to 80 ch please do remember to narrowband them at the same time. If you 80ch them and leave them wideband they splatter like a geriatric hippo with diahorrea. That's kinda why the whole type approval thing's in place.
Blake - yep check out reviews online of anything you're looking at before you part with your hard-earned. You'll soon see if people think anythings crap or not. "You'll remember the quality long after you forget the price" as the saying goes but sometimes you just end up paying more for a brand name

Golden rule of shopping innit "Never pay retail"?

You can bring those Baoefeng thingies in yourself direct. Free shipping and avoid the middle man:

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?cat ... -5RA++Plus

At the price of those Baofengs on E-bay you could buy 1 for every day of the week and a spare to keep in the outhouse.

Gyxx wrote:At the price of those Baofengs on E-bay you could buy 1 for every day of the week and a spare to keep in the outhouse.

That would be why I have 3 now and still havent spent the same money I did on a crappy GME in cab that is useless

GME "crappy"????
well there you go. I sort of had the impression that the GME 3100 is the industry standard at the moment.
Tell me more, as i WAS planning on buying a GME.

Very happy with my 3100, maybe an install issue or LED light interference??

BlakeNZ wrote:GME "crappy"????
well there you go. I sort of had the impression that the GME 3100 is the industry standard at the moment.
Tell me more, as i WAS planning on buying a GME.

Crappy might be a harsh word as everyone else's seems to be awesome

catalystracing wrote:Very happy with my 3100, maybe an install issue

I think this could be my issue.
When I installed it my earth was about 2m from the unit.
Installed identical unit in identical place in partners cruiser but earth was 100mm from unit and hers works a treat.
One day I will shift my earth and tidy things up

I will say that an in cab is easier to use than having to pick up a handheld all the time, much simpler to just grab the microphone thingy and talk

skid wrote:
I think this could be my issue.
When I installed it my earth was about 2m from the unit.
Installed identical unit in identical place in partners cruiser but earth was 100mm from unit and hers works a treat.
One day I will shift my earth and tidy things up

I will say that an in cab is easier to use than having to pick up a handheld all the time, much simpler to just grab the microphone thingy and talk

Just add it to the "to do" list

I just brought a 5w handheld uhf/vhf from overseas was half the price of a new battery for the 5w oricom hand held I already have
Hasn't got the 80 preset channels on it
Any tips on how I set it up for use here in nz,not really sure what I'm up to

What's the make and model number?

Make is tyt
Model is th-uv818

Usually you have to program the channels manually on those, this has all the channel #'s and frequencies:

http://www.mobilesystems.co.nz/news_and ... ncy%20List

Cool that's what I'm after
Thanks