Cb/uhf Radios - Great For Cruises

[bombtrack]

GB GB GB

GB GB GB

[RBPOWA-(TJ)]

i got myself a Uniden Uh890sx in my stagea.

can hear everything, bit much actually, in keysborough can pick up truckies on the westgate, but it has a private function to block them out.

only problem now is that i cant transmit ! new mic, still no transmitting,

if pricey to fix may join the band wagon of GB

[180Roman]

GB GB GB

+1 GB GB GB

[Wyseman]

I put a UHF permanent install in mine, remote mic one, the main unit is mounted in the boot under the parcel shelf and there's Cat-5 run to under the dash with a mic attached to the end of it.

http://www.contactcom.net.au/online/index....t&Itemid=53

A bit pricey, but looks good and no re-charging handhelds.

You can hardly see the glass mount antenna on the back window, it's the same whip that cop cars have for their radios, looks like a mobile phone aerial.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6UnUV...feat=directlink

[Basti]

Lol guess my next car needs to have paddle shifts... R35 FTW!

Out of curiosity - why do people need more than 1? Not for cruising, surely?

my family (and their friends) regularly pile into the cars and go for day trips. so pretty much just cruising yeh

[llama_au]

I'd definitely be in for the 3Watt + In-Car Charger if the group buy goes ahead

[Phatboy]

I put a UHF permanent install in mine, remote mic one, the main unit is mounted in the boot under the parcel shelf and there's Cat-5 run to under the dash with a mic attached to the end of it.

http://www.contactcom.net.au/online/index....t&Itemid=53

A bit pricey, but looks good and no re-charging handhelds.

You can hardly see the glass mount antenna on the back window, it's the same whip that cop cars have for their radios, looks like a mobile phone aerial.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6UnUV...feat=directlink

Christ! $500 for a CB radio is way out of my price range. The antenna is much less obtrusive than I thought, though.

[Phatboy]

1W are shithouse... you need at least 1.5-2W CB's othewise soon as you get into the twisties they just suck the wang

Shan does the price change for larger amounts?

Ill setup a GB if you can let me know

Alright, sounds like the 3W is the go. From the old threads it sounds like you've had a CB for years on the cruises, so I am relying on your experience.

$110 is the cheapest it gets even with any more purchases... I suppose the only way to save any more is to ship it all to the same addy and then pick it up... good excuse for a cruise anyways.

The 1.5W jigga is $63ish if you get 5 or more.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=DC1045

Car chargers are $10 if we get 5 or more. If we get 10 you save a few more cents.

Cool - I will be in for the group buy of the 3W ones. Ash has convinced me the 1.5W are probably too weak. I noticed the car charger doesn't actually power the transceiver ie., you can't charge it while it is in operation, you have to turn it off, so not sure whether it is useful as it takes 10-14hrs to charge and your car battery has to be on for all that time. A spare battery pack for the same/cheaper money pre-charged at home sounds like a better idea?

We should get the radios before next month's GOR cruise for those who don't have one yet like me.

Oh, BTW, I'm assuming everyone has CTCSS? If not, I guess that means you can't tune into the subchannel...

I have also attached the DC1060 (Digitech 3W) manual I found off the net. It is shit quality, but the best I can do. There is no actual digitech website

DC1060_User_Manual.pdf

[R31Nismoid]

Alright, sounds like the 3W is the go. From the old threads it sounds like you've had a CB for years on the cruises, so I am relying on your experience.

Ive had a few since 2002 lol

I had a 1W - useless. 1.5W was OK... i will jump on the GB myself to get a 3W i think, i can see value there in the hills

[_Ryan_]

if you cant charge while using i won't bother... i car charge everything, i forget otherwise haha

[mickey]

totally off track but I'd be interested in getting one sent to me in WA if someone will post it

from my experience 0.5W is useless, 1W is the bare minimum if you lose sight of someone (isn't that the point of them?).

Also, not sure about Vic laws, but here in WA it is illegal to even touch your mobile phone whilst driving (even while stationary) however there is an exception for CB radios, so really you can chatter away on your CB and not worry at all Which to me is stupid, but really it's not any harder to use than a phone while driving.

[Phatboy]

Cool. Funkymonkey - any idea how much shipping 5 units to Melb usually costs?

I am keen on getting one of the headsets, just not sure which.

Has anyone had experience with voice-activated (VOX) headsets in cars like ours with loud exhausts? Does it start transmitting whenever you gun it?

I am also looking into the normal mic headset - I am pretty sure you still need to press the button on the actual handheld eg., no remote function on the headset.

I might swing by Jaycar in the city today to get some more info as the net fails at this. I wanted to find out more specs for the thing eg., 3W talk-time. Also whether they sell extra batteries.

[Wyseman]

Christ! $500 for a CB radio is way out of my price range. The antenna is much less obtrusive than I thought, though.

Wow, i didn't even see the price that time. I paid a couple of hundred less than that when I got mine. Perhaps when the Aus $$ was doing better.

[Phatboy]

OK funkymonkey... looks like we've got enough people for the group buy for the 3W ones? Thanks heaps for organising this.

People definitely in:

1. Me (+ Vox headset and spare battery pack if available)

2. Joejoejoe

just give me the details for a gb and i'm 100%

3. llama_au

I'd definitely be in for the 3Watt + In-Car Charger if the group buy goes ahead

People who I guess are in from their posts:

4. bluejeans

id like one - would come in very handy on cruises even just driving around and not having to use my phone lol

5. bombtrack

GB GB GB

6. 180Roman

+1 GB GB GB

7. mickey (post to WA)

totally off track but I'd be interested in getting one sent to me in WA if someone will post it

People who may be in:

8. Ash

i will jump on the GB myself to get a 3W i think, i can see value there in the hills

9. RBPOWA

if pricey to fix may join the band wagon of GB

I am very keen to get one soonish for the upcoming GOR cruise. Can the last 6 people please confirm if they definitely want one so that funkymonkey can graciously order them? Thanks, sorry to be a pain.

[180Roman]

just confirming that I want one

[JamesK]

Just putting in my 2 Cents this is my radio (FDC-460) http://www.jemmex.com.au/fdc/fdc460a.htm and I find it amazing yes I got it on ebay but heck it's prob the best ebay investment I've ever made (well now that i just got Rock Band 2 that may not be true anymore) but still it's a great radio it's programmable (meaning you can define the frequency your not locked only the 40 channels) I've already set mine up for repeater use and i'm hitting repeaters ages away I know people have things against ebay items but I'm just stating my opinion weather you buy it or not is your choice, also if anyone wants to use it feel free to just hit me up during the next meet or something I always bring them along

[Jezza-gtR]

Myself and a mate would be interested in a GB.. so put X2 for me.

[Phatboy]

Just putting in my 2 Cents this is my radio (FDC-460) http://www.jemmex.com.au/fdc/fdc460a.htm and I find it amazing yes I got it on ebay but heck it's prob the best ebay investment I've ever made (well now that i just got Rock Band 2 that may not be true anymore) but still it's a great radio it's programmable (meaning you can define the frequency your not locked only the 40 channels) I've already set mine up for repeater use and i'm hitting repeaters ages away I know people have things against ebay items but I'm just stating my opinion weather you buy it or not is your choice, also if anyone wants to use it feel free to just hit me up during the next meet or something I always bring them along

Thanks for the heads-up JamesK. That is indeed a great deal on a 5W, especially for approx $100 on ebay. Having a look on the net some people bag the antenna and manual that come with it. Also the ones on ebay are non-programmable now. I believe it is illegal for them to sell programmable UHF radios on eBay, as the buyer needs a licence, supported by your link "Note: These radios are intended for transmission by LICENCED AMATEURS ONLY. Transmitting on these radios on NON AMATEUR frequencies, or by people not holding a valid amateur radio licence, is NOT PERMITTED under Australian law!"

Hmmm...

Pros for FDC compared to digitech

1. More power (5W vs 3W)

2. Looks more sophisticated (actually has a numerical keypad)

Cons for FDC vs Digitech

1. Less battery life

2. Chinese company not really known outside asia - only distributed by Hong Kong to Australia

3. No sellers/support in Australia, unknown warranty process (at least Jaycar carries the digitech model - so will have repair parts/accessories for it)

Not sure what everyone else thinks. Does anyone else own either the 5W FDC or the 3W digitech? Funkymonkey, when you order the 3W digitech, does it come with a receipt for us to photocopy so that we are covered by the 1 year warranty and can just go to any Jaycar and get it fixed if needed?

[funkymonkey]

The reason its cheap is cos i actually bypass Jaycar and go to Digitech. It does still ahve the warranty on it, but it has to come back to me and I'd have to sort it out for you. Usually its a no questions asked replacement policy on low value items... but obviously if it looks like its been crushed by a car it'd look a lil sus.

Failing that, I've found the simplest way was to buy one from jaycar, chuck the broken one in, and return it to get your cash back bit cheeky, but when you need a replacement in a hurry, its the easiest way. Not that I endorse this officially

When my mates go 4WD'ing, we just hook up the 3W cb to a external omnidirectional antenna, and it boosts the signal clarity greatly... one of the joys of a standardised antenna plug. Digitech also sells a 8db signal booster antenna with a magnetic base, which might be better than the supplied one if you wanna upgrade.

[Phatboy]

Sorry, funkymonkey, I am pulling out of the group buy (hope you haven't placed orders yet! - if so, let me know). Was dead-set on the 3W digitech before JamesK swayed my mind with his post. Decided to get a similar UHF radio to the one he was talking about.

There should still be about 10 people wanting the 3W digitech for group buy.

Thanks.