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UHF Base Units

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:26 pm
by drake89
Anyone install a UHF system yet? im looking into it atm

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:12 pm
by SIR-VRX
I have thought about it, in previous cars, not the CJ.

I did some research into it, but then canned the idea as I didn't want to fit an antenna for it.

I just have a $100 pair of portable UHFs, good enough for the purpose (cruises)

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:30 pm
by LZY_EYE
I had a CB in my Outlander, but it looks normal with UHF antenna hanging off it!!

A mate of mine installed a CB in his corolla, and put the antenna horizontally in the engine bay. I told him that he was an idiot. Range was no better than a handheld.

I just have a cheapie Uniden handheld, has about 2 km range which is fine for what I use it for.

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:52 pm
by Mizta B
I've got a handheld Uniden as well,it's good enough for cruises,approx 2kms line of site range,that's good enough I think!
Don't want to drill holes for an aerial.... 8)

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:36 pm
by bd-850
just put a bull bar and cat mud flaps on as well ;)

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:39 pm
by SIR-VRX
Don't forget the side running lights, Kenworth front bar, R.M. Williams sitckers and the cowboy hat

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:43 pm
by bd-850
gota have the spotties and the 50 arials where only one works and lowered to all buggerie

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:33 pm
by scraverX
I had a CB years ago, but that was on a car that had old style roof gutters you could clamp a mount to.

Also had a magnetic antenna mount for a while.

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:34 pm
by Graham
LOL - It's funny 'coz I see it all the time...

I wouldn't mind a UHF base unit as long as it looks tidy, but for now handhelds suffice :)

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:17 pm
by scraverX
There are some really tidy ones, if you're prepared to pay. Remote face plate, main unit mounts up under the dash or under a seat, pretty much anywhere. Just the Antenna to figure out.

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:34 am
by drake89
yeah ive got my eye on a unit that goes under dash and the handpiece has all the buttons and display on itv and a built in scanner. either that or a DIN mount to go under a head unit... its just soughting out the arial thats got me stumpted

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:46 am
by scraverX
Somewhere I have, or had, a metal bracket that was shaped to fit under a fender bolt under the edge of the boot or bonnet. Probably the best option if you want it fixed. Other option is a magnetic mount on the roof (with some kind of thin plastic disk under so it doesn't scratch the paint) these are easy to take off an tuck away when not in use.

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:52 am
by Graham
Yeah, if I were to install a UHF radio I'd try and go with an antenna on the roof or rear/front window - Only problem with this is that because it's not DIRECTLY COUPLED It'll lose a fair bit, if not most of it's range.

Sort of the same scenario when I was doing tech support for Telstra mobile network coverage, people would buy a really expensive carkit for where signal was low in rural areas and they wouldn't have it directly attached to the antenna, or it would be going through bluetooth and they wonder why it doesn't improve reception :P

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:35 am
by Bandit
Not all UHF CB external antennas necessarily require drilling!

I have an RFI on-glass antenna. It looks like a mobile phone antenna and is pretty easy to change between cars as well. It is the same antenna that NSW Police use (although theirs aren't tuned to 477MHz like the CB oens are). The link below has an updated version of the same antenna -

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index.php ... cts_id=275

I have a detachable face Uniden UH015SX with external speaker - works a treat. The face is near the dashboard and the speaker fits underneath the hand brake. The rest of the radio and bits and pieces are in the back of the car.

The on-glass antenna reception is not as good as a ground independent 6dB+ gain antenna, but they are better than any hand held (coupled with the extra Tx power of the non-hand held radios).

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:56 pm
by WallyD