[IN2DEP]

Hey guys

Next week ill be getting a uniden mini, but just want to know what kinda antena ill need ??

Now ive never had a uhf radio before and dont know much about them so any help would be sweet

www.uniden.com.au/australia/n_news.asp

Cheers

[FullyZooked]

Can't go too far wrong with a 3-5 db ground independant aerial. I prefer the broomstick style which are thick white fibreglass.

[IN2DEP]

FullyZooked wrote:

Can't go too far wrong with a 3-5 db ground independant aerial. I prefer the broomstick style which are thick white fibreglass.

Is there any diffrenets in the thinker ones then the thin tall ones ?? I was thinking of getting the thin one ?? and whats 3-5db mean ?? lol i told yous i dont know lol

[lump_a_charcoal]

Go to a GME dealer and ask them to show you a few things.
A GME will last you 10 years or more, and so will a good aerial setup.
I have had 2 unidens in the past, and they both died prematurely.

[Hotshot993]

I saw one that I liked, can anyone give any reviews on it?

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index.php ... cts_id=674

[IN2DEP]

lump_a_charcoal wrote:

Go to a GME dealer and ask them to show you a few things.
A GME will last you 10 years or more, and so will a good aerial setup.
I have had 2 unidens in the past, and they both died prematurely.

I was going to go that way with GME but my mate ownes Toweraudio here in melton and he can get me that uniden mini for $170, and knowing me ill most likely drawn it one day when i get stuck in a lake or something

But yeah aerials ??

[Hotshot993]

Now that you say GME is better I might go with this, http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index.php ... ts_id=2363

[Reubs]

IN2DEP wrote:

But yeah aerials ??

IMO go for 6/6.5dB (anything less is too low IMO no matter what everyone tells me or maybe I don't play on the sides of mountains enough for the radiation pattern to make a difference). I prefer fibreglass over stainless (especially long stainless whips that flap around at 110km/h causing a really annoying oscillation when transmitting and receiving).

Ground independent type is important (no-one mounts an antenna on their roof).

Where you mount your antenna is probably more important then what brand or even type you get. Don't mount it directly adjacent another antenna or next to a pillar or off your spare tyre mount if you have a hardtop (some of your output power is wasted by being reflected back into the antenna).

P.S. I also don't worry too much about brand. Yes GME has stuff that will last. So does Icom and even Uniden. I own a GME/GME setup in one Zuk and Uniden/Uniden on the other. Both setups have lasted a few years (although the GMEs LCD display has lost a few segments). I think the most important thing for an in-car UHF is simplicity (stupid uniden scanner that takes 10 button presses to access). Most people simply turn the radio on, set the channel and that is that.

[MacDaddy]

Reubs wrote:

IN2DEP wrote:

But yeah aerials ??

IMO go for 6/6.5dB (anything less is too low IMO no matter what everyone tells me or maybe I don't play on the sides of mountains enough for the radiation pattern to make a difference). I prefer fibreglass over stainless (especially long stainless whips that flap around at 110km/h causing a really annoying oscillation when transmitting and receiving).

Ground independent type is important (no-one mounts an antenna on their roof).

Where you mount your antenna is probably more important then what brand or even type you get. Don't mount it directly adjacent another antenna or next to a pillar or off your spare tyre mount if you have a hardtop (some of your output power is wasted by being reflected back into the antenna).

P.S. I also don't worry too much about brand. Yes GME has stuff that will last. So does Icom and even Uniden. I own a GME/GME setup in one Zuk and Uniden/Uniden on the other. Both setups have lasted a few years (although the GMEs LCD display has lost a few segments). I think the most important thing for an in-car UHF is simplicity (stupid uniden scanner that takes 10 button presses to access). Most people simply turn the radio on, set the channel and that is that.

I have heard the " Broom stick " type antenna's dont radiate as well as other types...
The dpi refers to the radiation pattern of the antenna, a 3dbi will radiate the signal in a bubble pattern, which means shorter distance, but can transmit over hills better, a 6dbi+ radiates the signal in a flatter to the ground pattern, better for long distance, not so good for hills...
I have a 6.6dbi fibreglass ground independent antenna, mounted on the nudge bar, away from anything metal...
I have the Oricom UHF050 unit in my zook, cheap ( $200 ), built for 4WD's, and easy to use, has buttons on the mic... have a look around ebay, plenty of bargains to be found for the main unit and antenna's

[Trent1]

Hotshot993 wrote:

Now that you say GME is better I might go with this, http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index.php ... ts_id=2363

i have one of these in my zuke and i think its awesome

[Hotshot993]

Okay sweet and what antenna did you go with and what do you think about that part?

[buzbox]

[Trent1]

Hotshot993 wrote:

Okay sweet and what antenna did you go with and what do you think about that part?

i got the AE4018K1 antenna 4.5db and it has a very clear reception for miles

[Hotshot993]

Okay sweet. Get that one.

[zooky08]

Hotshot993 wrote:

Okay sweet. Get that one.

And put it in your zook

[buzbox]

zooky08 wrote:

Hotshot993 wrote:

Okay sweet. Get that one.

And put it in your zook

No he's just upgrading from these..

[Hotshot993]

Haha nice well I'm checking out my zook this week. The guy is back tomorrow then probs see it Sunday or Monday. Can't wait. And I'm just getting my list ready for what I'm getting and budgeting:D

[Verm1n]

buzbox wrote:

zooky08 wrote:

Hotshot993 wrote:

Okay sweet. Get that one.

And put it in your zook

No he's just upgrading from these..

HAHAHA nice
........ are these for sale yet?

[buzbox]

Yep, from Toys R us

[tmb99]

Here's how I have my TX3100 mounted. Love it, as its simple to use and nice and small.

[IN2DEP]

Did you cut out around the ash tray ??

[lordviper556]

i got a fme tx3220 from prestige with the better aerial in a package. i think it works well for what i use it for. my dads got the tx3240 remote face unit in his rodeo its sweet as well. not sure what aerial he has tho.

[tmb99]

yep, dremel to cut around it out so its inside the ashtray - wouldn't do it again, slow shitty job. I run an external speaker up drivers side dash. Looks tidy and I think its waterproof in there.