UHF handheld vs vehicle mounted

[Skexis]

Are there any downsides to getting a 2w handheld over a vehicle mounted 5w? Will only be used for short range and as I'm probably not keeping my current car it seems like an attractive option. Thoughts please.

[rgrubby]

Downsides are short range and battery life. Handhelds also have the upsides of use outside the vehicle and you can use in any vehicle.

Another good option for short term installs is this...

https://www.gme.net.au/catalogue/fixed-mount-radios/uhf-477-mhz-radios/tx3100pnp.aspx

[geopaj]

Downsides are short range and battery life. Handhelds also have the upsides of use outside the vehicle and you can use in any vehicle.

Another good option for short term installs is this...
https://www.gme.net.au/catalogue/fix...tx3100pnp.aspx

Exactly my thoughts too. Be aware that some handhelds will not transmit or receive when on charge (I had a 2w GME that behaved like this but the new ones may be different??)

[Paul (SA)]

Is it just me or are UHFs becoming less used these days?

With the proliferation of mobiles and apps I'm finding very little chatter on the radio.

Makes me think that a handheld is better for the vehicle and wallet for those times you are in a convoy.

[spot01]

I use a Uniden 5w handheld.


I can take it with me when I fly & rent a vehicle elsewhere & when I am hiking away from the car, eg, in The Flinders & Arkaroola I can usually hit a repeater or homestead when hiking.


A external antenna can be used, so it is possible to fit one outside the car & have the best of both worlds. Mine came with an extra mic so I can use it in the car just like a fixed one. I'd go 5w rather than 2w. My 5w can be switched to 1w if I want to limit the range or conserve the battery.


UHF is very much "line of sight", so if your car is below the hills it can be hard to get a signal out, but with a handheld you can climb to higher ground - particularly useful in emergencies, etc.


I often see them at very good prices at the 4WD & caravan shows, eg, next month here in Adelaide. Also Electric Bug are very good with this stuff (no association).

[Ian H]

Is it just me or are UHFs becoming less used these days?

With the proliferation of mobiles and apps I'm finding very little chatter on the radio.

Makes me think that a handheld is better for the vehicle and wallet for those times you are in a convoy.

I'd say definitely no. A UHF is invaluable when travelling in convoy, everyone can hear the instructions and you can talk to the trucks as well, to let them know you're pulling over etc.

I'm finding there's still a lot of chatter in towns but with so many channels you can usually get a clear one. Our club doesn't allow members if they have no fixed UHF, a hand held doesn't count.

If you get a set which has the controls on the mic, then you can just take it out agin when changing cars. The body sits on the tunnel boot behind the radio so no drillling is required.

[Having Fun]

A 2W hand held works perfectly well in every situation mentioned in this thread.

I've been using them for quite a while off the beaten track & have never had an issue. Last year, we could hear 2 road train drivers talking to each other on the Cordillo Downs Road from 15KM away at Haddon Corner, with those 2 sand dunes out there in between them & us.

If clubs want you to mount a UHF and you want to suck on someone else's dust & play follow the leader as you travel, then you'll have to mount one.

For the rest of us, a 2W hand held works fine.

Don't rely on any UHF in an emergency though, mounted, nor hand held. For emergency comms, get a sat phone IMO.

[Ian H]

If clubs want you to mount a UHF and you want to suck on someone else's dust & play follow the leader as you travel, then you'll have to mount one.

For the rest of us, a 2W hand held works fine.
.

If you want to travel alone, go for it but don't knock group travel and don't assume we suck dust.

Sheesh, what an attitude, settle down dude.

[BruceandBobbi]

I think having fun was referring to the men of importance making unimportant and irrelevant decisions because they can. Recovery painted. Paint them red or yellow and away you go.

I hope MMM engineers would now more that Roger Squire who is in charge of safety at a club but works as an accountant for K mart.

[Seigried]

I have had a uniden 5w handheld for over a decade. Still going strong. Great for travelling in a convoy. Having said that i have recently been thinking of getting something more permanent with the hand held for when im out of the car.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Ian H]

I've been in convoys where we can be many klms apart, front to back, particularly in the desert, to avoid dust (Having fun take note please - that is correct convoy procedure).
We had a car radio break down and they had to use their hand held. They were difficult to hear and we had someone relaying their transmissions. I had exactly the same experience in the high country with a car using a hand held so to say they are equivalent to a fixed unit with a fixed aerial is plain wrong.

[Having Fun]

If you want to travel alone, go for it but don't knock group travel and don't assume we suck dust.

Sheesh, what an attitude, settle down dude.

What attitude? I'm quite settled thanks!


You've made an assumption! I don't have to travel alone to not be following a leader in some sort of pageant of 4x4's.

[Having Fun]

I think having fun was referring to the men of importance making unimportant and irrelevant decisions because they can. Recovery painted. Paint them red or yellow and away you go.

I hope MMM engineers would now more that Roger Squire who is in charge of safety at a club but works as an accountant for K mart.

Correct!

[Having Fun]

I've been in convoys where we can be many klms apart, front to back, particularly in the desert, to avoid dust (Having fun take note please - that is correct convoy procedure).
We had a car radio break down and they had to use their hand held. They were difficult to hear and we had someone relaying their transmissions. I had exactly the same experience in the high country with a car using a hand held so to say they are equivalent to a fixed unit with a fixed aerial is plain wrong.

You make assumptions! My traveling in convoy experience started over 40 years ago & spanned several decades. I was getting paid to do it & the clubs have based their procedures directly from what we used to do! From my perspective, it was boring enough to do it as a job. I don't want, nor need it on holiday! But if you do, that's great. At least it gets you out there


I didn't write that bit that you've written on the end of your post. I said "For the rest of us, a 2W hand held works fine". And it does!

[BruceandBobbi]

I've been in convoys where we can be many klms apart, front to back, particularly in the desert, to avoid dust (Having fun take note please - that is correct convoy procedure).
We had a car radio break down and they had to use their hand held. They were difficult to hear and we had someone relaying their transmissions. I had exactly the same experience in the high country with a car using a hand held so to say they are equivalent to a fixed unit with a fixed aerial is plain wrong.

Imagine how difficult it would be to hear them without their handheld.

Maybe your club should make it mandatory to carry handhelds as back up.