Thanks for that feedback @Peter Middo, GME is only fairly new to the Snowys range so its awesome to hear from someone who's been running their stuff for a long time! ~ Lauren
Absolutely love my GME TX3100 Fixed mount & GME 1w handheld radios. Ive used other brands & none have been better than GME. As for Range I recently sat at a trig point on the NSW Central Coast and could hear a mate around 70km away with a 3db antenna. I was in a very high and clear area across the ocean and he was travelling a coastal road. I can use the same radio in my driveway parked near the house and not hear another mate 5km away. Terrain makes a huge difference.
The push to have 40 channel radios made "illegal" and removed from service is due to how the extra 40 channels were added to the band. What was done was that the channel bandwidth/spacing was changed from 25 kHz to 12.5 kHz and the modulation was moved to Narrow Band FM. This allowed the new 40 channels to be slotted between the original ones. If you are using a new channel (eg CH 53) you are sitting between two of the original 40 channels (Chs 13 & 14). If an older wide band radio transmits on one of those original channels you may experience interference as their wide signal bleeds into the new channel alongside. Older sets can drift in frequency accuracy which will make the problem worse. An older 40 channel set will also sound LOUDER to a new 80 channel UHF due their wider bandwidth and can sound distorted. A new 80 channel radio will sound quieter to a 40 channel set on the same channel. Removing the 40 channel sets would eliminate these issues.
@@SnowysOutdoors I still own a very good 40ch SSB radio. Not much chatter on it these days. I also own a n older UHF80ch and a very new UHF with some police channels. For hiking etc I have some multi fequency handheld radios, semi Ham I guess. Newest addition is a marine VHF, and also have a couple of other UHF handhelds dedicated to 4WDing. Taking stock its just amazed me I still have so many. Needing UHF/VHF for Aviation/Boating is unfortunate but needed.
I want a radio where selecting the priority channel button a second time returns you back to the channel you left. It's not a hard thing to put in, and I've spoken directly to GME about it and yet nothing happens. So, for instance, I'm crossing the Simpson Desert with at least 4 other vehicles in July 2022. While you need to monitor UHF 10 (dual scan will do that) and then switch to talk to others on UHF10 (by hitting the PRI button), then I want to be able to go BACK to the channel I was on simply by pressing the PRI button a second time to return to my convoy' channel so I can chat with the rest of my convoy. Instead of having 2 radios running.
I'm not going pretend I have the foggiest idea what you're talking about @Peter Middo, I'm yet to delve into functional CB Radio use outside of the kids handhelds, but from what I can follow it certainly makes sense! ~ Lauren
@Peter Middo, just following this one up! I've spoken to GME and they've said if you are referring to the PRI button you must have the XRS, correct? If thats the case then the function you are talking about does exist and they've had it for alittle while now. You just need to make sure you are running the latest version of your app/os on the radio. You need to set up the DUAL WATCH function through the app, setting your priority channel and then jumping on whatever channel you are chatting to the others on. The PRI button will switch between the two (but only when you've set up Dual Watch). You can do it manually with the PRI button, or you can stay on your alternative channels talking to others, and the XRS will monitor the Priority in the background overriding everything else when its activated. Hope that helps. ~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors outstanding, Lauren. Thank you so much. I haven't upgraded my radio to an 80 channel XRS Radio having brought this radio across from a previous vehicle. I think mine's a TX3500, from memory, (and they have the priority function built into the channel change knob), but I've got the McGrath Foundation pink microphone on it so, on top of finances, it would bea shame to lose that. I've also got a 3d printer (to make brackets and holders for things) and a GoPro on my Santa list for this year, in preparation for our Simpson Desert Trip. Sounds like I will have to before I cross the Simpson.
After all that I'm still confused , wow I didn't realise how many factors there are to take into consideration, my conclusion is stick close to your four wheel drive mates and keep the communication going , and don't vear of some old beaten track and you will be safe 🙄😛😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
They simple way Ive worked out for my UHF is use a smaller antenna if you are in built up or hilly areas and a larger when heading into the flatter areas. For the last few years I've run a 6.6db antenna on my GME TX3100 but recently dropped that to a 3db and now a 2.1db and have found I pick up a lot more chatter. I live on the NSW Central Coast so east of the great divide. Once heading west of the divide I think the 6.6db would start to get more range but on the east coast the smaller works better.
Thanks for jumping in here @Mick's 4WD Touring, good call on the antenna explaination. Is there anything in particular you need clarification on @Tom Stil? We can do our best to smooth it out. ~ Lauren
@Oli Smith, yep "Bachelor 'n Spinster"...its an experience. Not sure I'd call it a 'ball' haha, but Google image search may be your friend here. I'll say no more. ~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors you never know what you might see, I'm sure there will be a lot more than just that 🤭 it's hardly a "ball" but they were called batchelor and spinsters ball then BNS ball and naturally shortened further to just BNS some people will refer to them as blokes and sheilas ball. I've known a few people from a previous job that would go, but never personally been myself. I personally don't drink and don't like being around too many people that are borderline black out drunk, so I'm not interested in the experience. Pre-kids did you ever go to any Lauren? If you did I'd love to hear any stories that you'd be willing to share, but it may not be appropriate under snowy's channel, I'm not sure. Most of the stories I heard were either hilarious or more like a "what on earth?" type of story 😆😂🤣
![4wd UHF CB Outback & Desert Etiquette - Do's and Dont's for Overlanding [2021]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vCnuIU9xsAk/mqdefault.jpg)
![What UHF Radio Channel Do You Use? - [ The Channel I Use Is ]](/img/n.gif)
So good to hear this area of radios explained so clearly, GME representative was so precise and new exactly what he was talking about loved it
Thanks Steve!
~ Lauren
Excellent guest, very informative.
Cheers @Oli Smith, we had a great time chatting with Tony!
~ Lauren
I've been using GME Radios for a very long time. They NEVER let you down and crystal clear.
And Aussie made and engineered, to boot.
Thanks for that feedback @Peter Middo, GME is only fairly new to the Snowys range so its awesome to hear from someone who's been running their stuff for a long time!
~ Lauren
Absolutely love my GME TX3100 Fixed mount & GME 1w handheld radios. Ive used other brands & none have been better than GME. As for Range I recently sat at a trig point on the NSW Central Coast and could hear a mate around 70km away with a 3db antenna. I was in a very high and clear area across the ocean and he was travelling a coastal road. I can use the same radio in my driveway parked near the house and not hear another mate 5km away. Terrain makes a huge difference.
Thats great feedback @Mick's 4WD Touring, and 100% true re: terrain. Thanks for the real life example!
~ Lauren
GME taking over the world 👍
My UHF radios work so well great product
Thats awesome @Faz, thanks for listening!
~ Lauren
The push to have 40 channel radios made "illegal" and removed from service is due to how the extra 40 channels were added to the band. What was done was that the channel bandwidth/spacing was changed from 25 kHz to 12.5 kHz and the modulation was moved to Narrow Band FM. This allowed the new 40 channels to be slotted between the original ones. If you are using a new channel (eg CH 53) you are sitting between two of the original 40 channels (Chs 13 & 14). If an older wide band radio transmits on one of those original channels you may experience interference as their wide signal bleeds into the new channel alongside. Older sets can drift in frequency accuracy which will make the problem worse. An older 40 channel set will also sound LOUDER to a new 80 channel UHF due their wider bandwidth and can sound distorted. A new 80 channel radio will sound quieter to a 40 channel set on the same channel. Removing the 40 channel sets would eliminate these issues.
Thanks for the info. ~ Ben
The rubber tip on the end of an antenna most certainly affected SWR on older CB radios. It also protects the wire from damage and the elements.
I'm only just getting across radio info now @DOCWHOK9, so thats interesting about the rubber tip. Do you still run an older CB model?
~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors I still own a very good 40ch SSB radio. Not much chatter on it these days. I also own a n older UHF80ch and a very new UHF with some police channels.
For hiking etc I have some multi fequency handheld radios, semi Ham I guess.
Newest addition is a marine VHF, and also have a couple of other UHF handhelds dedicated to 4WDing.
Taking stock its just amazed me I still have so many. Needing UHF/VHF for Aviation/Boating is unfortunate but needed.
@@DOCWHOK9 Sounds like you've got quite the collection!!
~ Lauren
great EP. very informative. Thankyou. Have you considered an ep. on 12v projectors?
If you mean movie projectors @Malcolm Parker, then we haven't. Not something I've ever really heard of before or seen around!
~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors there are quite a few to choose from e.g. Kickass offer one.
I want a radio where selecting the priority channel button a second time returns you back to the channel you left. It's not a hard thing to put in, and I've spoken directly to GME about it and yet nothing happens.
So, for instance, I'm crossing the Simpson Desert with at least 4 other vehicles in July 2022. While you need to monitor UHF 10 (dual scan will do that) and then switch to talk to others on UHF10 (by hitting the PRI button), then I want to be able to go BACK to the channel I was on simply by pressing the PRI button a second time to return to my convoy' channel so I can chat with the rest of my convoy. Instead of having 2 radios running.
Or the Victorian High Country
I'm not going pretend I have the foggiest idea what you're talking about @Peter Middo, I'm yet to delve into functional CB Radio use outside of the kids handhelds, but from what I can follow it certainly makes sense!
~ Lauren
@Peter Middo, just following this one up! I've spoken to GME and they've said if you are referring to the PRI button you must have the XRS, correct?
If thats the case then the function you are talking about does exist and they've had it for alittle while now. You just need to make sure you are running the latest version of your app/os on the radio.
You need to set up the DUAL WATCH function through the app, setting your priority channel and then jumping on whatever channel you are chatting to the others on. The PRI button will switch between the two (but only when you've set up Dual Watch). You can do it manually with the PRI button, or you can stay on your alternative channels talking to others, and the XRS will monitor the Priority in the background overriding everything else when its activated.
Hope that helps.
~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors outstanding, Lauren. Thank you so much. I haven't upgraded my radio to an 80 channel XRS Radio having brought this radio across from a previous vehicle. I think mine's a TX3500, from memory, (and they have the priority function built into the channel change knob), but I've got the McGrath Foundation pink microphone on it so, on top of finances, it would bea shame to lose that.
I've also got a 3d printer (to make brackets and holders for things) and a GoPro on my Santa list for this year, in preparation for our Simpson Desert Trip.
Sounds like I will have to before I cross the Simpson.
After all that I'm still confused , wow I didn't realise how many factors there are to take into consideration, my conclusion is stick close to your four wheel drive mates and keep the communication going , and don't vear of some old beaten track and you will be safe 🙄😛😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
They simple way Ive worked out for my UHF is use a smaller antenna if you are in built up or hilly areas and a larger when heading into the flatter areas. For the last few years I've run a 6.6db antenna on my GME TX3100 but recently dropped that to a 3db and now a 2.1db and have found I pick up a lot more chatter. I live on the NSW Central Coast so east of the great divide. Once heading west of the divide I think the 6.6db would start to get more range but on the east coast the smaller works better.
Thanks for jumping in here @Mick's 4WD Touring, good call on the antenna explaination.
Is there anything in particular you need clarification on @Tom Stil? We can do our best to smooth it out.
~ Lauren
What is BNS mean?
Batchelor "n" Spinster. If you have no idea what a BNS ball is I will try to help you out, just ask
@Oli Smith, yep "Bachelor 'n Spinster"...its an experience. Not sure I'd call it a 'ball' haha, but Google image search may be your friend here.
I'll say no more.
~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors you never know what you might see, I'm sure there will be a lot more than just that 🤭 it's hardly a "ball" but they were called batchelor and spinsters ball then BNS ball and naturally shortened further to just BNS some people will refer to them as blokes and sheilas ball. I've known a few people from a previous job that would go, but never personally been myself. I personally don't drink and don't like being around too many people that are borderline black out drunk, so I'm not interested in the experience. Pre-kids did you ever go to any Lauren? If you did I'd love to hear any stories that you'd be willing to share, but it may not be appropriate under snowy's channel, I'm not sure. Most of the stories I heard were either hilarious or more like a "what on earth?" type of story 😆😂🤣