Cheap CB's for cruises?

[Doogstar]

I need to get a CB radio to take on cruises, I am on a tight budget.
Any recommendations?
Where do you buy them and what price are they?
What features should I be looking for?

[Aaron_EF8]

Look for a UHF radio, the old 27Mhz one's aren't used much apart from truck drivers and people who are right into radios. Most handhelds are 0.5w, which isn't any good if you happen to get lost on a city cruise, they only really work in a line-of-sight range. As a comparison, in-car UHF's have at least 5w, which will reach several km in the suburbs.

What kind of budget do you have? Uniden have this 1w handheld for $99, which is good value for money.

http://www.uniden.com.au/AUSTRALIA/p_uh047sx_index.asp

[rodderz]

Yup try the one Uniden one that Aaron suggested Doug...mine is a few years old, but has approx 6km range, depending on the surrounding terrain and buildings

Good for cruises unless you get really lost

[old_phoon]

Doogstar,
Check the thread http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...ghlight=radios

I purchased a UHF radio from Jaycar ~$60 for just that....its in the thread
Cheers
F

[Doogstar]

Thanks guys,

$99 would be okay, $60 sounds better but, I will check it out that thread.

[GXL078]

You can have mine for $50, only used it a couple of times. Some jerk flogged the power cord but I imagine you can buy them. Pearce Simpson I think it is 40 Channel AM. You will still have to buy an aerial, I don't know where that went.

[Doogstar]

Originally Posted by xcgxl

You can have mine for $50, only used it a couple of times. Some jerk flogged the power cord but I imagine you can buy them. Pearce Simpson I think it is 40 Channel AM. You will still have to buy an aerial, I don't know where that went.

Thanks, but I need it for Monday for a cruise, I don't imagine I will be able to track down an aerial and power cord before then.

[TURBOTAXI]

Go to Jaycar. I picked up a 1.5 watt handheld for $69.

[Doogstar]

Ok, I have been looking at a few of your suggestions.

There is the Jaycar DC1025 .5kw $59
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...Max=&SUBCATID=

The Jaycar DC1040 1.5kw $79
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...Max=&SUBCATID=

and the Uniden UH047sx 1kw $99
http://www.uniden.com.au/AUSTRALIA/p_uh047sx_index.asp

I want to spend as little as possible, but I want it to be okay for cruises.
The uniden looks better, the jaycar DC1040 has better specs, the DC1025 the better price. I am leaning towards the DC1040 as it seems to be a better spec for a better price, what do you think?

Hey Turbotaxi, was it the DC1040 you got?

[TURBOTAXI]

The DC1040 looks what I have. But mines is 40ch and cost $69

[Doogstar]

Maybe it was on special? or a different model? There is the $59 and the next price is $79 (reduced from $89)

[Aaron_EF8]

It's odd the Jaycar ones have 38 channels.

One thing I noticed is that the Uniden comes with a battery and a desktop charger. You'll need to factor in AAA batteries and a recharger to compare it with the Uniden, unless you already have rechargeables.

You also should be able to pick the Uniden up cheaper at Dick Smiths or a communications store, looking at the Uniden site, I paid $340 for my UH015sx while their RRP is $399.

[SpoolMan]

Doug dont buy one I will lend you one for Monday night and then you can make up your mind which one to buy.
I have 2 small Uniden UHF's work very well.

The Jaycar DC1040 1.5kw for $79, I had one and gave it away the Uniden are a better unit.IMO

[Doogstar]

SWEET, thanks Mark! That would be great.

[XRchic]

I think I bought the Uniden 2w ones for $139 each at Dick Smiths. Probably got ripped off but it is a good one!

[old_phoon]

Doogstar,
I purchased the DC1040 at Jaycar for 69 on special. I'm going on a drive/cruise today and will let you know how it worked.
If you are driving in a cruise, as long as the reception is clear(I understand about different wattage/power levels) and your not always 2-5k behind/in front I cant see why you'd pay substantially more. Rechargable batteries are not necesarily a selling point - you need to remember to charge them and I'm not sure if they hold their charge as well as non-rechargeables.

[jonk]

This is where I've bought handheld radios for clients who aren't too ebay aware:

http://electronics.listings.ebay.com...istingItemList

Look out for in particular, the chinese one's because of their large frequency spread and other accesories. And, I'd be quick since the one's from China are not really legal in Oz.

[old_phoon]

took the radio out for a run, worked ok except for a couple of times where the reception was poor....this was over a 4hr drive. I could pick up the sweeper who was 19 car's behind me. Unless you are doing runs every week and might use a radio for other uses I can't really see the need for for one much more expensive.
F

[Keepleft]

Nothing beats a proper install though for performance in this BIG land:-

UHF examples, note dimensions re tight fits:
GME:
http://www.gme.net.au/land/uhf_cb_transceivers.php

Uniden:
http://www.uniden.com.au/AUSTRALIA/p...ile_radios.asp

Etc:
http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-02.htm

TRANSPARENT on-glass UHF aerials:
http://www.radioworks.com.au/category4_1.htm

One of those transparents cheap at Ebay here, (I've not used one):
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/WHAT-AN-IDEA-...QQcmdZViewItem

THE WA and SA driver manuals suggest using a CB radios recognised road channel to alert approaching traffic of on-road danger.

Further reading:
http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_0643/article.html

[bonspeed]

Can anyone tell me the legalities here? Is it illegal to use these while driving?