UHF For Caravans Explained!

[@Colin_In_VK]

Best explanation for bull/roo bar mounted antennas I have seen, I have seen a lot of 4x4 users with the broken stainless steel whips. 🙂

[@adelarsen9776]

Note : When wire whips are used with a spring they virtually never break. Please also note that their is more profit (mark up) on fibreglass antennae and do they don't push the stainless whip top antennae any longer. Strangely the 2 largest makers of mobile antennae in Australia still supply stainless whips to govt and mines. The only downside to an elevated feed stainless whip antenna on a bullbar is that they vibrate and wobble and this is a distraction to the driver and Pax.

[@t000nz]

@@adelarsen9776 this is incorrect.

[@adelarsen9776]

No, it's 100% right. This is what happens in the real world. Wire whips with spring bases do not break off generally compared to one's without a spring.@@t000nz

[@robyoung1890]

Just installed an XRS370C with the 2.1db Heavy Duty Antenna (AE4704) also bought the AW4705B for the Nullarbor tip next year. Really good piece of kit!

[@stuartkcalvin]

I've read that CH10 is for National Parks, particularly NSW/ACT.

[@offgridoutfitters]

Nice one guys! Awesome explanation and some fantastic recommendations. But that 200 and Wonderland combo 😍😍

[@GMEaus]

Agreed, such an awesome combo!

[@petermiddo]

Great overview of the equipment required. A very small glimpse into the channels used on the radios and I guess it's not your place to discuss the actual use and pitfalls of each channels. It looks likely I'm going to be a semi-guest on a podcast and one to the discussion points for one of the episodes will be the use of the UHF channels, particularly 18 & 40. I would have included UHF 10, the National Parks call channel, especially over UHF11, but I wasn't the one doing it.

[@GMEaus]

Thanks for the feedback mate! We will be sure to take it on board for future videos.

[@dunco1955]

Trucks use Channel 29 on the Pacific Hway between Sydney and Brisbane....A MUST KNOW

[@JeremyPritchard-we4dz]

Once you exit that route, switch back to 40. Keep general chat off 40.

[@dunco1955]

@@JeremyPritchard-we4dz really......

[@michaeldejesus7418]

Apology for simple question. But does the whip on the 2.1 and 6.6 have special screw lock to remove and replace? Or it's just a screw in and out to replace. Cheers 🤙

[@adelarsen9776]

Just unscrew it with your hand. The other whip screws straight on. :-)

[@michaeldejesus7418]

@adelarsen9776 cheers mate. It must have been extra tight. Cause when I did. The nut that holds the spring base on the fordable bracket was the one that was coming loose, and not the whip.

[@adelarsen9776]

The best tool for undoing them is a Knipex Pliers Wrench in the 250mm size. I wish you good health and prosperity.@@michaeldejesus7418

[@BaradineAllawa]

They do have a grub screw (uses a small allen key, can't remember the size). Make sure that isn't done up.

[@michaeldejesus7418]

@BaradineAllawa thank you. That's what I thought at the start. Just didn't want to play around with it just incase I brake it. Just got mu uhf installed.

[@adelarsen9776]

Far and away the best antenna is a flexible unity gain 1/4 wave whip in the centre of the roof. If you can't do that then a ground independent 3dBi flexible half wave whip on the roof rack or gutter is the next best thing. A 1/4 or 1/2 wave mounted on the roof will out perform a 6,9 or 12dBi antenna mounted on a bullbar. Note : A 1/4 wave whip is about 12cm long and a 1/2 wave is about 30cm long. Bigger antennae with bigger numbers doesn't make it work better - often the reverse. Most radio installers are lazy and they'll want to take the path of least resistance and place an antenna on a bullbar. Demand an elevated position and get them to drill a hole ! If you live in the city and travel in mostly hilly country you want close to zero gain (less than 4dBi). If you live on the Nullarbor Plain and have to talk 100km to your neighbour each day get a 12dBi. Note : Choosing something half way like a 6dBi doesn't make it an all around use antenna - It'll still be less than ideal. To iterate - hills and cities = zero/low gain for best performance. Flat open country = high gain. Most people use their UHF CB in and around hills. Either way, get your antenna up higher free of obstructions. Bullbar mounted antennae have a garbage signal because of the radiation shadow and reflection from the vehicle / van. They won't tell you that. Demand a commercial 1/4 or 1/2 wave flexible antenna up high. If you want safety and good comms the installer will agree with you if he's genuine. Don't believe the marketing.

[@Wombat-y7t]

LOL overtake a truck? That’s hilarious…..

[@GMEaus]

Depends on the tow vehicle ;)