GME TX6100 UHF Portable Radio

• 5/1 Watt RF power
• IP54 ingress protected against dust and water.
• Scan - The TX6100 will scan through all 40 channels, stopping on a channel that is busy. Once the channel is clear, scanning resumes.
• Duplex - Provides greatly increased range by allowing access to any of the hundreds of UHF CB repeaters installed around the country.
• Dual Watch - Allows the TX6100 to monitor any two selected channels.
• Auto Power Save - Switches to 'power save' mode automatically after a period of inactivity to conserve power and extend battery life.
• CTCSS - Uses one of 38 selected tones to provide silent operation on any channel. Only stations transmitting the selected tone will be heard.
• Keypad Lock - When activated, disables the front panel buttons to prevent accidental presses from changing the radio's settings.
• VOX - Allows the TX6100 to automatically transmit when you speak, without the need to press the PTT button.
• Monitor Switch - Opens the TX6100's squelch so the channel can be monitored for activity.
• Roger Beep - Transmits a short beep when the PTT is released to let other users know you have finished transmitting.
• Accessory Connection - Allows connection of the bonus speaker microphone.
• High/Low Power - Reduces the transmitter power from 5 Watts to 1 Watt to greatly increase the talk time available.
• Rechargeable Battery Pack - Powered by a 1700 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery pack. Charger included.

Q. I saw an ad for two VHF radios for use in my business. Over how great a distance will these radios communicate?

A. VHF handheld radios usually operate in the 1 to 2 watt range and sometimes up to as much as 5 watts output (but note that higher power levels will more quickly drain your batteries). The lower powered radios might provide useful radio coverage at ground level over about 1 kilometre, assuming that one or both radio users are inside buildings or structures. Outside, coverage may be more than 2 kilometres if relatively free of obstacles.

Q. What if I need to talk over a greater range? I need to communicate over about 15 km with handheld radios-how can I do this?

A. A 5 watt radio may give you a 15 km range in optimal conditions. i.e. No obstacles in between and clear atmospheric conditions. To gain more, It may be possible to use a telescoping antenna on a VHF handheld radio, greatly increasing your usable range versus that provided with the short flexible antenna typical of most handhelds. You may also have the option of installing an outside antenna at one end of the link. Depending on your desired coverage area, you might see a 10 to 15 km range - or more if one end is high above the other and clear of obstacles. If you still need longer range, you should consider using a "repeater". A repeater is a specially built receiver and transmitter pair that receives signals from low power handheld or mobile radios and retransmits them using a better antenna and more transmitter power. Consequently, the repeater can extend the range of a typical handheld by great distances. The actual distance depends on the system design and location. Where a repeater is located high atop a mountain, it may be possible to communicate to another station 160 kms away. For commercial users, you can rent use of an existing, shared repeater system. You can also enquire about using Specialized Mobile Radio Service (or SMR) systems that operate similar to the basic repeater and provide coverage over wide areas.

Q. What is the difference between a VHF handheld and a UHF handheld?

The terms "VHF" and "UHF" refer to parts of the radio spectrum. "VHF" refers to radio signals in the 30 Mhz to 300 Mhz range and includes many public safety and business communications systems; FM broadcasting, TV channels 2-13 and aviation radio. "UHF" refers to radio signals in the 300 Mhz to 3000 Mhz range. Until a decade or two ago, it was technically difficult or more expensive to build radios in this frequency range. As demand for radio usage has increased, the technology has improved and the costs of UHF radios have reduced so that VHF radio applications have moved or are moving to UHF. You will also find cellular phone service in this part of the radio spectrum; at the upper end you will find consumer microwave ovens and microwave "wireless cable" TV systems.

Q. Why should I use handheld radios instead of cellular phones?

A. A cellular phone is ideal for making phone calls. It is not ideal for short range point to point communications since cellular is expensive. Further, if you need to make frequent short contacts, cellular requires that you dial the phone number and wait for the connection to be established, a delay of up to 30 seconds for every call that you make. With a hand held radio you push the talk button and you talk without delay. If you need to have several people talking to each other at the same time, you can set up several two way radios on the same frequency. Each time one user speaks, everyone on the same frequency hears that person.

Q. How much power do I need in my two-way radio system?

How much power you need depends on how you plan to use the radio system. As a general rule, you should always use the least amount of power necessary to establish your communications. This reduces interference to other users (and they likewise reduce interference to you) when the radio frequency is used again in geographically local areas. Handheld radios normally operate in the 1 watt to 5 watt range. Cellular phones dynamically adjust their power levels, according to directions from the local cellular base station. Handheld celphones operate between 40 milliwatts and 600 milliwats (6/10ths of one watt); mobile cellular phones operate from 40 mw up to 3.0 watts.

Mobile 2-way radio equipment operates, typically from 5 watts up to 50 watts, and sometimes as high as 100 watts output. The power level of the equipment is determined by the needs of the system.

Supplied with:

• TX6100 radio
• Removable flexible antenna
• 1700 mAh Li-Ion battery pack
• Desktop fast charger
• AC adaptor
• Belt clip
• Carry case
• Instruction manual