The 4WD Adventurer’s Guide to Choosing a UHF CB (PRS) Radio in New Zealand

Handheld vs. Fixed-Mount — 2025 Edition

Mud-soaked tracks, river fords and wind-swept ridgelines are exactly where mobile coverage disappears. A licence-free 5-watt UHF CB keeps your convoy talking across New Zealand’s 80 PRS channels (476–477 MHz), no cell towers required. Below you’ll find everything you need to pick the perfect radio and antenna, whether you’re on foot spotting a tricky line or tucked behind the wheel.

1 Handheld Radios — Total Freedom on Foot

Model (NZ-legal)	Key Trail Strengths	Why Buy It
GME TX6165	5 W punch, IP67 waterproof, 30 h runtime, loud 2 W speaker	Direct successor to the TX6160; programmable buttons & brighter screen. Buy on Mobile Systems
Uniden XTRAK 50	Smart OLED display, “Instant Replay” of missed calls, IP67	Large fonts & intuitive menus, great for driver/navigator combo. See stock
Uniden UH755	5 W, quick-swap Li-ion battery, splash-proof	Budget-friendly 5 W option for occasional off-roaders.
GME TX677 / TX667	2 W & 1 W pocket radios, USB-C charging	Perfect as spotter or kids’ units, or for short-range convoy chat.

Watch before you buy

👉 “Which UHF to Take Remote Touring” – GME compares 1 W vs 5 W range and battery life.
👉 “TX6165 Field Test” – Real-world river-crossing demo of the new flagship.
(Find both on the official GME Australia YouTube channel.)

2 Fixed-Mount Vehicle Radios — Maximum Range, Zero Battery Anxiety

Model	Form Factor	Trail Benefit	Where to Get It
GME XRS-330C	Hide-away “black box” plus smart mic	Bluetooth app programming, five-year warranty, built-in speaker	Shop XRS-330C
GME XRS-370C	Rugged die-cast body	IP67 control head, heavy-duty mic cable	Call 07 575 2966 for bundle pricing
GME TX3100	Super-compact chassis	Flip-able LCD suits upside-down installs (e.g., under dash)	Check price
Uniden UH5060	Mini head unit	Dual-watch & 12/24 V operation—ideal for modern utes	See UH5060

Why go fixed-mount?

Full-size roof or bull-bar antenna gives 2–3 × the range of a handheld stubby.
Runs off your vehicle’s 12/24 V—no charging worries on multi-day expeditions.
Louder audio through the dash speaker when corrugations drown everything else.

3 Antenna Essentials — The Cheapest Range Upgrade

Terrain	Recommended Gain	Typical Length	Handy Tip
Dense bush / hilly forest	2 dBi	150 mm – 300 mm	Short, flexible whip punches through foliage.
Rolling high country	4.5 dBi	450 mm – 600 mm	A good compromise for varied terrain.
Open beaches / desert flats	6.6 dBi	900 mm – 1.2 m	Tall whip projects signal horizontally for max distance.

l GME & Uniden handhelds use SMA connectors, so you can screw on an SMA-to-UHF cable and share the same external whip as your fixed radio.
Choose a ground-independent fibreglass antenna if mounting on a bull-bar or roof-rack to avoid tricky ground-plane tuning.

🎬 Must-see: “Choosing the Perfect UHF Antenna” — GME’s eight-minute deep dive into gain vs mounting height (YouTube).

4 Quick-Pick Flow-Chart

Solo overlander wanting backup on foot?
TX6165 handheld ➜ add SMA adaptor & 2 dBi roof whip.
Convoy leader keen on smartphone programming?
XRS-330C fixed-mount ➜ Bluetooth XRS Connect app.
Tiny dash space (Jimny, Hilux GR-Sport)?
TX3100 mini chassis ➜ flip LCD for under-dash install.
Kids/spotters need radios too?
Add TX667 or UH615-2 twin pack for short-range chat.

5 Ready to Gear Up?

All radios, antennas and install kits shown here are in stock at Mobile Systems Limited (Mount Maunganui) with nationwide shipping.

Browse current deals and starter bundles at mobilesystems.nz.
Need a custom bull-bar mount or dual-battery wiring kit? Call 07 575 2966 or hit the live chat — the team fits gear to 4WDs, tractors and earth-movers every week.

Stay safe, keep the rubber side down, and enjoy crystal-clear comms on your next Kiwi adventure!

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