Why the TX6165 Replaced the TX6160
GME retired the TX6160 in favour of the TX6165 range as its flagship handheld UHF CB line. If you've seen the TX6160 mentioned in older material, including our own, treat the TX6165 as the current model, they share the same class-leading approach but the TX6165 carries updated features across the board.
The TX6165 range carries class-leading 5/1 Watt switchable transmission power, a large high-contrast LCD display, a 2-Watt front-facing speaker, IP67 ingress protection, MIL-STD810G toughness testing, VOX hands-free mode, and a built-in LED torch.
TX6165 vs TX6165X vs TX6165TP
GME's naming across this range takes a moment to get straight, so here's the honest version rather than the marketing version.
| Model | What You Get | Best For | MSL Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| TX6165X | Base handheld only, radio, battery, standard charger | Individual operators, straightforward budget | $319.00 |
| TX6165 | Full professional accessory kit, speaker mic, earpiece, vehicle charger, carry case | Fleet deployments and users who want everything in one box | $399.00 |
| TX6165TP | Twin pack, two full accessory kits, pre-programmed and ready to go | Two-person teams needing comms out of the box | $728.00 |
Colour options, yellow and blaze orange, are available on the TX6165X and TX6165TP. If high-visibility matters more to you than the extended accessory kit, the TX6165X is the more affordable starting point.
Built for Serious Use
This isn't a toy from a general electronics shelf. IP67 means it's fully dust-tight and can survive submersion in a metre of water for 30 minutes, and MIL-STD810G testing confirms it handles drops, vibration and rough handling on a real site.
- Up to 30 hours battery life from the 2600mAh Li-Ion pack, comfortably covering multi-day use between charges
- VOX hands-free mode for voice-activated transmission when your hands are full
- Built-in LED torch, a genuinely useful extra for early starts or after-dark work
- Dual and triple watch plus a user-programmable button for fast access to the settings you use most
This is serious equipment for civil construction, engineering, mining, council field teams, and anyone who needs handheld UHF CB communication they can rely on without babying it.
Why the High-Visibility Colours Matter
Set a black radio down on a dusty site, in the truck tray, or in long grass, and it disappears. The TX6165's yellow and blaze orange housings aren't just a style choice, they're a practical one that means your team spots a dropped handset before it gets run over or left behind.
For crews issuing radios across a rotating team, high-visibility colours also make it obvious at a glance whose radio is whose, and cut down on units quietly going missing at the end of a shift.
Do You Need a Licence to Use It?
No individual RSM licence is required. UHF CB operates in New Zealand under the same 476-477 MHz standard used in Australia, and it's a licence-free General User service, provided you're using a certified UHF CB set like the TX6165 rather than a modified or unrestricted unit.
Who It Suits
- Civil construction and engineering crews needing rugged, reliable comms that survive a real site
- Councils and local government field teams working across multiple locations in a day
- Mining and quarry operations where dust and impact resistance genuinely matter
- 4WD enthusiasts, hunters, and anyone off the beaten track who wants a radio they can actually find in the truck
Not sure whether the base TX6165X, the full-kit TX6165, or the twin-pack TX6165TP is the right call for your team? Tell us how many people need radios and what conditions they're working in, and we'll point you at the right configuration rather than the most expensive one.
