Which Uniden Is Right For The Job?
Uniden's New Zealand range runs well past UHF CB radios. Across recreational and tradesman handhelds, mobile and AM CB units, marine VHF, radar and laser detectors, and a digital scanner, Mobile Systems stocks over 60 individual Uniden SKUs. This guide cuts through that range without wading through spec sheets, so you land on the right model the first time.
01
What are you connecting to?
UHF CB (land), marine VHF (water), vehicle safety awareness (radar/laser), or passive monitoring (scanner)
02
Form factor
Handheld you carry, or a fixed/mobile unit wired into a vehicle or vessel
03
Feature tier
Entry-recreational vs commercial-tradesman chassis, or GPS-and-database equipped for radar detectors
04
Where it lives
On your belt, wired into a dashboard, mounted at a helm, or bolted to a windscreen
Recreational & Entry UHF Handhelds
Lighter-duty handhelds suited to recreational use, small teams, or anyone wanting a straightforward UHF CB radio without commercial-grade features.
| Model | Power | Format | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UH615-2 | 1.5W | Twin pack | Simple recreational or light commercial starting point | from $199.00 |
| UH620-2Max | 2W | Twin pack, accessories included | Recreational and adventure use | from $249.00 |
Ladder logic: both of these are twin packs out of the box, built for two people communicating with each other rather than a single unit. If you only need one radio, check the commercial range below, several of those models are also sold as single units.
Commercial & Tradesman UHF Handhelds
Commercial-chassis handhelds built for daily work use, with water resistance and rugged construction across the range.
| Model | Power | Format | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UH825 2W | 2W | Single unit | Lighter-duty commercial option, everyday site communication | Contact for pricing |
| UH825-2TP | 2W | Twin pack, hard case | Two-person tradie crews | Contact for pricing |
| UH755 | 5W | Single unit | Solid single-unit commercial handheld, water-resistant | from $229.99 |
| UH755-2DLX | 5W | Twin pack | Two-person crews or spare-unit setups | Contact for pricing |
| XTRAK 50-O | 5W | Single unit, IP67, OLED, replay | Fully waterproof commercial use with instant-replay function | from $379.99 |
| XTRAK 50-2TP | 5W | Twin pack, case included | Tradie twin-pack with full accessories | Contact for pricing |
Ladder logic: UH825 is the lighter-duty commercial tier, UH755 sits in the middle, and XTRAK 50 tops the handheld range with an IP67 rating and OLED display. Power output (2W vs 5W) and IP rating are the two specs that actually separate these day to day, not the model name alone.
UHF Mobile, Base & AM CB Radios
Vehicle-mount and base-station radios for fleet vehicles and site offices, including Uniden's dedicated 27MHz AM CB unit.
UHF CB (477MHz)AM CB (27MHz)
| Model | Power | Format | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UH5050 | 5W | Short DIN chassis | Standard 12V/24V vehicle installations | from $379.99 |
| UH6160 | 5W | Mini compact, remote speaker mic | Tighter vehicle dashboards | from $399.99 |
| XTRAK 80 | 5W | Compact, remote LCD mic | 12V/24V vehicles wanting Smart Mic technology | Contact for pricing |
| X86 Travel Pack | 5W | Compact + 5.5dBi radome antenna | Complete travel-ready kit, ready to install | from $579.99 |
| PRO5050 | 4W | DIN chassis, 40-channel AM CB | Rural transport already running 27MHz AM CB | from $279.99 |
Don't mix bands: the PRO5050 is a 27MHz AM CB radio, a completely different service to every other model in this table. It cannot talk to a UHF CB radio, and a UHF handheld can't talk to it. Only buy it if you specifically need to join an existing AM CB network, most operators starting fresh are better served by UHF CB's larger, licence-free 80-channel network.
Marine VHF Radios
Waterproof handheld and fixed-mount VHF radios for boats, a completely separate band and licensing regime from anything on land.
| Model | Power | Format | DSC | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantis 155NZ | 3W | Handheld, floats | No | from $169.99 |
| Atlantis 270 | 6W | Handheld, floats | No | from $249.00 |
| UM355 | 25W | Fixed-mount | No | from $299.99 |
| UM455 | 25W | Fixed-mount | Yes | from $339.00 |
Marine VHF is its own world: using a marine VHF radio on land is illegal in NZ, and a UHF CB radio won't tune into marine channels at all. DSC (Digital Selective Calling) on the UM455 sends an automated distress alert carrying your vessel's MMSI and GPS position at the press of one button, genuinely the standout safety feature over a non-DSC set, but it only works once your MMSI is actually programmed in.
Radar & Laser Detectors, and Scanning
A separate domain entirely, aimed at driver situational awareness rather than two-way communication. Owning and using a passive radar detector is legal in NZ under the Land Transport Act 1998 (section 16B); only devices that actively jam or interfere with speed-measuring equipment are an offence.
| Model | Tier | GPS | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFR3NZ | Long range | No | Straightforward 360Β° laser/radar detection | from $249.99 |
| DFR6NZ | Super long range | No | OLED display, extended detection range | Contact for pricing |
| DFR7NZ | Advanced | Yes, with NZ camera database | GPS-aware alerts referencing known NZ camera locations | Contact for pricing |
| R3NZ | Extreme range | Yes | Laser and radar with GPS filtering | Contact for pricing |
| R4NZ | Extreme range | Yes, auto mute | Long open-road fleet work, learns repeat false-alert locations | from $1,099.99 |
| R8NZ | Premium | Yes, dual antenna direction | Widest coverage and directional context for fleet vehicles | from $1,499.99 |
Entry vs GPS-equipped tier: DFR3NZ and DFR6NZ are straightforward detection units with no GPS memory. DFR7NZ, R3NZ, R4NZ and R8NZ add GPS, which lets the unit learn and quieten repeat false-alert locations over time, genuinely useful for a fleet vehicle running the same routes daily. For businesses that need passive listening rather than driver alerting, the Uniden USDS100 Digital Scanner (from $1,099.00) is a separate, receive-only unit built on Software Defined Radio technology with JIS4 water resistance, useful for monitoring marine, airband or site channels without transmitting.
Why Order Uniden Through MSL
Mobile Systems has solved NZ communication problems since 2000, over 25 years, from our base in Mount Maunganui. We're brand-independent, so our Uniden recommendation is built around what genuinely suits your team, your boat, or your fleet, not a sales target.
On-site installation and support covers the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Rotorua, TaupΕ, South Waikato, Volcanic Plateau and Eastern Waikato directly. Outside that area, we install and support through our trusted nationwide installer network, with every unit backed by our in-house workshop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a licence for a Uniden radio, detector, or scanner?
UHF CB and AM CB radios operate under a general user licence at no cost, no application needed. Marine VHF requires a Maritime VHF Operator Certificate, and DSC-equipped models also need the vessel's MMSI number registered. Radar detectors are legal to own and use under the Land Transport Act 1998, only active jamming is an offence. A receive-only scanner isn't licensed the same way as a transmitting radio, but businesses should still get NZ-specific advice before monitoring licensed channels.
Can Uniden radios talk to other brands?
Uniden's UHF CB handhelds and mobiles share the same public 477MHz PRS band as GME, Entel and every other compliant UHF CB radio in NZ, so they can talk to any brand on the same channel. The PRO5050 AM CB radio and marine VHF radios each sit on their own separate bands and can't cross over to UHF CB or to each other.
What's the difference between the recreational and commercial-tradesman handhelds?
Commercial-chassis models like the UH755, UH825 and XTRAK 50 range are built for daily work use with water resistance and more rugged construction, and are available as single units for one-person use. Recreational models like the UH615-2 and UH620-2Max are twin packs suited to lighter, occasional use between two people.
What's the difference between the entry and GPS-equipped radar detectors?
DFR3NZ and DFR6NZ detect and alert without GPS memory. DFR7NZ, R3NZ, R4NZ and R8NZ add GPS, letting the unit recognise repeated false-alert locations on routes you drive regularly and stay quieter there over time, genuinely useful for fleet vehicles running the same roads daily rather than a device that alerts at the same spot every single trip.
How rugged are these units, really?
Commercial UHF handhelds like the XTRAK 50 carry a genuine IP67 rating, dust-tight and submersible in one metre of water for 30 minutes. Marine handhelds like the Atlantis range are IP67 and float; fixed-mount marine units carry the lighter JIS4 splashproof rating, suited to a sheltered helm rather than full submersion. Radar detectors and the scanner are built for vehicle-cabin use and aren't rated for submersion.
Not sure which one fits?
Every model in this guide is available to order through our regular Uniden supply channel. Tell us the job and we'll match the spec.
Shop Uniden Two-Way Radios
View all 20 products
Uniden XTRAK 80 UHF CB Mobile Radio
$599.99 NZD
Uniden UH6160 UHF CB Mobile Radio
$399.99 NZD
Uniden UH825 2W UHF Handheld Radio
$199.99 NZD
Uniden UH755 5 watt UHF CB Radio
$229.99 NZD
Uniden UM455 VHF Marine Radio
$339.00 NZD
Uniden PRO5050 AM CB Radio - 12 and 24V
$279.99 NZD