main view TX4610The ingress protection grade of the TX4610 is IP67, which means that it can be used successfully in the harshest of situations. This little radio has a huge LCD display backlit in three colours, a five-digit Cell call, and 19 receive-only channels that can be programmed. All of these capabilities are packed into a relatively small chassis. This radio is considered one of the best GME UHF Radio by many 4×4 enthusiasts.

The all-new microphone with an IP67 rating comes equipped with channel up/down buttons and a priority channel button. Making it possible to perform these duties with only one hand. The microphone’s housing is also contemporary, waterproof, and dustproof.

Installing the TX4610 can be done using either the metal mounting bracket included in the package. Or flush mounted using the optional MK008B flush mount kit, depending on your specific installation needs. The dependable running of ATVs, farm machinery, and plant equipment will be ensured by the TX4610’s rugged and high-quality design for many years to come.

Features of the 5 Watt IP67 UHF Radio

A Programmable DUPLEX function: User selectable for only those individual channels in your area with repeaters, leaving the others free for use as additional simplex channels. Individually Programmable DUPLEX function: User selectable for only those individual channels in your area that have repeaters

User-Programmable Receive-Only Channels: 

You can use the buttons on the front panel of the TX4610 to programme up to 19 of your own receive-only channels in the frequency range of 403-520 MHz.

Microprocessor-controlled frequency synthesisers allow users to programme control of scanning, channel memory, and feature selections. These synthesisers also offer more feature possibilities. Scan the programmable UHF CB channels using the Group or Open scan function with the Programmable Scan Function. Band Edge Selection is available.

Priority Channel: 

The Priority Channel function, which may be programmable by the user, enables your working or local repeater channel to be promptly recalled at the push of a button.

In-Built Cell-call: Selective Calling with a Five-Digit AutomaticNumber Identification (ANI) and a Fully User-Adjustable, Five-Tone Transmitted SelCall Identifier. In addition, it enables the naming of Idents, which makes caller identification much simpler. In Unique Page (Transponder) mode, you can forward an incoming SelCall to another radio if you cannot attend to your own radio.

front view of TX4610Quiet Mode: 

Quiet mode, which can be set on individual channels, prevents incoming signals from being heard on selected channels unless preceded by your SelCall code. This mode is selectable. The Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System is an option incorporated into the receiver and offers quiet channel operation.

Protection from Excessive Voltage A specialised overvoltage detecting circuitry safeguards the radio. It alerts the user to excessive voltage conditions by flashing the display. A speaker facing the front of the room directs sound toward the listener, improving audibility. IP67 stands for “water & dust proof,” and it protects against dust and brief water submersion.

Large Liquid Crystal Display with High Contrast: This fully detailed LCD provides a visual indicator of the currently selected channel and all of the functions that can be selected at a glance. The display is backlit for nighttime viewing. Allows Scanning, Squelch, Duplex, Priority, Channel selection, and CTCSS functions to be enabled or disabled to make the radio easier to use. This function is part of the Feature Disabling Function.

General operation – do these meet your needs?

Function key

Four buttons located just below the display on the TX4610 each have a primary and a secondary function. Their principal functions are written in black, and their subsidiary roles are written in red on their respective cards. To use, simply press the necessary key. For example, to control the Squelch, press the SQL key for a moment. Simply press the F key and then the necessary key in quick succession. Example: To reduce the display’s brightness, first briefly press the F key until the letter ‘F’ appears, then press the DIM key. The display will become less bright.

Volume ON/OFF

To raise the volume, you must keep turning the control in the clockwise direction. To switch off the radio, rotate the control in the opposite direction as the clock. Even with the volume turned down to its lowest setting, there is still enough sound to be heard within a relatively quiet cabin. To turn on the TX4610, turn the volume control clockwise past the ‘click’ position until you hear it.

rear viewTX4610Transmitting

Always ensure that the channel is not utilised by anyone else before you begin transmitting. This can be accomplished by listening or ensuring that the ‘Busy’ indicator is not illuminated. To send a message, you need to send a push-to-talk signal by pressing the PTT button on the microphone. Maintain an average speaking volume while keeping the microphone roughly 5–8 centimetres away from your mouth. Due to the microphone’s high sensitivity, it is not required to raise your voice or shout to be heard. When you are finished chatting, you should let go of the PTT.

Squelch control.

The TX4610 comes equipped with a squelch system that has presets. When there are no signals present, the Squelch control is utilised to get rid of any background noise that may be present. The Squelch sensitivity has been factory adjusted to give optimal performance in most surroundings. However, the user can change the sensitivity if necessary to suit various environmental circumstances. 

The sensitivity has been factory set to provide optimal performance in most conditions. The SQL key allows the Squelch to open or close at your discretion. When the Squelch switch is in the open position, the receiver’s ambient noise may be heard, and the ‘BUSY’ indicator lights up. If the Squelch switch is in the closed position, the receiver will not make any noise when there are no signals. However, any incoming signal will cause the Squelch to be bypassed, and the signal will be broadcast over the speaker.

To release the Squelch

Maintain a brief press on the SQL key. You should listen for a low beep. You can hear the background noise from the receiver if there are no signals. Following the loud beep that will be heard, the receiver will go silent. Simply pressing the SQL key again will turn off the Squelch Briefly feature. 

Note: If an incoming signal is faint and very close to the minimum squelch level, the squelch operation can cause the transmission to become broken or ‘chopped’. To avoid this, just make sure the Squelch is open so that the signal may be picked up in its entirety. You also can lower the Squelch sensitivity, as will be explained further down.

Squelch Sensitivity

You can customise how sensitive the Squelch is to incoming signals to corresponding with the conditions in which you will be using it. For instance, being in a boisterous place can result in the Squelch being opened to the ambient noise. You can choose from the TX4610’s ten different pre-programmed sensitivity settings for the Squelch by utilising the MENU function.

Channel with priority

With the Priority Channel feature, you can designate any of the channels as a Priority Channel, making it possible to quickly access that channel by simply pressing a key.
This can be utilised to provide rapid access to either your working channel or your local repeater channel, depending on which one you choose.

To store a Priority Channel.

Choose the appropriate channel from the list. Maintaining pressure on the PRI key until a high-pitched tone can be heard is required. The channel that has been selected will be saved.

Recalling a Priority Channel

Make a quick push on the PRI key. The radio will immediately tune in to the Priority Channel that you have selected. Any currently engaged functions, such as scanning or turning the volume down, will be terminated.

Dual processing in operation (Duplex)

Through the duplex operation, the radio can transmit on a frequency distinct from the one it receives. This makes it possible to operate through the neighbourhood repeater stations. Your signal will be automatically re-sent across a greater area by these repeater stations, providing you with a significantly improved range.

Channels 1 through 8 and 41 through 48 are the only ones that support duplex operation. When you select a duplex mode on specific channels, the radio will continue to receive on the same channel even though it will transmit 30 channels higher.

CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System)

The Continuous Tone Coded Squelch Technique (also known as CTCSS) is a squelch quieting system that enables many user groups to share the same channel without disturbing one another. To open and close the squelch on your radio, it makes use of a predetermined tone that is sub-audible and has a very low frequency. There are up to 50 tones available, split between two sets of tones that are optional. Your broadcast will have a continuous low-level tone applied by the system, and the squelch on your receiver will be controlled by a tone decoder that matches that tone.

When CTCSS is enabled, the channel will not respond to any incoming signals unless those signals include the appropriate tone. After receiving a transmission that has the proper tone, the squelch will open and will remain open for as long as the signal is present. After the transmission has finished, there will be a return to the previous level of silence. Transmissions that do not employ the appropriate tone will not be picked up by the receiver. The TX4610 gives users the ability to enable or disable CTCSS on a channel-by-channel basis.

side view TX4610Keeping an eye on the Channel

It is helpful to have the ability to temporarily open the Squelch on your radio. This will enable you to listen for signals coming from CTCSS users who are not part of your group. Because their CTCSS tone is not the same as yours, the Squelch on your radio will generally stay closed, preventing you from hearing what they say. You can open the Squelch with the SQL key and then listen to the Channel to ensure it is free of interference before transmitting any data. Because of this, you won’t have to worry about transmitting over someone else’s voice by accident.

Make sure you press the SQL key. The hiss that is characteristic of an empty channel can be heard if there are no signals. Simply pressing the SQL key once more will bring the Squelch back to its previous state.

Choosing the overall tone configuration

Two sets of standard tones can be selected, one with a total of 50 tones and the other with a total of 38 tones. The TX4610 comes with both tone sets so that it may communicate with other GME radio systems and be compatible with them.

Scanning overview

The TX4610 comes equipped with a SCAN feature that enables the user to scan for signals across groups of user-programmable channels. It is possible to scan channels at a rate of 20 channels per second. When a signal is detected, the scanning process will halt on that channel to allow the signal to be heard before continuing when the channel is once again free of interference.

Open Scan

It is possible to search for activity on any of the channels that have been installed. If a busy channel is discovered, the scanning process will be halted so that the signal can be picked up. When there has been no activity on the channel for at least 5 seconds, the scanning process will restart automatically. eg: Scanning channels 1 – 8 in Open Scan

If a busy channel is discovered, the scanning process will halt on that channel, allowing the signal to be heard. It will continue to do so for as long as the channel continues to be busy. The scanning process will restart automatically when there has been no activity on the channel for at least 5 seconds.

If you don’t want to listen to the discussion taking place when your radio pauses on a channel that’s already quite active. Hit the SKIP button on the microphone for a second (or one of the channel selector keys). The radio will skip over that channel and start its scan again.

Scanning of Groups

Additionally enables any of the installed channels to be examined for activity. In addition to this, it includes your Priority channel within the sequence of channels that are scanned. Any signals received on the channel designated as your priority will be given priority over any signals received on the other channels. This ensures that your Priority channel will be checked frequently while the scanner is operating so that no incoming calls will be missed.

The memory of the Open Scan function on the TX4610 comes pre-programmed with all 80 UHF CB channels by default. If it is necessary, any channels that are not required can be deleted. The memory for the Group Scan is, by default, empty; to use it, you will need to add channels to it.

Using the group scan mode for the scanning.

To do a scan using the Group Scan mode, press the SCAN key for a moment. After hearing a loud beep, the word “SCAN” will appear on display, and the radio will start the scanning process. 

Note: If no channels are programmed in the Group Scan memory. When you press the SCAN key (or if there is only one channel programmed), it is the same as the Priority channel. A beep will be heard, and the command ignored. 

During the scanning process, the TX4610 scans all of the channels that have been programmed into the Group Scanmemory. The Priority channel is scanned after every fourth channel. This occurs either when there is only one channel programmed. Or when there is only one channel, which is the same as the Priority channel. 

Channel with Higher Priority

The receiver will immediately switch to the Priority channel the moment a signal is detected on the Priority channel. It will continue to remain on that channel for as long as the Priority channel is used by other users. After five seconds during which there has been no activity, the radio will restart its scan of the other channels. You will be able to customarily transmit on the priority channel at this period.

Suppose there are no signals on the priority channel. In that case, the scanning will continue on the other channels until it finds a signal on one of those channels. It will stop and remain on that channel for as long as the other channel is active. The receiver will continue to scan the priority channel for signals every two seconds. The radio will restart its channel scanning if there has been no activity on any channel for five seconds.

If you don’t want to listen to the discussion taking place when your radio pauses on a channel that’s already quite active. Hit the SKIP button on the microphone for a second (or one of the channel selector keys). The radio will skip over that channel and start its scan again.

The scan key.

If you have your radio paused on a channel with a lot of activity and want to stay on that channel, briefly hit the SCAN key. The radio will depart the Scan mode and stay on the busy channel until the mode is manually changed. Be aware that the radio will stop monitoring the Priority channel unless the Priority channel and the busy channel are the same.

Simply pressing the SCAN key once more will bring the scanning back up. Once you have pressed the PTT button while the radio is paused on the desired channel. You will be able to converse generally while transmitting on the scanned channel. After you have ended your current chat and there has been no additional action on the channel for five seconds, the radio will resume its scanning.

Putting in place the component

After deciding where to put the device, place it in the appropriate position with the mounting bracket still attached. Using a pencil, mark at that precise spot. After removing the mounting bracket from the radio, drill holes in the appropriate locations. Install the bracket by bolting or screwing it into place using appropriate hardware for the mounting surface. The unit comes with screws made of stainless steel; however if the mounting surface is not appropriate for screws. You may be required to replace these screws with bolts made of stainless steel. Remember that the overhead mounted units’ fasteners may need to withstand challenging circumstances in particular applications.

Antenna installation

GME offers an extensive selection of 477 MHz UHF CB antennas that are ideal for various applications and installations. Opting for a 477 MHz antenna that possesses both high quality and efficiency is necessary. The performance of your antenna will be very subpar if it is of low quality. Or if it was not created for the particular frequency band that you employ. A PL259 coaxial connection should be used to connect the antenna cable to the rear antenna socket.

Conclusion

This radio has so many features that it is impossible to write about all of them. Even though this Best GME UHF Radio buyers guide covers some of the most important features. Please refer to the owner’s manual for much more detail. I hope this article has been helpful.