Unication Charger | Amplifier - out of stock nationally?

[maus92]

I've decided to start using my ~5+ year old G5 as a base radio in my office. However the target system is in the next jurisdiction north of me, and the office is located in an RF challenged environment. The good news is that our outside antenna is good enough to receive the target, I just need to connect it to the G5. The options are a BNC adapter to the radio itself, or use a charger | amplifier. Due concerns about an adapter mangling the internal connector, I believe that the second option is the best solution - however it seems to be out-of-stock at the three vendors I have checked: Unication, Ray's Pagers, and East Coast Pagers. Is this a typical situation with Unication chargers? Are they simply depleted due to the Christmas holiday and awaiting the next container from Taiwan? Or is this a signal of a new model or discontinuation? Any leads on a in-stock vendor and / or insight is appreciated.

 

[druhe]

Try Ray's Pagers. No indication that he's out of stock

Unication Pager Accessories for Sale | Order Online

From batteries to belt clips, Ray's Pager Sales has all of the Unication pager accessories you need! Shop online today!

www.rayspagersales.com

 

[maus92]

Try Ray's Pagers. No indication that he's out of stock

Unication Pager Accessories for Sale | Order Online

From batteries to belt clips, Ray's Pager Sales has all of the Unication pager accessories you need! Shop online today!

www.rayspagersales.com

Lol - when I wrote Bob's, I meant Ray's - and they are out of stock when I tried to order it, even though the product page says they have two. Edited the post.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Try Ray's Pagers. No indication that he's out of stock

Unication Pager Accessories for Sale | Order Online

From batteries to belt clips, Ray's Pager Sales has all of the Unication pager accessories you need! Shop online today!

www.rayspagersales.com

I got one from Ray's a couple weeks ago. He ships fast.

 

[maus92]

I call him tomorrow to verify stock levels.

 

[Enjoi19]

Shoot an email or call to one of the dealers - all of the known, reputable ones like Ray's, East Coast, Hoffman, are renowned for their customer service and would probably be able to give you a good indication of a timeline to receive it.

 

[K6LEH]

Try Wolfe Communications. They are also an authorized dealer. Nice folks, I have ordered all of my Unification G4/G5 stuff through them.

G5 Pager | Unication | Fire Pagers

Unication G5 Wolfe Communicationsoffers Fire Pagers the Unication G1, G5 pagers, In Stock

www.wolfecomm.com

 

[w2lie]

Unication was back ordered. I’ll have inventory this week at East Coast Pagers. If you put an order in now the amp charger will ship when they arrive.

 

[maus92]

I had a discussion with one of the vendors about the charger / amp wrt to its antenna connection. He stated that an external antenna would improve the secondary band reception, but not the primary band based on feedback from his customers. In my case, my secondary band is VHF which I rarely if ever use at this point. So it looks like my only option is an antenna adapter connected directly to the radio. I know ther was a discussion about which one works a few years back - does anyone have any recent experience with SMA female to BNC adapters - ones that reach but do not destroy the internal pin?

 

[jtwalker]

This has not been my experience. The external antenna connected to amp charger improves reception on both bands for me.

 

[K9KLC]

I had a discussion with one of the vendors about the charger / amp wrt to its antenna connection. He stated that an external antenna would improve the secondary band reception, but not the primary band based on feedback from his customers. In my case, my secondary band is VHF which I rarely if ever use at this point. So it looks like my only option is an antenna adapter connected directly to the radio. I know ther was a discussion about which one works a few years back - does anyone have any recent experience with SMA female to BNC adapters - ones that reach but do not destroy the internal pin?

My experience has been opposite from what you were told, when it's plugged in, the charging base works on both 700/800 and VHF. I have one of my G5's in a place where the 700/800 signal is in and out without the base but, just fine with it in the base and the base powered up.

 

[K9KLC]

This has not been my experience. The external antenna connected to amp charger improves reception on both bands for me.

I agree, with it plugged into power, it seems to amplify both bands on my G5.

 

[maus92]

Mysterious - could be bad feedback from some users to the vendor. I dug around in my pigtail / adapter collection and cobbled together a sma-female to bnc connection to test the signal directly to the G5 from the outdoor antenna without destroying the pin. The signal strength of the target system went from out-of-range to full bars using this somewhat janky solution. Now I have to decide if I want to go full-on and spring for the charger / amp base, lol. I looked around for a Youtube-type comparison between the direct cable and charger base connections, but didn't find one - has anyone seen one before?

 

[AFD103]

I sent an email to Unication tech support about the charger/amp approximately a year ago. They told me very specifically that the external antenna was designed to improve coverage on both bands.

 

[K9KLC]

Mysterious - could be bad feedback from some users to the vendor. I dug around in my pigtail / adapter collection and cobbled together a sma-female to bnc connection to test the signal directly to the G5 from the outdoor antenna without destroying the pin. The signal strength of the target system went from out-of-range to full bars using this somewhat janky solution. Now I have to decide if I want to go full-on and spring for the charger / amp base, lol. I looked around for a Youtube-type comparison between the direct cable and charger base connections, but didn't find one - has anyone seen one before?

I can only tell you I have checked it multiple times and every time my signal on 700-800 goes up in strength in the amplified base. I can even set it "almost in" the base letting it rest on the clip and it's still "iffy" and then when I seat it in the base, the signal bars gain signal. I think later I'll put it on the dbm reading and see what's actually happening there.

 

[K9KLC]

I sent an email to Unication tech support about the charger/amp approximately a year ago. They told me very specifically that the external antenna was designed to improve coverage on both bands.

Seems that is right. Thanks for sharing that email and answer.

 

[FishScan]

Besides "How do I scan P25 and analog on the same knob" this is the second most asked question. The amp antenna is for all bands.

 

[maus92]

I bit the bullet and ordered the charger / amp. Based on my conversation earlier this week, Ray's expects to receive new stock today so hopefully I'll have it either tomorrow or Monday. Crossing my fingers that the charger base will be able to provide a signal equal in quality / strength compared to running the outdoor antenna directly to the radio.

 

[nhfdcadet]

I had a discussion with one of the vendors about the charger / amp wrt to its antenna connection. He stated that an external antenna would improve the secondary band reception, but not the primary band based on feedback from his customers. In my case, my secondary band is VHF which I rarely if ever use at this point. So it looks like my only option is an antenna adapter connected directly to the radio. I know ther was a discussion about which one works a few years back - does anyone have any recent experience with SMA female to BNC adapters - ones that reach but do not destroy the internal pin?

I have verified with a service monitor that when in the charger, both bands go through the bnc on the back of the amp.

 

[maus92]

I have verified with a service monitor that when in the charger, both bands go through the bnc on the back of the amp.

I did order one today and have received the tracking number so hopefully I will get it tomorrow or Saturday if USPS makes the effort. I will report back on my real-world experience.