GME launches three XRS Connect packs for off-road use

GME has launched three XRS Connect Value Packs for off-road and touring users, bundling its latest UHF CB radios with antennas and accessories for different driving conditions.

The range adds three packages to the XRS Connect line: the Outback Pack for remote touring, the Touring Pack for general touring setups, and the 4WD Pack for heavier-duty conditions and commercial work.

All three packs are designed and manufactured in Australia. Each includes a complete communications setup with an XRS Connect UHF CB radio, speaker microphone, mounting accessories and matched antenna.

Retail prices start at AUD $779. The Touring Pack costs AUD $779, the Outback Pack AUD $799, and the 4WD Pack AUD $899.

The launch comes as off-road equipment and vehicle accessory manufacturers continue to target recreational four-wheel-drive users, regional travellers and trade operators who want integrated communications systems rather than individually assembled components.

Three variants

The Outback Pack, listed as XRS-335COB, includes the XRS-335C radio and a 2.1dBi medium-duty radome antenna. The Touring Pack, listed as XRS-335CTP, also uses the XRS-335C radio but pairs it with a 6.6dBi elevated-feed antenna.

The 4WD Pack, listed as XRS-375C4P, uses the XRS-375C radio and a 2.1dBi heavy-duty radome antenna. It is the more rugged option in the line-up, with 12/24V power input and MIL-STD 810H ratings for vibration, shock, temperature and humidity.

Across the range, standard features include a 5W compact design, an IP67 speaker microphone, 3W speaker audio, an anti-glare colour TFT LCD screen, Bluetooth audio and data connectivity, built-in GPS, noise reduction technology and user-customisable controls.

The packs also support smartphone integration through the XRS Connect app, with software-based functions including voice playback, Active Mute and location services.

Integrated setup

The move towards packaged systems reflects a broader shift in the accessory market, as buyers increasingly want a single purchase that combines radio hardware, antenna selection and installation components. For retailers, bundled products can reduce complexity at the point of sale by narrowing product choices to clearer use cases.

In the Outback and Touring packs, the included accessories are largely the same apart from antenna selection. Both include the MC670B speaker microphone, MB207 magnetic microphone mounting bracket, LE040 microphone extension lead, AD008 microphone extension adaptor kit, LE125 12V DC power lead, mounting bracket and mounting hardware.

The 4WD Pack includes the same microphone and mounting accessories, but differs in radio model and antenna specification. Its heavier-duty positioning also distinguishes it from the other two variants, which are more clearly aimed at touring and recreational use.

Australian manufacturing

Australian design and manufacturing are central to the launch, a notable focus in a category where imported communications equipment dominates much of the lower and mid-priced market.

All three products are backed by a five-year warranty.

The new packs build on the latest generation of the XRS Connect platform, recently introduced as the successor to the first XRS Connect range. The platform combines conventional UHF CB radio functions with app-based settings, GPS-linked services and Bluetooth connections to mobile devices.

For buyers, the main difference between the packs is how the radio and antenna combinations match likely terrain and vehicle use. Lower-gain antennas such as the 2.1dBi models are typically better suited to uneven or hilly environments, while higher-gain antennas such as the 6.6dBi option are commonly used in flatter conditions that favour longer-range line-of-sight communication.

That makes antenna choice one of the defining commercial decisions in the new line-up. Rather than asking customers to choose radio hardware first and antenna performance separately, GME has grouped those decisions into pre-defined packages aimed at reducing purchase friction.

All three variants include updateable firmware for post-purchase software changes, along with automatic power-down functions. The anti-glare colour TFT LCD displays are intended to improve usability in bright in-vehicle conditions.

The 4WD Pack is also the only model in the range to specify 12/24V power input, extending its relevance to vehicles and commercial installations operating outside standard passenger vehicle electrical systems.

With price points spanning AUD $779 to AUD $899, the range places bundled radio systems above entry-level UHF products while remaining within the spending range typical of buyers outfitting vehicles for touring, remote travel or worksite use.