selecting a channel

Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

ThreadID: 2050 Views:1832 Replies:8 FollowUps:13

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Member - Ron

Could anyone tell me if there are any prohibitions on which channels to select on either uhf or vhf cb type radios.

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Reply By: Graham - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

I believe uhf ch 5 is used for emergencies, not sure if it is an official emergency channell though

AnswerID: 6908

Follow Up By: Member - Nigel - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Yep it's official, and 35 is also reserved for emergency use only (it's used as an input channel when an emergency repeater is available).

FollowupID: 3113

Reply By: Marty - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

G'Day Ron,
On the UHF band channel 5 is for emergency use only. Also it is illegal to use channels 23 & 24 for voice transmission. They are set aside for use in things like remote controls for garage doors etc.

As far as I know channel 9 on the VHF band is the only restricted one as it is for emergency use only.

Regards,
Marty.

AnswerID: 6909

Follow Up By: Member - Nigel - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Actually it's 22 & 23 that the government have taken off us.

FollowupID: 3112

Follow Up By: Marty - Monday, Sep 30, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, Sep 30, 2002 at 00:00

Yeah sorry, I meant 22 & 23.
Marty.

FollowupID: 3193

Reply By: Member - Nigel - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

For UHF:

5 - Emergency Channel (simplex and duplex)
35 - Reserved for emergency use, not to be used in simplex (repeater input only)
11 - Calling Channel - use to make contact then change to another channel
22/23 - Telemetry and telecommand only (Voice communications is not permitted)
1/31 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 1 repeater
2/32 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 2 repeater
3/33 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 3 repeater
4/34 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 4 repeater
6/36 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 6 repeater
7/37 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 7 repeater
8/38 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 8 repeater

It's best to avoid channels 31-38 completely unless you are sure there
aren't any corresponding repeaters in range.

AnswerID: 6912

Follow Up By: Voxson - Friday, Sep 27, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Sep 27, 2002 at 00:00

so in other words " dont use your radio "
stop at a phone box instead.............. hehehe...

FollowupID: 3164

Reply By: Member - Nigel - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Hmm - I'll try and make it a bit readable :)

For UHF:

5 - Emergency Channel (simplex and duplex)
35 - Reserved for emergency use, not to be used in simplex (repeater input only)
11 - Calling Channel - use to make contact then change to another channel
22/23 - Telemetry and telecommand only (Voice communications is not permitted)
1/31 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 1 repeater
2/32 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 2 repeater
3/33 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 3 repeater
4/34 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 4 repeater
6/36 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 6 repeater
7/37 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 7 repeater
8/38 - Not to be used in simplex when in range of a Channel 8 repeater

It's best to avoid channels 31-38 completely unless you are sure there
aren't any corresponding repeaters in range.

AnswerID: 6913

Follow Up By: Darryn - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Nigel can you explain in detail the telemetry useage and voice restrictions on UHF 22 & 23? I have not heard anything about this here in Victoria. Its a shame more people don't find out more about UHF and especially how repeaters work as some of our local repeaters are often jammed (nearly always at Xmas and Easter) by poeple in convoy on the input channels.
Regd's Darryn

FollowupID: 3115

Follow Up By: Member - Nigel - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Basically the ACA has changed the class license that all CB users must abide by (or else they are transmitting illegally) so that it is now not permitted to talk on UHF channels 22 and 23.

They are reserved for Telemetry or Telecommand use only. To make use of those modes requires buying special control boxes that connect to the UHF so that commands can be send and acknowledges from one transceiver to another (eg a farmer can turn on a remote pump via UHF radio). I haven't read a lot about these control boxes but believe they can be interfaced to a computer.

Interestingly the ACA has banned packet radio (sending short text messages) on CB, which is very similar, but would be far more useful to the masses.

FollowupID: 3116

Follow Up By: Member - Keith - Thursday, Sep 26, 2002 at 00:00

Thursday, Sep 26, 2002 at 00:00

Thanks Nigel, I didn't know this so I have copied it and placed it in my glovebox for reference. Do you have a list of other channels used by groups (truckies 40, caravaners 18 etc)? Also, I noted that 10 seems to be used as the channel on the Simpson. What's the background to this and is it official or just by common usage.

FollowupID: 3135

Follow Up By: Member - Nigel - Thursday, Sep 26, 2002 at 00:00

Thursday, Sep 26, 2002 at 00:00

Hi Keith, other channels that I know of are:

40 - Road channel (trucks etc)
20 - CMCA (Campervan & Motorhome Club)
18 - Recommended Caravan channel
12 - Recommended 4WD Club channel
10 - Outback channel (used to be the recommended 4WD Club channel)

FollowupID: 3146

Follow Up By: Member - Nigel - Thursday, Sep 26, 2002 at 00:00

Thursday, Sep 26, 2002 at 00:00

BTW the ones above (40,20,18,12,10) aren't official in anyway, they are just widely used and known.

FollowupID: 3147

Reply By: Member - Nigel - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

If your interested in the actual gobbledegook you can read the full CB class license at http://www.aca.gov.au/legal/licence/class/cbrs.rtf

Also there is an information paper here: http://www.aca.gov.au/publications/info/cbrcl.htm

And finally if anyone is interested in trying to improve the conditions of CB usage, then join ACBRO - see their website for details http://www.geocities.com/acbroteam/

AnswerID: 6927

Reply By: Bill - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

But there is one BIG problem with these rules. There are many people who use both 27meg and UHF cb who have never heard of them. There is absolutely no way in which people buying a radio are required to know them - just go to an outlet and buy a radio and start transmitting. Both bands are also full of foul mouthed operators who would take no notice of rules if they knew they were there. I have found repeater channels continuosly used by foul mouths - just try getting on channel3 at Berwick (near Melbourne) or channel 8 Williamstown and you'll see what I mean!! Rules are useless without enforcement and in 20 years I've ne

AnswerID: 6939

Follow Up By: Bill Cont - Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

Wednesday, Sep 25, 2002 at 00:00

ver been able to contact anyone monitoring channel9 27meg

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Follow Up By: Member - Nigel - Thursday, Sep 26, 2002 at 00:00

Thursday, Sep 26, 2002 at 00:00

Sad but true - I beleive ACBRO are trying to get the ACA to force UHF manufacturers to included a simplified copy of the regs with all radios sold. This won't solve the problem, but at least them there wouldn't be people doing the wrong thing simply coz they don't know it's the wrong thing.

FollowupID: 3132

Follow Up By: Guy - Thursday, Sep 26, 2002 at 00:00

Thursday, Sep 26, 2002 at 00:00

Bill, there are 750 UHF repeaters in Australia. Who cares about the
repeaters in the Australian Capital cities (about 150). There are about 600 UHF repeaters in the outback doing a fantastic job
for the loacl community, truckies and 4WDrivers. People in the outback of Australia do use the UHF because there is NO or little
Mobile coverage. Who is using 27 Mhz when travelling? what 27 Mhz anyway, SBS/U/D, full? 5 watts, 25 watts? We are in 2002 an
4WDrivers are still using 27 Mhz. I have NOT seen ONE trucky using a 27 Mhz in the outback. This include road train and
other big rigg. For 4WDrivers 27 Mhz 5 watts CB is part of the dinausor. Good to see Nigel spelling out the correct legislation rather than
the usual hear-say rubbish posted by some people.
Nigel Excellenta dn current techncial explanation. Cheers Guy.

FollowupID: 3141

Reply By: Bill - Friday, Sep 27, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Sep 27, 2002 at 00:00

Pardon guy? Last time I heard rambling was on 27meg or any of the repeater channels.

AnswerID: 6976

Reply By: Bob Y. - Saturday, Sep 28, 2002 at 00:00

Saturday, Sep 28, 2002 at 00:00

G'day Everyone, Last year we had some vehicles accessing our repeater, on the input channel, so alerted them to the fact, and warned them that once they got to Birdsville, they'd "light" the whole shire up, with their travel talk. While they were quite okay face to face, their comments to each other later on UHF, were a little acid. I felt I was diplomatic, but maybe they didn't.
Nigel should send his list to GME, Uniden and they could include a copy in each new set.
As for repeater talk in the citys, last time we were in Sydney, turned UHF off for whole time, and in Brissy, usually only have ch. 40 on. Always nice to know where some of the cameras are...

AnswerID: 7017

Follow Up By: Member - Nigel - Saturday, Sep 28, 2002 at 00:00

Saturday, Sep 28, 2002 at 00:00

Some people can't handle being corrected, even if you are diplomatic about it - that's their problem as far as I'm concerned - personally I'd rather be told that I'm about to do something wrong, rather than to find out the hard way.

I've talked to manufacturers about including a simplified version of the regs, and they aren't interested - as far as they are concerned it's the ACA's responsibility. So we all need to lobby the ACA to make manufacturers do the right thing.

FollowupID: 3178