Radio comms

HF will get further than UHF.

Its also what you use to call for dire need help, like the Flying Dr's. HF you need a license unless your on http://www.vks737.on.net/

You also get weather reports and stuff on HF from what Ive been told.

HF is something you will have to be trained to use, or at least shown, against UHF is just press and talk.

UHF you use as Car to Car. It also gets respectable distance, but HF is a must in the ourback.

HF is bleep in expensive, look in the trader section... also look in Links section of 737 site for more info.

UHF pros: short antennas (477 MHz) 0.6 metres and up
good car-car communication
slowly increasing number of radio repeaters

UHF cons: not good for isolated area communications
more expensive than 27 MHz "CB" radios ($300-500)

27 MHZ pros: relatively cheap ($100-300)
good distance possible, especially on SSB

27MHz cons: need long antenna to be effective (PITA in underground
carparks) typically 1.2-1.8 metres

HF pros: Good australia wide range
Essential services available directly

HF cons: Heavy large antenna base 150mm diameter x 300-350mm high
Expensive +++
license as noted above (but its not really worth having a radio if
you aren't allowed to use it, is it?)
Antenna (as per 27 MHz)


Also be sure to get insurance cover on all comms equipment. (theft/damage, especially water damage)
Carry a spare antenna for each of the radios. (theft/breakage)
Carry two radios.

Sorry for the confusion. Originally Australia started with 27 MHz "CB" radios similar to what the Americans had. Then the Government in their infinite wisdom wanted everyone to migrate to 477MHz "CB" radios that almost no-one else in the world uses. People didn't move voluntarily as both systems have their good and bad points depending on how and where they are being used. Thus we now have two "CB" radio systems coexisting.....and then we have the HF radios which, as you have noted, are a different kettle of fish entirely!

Reason for two radios is safety. If one or other of the radios dies you at least communicate. Likewise if you should break an antenna (and your spare antenna, you will carry one wont you?) you should still be able to communicate using the other radio.

It's a bit of a PITA but its worth spending the money to get it right, you're only talhing about $400-800 total.

To confuse you more :)

you can get radios that have UHF and 27 meg in one, but wouldnt recommend them.
They only can talk/listen to 1 freq at a time.

If I was travelling outback style, Id hire a HF, and I already have UHF and 27meg in the truck. But if I didnt I would only carry UHF (our club std radio here...)

HTH..

Oh and as the other bloke says no such thing as a dumb question, the only dumb question is one not asked.

Andrew,
If you are travelling mainly around the popular parts of Australia all you need is an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Citizen Band (CB) radio.You will be able to talk to trucks, most 4WDs, some cars, most Homesteads and most Service Stations. The most popular Channel is Ch 40.
If you decide to cross the Simpson Desert, do the Canning Stock Route etc you need either a High Frequency (HF) radio or probably better in your case a Satellite Phone (which is still a radio) which you can buy for about $1,000 and will communicate from everywhere. You can even hire them in some remote areas such as the Birdsville Police and you return it to the Oodnadatta Police for a crossing of the Simpson. The other thing you should carry is an Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon (EPIRB) which you use as a last resort in a real emergency. When you activate an EPIRB it sends out a signal via satellites and aircrafts that allow the Authorities to loate you hopefully in a couple of hours. They cost about $300.
Personally, I love my HF radio.
Have a great trip.

Mal T.

HF dosnot have to be expensive , I have just installed an older unit from a person that does them up it cost me $600.00 I have contact with the 4wd network and flying doctors now its just another thing to set my mind at rest in the outback.(if you want a contact in W>A for good second hand phone me W.A 96411600 Peter York 4x4

This forum is fantastic. The quality of the questions and the integrity of the answers supplied is supberb, more power to you fellas for the help you give and three cheers to David and Michelle for the work they put into the site. If I ever get the chance to cross tracks with you in the outback I'd love to shout you a lemonade.

And Andy, never worry about asking questions. I used to tell my kids that no body was born knowing everything they know today, it was all learnt over time by questions and listening.
Look at Truckster, he was born a dumb baby but his mother still loved him, now look at him, a veritable font of knowledge and wisdom. There is hope for everyone.