CB Radios

Not wanting to be a smarty- but if you do a search on UHF, I'm sure there'll be heaps of info..

Cheers mate

You need a UHF radio. Use it on Channel 40 to listen to truckies,road works etc.

Glen.

UHF radio is useful if you are travelling in a group and you want vehicle to vehicle communications. It can also be useful if you want to listen for road reports as you travel the highways, however if you have ever listened to the crap that is broadcast over the various channels, especially repeaters, you'd probably turn it off most of the time (not a go at truckies - just the ferals that turn up on the various channels)

To sum it up; get one if you are travelling in a convey, otherwise if you are staying on major routes, spend your money on something else.

Hi Rooster,

Yes, UHF is the go for most blacktop travellers.

Chan 18 is the one used by caravaners.
Chan 20 is used by Motorhomers.
Chan 29 is used by truckies on the Pacific Highway between Sydney and Brisbane.
Chan 40 seems to be the truck chanel every where else. I can't say which chanel is used by truckies on the Hume or Princess.

I find it very useful for road reports and to communicate with truckies when towing to alert them that I am prepared to get over and let them pass. That way if they know the road they can suggest a good location to get over just ahead, or wherever.

Sometimes the language is extremely colourful, to say the least, but you can always turn it down when the cowboys get on.

Otherwise it is very helpful re road conditions, very frequently it will give you an explanation why the traffic is bumper to bumper, eg an accident etc., and you can always talk to other travellers.

Wouldn't be without mine.

Personal opinion of course.

Regards,
Gazal.

Hello Rooster,
Even though you don't plan to go far off road, at least get a UHF radio fitted. Consider fitting it in such a manner that you can easily shift it to your next vehicle.

Is a UHF radio very useful ?

I've got a UHF radio which gets quite a work out when I'm travelling in a convoy with my friends. For the sake of radio users in the vicinity, we shift our sometimes mindless banter to a little-used channel whilst monitoring Channel 40.

Like many others who have responded to your query, I find most of the chatter on Channel 40 a waste of time, but every now and then I learn something useful eg: where the speed camera car is parked or what's causing the traffic snarl.

A UHF radio is good for alerting other motorists to what has or is about to happen eg: the failure of turn signals or stop lights on a nearby vehicle.

I find the radio helpful when requesting the assistance of the vehicle ahead of me with a passing manouvre. This is important on gravel roads, especially where obscured vision and damage from airborne stones can be a problem.

I wish it was compulsory for every truck and caravanner to have and use a UHF radio. Many silly/dangerous manouvres and frustrating holdups could be avoided.

I also have a 2W handheld UHF which my spatially-challenged wife uses to help me with backing the vehicle into or out of tight spots.

Have a great trip !
Netnut

Yo! to all replies. UHF, good and bad. We will be rigged with UHF and 27meg. Old fashioned maybe, but still out there! Units and antenna everywhere!! Maybe not ideal, but what you've got for minimal price! Old CB network maybe dying, but can still help out in a crisis. HF better option if affordable.
Cheers!