Western Deserts Recommended UHF Channel

Hi Tony,

Haven't been on those tracks so don't know which are the appropriate channels to use. Note that although there may be an "agreed" channel for particular tracks, in our experience very few users conform with it. It's not mandatory, just good practice to conform.

But looking at your question from a more general point of view - if you are listening for transmissions on any given channel, then that is the channel on which you should transmit to reach other users on that channel. If you want others to hear you and they are using the recommended channels, then you need to transmit on those same channels.

In practice, we've found few people conform to the local "standard". Sometimes, especially in sand dune country, it's desirable to routinely transmit periodically to alert others to your presence. Some don't bother to reply, so you don't know that they are there - but at least they know you are which may help avoid a headon on top of a dune.

So I would be adopting the "standard" for the track you're on, whatever it is. It won't guarantee communication, but it does improve your chances. Good idea to run the radio on scan to have a better chance of hearing others, but for general use, the standard channel is recommended.

Cheers

It's generally 10, but you just can't rely on that for all the reasons John and Val give.

We also scan all channels while out there. The Simpson recommend 10 and also at Chamber Piller. The Canning is 40. If you are with another vehicle we used hand helds to communicate to them while scanning for others.

The best thing though is a great big sand flag

Tony


When we did the CSR and Kimberley, last year we just used 40, but there were 3 vehicles, and we just "yakked" our way, everywhere. One thing is for sure, every one heard us, but isn't that what safety in dune country is about, !

Apparently we stepped on a few toes, as apparently UHF 40 is " SACRED"..
Bugger that ! safety first, and making other travellers aware that there are vehicle(s) in the area, is good, not drivinig around too scared to use UHF 40 is a load of "carp"
For what it's worth.
SAFETY FIRST
Being heard is safe, in sand dune country, and in the outback.
We call forward on UHF 40, as it is the recognised "call up channel" Australia wide.

We, or someone in our group, will also run in scan mode.

Cheers and safe driving
Bucky... and my grammer is being corrected by my "big sister" Viv