CB or HF Radio's

Wayne & Gaby
I took a UHF with us when we travelled around Oz, it was very handy for passing road trains and getting info on road conditions etc. We could have done the trip without one, but I wouldn't.
They are great if you are travelling with other vehicles.
If you are planning to go off the beaten track and are worried about communication then maybe a Sat phone is what you need.
Have a great trip

Wato

Do you mean HF or VHF? HF, is a system which allows communication throughout the country, and is the subject of much debate as to whether it is better than a sat phone. It is expensive to set up and you must join one of the support organisations that are available. VHF is a much cheaper option but does have very restricted range. It is mainly used for inter-convoy communications, or talking to truckies etc.

teege

Hi Wayne and Gaby,

They are not needed as such when traveling however they are a handy item to have.

When on the road CB radios (uhf) will allow you to talk with people and vehicles nearby. Basically this is known as Line of Sight. You could pick up a second hand set and aerial for a couple of hundred dollars. HF radios are a different story. How much are you willing to spend, joining an organization to use it etc. but with a far greater range (1000's of km's).

As mentioned previously perhaps a sat. phone is the answer by hiring one when needed.

If you purchase any equipment stick to reputable dealers and well known brands and you won't have any trouble.

Bill S.

Hi.

Just click on the following link.

http://www.exploroz.com/OntheRoad/Communications/Guide_to_Comms.aspx

It appears on the home page of exploroz.com

It will answer your questions and some.

Cheers

If travelling solo as mentioned yuo dont need one, eg when we are solo on the highway it's never on. If we go away with friends it's always on, handy to be able to communicate. I have no interest in chatting to strangers on the highway over a radio.
OB

Hi Wayne,

Have a look at the article on communications - it will answer a lot of your questions. There have also been many posts on this same topic so try a search of this forum.

Be aware that UHF and HF radios are quite different and serve very different purposes. UHF is for short distances only and is useful if travelling with a group, or to arrange safe passing of trucks and caravans.

HF radio networks allow you to talk across the country. They are essential for travelling into remote areas (some claim that a sat phone is a substitute but again they offer different capabilities) to allow others to know that you are safe and to be able to call for help if that is needed - or just to listen to other travellers reports of road conditions etc.

What you need is dependent on where you plan to go.

Cheers,

Val

Wayne,
where uhf radios come in handy at all times is relaying safety information, these are some recent examples of this.

Yesterday a call came over the radio to say one of our bridges were blocked, I asked which bridge and with that reply I was able to use the other one.

Couple of weeks ago another call that the highway was blocked by a bad accident and would be for a couple of hours. I then stopped at Homehill and waited. 1 hour later a call came that the road had reopened and by the time I got there all was clear.

About the same time received a call that water was across the road at a couple of places on the highway, also the depth of water was relayed. We all know what happens when you hit water at speed.

I could go on and on about cattle on the road, people walking along the road in the middle of the night, diverting around bushfires, accidents, broken down vehicles out over the fog line, large dead animals on the road, how far fog and rain go for, wide loads, large potholes or whether the road verges are soft and I could keep going on. If you don't know where a particular trouble spot is just ask, then you normally get a response like X amount of K's north or south of a town.

When around large towns I sometimes turn it down because of the crap that dribbles out of some retards mouth.

I have always found them a valuable piece of equipment right from my trucking days through to my 4wd and a handheld in my road car.

Have a good one.

Hi Wayne

On the open road having a UHF is very useful; particularly when towing. It enables you to keep in touch with heavy haulage trucks and convoys and other travellers. You will know of any hazards ahead from listening to other traffic, and may be able to find and alternative route by asking for advice. A built in unit with external antenna gives a better range and sound quality, but a small hand held two way can be sufficient for communicating with those in close proximity. In flat country a conversation can be picked many kilometres away, so be specific in identifying yourself and the truck you want to talk to; eg “Red XXfreightlines truck behind YYYbrand caravan rego ABC123”.

On some roads my husband has said "UHF should be compulsory here". Essential for passing and allowing others to pass you, to announce and hear announcements from oncoming traffic on narrow roads at bridges and crests, and worthwhile to be aware of hazards up ahead. Stay in the highway channel 40 (unless other channel specified for that area), unless chit-chatting in which case move to another channel. In some outback areas, narrow bridges will have numbers, and it is essential to monitor for road trains approaching and give way, and to announce your presence eg “Caravan northbound approaching bridge 14”.

For a guide to which channels are used for what purposeUseful UHF channels chart. On most roads and highways, channel 40 is the most used channel and the one to keep in touch with trucks drivers and over sized load escorts.

Like Rockape, ours goes off or volume right down when in a large town where the airwaves are full of noise and rubbish.

A hand help unit is sufficient to keep in touch with the traffic around you.

Motherhen

Just one other thing, UHF channel spacing is going from 25k to 12,5k on January 1 2011.

If you are buying a new UHF CB and you are in for the long run, buy one that can be reprogrammed to 12.5. One that comes to mind is Icom Pro.

Hope this helps