Gibb River Road Feedback

David,
I would say useful in at least the three cases following:
1. An alternative means of contacting a station or fellow road user in an emergency.
2. Helpful for warning other vehicles that you are overtaking them.
3. Helpful for getting info on road conditions ahead from approaching traffic. We were able to time our crossing of the Durack and Pentecost Rivers based on info we received from oncoming traffic.

Personally, I would not travel up there without one. Even a small handheld is useful if you do not wish to spend too much money.

Jon W

Is a definite plus ANYWHERE

As John and Snoopyone say.

We found all travellers on the GRR had them, so easy to talk to an approaching vehicle to warn them of a bad patch, or talk to coaches or trucks to allow them to pass. If on side track to features where track is narrow and not many places to get off, knowing that vehicles are approaching essential. All on channel 40.

Mh

David,
if you are not travelling with another vehicle it has little or no use except as a toy.
ian

My wife and i usually travel alone.

We have both an in car unit and a quality 5W handheld.

They are used more often then not together so we can communicate with each other if i leave camp for whatever reason, taking photos, fishing etc.

On our "kimberley' trip i think we used the UHF once to speak with another vehicle and even then it certainly wasn't really needed.

To answer your question is it necessary? No i dont think so, but still they come in handy.

Unless you a traveling off track, if there is a problem you dont really need to 'call out' for help its just a matter of waiting a few minutes (on the GRR) for the next vehicle to come by but if you are venturing out into the more remote area's then the wait might be a little or a lot longer.

I would strongly advise you to carry a PLB, if you can afford a UHF after that then get one but the UHF should not be thought of as a replacement safety device.

Travis.

Many thanks for the information. I have taken all comments on board. We have a satelite phone so maybe can do without the cb radio as travelling alone.

David S9 - Do consider taking one! As per Jon W, Snoopyone and Mother Hen, we find one useful and have used it for serious calls re road use, conditions as well as general chat. We are "loners" for the majority of our travels and also have HF in case of radio telephone calls to family etc. We scan at least 18 / 40 whenever travelling the highway and then do the full 40 Ch scan when off the highway and have picked heaps of very good information that way. Even the
-ve lingo type stuff tells us lots of information (about the broadcaster usually) as we prefer to be "All ears" and only transmit when needful.
Cheers - Mobi

See what Gone Bush had to say in his Blog about the use of CB in the Kimberley's.


HERE



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