Gibb River Road Feedback

is a cb radio necessary in the Kimberleys
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Reply By: Member - Jon W (Toowoomba QLD) - Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 11:26

Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 11:26
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
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Reply By: snoopyone - Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 11:58

Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 11:58
Is a definite plus ANYWHERE
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Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 13:06

Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 13:06
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
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 13:16

Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 13:16
Sorry, I meant Jon
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Reply By: ian - Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 14:10

Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 14:10
David,
if you are not travelling with another vehicle it has little or no use except as a toy.
ian
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Follow Up By: Ian & Sue - Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 15:22

Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 15:22
Have to agree with ian, we regularly travel the GRR - we dont travel at speed but often encounter groups of caravanners who are naturally travelling at their safe speed which is slower than a single vehicle would travel. I have lost count of the number of times I have tried to contact them via the two way to inform them of our wish to overtake when safe. Doesn't seem to matter which channel is tried, at times I have heard them chattering amoungst themselves and totally ignoring our requests.

Of course there are others that will respond but still dont consider that the two way should be your "first port of call" for communications.

cheers and enjoy the Kimberley

Sue
Karratha WA
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Follow Up By: jothefw - Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 16:09

Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 16:09
I agree Sue - we returned on Saturday from Kimberleys and GRR and were very surprised how few people acknowledge requests via two way. We could often see signs of aerials etc but no communication.

The dust means any advance warning is welcome and I believe it's a cheap (ish) option to include (certainly cheaper than Maxie tracks which we saw everyone carrying but never saw a opportunity where you'd need them!).

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Follow Up By: Mark C - Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 21:35

Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 21:35
A UHF is handy some times, I have one fitted in both vehicles, however last year when heading to the Kimberly I blew one vehicle up and bought another in transit. I didnt didnt install a radio, continued trip across GRR and back to Melb with no radio and didnt miss it at all.
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Reply By: Travis22 - Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 15:16

Monday, Jul 25, 2011 at 15:16
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.

AnswerID: 460882

Reply By: David S9 - Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 at 09:04

Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 at 09:04
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.
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Follow Up By: GimmeeIsolation - Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 at 17:47

Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 at 17:47
Hi David, take one. Good for checking with truckies if coming around to pass or even being able to hear when they are overtaking each other coming toward you or any problems ahead as well as hearing the wide loads coming. Can have it on scan for the station work that's happening around you.
I travel alone always and have it on and live here in the Kimberley. The worst thing about the radio is the utter rubbish a lot of people ramble on about on air, it's mind boggling. I suppose that's why we are going to 80 channel. And yes I have the Sat phone, epirb and hf.
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Reply By: MobiCondo - Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 at 20:02

Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 at 20:02
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
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Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 at 21:57

Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 at 21:57
See what Gone Bush had to say in his Blog about the use of CB in the Kimberley's.


HERE



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