Hi Guys. Got an Aldi UHF radio for Fathers Day (after a few hints) and now have it fitted and sort of working. I say "sort of" as it has been very many years since I used a 2 way which was a 40 band back in the 70s and I am a bit disappointed that I cannot hear chatter all the time. Wondering if the chatter is not there or I am not receiving it. Have called for radio checks and have got some. Maybe I am not using it correctly or I am expecting more that I should be. Mostly tried Channel 40 ( I was told it would be the busiest channel especially on a busy freeway like the Monash).
Now the whole point of this is to find out how I use the damned thing. I need some tutorials on what the terms mean and how to use them. Is there a "UHF CB for dummies" type website?
jules47 said
02:45 AM Oct 2, 2013
Ask your friend google, or youtube - sure to find something!
Gerty Dancer said
02:49 AM Oct 2, 2013
Use the search function on this forum too, its been discussed many times. You are not alone!!
Dougwe said
03:17 AM Oct 2, 2013
Hi Marken, welcome from me, enjoy here and out in the playground.
As for your UHF radio, you will not get anything like in the 70's, those good old days are long gone mate. I had a Cougar SSB Radio with sliding capabilities and Cougar now means an older lady getting a grip of a younger man.
I was heavily involved in CB radio those days myself, I set up and run 'Westernport C.R.E.S.T.' (Citizens Radio Emergency ServiceTeam) for many years from Tyabb, near Hastings Victoria on channel 9. CREST still operate to this day on channel 5&35.
All the 'Lingo' used those days seem to have been abandoned, I have tried to use it and was told to get off and stop being an idiot but not in those words, now I hear some say I am an idiot anyway and they could be right.
So I spose what I am saying is, just push the talk button and, well, talk but talk normally as there are a lot of idiots on there that get great pleasure in swearing and referring to human body part all the time. I actually turn it of when in large towns and cities now as I choose not to listen that garbage.
It's very sad to think UHF radio is like that though. Of course there are good operators out there as well. I still wouldn't travel without my UHF though, invaluable really.
Chatter is discouraged on the channels used for road reports and so on, eg Channels 39 and 40.
Perhaps you have not switched to 'duplex', which extends your reception through repeater stations. Even despite that, UHF has a short reception range which is affected by aerial used (6dB is the best compromise), and by features like hills and buildings. The range is short, not at all like the range imagined by many people.
Courier drivers and assorted mugs abuse and bully on the 'social' channels. Best avoided.
-- Edited by johnq on Wednesday 2nd of October 2013 06:57:41 PM
Cruising Cruze said
08:47 PM Oct 2, 2013
Hi Ken
Just drive into a caravan park and ask someone with a 4wd if he can help you and try to do a radio check with you
plenty of blokes hanging around in caravan parks
don't be shy they won't eat you ,and most likely they know how to fixed the problem
Good luck
John
Marken said
02:27 AM Oct 3, 2013
Thanks to all who replied with their advice and pointers. I have done a search of the net but most of the sites I found went into lengths about antennas & channels rather than actually making contact. I accept what Dougwe says and I should just pick up the mike and talk. When I hear someone talking it is very broken up and the "receive"light flicks on and off. Could this be an antenna problem? I will continue to search both the GN website and the net and see if anything else come to light. Anyway thanks again. Love the GN website and the people on it.
Cheers
Marken
_wombat_ said
02:47 PM Oct 3, 2013
Marken wrote:
Thanks to all who replied with their advice and pointers. I have done a search of the net but most of the sites I found went into lengths about antennas & channels rather than actually making contact. I accept what Dougwe says and I should just pick up the mike and talk. When I hear someone talking it is very broken up and the "receive"light flicks on and off. Could this be an antenna problem? I will continue to search both the GN website and the net and see if anything else come to light. Anyway thanks again. Love the GN website and the people on it. Cheers Marken
DON't take too much notice of Dougwe, he even admitted he was an idiot also those other guys dazren, Duh can be put in the same boat as Dougwe.
Dougwe said
05:50 PM Oct 3, 2013
I don't have a boat. so there bigW.
_wombat_ said
05:59 PM Oct 3, 2013
Dougwe wrote:
I don't have a boat. so there bigW.
any boat will do, it does not have to be yours, just one that will take you a long way away.
Dougwe said
11:34 PM Oct 3, 2013
10/4 good buddy. Copy that.
_wombat_ said
11:56 PM Oct 3, 2013
Dougwe wrote:
10/4 good buddy. Copy that.
that shows how old you are
Dougwe said
12:55 AM Oct 4, 2013
Roger that.
beiffe said
04:14 PM Oct 7, 2013
It might be your squelch is too high.
Turn up your volume (be prepared to turn it back quick) and then move the squelch fully each way.
The secret is to have it where you can hear the close chats but cut out the broken long distance stuff.
You can always put a call out for a radio check. Just go onto 40 and ask for a radio check and give you approx location eg suburb if in a city or town if in the bush.
I hope you sort it out. Mine is on 40 all the time I just cut the rubbish out with the squelch when in city areas.
Regards
Brian
Marken said
04:40 PM Oct 7, 2013
Thanks beiffe. That's the sort of help I needed. As I said most sites tell you all about the channels to use (and not use) but it is the basic operation of the radio that I need help on. Now I understand more about squelch and I have also learned about duplex. Getting somewhere at last. Cheers marken.
Hi Guys. Got an Aldi UHF radio for Fathers Day (after a few hints) and now have it fitted and sort of working. I say "sort of" as it has been very many years since I used a 2 way which was a 40 band back in the 70s and I am a bit disappointed that I cannot hear chatter all the time. Wondering if the chatter is not there or I am not receiving it. Have called for radio checks and have got some. Maybe I am not using it correctly or I am expecting more that I should be. Mostly tried Channel 40 ( I was told it would be the busiest channel especially on a busy freeway like the Monash).
Now the whole point of this is to find out how I use the damned thing. I need some tutorials on what the terms mean and how to use them. Is there a "UHF CB for dummies" type website?
Hi Marken, welcome from me, enjoy here and out in the playground.
As for your UHF radio, you will not get anything like in the 70's, those good old days are long gone mate. I had a Cougar SSB Radio with sliding capabilities and Cougar now means an older lady getting a grip of a younger man.
I was heavily involved in CB radio those days myself, I set up and run 'Westernport C.R.E.S.T.' (Citizens Radio Emergency ServiceTeam) for many years from Tyabb, near Hastings Victoria on channel 9. CREST still operate to this day on channel 5&35.
All the 'Lingo' used those days seem to have been abandoned, I have tried to use it and was told to get off and stop being an idiot but not in those words, now I hear some say I am an idiot anyway and they could be right.
So I spose what I am saying is, just push the talk button and, well, talk but talk normally as there are a lot of idiots on there that get great pleasure in swearing and referring to human body part all the time. I actually turn it of when in large towns and cities now as I choose not to listen that garbage.
It's very sad to think UHF radio is like that though. Of course there are good operators out there as well. I still wouldn't travel without my UHF though, invaluable really.
One guide of many available (use Google),
http://www.caravanandcampingsa.com.au/page.asp?parentid=22&parent2id=155
Chatter is discouraged on the channels used for road reports and so on, eg Channels 39 and 40.
Perhaps you have not switched to 'duplex', which extends your reception through repeater stations. Even despite that, UHF has a short reception range which is affected by aerial used (6dB is the best compromise), and by features like hills and buildings. The range is short, not at all like the range imagined by many people.
Courier drivers and assorted mugs abuse and bully on the 'social' channels. Best avoided.
-- Edited by johnq on Wednesday 2nd of October 2013 06:57:41 PM
Just drive into a caravan park and ask someone with a 4wd if he can help you and try to do a radio check with you
plenty of blokes hanging around in caravan parks
don't be shy they won't eat you ,and most likely they know how to fixed the problem
Good luck
John
Cheers
Marken
DON't take too much notice of Dougwe, he even admitted he was an idiot
also those other guys dazren, Duh can be put in the same boat as Dougwe. 
any boat will do, it does not have to be yours, just one that will take you a long way away.
that shows how old you are
Turn up your volume (be prepared to turn it back quick) and then move the squelch fully each way.
The secret is to have it where you can hear the close chats but cut out the broken long distance stuff.
You can always put a call out for a radio check. Just go onto 40 and ask for a radio check and give you approx location eg suburb if in a city or town if in the bush.
I hope you sort it out. Mine is on 40 all the time I just cut the rubbish out with the squelch when in city areas.
Regards
Brian
Thanks beiffe. That's the sort of help I needed. As I said most sites tell you all about the channels to use (and not use) but it is the basic operation of the radio that I need help on. Now I understand more about squelch and I have also learned about duplex. Getting somewhere at last. Cheers marken.