Oh great one living the dream in the great out back is a UHF radio a must or a toy.
Possum3 said
02:40 PM May 16, 2017
Absolute necessity if van on back!
Radar said
03:49 PM May 16, 2017
For most of the time just a toy but to some they need it to get out the driveway.
I am probaly an odd ball retired transport driver, I drive carefully with patience, throw manners into the pot you will do ok.
Last month I did about 6000 ks west of the coast over the great dividing range of NSW spoke with 1 driver, listen to 3 or 4 decided my music or peace and quiet was better.
Hedge your bets put a cb in, you may meet a friendly caravaner who you want to talk to and travel with. They are handy when 4wheel driving.
I really do like having one when I am about to cross narrow bridges and like to let on coming big ones know that I am entering the skinny bridge but be cautious not everybody has one or listens, cb can be very unreliable.
Just my thoughts.
-- Edited by Radar on Tuesday 16th of May 2017 04:20:50 PM
Dougwe said
04:34 PM May 16, 2017
YES.
Tony Bev said
04:47 PM May 16, 2017
Agree with all the above, with a bit more added, from my point of view
If we are towing/touring, at less than the legal speed limit, (which most of us do)
Then in my opinion, which could therefore be wrong
The truckies have a job to do, and most of us who are towing/touring have time on our hands
A UHF Radio is very handy to let the truckies know, that you can see them, and that you will assist to allow them to pass
It does not have to be an expensive UHF Radio, as a cheap hand held one, has sufficient range to talk to the truckies coming up behind you
C00P said
05:10 PM May 16, 2017
Not essential, but useful as others have explained.
C00P
Ozzie_Traveller said
06:09 PM May 16, 2017
G'day Barcoo
I posted this recently on another forum - it might be of interest, and answer your question
Phil
Got mixed up with a highway smash today - came over the brow of a hill and there in front were a mixture of vehicles spread around the roadside and people running across the road. In the 1-and-a-bit seconds where I took note of this I was through the vehicles - there was no warnings or safety up as the collision had obviously just happened. Did a U-ey and came back to speak with a bloke starting to take control - he asked me to go to the top of the hill and flag down oncoming traffic and warn them to slow down thru the collision site - which I did for the next 45 minutes, while wearing one of my fluoro vests and hand-held 2-way radio in my fingers
The collision was at the entry to a rest area 61km west of Cobar on the Barrier Hwy. After a very long [about 40km] straight stretch of road, it rose and bent its way across some small hills, with double-lines for a km or more
It turns out that a low-loader with a tractor on the rear was turning into the rest area, the caravan behind had slowed down to allow it to do so, but someone going full chat came up behind them, pulled out over the double lines to overtake them all and side-swiped the semi as it was making its turn. The semi went off into the mulga, all battered and bent, while the crash vehicle rolled 3 or 4 times until it came to a halt. Somehow the campertrailer behind it was still attached and on its wheels
The ch-40 chattered with the truckies asking for first-aid assistance, others were asking for levers to try to open the passenger door - which took about 5 minutes
I positioned myself on the hilltop about 250m from the collision site, and during the next 45 minutes my job was to wave down cars and to radio to oncoming vehicles to warn them of the collision, especially those westwards travelling vehicles that like me, would come over the top of the hill and get no advance warning of the problem
The ambos arrived and sometime later the council workers [who owned the semi in the collision] took over traffic control duties and we hit the road, slowly but surely going westwards again
It just goes to show how quickly something can go belly-upwards, but also how soon help can arrive
Fringe Dweller said
06:05 AM May 17, 2017
Like "th bird in th box" & "mo billy dog & bone" - tr . GPS & Phone.
They ARE a tool . I Use all three . When necessary.
Dickodownunder said
08:25 AM May 17, 2017
If you choose to get a UHF then learn how to use it and keep it on when travelling.
I too, am an ex road train driver and I have a UHF fitted to my vehicle.
About three weeks ago I was travelling south from Townsville on the Bruce and 18 kls out of town I came up behind a convoy of three wide loads @4.3 wide from memory.
The lead escort driver was on the UHF advising north bound oncoming traffic of the 3 trucks presence and their width.
I noted that he was putting a call out to every north bound caravan with a UHF aerial or front sign and between Townsville and the Burdekin River one only caravan replied. That is pretty poor really,
The escort driver certainly stated his frustration with this situation as did the drivers of the three trucks.
Several times oncoming vehicles had little to no verge to pull off while the wide loads passed.
Many pulled off for the first wide load and then set off again with no knowledge of the other two floats then found that they had nowhere to pull over.
Anyone who has travelled this road will know of the many narrow bridges that are along this section and to have a UHF and not have it on is, to me, very silly.
I would recommend having a UHF in any vehicle when travelling on any road away from major cities and towns.
Hylife said
07:32 PM May 17, 2017
These days they a quite inexpensive so if you are towing I would consider one a must.
You can buy a reputable 5watt handheld that will give you (up to) 25km coverage,
in Australia for under $140 www.jaycar.com.au/5w-80-channel-uhf-transceiver/p/DC1065
or a Chinese brand from Hong Kong for $20 www.409shop.com/
RustyD said
11:41 AM May 18, 2017
I have a handheld bluetooth 5w UHF and at this point haven't found it of much use. Going around Ballarat recently and an accident was called out. Those calling it didn't make it clear as to which off ramp it was (4 off ramps) and said the off ramp was a road that doesn't cross the Western Freeway. Other conversations about pending issues have been too vague to figure out until were we right on the problem.
Is 25km coverage a bit of a dream?
Is that line of sight?
If it was 25kms, would it be possible to seperate all the conversations?
I do carry my UHF when I'm travelling. Just in case. It's like insurance. If you don't have it, you will need it.
JeffRae said
05:18 PM May 18, 2017
We carry two, one fitted to the vehicle (channel 18), one a portable (channel 40)
We find them invaluable, especially with wide loads. We always ask "how wide", gives you a guide if you need to be i the gravel or not
You can set up a scan on the UHF to monitor any channels you want, we found it easier to have two radios
Also handy to communicate with the other half if you go for a stroll and leave the other half in the car
Ozzie_Traveller said
07:03 PM May 18, 2017
G'day all
Like others ^^ we have multiple 2-way radios ... the vehicle one + 2x 2watt portables [his & hers] which we use for all sorts of things
We both like pottering around the bush - so one can call the other for a photo; we also use 'em in shopping centres ... "hey KMart has a special / meet you for coffee..." etc.
As to coverage distance - yes it varies a lot depending on obstructions from hills / trees / buildings etc. The longest distance I have talked to using the 2watt hand held was 22km ... over open flat country
Phil
dirvine said
09:53 PM May 18, 2017
The problem with hand held units is that their coverage is not great, They say 5W and yes they maybe. But their aerial limits their range .A mounted aerial on a car also has limits as each one has a "db" number which changes the area that they cover. Also where you locate your aerial on the car. Ideally it should be up high and in the middle of the car. That usually means in the middle of your roof. So once you move from that position your signal is even further compromised. However if you use the lower numbered channels out in the country, many have repeater stations which will send your signal far further than the normally accepted range of 5-10km on a flat surface. Your radio may come with a list of channels that dedicated users have assigned themselves to. Considerate users may monitor these channels to get information, but otherwise should avoid them when talking between themselves if not normally a member of the group that the channel is sort of assigned to. Its all about etiquette.
Yo,
Oh great one living the dream in the great out back is a UHF radio a must or a toy.
For most of the time just a toy but to some they need it to get out the driveway.
I am probaly an odd ball retired transport driver, I drive carefully with patience, throw manners into the pot you will do ok.
Last month I did about 6000 ks west of the coast over the great dividing range of NSW spoke with 1 driver, listen to 3 or 4 decided my music or peace and quiet was better.
Hedge your bets put a cb in, you may meet a friendly caravaner who you want to talk to and travel with. They are handy when 4wheel driving.
I really do like having one when I am about to cross narrow bridges and like to let on coming big ones know that I am entering the skinny bridge but be cautious not everybody has one or listens, cb can be very unreliable.
Just my thoughts.
-- Edited by Radar on Tuesday 16th of May 2017 04:20:50 PM
Agree with all the above, with a bit more added, from my point of view
If we are towing/touring, at less than the legal speed limit, (which most of us do)
Then in my opinion, which could therefore be wrong
The truckies have a job to do, and most of us who are towing/touring have time on our hands
A UHF Radio is very handy to let the truckies know, that you can see them, and that you will assist to allow them to pass
It does not have to be an expensive UHF Radio, as a cheap hand held one, has sufficient range to talk to the truckies coming up behind you
C00P
G'day Barcoo
I posted this recently on another forum - it might be of interest, and answer your question
Phil
Got mixed up with a highway smash today - came over the brow of a hill and there in front were a mixture of vehicles spread around the roadside and people running across the road. In the 1-and-a-bit seconds where I took note of this I was through the vehicles - there was no warnings or safety up as the collision had obviously just happened. Did a U-ey and came back to speak with a bloke starting to take control - he asked me to go to the top of the hill and flag down oncoming traffic and warn them to slow down thru the collision site - which I did for the next 45 minutes, while wearing one of my fluoro vests and hand-held 2-way radio in my fingers
The collision was at the entry to a rest area 61km west of Cobar on the Barrier Hwy. After a very long [about 40km] straight stretch of road, it rose and bent its way across some small hills, with double-lines for a km or more
It turns out that a low-loader with a tractor on the rear was turning into the rest area, the caravan behind had slowed down to allow it to do so, but someone going full chat came up behind them, pulled out over the double lines to overtake them all and side-swiped the semi as it was making its turn. The semi went off into the mulga, all battered and bent, while the crash vehicle rolled 3 or 4 times until it came to a halt. Somehow the campertrailer behind it was still attached and on its wheels
The ch-40 chattered with the truckies asking for first-aid assistance, others were asking for levers to try to open the passenger door - which took about 5 minutes
I positioned myself on the hilltop about 250m from the collision site, and during the next 45 minutes my job was to wave down cars and to radio to oncoming vehicles to warn them of the collision, especially those westwards travelling vehicles that like me, would come over the top of the hill and get no advance warning of the problem
The ambos arrived and sometime later the council workers [who owned the semi in the collision] took over traffic control duties and we hit the road, slowly but surely going westwards again
It just goes to show how quickly something can go belly-upwards, but also how soon help can arrive
Like "th bird in th box" & "mo billy dog & bone" - tr . GPS & Phone.
They ARE a tool . I Use all three . When necessary.
I too, am an ex road train driver and I have a UHF fitted to my vehicle.
About three weeks ago I was travelling south from Townsville on the Bruce and 18 kls out of town I came up behind a convoy of three wide loads @4.3 wide from memory.
The lead escort driver was on the UHF advising north bound oncoming traffic of the 3 trucks presence and their width.
I noted that he was putting a call out to every north bound caravan with a UHF aerial or front sign and between Townsville and the Burdekin River one only caravan replied. That is pretty poor really,
The escort driver certainly stated his frustration with this situation as did the drivers of the three trucks.
Several times oncoming vehicles had little to no verge to pull off while the wide loads passed.
Many pulled off for the first wide load and then set off again with no knowledge of the other two floats then found that they had nowhere to pull over.
Anyone who has travelled this road will know of the many narrow bridges that are along this section and to have a UHF and not have it on is, to me, very silly.
I would recommend having a UHF in any vehicle when travelling on any road away from major cities and towns.
You can buy a reputable 5watt handheld that will give you (up to) 25km coverage,
in Australia for under $140 www.jaycar.com.au/5w-80-channel-uhf-transceiver/p/DC1065
or a Chinese brand from Hong Kong for $20 www.409shop.com/
Is 25km coverage a bit of a dream?
Is that line of sight?
If it was 25kms, would it be possible to seperate all the conversations?
I do carry my UHF when I'm travelling. Just in case. It's like insurance. If you don't have it, you will need it.
We find them invaluable, especially with wide loads. We always ask "how wide", gives you a guide if you need to be i the gravel or not
You can set up a scan on the UHF to monitor any channels you want, we found it easier to have two radios
Also handy to communicate with the other half if you go for a stroll and leave the other half in the car
Like others ^^ we have multiple 2-way radios ... the vehicle one + 2x 2watt portables [his & hers] which we use for all sorts of things
We both like pottering around the bush - so one can call the other for a photo; we also use 'em in shopping centres ... "hey KMart has a special / meet you for coffee..." etc.
As to coverage distance - yes it varies a lot depending on obstructions from hills / trees / buildings etc. The longest distance I have talked to using the 2watt hand held was 22km ... over open flat country
Phil