CB radios

seventoe · Newbie

CB radios

milo · Guru

I'd just have my website or nick name maybe , not my normal name..

Zoomtopz · Guru

Welcome Seventoe . I see that a lot too , but if you are on Pacific Hwy , everybody uses ch29 .

If I was to have anything I would just have - UHF equipped . Some have ch 20 , that is CMCA ch .

I suppose it's each to they're own .

seventoe · Newbie

Thanks for reply. I have been using Ch 18. proved helpful when coming back on Newell. Truckies wanting to pass advised me. I usually sit on about 97k.p.h.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We don't have anything written on the back of the van re UHF numbers, but always have it on channel 40. You'll hear warnings about wide loads, accidents/problems ahead, plus some truckies chatter. Its extremely useful on development roads as the big road trains call when they pass certain landmarks, giving you time to get off the road safely. You can call up the truckie behind you on ch 40, or if wanting a chat to another caravaner, just say "Lets move to channel 18". And going north from on the Pacific Sydney its ch 29... dunno why?
In a city we turn it off, too much rubbish and swearing.

Ontos45 · Guru

We would never put any name on rear of van, just channel #s. If you have a name it gives persons up-to-no-good a name to yell out at night outside your van. Also we have 2 radio's, one tuned to chn. 40 the other on scan so we can pick up any distress calls or van chat.

Peter

03_troopy · Guru

Or you could just use priority scan or group scan on a select number of channels.

Zoomtopz · Guru

don't know th full story Gerty .

Apparently ch 40 & a few other uhf channels are too close to Marine Recue frequencies .

ch 29 was one less likely to interfere with Marine Rescue.

Richo.

VKPORTABLE · Senior Member

Actually this is incorrect re marine frequencies.

Marine frequencies in Australia, and world-wide operate on three bands.

HF SSB - 2-25 MHz (roughly)
HF CB - 27 MHz there are 10 channels in the 27MHz allocation.
VHF - 156 MHz.

None of these are anywhere near UHF CB which is 477 MHz, some 300 odd MHz higher in frequency.
I did once get an explanation as to why they use 29 on the Pacific, I cant remember the exact reason, although I think it had something to do with avoiding the normal chatter that is on 40, due to the nature of the road it was decided to have a channel just for it.

Delta18 · Guru

VKPORTABLE wrote:
Actually this is incorrect re marine frequencies.
Marine frequencies in Australia, and world-wide operate on three bands.
HF SSB - 2-25 MHz (roughly)
HF CB - 27 MHz there are 10 channels in the 27MHz allocation.
VHF - 156 MHz.
None of these are anywhere near UHF CB which is 477 MHz, some 300 odd MHz higher in frequency.
I did once get an explanation as to why they use 29 on the Pacific, I cant remember the exact reason, although I think it had something to do with avoiding the normal chatter that is on 40, due to the nature of the road it was decided to have a channel just for it.

What I remember is that before the pacific hwy was opened up to B-doubles they all used the New England Hwy along with quite a few singles, in a lot of high spots you would pick up conversation from the New England on the Pacific and vice versa, the UHF is used for more than just general chit chat by interstate drivers, quite a lot of it's use is safety orientated and the interference from the other hwy wasn't doing anyone any good so it was decided to use 29.

Nomadicman · Member

As someone who is (was??) about to buy CB, I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth the effort after reading this thread. First, in response to the original post, I won't be putting my forename (I don't have a christian name) on my yet to be purchased van, but I was wondering about the UHF channel as I have seen that on some vans. Until I read the posts in this thread I wondered why it was necessary to post one's channel on the rear of the van, naiively I thought we'd all use the same one, but no, the Pacific Hway has one u say, so by implication we need to change channels when we move off it: is there one for the Oxshott, another for the New England??? So how will I monitor one channel when I move to another highway but also monitor my chosen default channel I'm advertising on my rear??

I thought part of the idea was to make it easy for truckies and even small vehicles to say they are approaching fast, but they might have to repeat themselves through a couple of dozen channels b4 they find me.

Can someone enlighten me, .......preferably without references to Mega Hertz (as I won't be using a rental truck, haha)...sorry Stewart!

Santa · Guru

As far as I'm concerned channel 40 is the one to monitor, other the the Pacific Highway and the road out to Marble Bar (has it's own channel) I've found 98% of truckies are on air and will reply, caravans! exactly the opposite.

Have tried ch 18 in the paste, waste of time and effort, most carvanners seldom have have them on, either that or the don't answer calls.

-- Edited by Santa on Saturday 3rd of August 2013 11:04:23 AM

Tim thetruckie · Senior Member

Delta is on the mark with the reason for 29 on the Pacific Hwy . It is the only road that truckies use another channel .
I have travelled thousands of k's all over this country and have very rarely had a caravan answer on 18 . You tand to get a bit sick and tied of changing channels to call a van up and then no answer .

On the subject of having channel numbers and names on the back of your van .
If you are going to go to the trouble and expense of getting stickers for your van , at least TURN your radio ON and be confident of using it . Dont do what one van did to me 1 day . We had slowed for a wide load about 5 k out of a town that I was stopping in for a break . I called the van up and got the reply "We know you are there " and the brake lights came on as the driver stood on the brakes forcing me to swing around them onto the wrong side of the road . They then would not answer any further calls . I was stopping in the town and called them to lt them know not to worry about getting me around them . 79 tonne is a bit hard to stop on a dime .

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I don't have my name and UHF channel on the back of the van. However, I have the CB on Ch 40 permanently.

I watch my mirrors and if/when a truck or bus is about 500metres behind me I call them up and let them know I have them in my mirrors, and that I will let them know if/when it is clear to come around. Additionally, on narrow minor roads. when an oncoming truck/bus is about 1km away, I call them up and let them know I see them and that I am either going to pull over to the left - or even stop if the verge is a bit suss - and that they can have all the black top. In all instances, the truckies are very appreciative.

I had always been told that -

Ch 10 = 4WD drivers - for convoy and clubs

Ch 18 = Caravan & Campers convoy channel

Ch 29 = Pacific Hwy Road Channel

Ch 40 = Highway channel

Therefore, leave the CB on Ch 40 unless you need to change to a "chat" channel. Ch 18 is a waste of time if you want to keep informed on the Highway - only use it to 'chat' to other vans. Why make truckies hunt to Ch 18 just to talk to you - or conversely, make yourself change to Ch 40 to chat/talk to a truckie or any other road user.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Saturday 3rd of August 2013 02:58:36 PM

seventoe · Newbie

Thanks everyone for all the info.Appears to me commonsense and awareness are much better than a CB,however do have a CB fitted and usually have it on channel 18 ( except for 800 klm trip on Bruce Hwy when we had 3 vans travelling together and used different channel). Have had a truckie call me up on channel 18 on return trip when he wanted to pass me and about 8 vehicles in front. He advised what he wanted to do, got past me but that was it and he sat in front of me for about 30klm until we got a passing lane. He then struggled to pass next vehicle, so still had six to go. By the way, the first vehicle was sitting on 100kph so nothing really gained. I am sure you have all seen similar situations. Best advice is leave plenty of room between you and vehicle in front, pay attention and check your mirrors constantly. On subject of mirrors, saw numerous towing vehicles with inadequate mirrors. In other words would not have a clue what was behind them. Anyone agree?

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Nomadicman wrote:
As someone who is (was??) about to buy CB, I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth the effort after reading this thread. First, in response to the original post, I won't be putting my forename (I don't have a christian name) on my yet to be purchased van, but I was wondering about the UHF channel as I have seen that on some vans. Until I read the posts in this thread I wondered why it was necessary to post one's channel on the rear of the van, naiively I thought we'd all use the same one, but no, the Pacific Hway has one u say, so by implication we need to change channels when we move off it: is there one for the Oxshott, another for the New England??? So how will I monitor one channel when I move to another highway but also monitor my chosen default channel I'm advertising on my rear??

I thought part of the idea was to make it easy for truckies and even small vehicles to say they are approaching fast, but they might have to repeat themselves through a couple of dozen channels b4 they find me.

Can someone enlighten me, .......preferably without references to Mega Hertz (as I won't be using a rental truck, haha)...sorry Stewart!

Nomadic1, sorry it got a bit side-tracked, but the fact is this... on every road in Australia except the Pacific H'Way, use channel 40. That is the highway channel used by the professionals who are on the road daily, you wont get warnings of wide loads on any other channel. For private conversations, you can choose to go to another channel. I'm sure if you have "UHF40" on the back of your van, a truckie would know you'd be on ch29 on the Pacific H'way.

It is an important tool for safety on the road, but only if its turned ON. I agree with Tim the Truckie, its frustrating calling people up on the channel posted on their vans, but no reply.

VKPORTABLE · Senior Member

Nomadicman wrote:
First, in response to the original post, I won't be putting my forename (I don't have a christian name) on my yet to be purchased van,
I think this is more a personal choice then anything. I don't have such things plastered on my back window and see no real need for it. Just my opinion.
Until I read the posts in this thread I wondered why it was necessary to post one's channel on the rear of the van, naiively I thought we'd all use the same one,
Welcome to the world of infinite choice! It's a bit of a mess really. You have a channel for caravans, a channel for 4WD, a channel for truckies, and I believe the CMCA also have a channel. I just sit my main one on Channel 40. Works for me and I get to hear (hopefully) what's happening around me.
When you hit the Pacific, just simply change to 29. In all reality, how many times in the year are you going to be travelling on the Pacific anyway?
So how will I monitor one channel when I move to another highway but also monitor my chosen default channel I'm advertising on my rear??
If you feel the need to monitor a specific channel other then 40, then you can set your radio to scan those two channels should you wish.
Basics are, your not going to get any truckies changing to your channel just to talk to you - unless they are angry at you for whatever reason then you might cop a blast Honestly I have three UHF's in my vehicle, and I've heard exceptionally little activity on these so-called 4WD and Caravan channels, to the point where it is virtually useless and a waste of time monitoring them unless you are travelling in a group.
I have one 40, one scanning 10/18 and the other scanning 5/35.
I thought part of the idea was to make it easy for truckies and even small vehicles to say they are approaching fast, but they might have to repeat themselves through a couple of dozen channels b4 they find me.
If you are on Channel 40 they will find you and you will hear them. As I said, truckies are not going to be changing channels just to find or talk to you.
For example lets say you are driving down a hill and you are on Channel 18 or whatever - a truck is coming up fast behind, maybe he/she has a problem with their brakes or what-have-you and cannot slow down, they may be calling on 40 advising of the problem and requesting forward vehicles move off the road for him/her. In such a situation they wouldn't have time to be changing through channels, their priority would be on maintaining safety and life.

Can someone enlighten me, .......preferably without references to Mega Hertz (as I won't be using a rental truck, haha)...sorry Stewart!

No problem :) Basics are if you have one radio, put it on Channel 40 and it will serve you well. If you are in the boondocks of some track and travelling with others then you may wish to change to another channel for vehicle to vehicle yaps.

-- Edited by VKPORTABLE on Sunday 4th of August 2013 10:36:34 AM

-- Edited by VKPORTABLE on Sunday 4th of August 2013 10:38:46 AM

-- Edited by VKPORTABLE on Sunday 4th of August 2013 10:39:24 AM