Hi everyone I see myself as a fairly sociable person and just wanted to ask whilst on the road do fellow nomads use their forum nicknames whilst on the road ? or do they have it on display back of van or caravan ? be nice to say hi to the wonderful people on here that have made comments on different forums ?
As I plan to travel up to Darwin in may first big lap around oz .
I'm too security conscious to have my name on the back (solo female - that just lets people potentially know the fact - although my nickname is hardly girlie lol).
I have a simple 'CH 40' on the back so if anyone (mainly truckies) wish to contact me as a safety issue, they can do so. Never had a full blown convo on it. Don't know if that's legal really, considering you can't talk on phones. I don't think I'd like my attention taken away while I'm driving anyways. I never see anyone to chat to either lol.
I have a radio but it rarely get used , Only use it to talk to a truckie who may look like been held up by me inform him why I maybe holding them up . And when its safe for them to pass but most time they can see over the top of us , I think they are a toy for some people .
In Amateur Radio we have formal callsigns issued by the government and for which we pay an annual licence fee, about $55 iirc. We *must* by law use our callsigns when using Amateur Radio frequencies.
CB radio is rather different in that callsigns are not required for its use however... they can make life a lot easier and on CB you may make up any callsign you wish.
Make a notice for the back of your van/car with your callsign and a CB channel, maybe 18 or 40. Now people who want to chat with you can address you directly, those who heard you on air may see your van when it's parked and say hello and others may remember your callsign from when they chatted with you six months ago.
And don't be afraid to simply put out a general call of "This is FordMan listening on the channel - anyone like to chat?" and see who bobs up... you may be surprised.
PS. I strongly advise that in urban areas you switch off your UHF CB and leave it off until you are back in the country. Urban CB is largely populated by people with a collective IQ of around 12 whose vocabulary consists of about 10 words none of which you wish to hear I suspect.
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
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The thing I find it handy for is you can hear when an oversize load is in your vicinity and if you're towing and dependant on the size of the load (which you'll probably just hear as '6.5 metre westbound' or something along those lines) you can make an early decision to pull over and get out of their way.
'Got a copy goldenyears' 'Got ya ears on goldenyears'
Heaps of info about CB radio throughout this forum Dave as it has been discussed many many times. Go to the search bar above and type in CB radio then read and learn away, 'good buddy'.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there. 'over and out'
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TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
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Thanks good buddy ... have read all the other info but wasn't much regarding call signs etc .. and if people use same nickname as on here .. thanks again .
The thing I find it handy for is you can hear when an oversize load is in your vicinity and if you're towing and dependant on the size of the load (which you'll probably just hear as '6.5 metre westbound' or something along those lines) you can make an early decision to pull over and get out of their way.
G'day GG
We are on the wallaby for around 280-300 days each year, and the 2-way is 'on' for most of each day we're travelling, and it is set to do the ch 18-20-40 search, sometimes extra channels if I see a sign alerting me to something local.
We listen to truckies [heaps of rude words], heaps of 'caution- wide load following' messages and occasionally from fellow travellers who see us and give us a call. Our radio call-sign is in 175mm high letters [along with the 18-40] on both the front & rear of the vehicle
Most callers come up from the rear, but there have been times when someone who has gone past us calls back with a message - and the call sign name makes it quite easy for them to catch us
There are also many times when I try to contact a fellow traveller with something or another. "your window is open / your TV antenna is still pointing skywards / look out - there's a smash just around the bend ahead / etc. etc." and heaps of times we get no response. Mid last year in Albury I followed a bloke whose van cables had come adrift and caught him at some traffic lights. When I said that I had been trying to catch him on the 2-way, his answer was "don't need one" and he moved off as the lights changed ... so I left him to it
The thing I find it handy for is you can hear when an oversize load is in your vicinity and if you're towing and dependant on the size of the load (which you'll probably just hear as '6.5 metre westbound' or something along those lines) you can make an early decision to pull over and get out of their way.
G'day GG
We are on the wallaby for around 280-300 days each year, and the 2-way is 'on' for most of each day we're travelling, and it is set to do the ch 18-20-40 search, sometimes extra channels if I see a sign alerting me to something local.
We listen to truckies [heaps of rude words], heaps of 'caution- wide load following' messages and occasionally from fellow travellers who see us and give us a call. Our radio call-sign is in 175mm high letters [along with the 18-40] on both the front & rear of the vehicle
Most callers come up from the rear, but there have been times when someone who has gone past us calls back with a message - and the call sign name makes it quite easy for them to catch us
There are also many times when I try to contact a fellow traveller with something or another. "your window is open / your TV antenna is still pointing skywards / look out - there's a smash just around the bend ahead / etc. etc." and heaps of times we get no response. Mid last year in Albury I followed a bloke whose van cables had come adrift and caught him at some traffic lights. When I said that I had been trying to catch him on the 2-way, his answer was "don't need one" and he moved off as the lights changed ... so I left him to it
Hope this helps
Phil
Hi Phil
im 365 days a year....for last over 5 years....I totally MUST hang in different areas to all you dudes because I NEVER hear foul language from truckies (Exception WA city where they have hat repeater thing for half wits). I've never had a truckie contact me. I had a dude the other day that was probably an off duty escort, but I'm usually the one that simply says to the dudes 'as soon as you're clear mate, we'll get you around me and I'll accomodate you' they are mostly always saying 'not a drama' but this boils down to a professional driver as opposed to some of the crap they have out there now.
Ill reiterate.....they are all able to say 'copy in the traveller' - the clarity is such when you are so close to the other vehicle that they do not mistake who you are......if that's what you're saying. Like I said.....I don't hang in cities if that's what you're talking about.
Just a bit of a funny the other day (I have a great SOH).....I said to the truckie behind me.....my usual........and SHE says 'Okies mate....not a drama...cheers....' it was so EASY......and I just couldn't help but think to myself.........and that....is the power of the pussy......lol....the pair of US were the best drivers on that bit of road.
