The Next Project

DMaxer · Guru

The Next Project

Mike Harding · Guru

Consider one of these:

Supercheap UHF CB

Put a cigar plug on it and place the radio on the passenger seat or nearby.

With it use one of these:

Autobarn GME

You could use a handheld instead but I'd not recommend it and it wouldn't be much cheaper.

The external antenna pretty much guarantees you'll be able to chat with anyone within 1km and, with luck, up to 5km or 10km.

Truck drivers, and almost everyone else, use UHF CB channel 40 for comms.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

You could use a hand held, to give more flexibility of use, but adding an external antennae will improve its performance significantly.
The antennae only needs to be a small rubber 1dB gain, but mount it as high on the roof as possible otherwise there will be "shadows" created.
I would personally only buy a 5W unit. Second hand may give better value than a new lower powered unit.
Cheers,
Peter

Are We Lost · Guru

My GME radio came in a bundle with a magnetic roof mount antenna similar to the link posted by Mike. It works fine for the purpose you intend, and in fact better than an antenna with more range if you only want to reach those close to you. I have not tested it for vehicles out of sight.

I rarely use mine, but can just reach out and pop the antenna on the roof whenever I want to use it. I remove it before parking in towns so as not to be a theft target.

Channel 40 is the main truckies channel. Channel 29 for M1 travelling, and 18 for caravans (mostly groups chattering about rubbish). There are others for specific purposes. Get a radio that monitors more than 1 channel at a time. I will leave it to those more widely experienced to give better detail.

Dicko1 · Senior Member

I,ve had quite a few various radios. The one thing I learnt is dont buy cheap. I now use ICOM as they are a top quality product and are at a commercial quality. Handheld 5 watt would do the trick for you.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

We have cheap - sh hand held for parking or when walking out bush . Bigger built in Uniden

Unit inside !n

86GTS · Guru

We have a good quality radio fitted to our tug.
After getting over the novelty of listening to it, which only took a short while, we now rarely turn it on.
On a recent trip we turned it on to scan & it locked onto two blokes talking about women's bums being exposed on beaches.
Riveting stuff.

DMaxer · Guru

Thanks for the replies. I now have an idea of what to look for.

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

We have a 5w hand held, two way radio. It was very handy for overtaking trucks and notifying people of our location on narrow, windy roads. The radio replies were appreciative.

DMaxer · Guru

Thanks Buzz. I think I will have a look at those and also Mikes suggestion. I think the trick is dont buy junk.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

You can change Chanel
If they are talking rubbish ! Mind you its the same ! Shift from
Main Chanel if your in convoy etc to another Chanel . Dont stay on ch40 or whatever is used local? Although I find info can info
Can be a safe thing as in wide loads,road conditions, parking etc . Yes around big towns you get what sounds like drunk
rubbish ! Sometimes humourus ? I find knowing or listen
To traffic controller calls knowing their name . Then thanking them
by name ! The look on their faces ! Lol The larican !

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Hi DMaxer

Here is some info that may be beneficial for you if venturing further as yo intend,

The UHF network can be helpful if you understand how it works.

My choice would be for a vehicle mount radio if going UHF mainly because it will always be there when you need it as opposed to in the glove box or a seat pocket or on the floor etc.

Anyway travel safely

https://www.outbackqueensland.com.au/outback-communication/

I should add although it is Qld based a lot of the UHF info will apply Aus wide.

The list of channel useage will be useful.

-- Edited by Clarky 1 on Monday 18th of April 2022 05:03:20 PM

StewG · Senior Member

"86-GTS - We have a good quality radio fitted to our tug.
After getting over the novelty of listening to it, which only took a short while, we now rarely turn it on."

Yes. That is my experience. Ch 40 and 18 can be useful for road information if you get past the yobbos with limited vocabulary.

We fitted an iCom on the dashboard with external antenna on the roof of the tug and carry a hand-held for portability and safety. It could be used for reversing, but the microphone on the rear-view camera fills that need.

Rob Driver · Guru

Hi DMaxer,

If I were to venture out again into our wilderness I would consider a Sat Phone, a UHF radio and a Emergency beacon.
This equipment would be commensurate with where you might be intending to travel.

When using the UHF become familiar with your location and what Duplex channels you might use to contact others. Also be aware of the emergency channels.

Many, if not almost all property owners have and use UHF on their properties. They usually have a radio set in the house /shed / office as well as sets in their vehicles and farm tractors.
They generally maintain an unofficial contact network with other neighbours although they will all be on different channels.

A good UHFradio set will provide a scanning function which when activated will allow you to hear a lot more than what you will get on on Ch 18 Ch 29 or Ch 40
If in trouble on the road I would still rely on Ch 40 or Ch 29.
Forget Ch 18 unless for some reason you have formed contact with others participating on that channel.

Travel safely and enjoy.

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

DMaxer wrote:
Thanks Buzz. I think I will have a look at those and also Mikes suggestion. I think the trick is dont buy junk.

I think ours was $75 from Anaconda but I'm not sure about that. It has 80 UHF Channels with two listening channels (if that's what they are called. One can listen to two channels at once). One set on the trucking channel and one on the caravan channel.

There wasn't that much chatter throughout Queensland when we were there last year in winter. Lucky I guess.