UHF Radio
Are CB radios legal in Australia?
Yes, currently both 40 channel and 80 channel radios are legal to be used in Australia. In February 2017 the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) reversed its decision to make 40 channel UHF radios illegal.
There where many organisations outraged by this as they would have to upgrade all vehicle fleets, some of these upgrades for larger fleets could mean costs of $40,000 on upgrades.
Do I need to obtain a license for UHF radio?
You don’t need a licence to operate a UHF radio. Use of a UHF radio is covered under a Class License. A Class License let’s you operate common radio equipment on shared frequencies. You don’t need to apply for a Class Licence or pay any fees to do this. You can find more information regarding this on the Australian Media and Communications website. https://www.acma.gov.au/class-licences
Even though there is no licence requirement you must abide by the following rules
1. Citizen Band Radio Stations Class Licence 2015
2. Radio communications Act 1992
What frequency is CB radio in Australia?
UHF operates in the ultra-high frequency band 476.4125 - 477.4125 MHz.
HF operates at 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz.
If you wish to use other frequencies, you must apply for an apparatus licence.
What UHF channel do truck drivers use in Australia?
The most commonly used channel for truck drivers is channel 40. However, if travelling on the Pacific Highway and Pacific Motorway in Northern NSW and Southern Queensland you may find channel 29 is used more frequently by truck drivers travelling in that area.
You may find valuable information passed via channel 40 such as road conditions, animals on the road, car accidents, wide loads ahead, roadblocks to avoid and speed camera locations. The general rule on this channel is to keep it brief and to the point on channel 40.
Why is it important to install a UHF radio in your car?
When it comes to communications the UHF radio is one of the most useful tools you can have. When your travelling between destinations having a UHF radio in the car allows you to talk to other road users or other vehicles in your convoy, get verbal directions when parking or you can call for help in an event of an emergency.
Truck drivers use channel 40 to alert each other of obstacles on the road like accidents and this may be valuable information to you when travelling on highways.
What to look for in a UHF radio?
The popularity of UHF radios means there is a vast array of brands and models available on the market. Trying to decide which one is right for you can be a difficult decision.
All UHF radios offer a range of features and functions. The difference between a entry level brand and the major brands would be reliability, clarity of speaker and how user friendly the unit is. The major brands in Australia would be Uniden, GME, Oricom and ICOM.
There are also options of having a hideaway unit where the microphone has a display and all the buttons so all you need to see is the microphone of you may want the unit accessible also.
What is UHF?
UHF CB or citizen band radio is a two-way radio system that uses a specific radio spectrum which is divided into 80 channels for various uses. UHF operates in the ultra-high frequency band 476.4125 - 477.4125 MHz.
The service is for public access and available to everyone but some channels are dedicated to specific uses and should not be used or misused.
The advantage of using a UHF rather than a mobile phone is that it can work anywhere with little infrastructure in place to support it. A disadvantage would be that it operates on a short distance only. Under normal conditions you should receive a good signal over 5 to 8kms but this can be increased much further with no interruptions.
Are there restricted channels on UHF?
The following channels are restricted for use:
Channel 5 and 35: Designated emergency channels and are not to be used except in an emergency.
Channel 11: This is the ‘call channel’ and is only to be used for initiating calls with another person, you should quickly organise another vacant channel to continue your discussion on.
Channel 22 and 23: Only to be used for telemetry and telecommand, packet data and voice transmission are not allowed.
Channel 61, 62 and 63: Reserved for future allocation and transmission on these channels is not allowed.
What is UHF etiquette?
1. It is important to remember that channels 5 and 35 are strictly for emergency communications.
2. Once communication is established, it’s accepted that both parties continue on another channel to free the channel up.
3. It’s important to understand that all communications on every channel are public. Anyone within range can hear you and join in.
4. UHF radio is a great way of staying in touch with your convoy or just to see who’s round.
5. Most importantly, it is a vital link to the outside world when things go wrong.
What UHF channels are used for?
Each of the 80 UHF channels has the following accepted use:
Channels 1-8 and 41-48: Duplex channels (output).
Channels 31-38 and 71-78: Duplex channels (input).
Channels 5 and 35: Duplex channels strictly used for emergency communications.
Channels 9, 12-17, 19-21 24-28, 30, 39, 49-60, 64-70, 79 and 80: General chat channels, simplex use.
Channel 10: 4WD Clubs or Convoys and National Parks.
Channel 11: Call Channel used for locating friends – a general meeting point for when communications are lost or beginning, before moving to another channel.
Channel 18: Caravanners and Campers Convoy Channel.
Channel 40: Australia Wide road safety channel used primarily by truck drivers and oversized load vehicles.
Channels 22 and 23 (25kHz): Telemetry & Telecommand used for automated data communications only.
Channel 29: Road safety channel Pacific Hwy, Pacific Hwy (NSW & QLD).
Channels 61-63: Reserved for future use.
The ‘duplex’ function of the UHF system helps increase the range of UHF radios using repeater stations set in ideal locations, such as hills. Any transmissions sent on non-duplex channels are sent in simplex mode, or directly between radio sets without the use of a repeater.
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