For out in the bush for emergencies when out of mobile phone range
Last edited by KarlB; 31st October 2010 at 11:23 PM. Reason: remove typo: UHF to HF
GPS type PLB brings help 100%.
UHF useless unless a repeater or someone within range. And then, can you accurately tell them where you are? Especially if injured.
HF sort of OK, but...
If a crash/damaged vehicle, will it still work?
If people injured can they use radio?
Sat phone not always easy to use if inured. And expensive.
PLB is simple to operate - you should show everyone in the car how to activate it.
PLB can, and should, be carried with you every time you leave vehicle even for a short walk.
All above for emergencies.
.
Probably should have clarified. Not talking Birdsville track or anything here, more like Back of Lamington national park, up the beach at Stradbroke / Moreton or Carnarvon gorge sort of thing. Would UHF be no good in these sort of places? What range do they have and how frequent are the repeater stations? HF a bit out of my range at $800+. Is VHF an option? Is it difficult to SWR in / fit your own antenna?
For a UHF somebody else needs to be close enough to hear it.
In these locations you might be lucky enough to have another traveller or a park ranger nearby and a UHF will show its worth on the highway getting to your destination.
VHF is marine, needs a licence I think.
There are maps/lists of UHF repeater stations on the 'net, its worth knowing where they are.
Regards
Max P
A very important consideration is changing your mobile to the Next G network. Unless you are touring in really remote areas, you can usually get a signal, especially if you walk up the nearest hill. Next G is very much better than 3G. You just have to put up with Telstra and choose from a more limited range of phones. On a trip through western NSW, into the Gawler Ranges in SA and then Coffin Bay, at only one campsite could I not get a signal by not walking up the nearest rise, and that was in the flat country near Roto. I also have an auxiliary aerial I plug into the phone (< $40 on EBay). A PLB and Next G provide enough emergency communication for me at the moment. If you are travelling in really remote areas most people do that in a group. In those situations you can share the cost of buying or hiring a sat phone.
Cheers
KarlB
a UHF is standard in most 4wd's that leave the black top but have limited range, i used to carry two antenna's for differant ranges but now only carry the one
on trips like the simpson i borrowed a sat phone
I do have a next g phone and yeah, better coverage than most but I have been in areas near town too even Tambourine mountain, Stradbroke Island, Boonah etc where the reception can be lost for a couple of k's. UHF sounds like it may suit me. Would be handy
(fun too) if we go away to keep in contact with the missus via a hand held also.
If I bought a second hand one that came with an aerial, would that be ready to go or does it have to be set up for each individual vehicles height / mounting etc?
Been looking at GME tx3220 uhf & 4.5 db raised feed aerial package for $315 del.- seems ok & cheap enough
This might help re-aerials
UHF CB Antenna Information
Brett
110 300tdi
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