Thread: UHF channels

I run Ch 10 - Its our club channel on one of my UHFs...

Do you know WHY clubs often adopted this channel...???
Its because the Old Phillips FM320s by default powered to Ch11 on startup..
10 was just a flick down!

(Dont get me started how deaf a FM320 is)

The other UHF I have scans constantly (excluding 10 & 31thru38)...

And I just got myself a couple of commercial Kenwood UHFs...
Lets just 'suggest' I may have a private channel or 3

All channels are public use (except 5 for emergency). No matter what any one else says all other channels are for public use and may be used by anyone with a UHF. None of them a legally put aside for specific use, though some may be designated (eg data channels). You can not be fined for using them for general chat except 5 or if a declared emergency. I have had this discussion on several occassions with people that think they own generic UHF 40 channels. You can buy designated private UHF and VHF channels if you wish. Some channels see mor traffic than others and near cities I just turn mine off as there are too many morons on the air.
Mining we use private VHF.
And I agree if farmers and the like want secure channels then they should pay for private channels either individually or as a co-op. The UHF 40 channel and splits are public UHF citizens band.

Not quite CraigE

Here's the rules - from ACMA - Citizen Band Radio Stations

snip

Other Conditions

As well as specific conditions spelt out in the class licence, operation of a CB radio is also subject to the provisions of the Act.
Uses Not Permitted

Other types of data operation, such as Packet Radio, are not permitted on CB bands.

Voice communications is not permitted on UHF CB channels 22 and 23.

Telemetry and telecommand is not permitted on any channel other than UHF CB channels 22 and 23.

Use of Citizen Band Radio Repeater Stations

Under the class licence system, CB radio stations may operate through a CB repeater station in the UHF band.

Because UHF CB repeater stations are usually located at hilltop radiocommunication sites, their frequencies are co-ordinated with the frequencies of other radiocommunications services to prevent interference. They are required to be covered under separate apparatus licences, not a class licence.

When in range of a repeater station, CB operators must only use the repeater's assigned channels for the purpose of operating through that repeater.

Channels 1 to 8 are designated as repeater output channels, with channels 31 to 38 the corresponding designated repeater input channels. For example, a repeater that transmits on Channel 1 will always receive on Channel 31. When operated in duplex/repeater mode, the CB radio automatically selects corresponding transmit/receive frequencies.

Repeater channels may be used for single frequency communications where they are not used in the locality for repeaters. Channels 5 and 35, however, are dedicated for emergency communications only.

Two cents worth....My day job is tipper work. We are probably the biggest hogs of UHF channels. Just about any site has its OWN channel, nice little sign out the front of the worksite and everything. Site managers get so upset when anyone starts yabbering on about what they did on the weekend...a safety issue they say...sackable offence...love to see that one at the tribunal I just wish they knew how many comm laws they are breaking by using a citizen radio for work related use.

The bad thing is, we do use it as a safety device to protect ourselves from crashing into each other or forcing a truck off the track or the like. We save the company money by allowing certain activities that should not be quite safe to continue.

By all means! If you manage to get a word in sideways. Just keep going OK, it's your channel more than ours.

As for the aircraft. A lot of aerodromes have what is called PAL-Pilot Activated Lighting. Dial up a VHF freq key the mike three times and the lights come on. If you do it high enough, every aerodrome within a hundred miles lights up. Interesting idea to have it set up on SELCAL. The automatic weather reader? they must be everywhere. Struck one that transmitted on CH15 up around Moree every hour.

Originally Posted by jonesy61

As for the aircraft. A lot of aerodromes have what is called PAL-Pilot Activated Lighting. Dial up a VHF freq key the mike three times and the lights come on. If you do it high enough, every aerodrome within a hundred miles lights up. Interesting idea to have it set up on SELCAL.

Different PAL frequencies for each aerodrome in close vicinity - listed on the landing chart. Designed so you dont light up numerous destinations. They don't use SELCAL on VHF - too expensive to fit to all aircraft and airports.

Down Gippsland way there is a bloke who has an Internet relay set up on UHF Ch26.
It's amazing driving along the highway from Warragul to Moe and chatting to somebody in Baltimore or London.
I believe theres another "node" in Rockingham W.A as well.

On the subject of Repeaters, I was involved in a search for a missing/overdue French family who had rented one of our Defenders.
They had gone missing somewhere north of Walhalla and we really needed the CH 3 repeater to coordinate the search as there is no Phone reception.
All we got was a convoy of 4WD's coming out of Moe northbound on the repeater input channel absolutely destroying our comms.
We asked them on numerous occasions to get off the freq but they just told up to POQ, that was their channel and nothing was going to change their mind thank you very much!

Originally Posted by Hymie

Down Gippsland way there is a bloke who has an Internet relay set up on UHF Ch26.
It's amazing driving along the highway from Warragul to Moe and chatting to somebody in Baltimore or London.
I believe theres another "node" in Rockingham W.A as well.

On the subject of Repeaters, I was involved in a search for a missing/overdue French family who had rented one of our Defenders.
They had gone missing somewhere north of Walhalla and we really needed the CH 3 repeater to coordinate the search as there is no Phone reception.
All we got was a convoy of 4WD's coming out of Moe northbound on the repeater input channel absolutely destroying our comms.
We asked them on numerous occasions to get off the freq but they just told up to POQ, that was their channel and nothing was going to change their mind thank you very much!

In an emergency of course I would stand down as most people would (I hope), but I can not believe you did not have access to sat phones or HF with designated call channels. Of course this all depends on when this occured to.
Taking the emergency channels out and data channels as there are no repeaters around here, most farmers have a UHF frequency listed and do get narky when you use it, but as I have said if you want a private frequency buy a channel licence, like most big companies do. Otherwise you have to put up with other users, annoying as they can be.
I do think it needs a return to the old CB licencing system to bring some order to the airwaves.
The only issue I have is with the data channels being available to all overlap and inadvertent activations may occur and not every one that buys a UHF is aware of these rules.
I think this may be the point of the proposed 80 channel system.

<<Bit of a thread drift (and plug? )>>

CB will always have a spread of wackers. More in the city but you do get them in the bush too.

There's not much you can do to improve it, other than, as CraigE mentioned, reintroduce callsigns and operator license. I doubt the government will ever do this as no one would be able to police CB and you end up with the same wackers - without licenses. (I recall back to the Pirate days of CB in the 70's - The RI's (Radio Inspectors) had no chance ...they gave up!)

Amateur Radio has changed dramtically in the last few years. I gained my Amateur callsign in the 90's - You had to do in depth theory, regulations - and morse code exams - It took about 6 months.

Now you can do a weekend course, gain your Foundation License and away you go - No morse, Simple theory exam on Interference and Antennas (quite useful stuff really), regulations and away you go.

Here's some details -

The Wireless Institute of Australia





Radio band Distance & Coverage

• 3.5MHz (80 metres) Typically up to 150KM during the day and up to 3000KM at night.
• 7MHz (40 metres) Typically up to 1000KM during the day and during good conditions world wide at night.
• 21 MHz (15 metres) World wide mostly during the day.
• 28 MHz (10 metres) World wide during periods of high sunspot activity and up to 3000km in summer.
• 144MHz (2 metres) Local coverage and world wide via "IRLP" and EchoLink.
• 432MHz (70cm) Local coverage and world wide via "IRLP" and EchoLink.

Not too many wackers on Ham radio bands. You can adjust your Codan/Barret to cover the HF bands - buy a UHF/VHF radio for convoy work and chatting. Access a wide network of UHF/VHF repeaters - data and internet links. Talk internationally on your HF or just chat to your mates.

If we all did this we could kiss CB goodbye!

SO.....

Become an Amateur Radio Operator - it's much easier now!

73's

VK3-GPS

<<end plug>>