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Get To Know Your Radio
 
Alot of Consumers buy radios and 9 out of 10 dont know how to use them properly or its functions. We have put together information to help guide with you and your radio.
 
UHF CB Radio

Volume
Volume turns level up and down of any signal
May read on radio as.
Volume - Vol -
 
Duplex
Allows you to access any Repeaters on any Channel from 1 to 8
may read on you radio as
Dup - RPT - Duplex - Repeater
 
Selcall
Selective Calling lets you call another radio with your SELCALL number installed on your radio mainly GME and Icom units in the consumer market have this feature.  
 
Call
Alot of handhelds have this function and some base units have this feature. If you push the the CALL button you will hear a ringtone type sound to anyone that listnes out on a channel you do it on. 
 
Scan
Scan lets you scan channels there are three types of scan functions
 
Open Scan - Scans all channels between 1 to 40
 
Group Scan -  Group Scan allows to scan more than one channel at once
 
Priority Scan - Priority Scan allows you to choose one channel to be monitored with more frequency than the others. Operator Selectable Scan lets you program the channels in the scan list to be monitored and select a priority channel.
 
Antennas

The antenna is the most important piece of equipment in an RF communication system. It does not matter how powerful the transmitter or how sensitive the receiver, without a good antenna the propagation and collection of signals will suffer and hence limit the communication range.

It is also important to understand the relation of an antenna's gain to it's radiating pattern. The diagram below shows the radiating pattern of different gain antennas. As the electrical design of the antenna is modified to increase the gain, the omnidirectional pattern is squashed in a vertical plane, therefore furthering the signal's coverage. A high gain antenna will therefore give increased coverage on flat terrain but the elevation will be limited making it unsuitable in mountainous country.

In the following information we will inform you on the basics of UHF antennas and which antenna to choose to suit your travelling requirements.

Hence the antenna choice for undulating and mountainous terrain is different than flat outback conditions.

 

Radiation Patterns of Different Db Gain Antennas

The illustrations below best demonstrates how radiation patterns differ between antennas.

 
  
 

Australian UHF CB Radio Channel Allocation

 

Below you will find a list of UHF Radio channel allocations. There are many channels that have been established by law including the Emergency channel 5 and the data transmission channels 22 and 23.

 
  • 1 to 8 - These channels, which are established by law, can be used when sending a signal to a repeater which will help increase the communication distance
  • 5 - Emergency Channel
  • 9 - Used for conversations
  • 10 - Used by 4WD Enthusiasts, Clubs, Convoys and in National Parks
  • 11 -  Calling channel. This channel, which is established by law, is used to call or locate another station. Parties will then switch to another channel to continue with their conversation
  • 12 to 17 - Used for conversations
  • 18 -  Holiday maker’s communication channel (e.g. when in a convoy)
  • 19 to 21 - Used for conversations
  • 22 and 23 - These two channels are used for data transmissions and is established by law. Voice transmissions are not allowed on these two channels
  • 24 to 30 -  Used for conversations
  • 29 - Highway Communications NSW 
  • 31 to 38 - These channels, which are established by law, are received by a repeater and re-transmitted on channels 1 to 8 to help increase the communication distance not to be transmitted on.
  • 35 - Emergency Channel
  • 39 - Highway Chat Channel
  • 40 - Highway Communications
 
Australian 27Mhz Cb Radio Channel Allocation
 
Here is the allocation for 27mhz radio. 

Channel
  • 8 Road Channel
  • 9 Emergency Channel
  • 11 AM Calling Channel
  • 16 SSB Calling Channel - LSB
  • 35 LSB DX Calling Channel

SSB - Single Side Band

LSB - Lower Side Band

USB - Upper Side Band

AM   - AM mode
 
 
Marine Radio 
 
27 Mhz
88, 90, 91

VHF
16, 67, 73,

HF
2182, 2524, 4125

Equipment
Marine radios are essential and in most cases the only method of lifesaving by communicating with other boats, marine rescue groups and to receive navigational warnings and weather updates.

There are many factors for you to consider including:
the area of operations
location of local volunteer marine rescue group
the number of boats in the same area
your budget
size and type of boat

There are four main types of marine communications equipment.
1. VHF - this is the preferred radio for short-range communications. All large boats and an increasing number of smaller boats monitor Channel 16.

Areas with large boating populations have marine rescue stations monitoring channel 16 and 67 on a 24-hour/7-day basis. Weather information is regularly broadcast on channel 67.

Channel 16 is for emergencies or initial calls and should not be used for routine messages or 'chat'. Most areas throughout Queensland have a local 'chat' frequency or a common use rebroadcast frequency. The local marine rescue station can advise on this practice. 		GME VHF Radio
2. 27MHz - this has very limited range and, although better than no radio, you should check that a limited coast station is in your immediate vicinity before relying on this equipment for your safety.

Most marine rescue groups monitor channel 88 but larger boats at sea do not listen to this radio. 		NAVMAN 27 Meg radio
3. HF - these radios have a greater communication range if travelling long distances from shore although they are reliant on atmospheric conditions and to some extent on hull material. They can be difficult to operate without training and practice.

All states and territories operate 24 hour/7 day monitoring on the frequencies 4125, 6215 and 8291 kHz from 'Coast Radio' stations Cairns, Gladstone, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth, Port Headland and Darwin. Queensland HF services cover coastal waters to a minimum of 200 nautical miles seaward from sites located at Cairns (call sign: coast radio Cairns) and Gladstone (call sign:coast radio Gladstone).

Weather broadcasts are made on frequency 8176 kHz. Navigational warnings are also broadcast on this frequency at the scheduled times. All operators should be competent in the operation of radios, know the frequencies dedicated to distress and safety and be able to properly format and transmit distress and safety messages.

 TMQ MF/ HF Radio

Mobile Phones
Although commonly carried on boats, mobile phones can be considered only as a 'backup' device.

They should not be seen as a substitute for emergency radio communications as:

  1. The cellular system does not provide for distress priority alerting.
  2. Mobile phones may be out of range, have low batteries or become water-damaged.
  3. Marine radios are used to broadcast so that all parties involved in an incident can listen. Mobile phones call only point to point. If you don't know a number, you can't call for assistance even if the boat is in sight.
  4. Rescue organisations cannot use a radio direction finder to trace a mobile telephone call.
  5. Few volunteer rescue boats are equipped with mobile phones resulting in delays (and misinterpretation) while calls are relayed from shore.
In an emergency the most vital link between the rescuers and the rescued is radio communications.
Please view video's below of how to use DSC on your Marine Radio
 
 
 
  
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