Uniden UH043SX-2 Handheld UHF CB (2pk) The UH043sx-2
comes with two UH043sx UHF radios as well as a twin desktop charger.
Listed
below are some things that you may need to take on your trip. Remember
depending on where your going you may have to allow for holdups or
breakdowns.
Boots
Hat
Wet weather gear
Sun glasses
Tent
Sleeping gear
Esky or Fridge
Light (extra lighting
Torch
(wind up is good. No need to worry about batteries)
Jumper leads
(high current draw)
Water
(drinking & for car)
Fuel or Jerry can
Seating
First Aid Kit
(and know how to use it)
Toilet paper
Rope
Cooking equipment
Food
Buckets
Fire extinguisher
Insect repellant
Sun screen
Tarp (polly comes in handy for
many things)
Shovel
Axe or chain saw
UHF radio
Mobile phone & charger
(make sure it will get reception where you are travelling)
GPS Navigation
Maps
Toiletries
Camera & batteries
Clothing (be prepared for a change
in the weather)
Spare oil
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Telephone
-
Telstra NextG is the mobile phone that is needed if you are going
to be away from major towns. You will get much better coverage with
this phone than with a standard mobile phone.
You can go onto a $20.00 a month plan or above you get 1 hour per day of
free time (in 20 minute blocks). You choose the hour of the day that
you want this free time to be. An outdoor aerial connected to these
phones will give you even more range. You can get these aerials in
different sizes which equate to higher boost strengths.
You will not get coverage everywhere. If you are going away from civilization
you will need to consider alternatives maybe satellite phone or HF radio.
CB Radios
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The CB radio started life in the 1970s it worked on 27MHz and was an AM
radio it is now not generally available to buy new but there is still
plenty of them around. The quality is not as good as the current UHF
commonly used today so the 27MHz radio is used very little on the
airwaves now so if you are travelling with friends you would get
congestion free use.
Depending on the quality of the Ariel you should get a range of 8 to 10
Km’s
Channels
All 27 MHz CB radios operate on 40 channels but some channels have
special purposes
Channel 8 Truck Channel (AM)
Channel 9 Emergency Channel (AM)
Channel 11 Call Channel (AM)
Channel 16 Call Channel (SSB)
Most AM activity is between channels 1 and 15, and most SSB is between 16 and 40.
UHF Radio
The two-way radio that is common now is the 477MHz UHF FM radio. It
also has 40 channels and has a better range and clearer reception than
the old 27MHz AM CB. It also has the advantage of repeater stations so
your signal is boosted. (Just make sure you are using repeater channels
to get this benefit) You are able to get the UHF in hand held with a
power output ranging from 0.5 watt through to the maximum of 5 watts.
The range will vary from approximately 3Km to about 18Km (depending on
terrain UHFs don’t like hill country) The hand held sell from a
starting point of about $30 for the 0.5 watt units up to about $300 for
the full 5 watt unit.
The fixed radios (mounted in vehicle) are generally a 5 watt unit and
the price starts at about $300 for the kit (radio, ariel etc) . If you
have trouble hearing while driving you can get fixed radios with the
speaker at the front of the radio or you can use an external speaker.
If you are installing the radio yourself make sure the coax (aerial
lead) is at least 300mm away from the vehicles computer. In most cases
the computer will be behind one of the front kick panels. This will
stop interference with the vehicles computer.
The radio channels used for special purposes are channel
* Channel 5 Emergency Channel
* Channel 11 Call Channel
* Channel 18 Caravan channel
* Channels 22 & 23 are not to be used for voice communications
* Channel 40 Truck channel
I
find talking to the truck drivers (especially when off the main roads)
and letting them know my intentions helps them. I also tell them to let
me know when they are going to overtake and I will give them room. This
helps both of us and helps develop better relations between truck
drivers and those towing
caravans. Top of page
Aerial and Coax
The aerial used has a lot to do with your transmitting and reception
range The aerial have a dB rating the higher the dB rating the better
the aerial and the better the transmission and reception range. Also
the coax running from the aerial to the radio has an important roll to
play in getting good reception. The longer the distance of coax the
thicker the coax will need to be to stop loss.
The aerial can be mounted on your bull bar but you will get the best
reception with it mounted in the centre of the roof. This is because
the roof helps to bounce the wave to the aerial.
HF Radios are used if you are going into the never,
never where there is not telephone reception. It has a very long range.
When you are in the outback you contact the VKC-737 (Australian
National 4WD Radio Network Inc) network daily with your schedule of
travel & they will keep a track of you. This also lets others who
are travelling in the same area that you are there. The
HF radio is useful in emergencies and to contact the Royal Flying
Doctors Service. It is also handy for long range communication. Some HF
radios are also able to make phone calls (once you have subscribed).
You are able to hire a HF Radio for your trip which will save the large outlay for a one off type usage.
If you are purchasing a HF Radio be aware that you will have to pay a licence fee to use it.
Top of page Satellite Phone Ideally you would have both the satellite phone and HF Radio. They are 2 different things.
A Satellite phone is a normal mobile phone but is able to
be used where mobile phone reception is not available. The satellite phone does cost you for every call but is ideal
to use to keep in contact with family and friends whilst travelling. If you are spending a lot of time in areas where a
satellite phone is needed the Government will give generous rebates for the purchase of the phone. You are also able to
hire satellite phones if you are not going to use it regularly.
To rent a Satellite Phone
CLICK HERE
To optain a subsidy for the purchase of a Satellite phone
CLICK HERE You are able to purchase
Satellite Phones from all major mobile phone providers, they should also be able to help you with the paper
work to apply for the rebate.
Don't leave it to the last minute to get your Satellite phone as it can take a while to receive
conformation of your rebate.
Top of page Using the internet while travelling
How do you keep in contact with your family while your away? How do you get
your emails? These are both questions that I have been asked, so
after a bit of research I have some possibilities for you. If you have
others please let us know.
Many Caravan Parks have internet access. Some are free others you pay a small fee.
The
new 3G mobile phones (3G means video) are able to do video calls as
long as the person you are calling also has a 3G mobile. The prices are
reasonable and there are many networks now the use them. Both phones
must be in range though. Many
Coffee shops and McDonalds outlets have "Hot Spots". To use these
you need your own laptop with a wireless card. You take
your Laptop into the store, the computer recognises the wireless
network and connects to it. You now have internet working on your
machine. (Make sure your computer is set up for this before you leave
home) Internet
Cafes. These are shops that have computers connected to the internet
that you pay to use, or you can often take your own Laptop (you still
pay if you take your own). Many Librarys also have Pay to Use
Internet access. You are looking at about $3.50 for the first 15
minutes and then about $1.00 per 15 minutes after that. Telstra
have Wireless Broadband Mobile Card. This plugs into your Laptop
and works through the CDMA network, anywhere you get CDMA
coverage you will get internet access. The cards cost about $200.00 you
then go on a 12 month plan and you choose whether you have an "By the
hour" plan or a "Usage by volume" plan. The other option is the "Maxon
Mini Max" card. This card is $zero and $49.95 per month for 24 months.
The contract will not last 2 years though because Telstra is stopping
CDMA in 2008 so your contract will be cancelled and you will most
likely be offered a different plan to replace the CDMA. Many
mobile phones now have access to the internet but it is not charged at
call rates. It is classed as data transfer and is quite expensive.
