Which UHF channel to use when alone...
Submitted: Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 18:39
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Jarrod
Hi all - Im heading to
Tallarook Forest ( 1 Hr Nth Melb.) next week, just my car and a mate. Which UHF channel should I have on, to keep an ear out for any other traffic??? ( My radio doesn't scan the channels). Is there a comon channel that gets used for this sort of thing?...
Jarrod.
Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 18:45
Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 18:45
In SA the 4x4 channel (official) is "10". I'm not sure about other states, but I believe it is a nationwide set-up, a bit like the caravanners have channel 18 and the highway channel is 40.
If you don't have scan facility, you'd want to be careful, cos a lot of blokes use other channels other than 10.
Cheers
Roachie
AnswerID:
145457
Reply By: OMN - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 19:13
Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 19:13
Not sure if it was
Tallarook when i was there last but i noticed a number of the parks etc have a suggested UHF channle listed on the signs as you drive into them.
Make sure your not going to quick so you can
check.
hth,
MArk
AnswerID:
145460
Reply By: Member - Kingsley N (SA) - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 19:50
Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 19:50
Just having one channel to listen to is not going to guarantee any "safety" and believe it or not, even if you do have a scanning setup you are still not guaranteed to hear anything because the opposite direction vehicle may be travelling alone and not saying a word!
What is needed is for all vehicles to make a regular broadcast on a designated channel. This would require all vehicles to be fitted with a serviceable radio and to use it. It all starts to get a bit too complicated, like flying a light aircraft without ATC to help. The Aviation industry is attempting to come to grips with this problem right now.
I nearly got cleaned up by a couple of idiots going too fast on the Cameron's Corner to Merty Merty track. There is a long section of good fast track that traverses a number of sandhills. Each crest is a blind corner as
well! A pair of 4WDs shot past me fair and square in the centre of the track as I climbed a crest hugging the LH edge of the track. Luckily I was aware of them because my scanner had picked up a few bits of conversation.
Your best bet is to keep to the left, display a flag on a long pole AND make broadcasts as
well as listen out on the designated frequency.
UHF CB sure adds another dimension to Off Road touring, but it doesn't guarantee any real safety.
Drive carefully out there.
Merry Christmas to all
Kings.
AnswerID:
145473
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 19:53
Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 19:53
The other guys have said it all, but if I can just add, that you can buy a hand held UHF for very little money and run it on scan, while you use your main unit for communicating with your mate.
Cheers
Phil
AnswerID:
145475
Reply By: geocacher (djcache) - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 21:06
Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 21:06
Ditto to all of the above.
And in addition to all that the thing you are probably most likely to hit coming the other way is a trailbike and they don't use UHF's (unless they're stopped at which time it's fairly pointless for what you are talking about).
We airlift them out of there,
Woods Point, off the hills in the Strathbogies and out the back of Howqua all the time. Amazing how many have hit bull bars.
I remember the one I felt sorriest for collected a bull bar with one leg as he swerved to miss it - smashed his tib/fib, separated his knee joint, and busted his femur in two spots. It happened at about 1600hrs and there was no helimed available, then as there are only volunteer ambo's at
Woods Point and more of the same at
Alexandra he got only 6 mls of Penthrane (the infamous green whistle) which lasts maybe 30 mins. He travelled 4 1/2 hours on a mix of 4wd and winding gravel before a chopper finally met him at Marysville and he got some decent pain relief and a MICA Paramedic.
Just take it easy and hope the guy coming the other way is doing the same.
Happy and safe Christmas to you and your family.
Dave
AnswerID:
145483
Reply By: ev700 - Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 21:44
Saturday, Dec 24, 2005 at 21:44
What are the common channels for fourbies in Qld and NSW?
Ours is usually on scan when off-road, but it hasn't helped much in avoiding the rev heads. I just slow down and hug the left wherever possible.
AnswerID:
145488
Follow Up By: Old Johno [NSW] - Monday, Dec 26, 2005 at 19:46
Monday, Dec 26, 2005 at 19:46
Most clubs use channel 10
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