Post on 01-Apr-2015
RADIOS
BB OUTDOORS COURSE 2006
PART 1
CB RADIOS
Why talk about radio’s
• Useful for when others are out of site, and for emergency situations.
• Mobile Phones often won’t work in the bush
• Just about everything these days uses radio waves, so it’s good to know something about them.
• For example Televisions AM/FM radios, CB’s, remote control cars, GPS systems, mobile phones, garage remotes, etc all use work with radio waves
SOME RADIO’SHAND HELD CB RADIO UHF
VECHICLE CB RADIO UHF
MILITARY MANPACK VHF RADIO
4WD WITH LONG DISTANCE HF
RADIO
CB RADIOS
• CB stands for Citizens Band. These are a common two way radio anyone can get their hands on.
• You can’t just use any frequency for any purpose. Different frequencies are set aside for different uses.
• CB’S can be Hand held, or mounted in vehicles or buildings.
• There are two main types of CB 27MHZ and 477 MHZ
• CB’s are often used by truck drivers, or on construction or work sites, in vehicles by 4WDers, by trail bike riders, hikers, farmers etc…
Hand held and vehicle mounted
Hand held CB
Vehicle mount CB and antennas, common in 4WD’s trucks etc
Types of CB Radio in Australia
• 27 MHZ (HF) – Generally longer range, larger antennas, less features. (‘old’ type)
• 477 MHZ (UHF)– Clearer, line of sight, shorter range, more compact size, more features. MOST COMMON (‘new’ type)
RANGE
• 27 MHZ - up to about 30km
• 477 MHZ - 5-20Km.
Handheld units up to 5km.
These figures will vary depending on particular situation
Channel usage in Australia
27 MHZ CB’s
CHANNEL MHZ USE FOR
1 26.965 Conversation
2 26.975 Conversation
3 26.985 Conversation
4 27.005 Conversation
5 27.015 Conversation
6 27.025 Conversation
7 27.035 Conversation
8 27.055 Road
9 27.065 EMERGENCY
10 27.075 Conversation
11 27.085 Call
12 27.105 Conversation
13 27.115 Conversation
14 27.125 Conversation
15 27.135 Conversation
16 27.155 Call
17 27.165 Conversation
18 27.175 Conversation
19 27.185 Conversation
You can’t use just any channel for any usage here are the rules
20 27.205 Conversation
21 27.215 Conversation
22 27.225 Conversation
23 27.245 Conversation
24 27.235 Conversation
25 27.255 Conversation
26 27.265 Conversation
27 27.275 Conversation
28 27.285 Conversation
29 27.295 Conversation
30 27.305 Conversation
31 27.315 Conversation
32 27.325 Conversation
33 27.335 Conversation
34 27.345 Conversation
35 27.355 Conversation
36 27.365 Conversation
37 27.375 Conversation
38 27.385 Conversation
39 27.395 Conversation
40 27.405 Conversation
CHANNEL MHZ USE
1 476.425 Repeaters
2 476.45 Repeaters
3 476.475 Repeaters
4 476.5 Repeaters
5 476.525 Repeaters/EMERGENCY
6 476.55 Repeaters
7 476.575 Repeaters
8 476.6 Repeaters
9 476.625 Conversations
10 476.65 Conversations
11 476.675 Calling
12 476.7 Conversations
13 476.725 Conversations
14 476.75 Conversations
15 476.775 Conversations
16 476.8 Conversations
17 476.825 Conversations
18 476.85 Conversations
19 476.875 Conversations
20 476.9 Conversations
21 476.925 Conversations
22 476.95 DATA ONLY
23 476.975 DATA ONLY
24 477 Conversations
25 477.025 Conversations
26 477.05 Conversations
27 477.075 Conversations
28 477.1 Conversations
29 477.125 Conversations
30 477.15 Conversations
31 477.175 Repeaters
32 477.2 Repeaters
33 477.225 Repeaters
34 477.25 Repeaters
35 477.275 Repeaters/EMERGENCY
36 477.3 Repeaters
37 477.325 Repeaters
38 477.35 Repeaters
39 477.375 Conversations
40 477.4 Highway/Road
477 MHZ UHF Designated channel usage
Only use EMERGENCY channels for EMERGENCIES!
When in range of repeaters, only use repeater channels as repeaters
Use Call channel to establish initial communications, then move to another channel
DATA channels only for data, no voice
Channel usage in Australia
Using a CB
Before you leave• Do a Radio Check, call each other to check it is all working.• Choose a channel to use, make sure everyone knows which one.• Choose the correct channels for conversations and Emergency.• Check Radio condition and batteries.
Having trouble communicating?• Use a higher power setting.• Go to the top of a hill or raise your antenna higher.• Speak clearly and slowly if necessary.• Try moving closer to the other person.• You will may get better comm’s over large areas of water and flat or
wet ground than dry ground or forests.• Do not waste batteries, but in an emergency don’t stop trying either.• Look after your radio and it’s antenna. It could be your best lifeline
in an emergency.
Using a CB
Communicating• 27MHz CB’s generally have better range than 477MHz
CB’s but are not as clear (due to the lower frequency).• Don’t interrupt in the middle of conversations, it gets very
confusing.• Please don’t fill the air waves with immature crap.
Note• For long distance outback travel you would use a HF
radio or Satellite phone. CB radio range is too short.