DH and I were away for a few days last week and noticed a lot of 'vans with UHF signs on their vans. Says to Dh we should get one 'cos everybody else has one and that's good enough for me. But he resists, - so - YOU tell him why we need one, might listen to someone else's opinions... (but maybe not) thanks, Jay-Jay
Grams said
08:29 PM May 21, 2013
Hi Jay-Jay,
We have a UHF, it's a tiny thing and can fit in our ashtray. It has 80 channels and is brilliant. The reason we have one:
Les: he's a truck driver and wouldn't be without one, as he can contact other truckers and tell them when or if he wants to pass them or they pass you. You can get information from any one else who has one. It's a godsend.
Me: I have broken down in the car, I had no mobile with me and I spoke to a truckie, who rang the RAA for me. With out him I'd be stuck on the side of the road, alone about 5km from town. I wouldn't be without one either.
Drifters said
08:53 PM May 21, 2013
Hi Jay Jay
We also have a small 80 ch unit. I simply removes the ashtray and fitted it to a piece of aluminium plate that slid into the slot for the ashtray, no car modifications needed. You may not use it a lot but it is very handy to have when on the road. As Grams said it works when the phone doesn't and it is handy to communicate with other drivers on the road, especially when overtaking or being overtaken.
sandsmere said
11:31 PM May 21, 2013
Essential to have one to talk to the trucks , specially on narrow outback roads when there are road-trains around .
There's also the breakdown factor as others have mentioned .
OzDave said
02:19 AM May 22, 2013
What about brands - are there any stand-outs in terms of really, really good versus really, really bad?
Dave
Gerty Dancer said
02:26 AM May 22, 2013
Have a read of some of Cruising Granny's posts. She works as a wide-load pilot all over Australia and recommends that we all have a UHF radio, and keep it on channel 40. But not in cities! Ours is a Uniden, and we've had no probs with it over 8 years.
Grams said
02:52 AM May 22, 2013
Uniden wins hands down.
Wombat 280 said
03:25 AM May 22, 2013
Go a long way to beat ICom and they can be mounted under the seat , all the controls in the handset. GME also do one the same. Passed a couple of vans in convey today busy talking to each other but nothing on the van for followers to make direct contact to let them know we wanted to pass or get over or go from 40KPH to at least 80 KPH in the 110 zones If installing one make sure you can be Identified from behind.
How does one ID a particular truck from behind if you need to converse with the driver
Delta18 said
04:07 AM May 22, 2013
Wombat 280 wrote:
How does one ID a particular truck from behind if you need to converse with the driver
Look for an identifying feature eg, company name, trailer configuration, rego, or just direction of travel.
Remember, uhf transmissions do not go very far, you can't guarantee more than 5km on the road although you may get much more.
A good start it something like "copy westbound Ipec B-double?" if you are coming up behind a truck.
If you see one in your mirror approaching you from behind.."copy westbound behind the Paramount caravan?"
Truck drivers are pretty good at judging who is talking to THEM by the strength & volume of the transmission but some specifics help to avoid misunderstanding the call.
Cheers Neil (ex truck driver)
Santa said
05:24 AM May 22, 2013
OzDave wrote:
What about brands - are there any stand-outs in terms of really, really good versus really, really bad?
Dave
I bought a GME TX3500 80 channel UHF kit complete with antenna and mounting hardware, on special a while back for approx $250.
Does exactly what its meant to and does it well.
jetj said
05:32 AM May 22, 2013
I bought a $50 UHF from China Baofeng and programmed the 80 channels into it along and also use it as a scanner for the Rural Fire Service frequencies.
Grams said
12:40 PM May 22, 2013
It's the UH7750NB. We paid about $129 for it on special, I can't remember where. You take the ashtray out and it fits in perfectly. It's really small compared to the old bulky ones.
Forgot to add its a Uniden one.
-- Edited by Grams on Wednesday 22nd of May 2013 12:41:07 PM
Dougwe said
01:46 PM May 22, 2013
I have a GME fitted and it's great. Funny thing though, I haven't had any other CV travellers call me up and if I call any of them they just don't reply. Trucks on the other had, I have had both ways and always had positive chats or comments. Great to have 'in case'.
I actually used mine only yesterday a lot to let trucks coming up from behind that I would move to the left and slow down so they can pass and get on with their day, always got a "thanks mate" in return and the occasional chat as well.
Santa said
03:48 PM May 22, 2013
Dougwe wrote:
I have a GME fitted and it's great. Funny thing though, I haven't had any other CV travellers call me up and if I call any of them they just don't reply. Trucks on the other had, I have had both ways and always had positive chats or comments. Great to have 'in case'.
I actually used mine only yesterday a lot to let trucks coming up from behind that I would move to the left and slow down so they can pass and get on with their day, always got a "thanks mate" in return and the occasional chat as well.
G'Day Doug, like you I've found CH18 a total waste of time.
Gerty Dancer said
03:51 PM May 22, 2013
We've had a few replies if we call 'em up on channel 40. You can change to 18 if you want a long chat, but nobody has ever answered on that channel when we tried to call them.
Dougwe said
04:19 PM May 22, 2013
I actually scan about 8 different channels then freeze frame if need be, that way I usually know what is around and going on.
I was a bit disappointed yesterday though as some road works were using channel 5. I mentioned it to the lolly pop man and he just told me to go ..................., not a nice man at all.
JRH said
06:52 PM May 22, 2013
Grams wrote:
Hi Jay-Jay,
We have a UHF, it's a tiny thing and can fit in our ashtray. It has 80 channels and is brilliant. The reason we have one:
May I ask what brand it is, how much do they cost and where do you get them? It sounds just the thing I am looking for. Than you in advance.
JRH said
08:57 PM May 22, 2013
Grams wrote:
It's the UH7750NB. We paid about $129 for it on special, I can't remember where. You take the ashtray out and it fits in perfectly. It's really small compared to the old bulky ones.
Forgot to add its a Uniden one.
-- Edited by Grams on Wednesday 22nd of May 2013 12:41:07 PM
Many thanks for the reply it is much appreciated. I will look around now that I know the brand. Thanks again.
Hi Campers
DH and I were away for a few days last week and noticed a lot of 'vans with UHF signs on their vans. Says to Dh we should get one 'cos everybody else has one and that's good enough for me. But he resists, - so - YOU tell him why we need one, might listen to someone else's opinions... (but maybe not)
thanks, Jay-Jay
We have a UHF, it's a tiny thing and can fit in our ashtray. It has 80 channels and is brilliant. The reason we have one:
Les: he's a truck driver and wouldn't be without one, as he can contact other truckers and tell them when or if he wants to pass them or they pass you. You can get information from any one else who has one. It's a godsend.
Me: I have broken down in the car, I had no mobile with me and I spoke to a truckie, who rang the RAA for me. With out him I'd be stuck on the side of the road, alone about 5km from town. I wouldn't be without one either.
Hi Jay Jay
We also have a small 80 ch unit. I simply removes the ashtray and fitted it to a piece of aluminium plate that slid into the slot for the ashtray, no car modifications needed. You may not use it a lot but it is very handy to have when on the road. As Grams said it works when the phone doesn't and it is handy to communicate with other drivers on the road, especially when overtaking or being overtaken.
Essential to have one to talk to the trucks , specially on narrow outback roads when there are road-trains around .
There's also the breakdown factor as others have mentioned .
Dave
Ours is a Uniden, and we've had no probs with it over 8 years.
How does one ID a particular truck from behind if you need to converse with the driver
Look for an identifying feature eg, company name, trailer configuration, rego, or just direction of travel.
Remember, uhf transmissions do not go very far, you can't guarantee more than 5km on the road although you may get much more.
A good start it something like "copy westbound Ipec B-double?" if you are coming up behind a truck.
If you see one in your mirror approaching you from behind.."copy westbound behind the Paramount caravan?"
Truck drivers are pretty good at judging who is talking to THEM by the strength & volume of the transmission but some specifics help to avoid misunderstanding the call.
Cheers Neil (ex truck driver)
I bought a GME TX3500 80 channel UHF kit complete with antenna and mounting hardware, on special a while back for approx $250.
Does exactly what its meant to and does it well.
I bought a $50 UHF from China Baofeng and programmed the 80 channels into it along and also use it as a scanner for the Rural Fire Service frequencies.
It's the UH7750NB. We paid about $129 for it on special, I can't remember where. You take the ashtray out and it fits in perfectly. It's really small compared to the old bulky ones.
Forgot to add its a Uniden one.
-- Edited by Grams on Wednesday 22nd of May 2013 12:41:07 PM
I actually used mine only yesterday a lot to let trucks coming up from behind that I would move to the left and slow down so they can pass and get on with their day, always got a "thanks mate" in return and the occasional chat as well.
G'Day Doug, like you I've found CH18 a total waste of time.
I was a bit disappointed yesterday though as some road works were using channel 5. I mentioned it to the lolly pop man and he just told me to go ..................., not a nice man at all.
May I ask what brand it is, how much do they cost and where do you get them? It sounds just the thing I am looking for. Than you in advance.
Many thanks for the reply it is much appreciated. I will look around now that I know the brand. Thanks again.