UHF ok for some, not mandatory

Eaglemax · Guru

RE: UHF ok for some, not mandatory

Whenarewethere · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
Some of us (especially me) cannot cope with anything extra than the basics. I find I'm not enjoying my trips with distractions.

It's distracting enough getting out of the garage. Front parking sensor screaming. Rear parking sensors screaming. Seatbelt warning screaming. Door not fully closed, as I have to get out, screaming. Dash cams too sensitive, screaming.

No wonder more accidents happen withing 5km of home that the rest of ones trips.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi Greg,
X2 on your reply. I don't use mine in towns, cities as that is where most of the foul language occurs.

On roads, highways like the Gregory between Emerald & Charters Towers, I would state that having & using radio tuned to chn 40 should be mandatory - especially for the safety of anyone driving a 4 wheeled vehicle. Coming upon a 10-13m wide load with police escorts is not something that is nice - the police don't mince their wording when they see someone who may not be willing to get off the road that very instant! A lot of the edges have steep drop offs. A friend sold his caravan because they were forced off that road in a similar instance. To be able to choose where you can get off is far better (& healthier).

I recently loaned my small hand held to another friend who was going to travel that road in a car. He found them handy.

I have the car unit on while we are travelling, not always loud - just enough to hear of any important messages that may come through. Once a truckie called me up as I had not clipped down one of my roof clips down. It works both ways.

Eaglemax · Guru

Re: " I would state that having & using radio tuned to chn 40 should be mandatory - especially for the safety of anyone driving a 4 wheeled vehicle" Have you written to law makers to consider introducing a law making UHF mandatory on that section if road? If not why not?

Whenarewethere · Guru

If every car driver held a 2 way radio in their hand then there is no risk of a fine as per using a mobile phone.

Eaglemax · Guru

Damn it!! I've decided to purchase a 5W UHF handheld unit. Too many people are advising that its a good safety item and convenience for truckies not to mention safety. But as soon as I hit the burbs, chatter) I'm going to turn it off.... :)

Plain Truth · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
Damn it!! I've decided to purchase a 5W UHF handheld unit. Too many people are advising that its a good safety item and convenience for truckies not to mention safety. But as soon as I hit the burbs, chatter) I'm going to turn it off.... :)

You are right turn, it off in the "burbs",don't let it become a distraction.It is great in the logging areas.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi Eaglemax,
I'm not going to dictate to all road users that they should have a radio fitted (most country vehicles have them anyway).

I recall two quite funny instances of UHF use. One was a number of years ago when I was travelling alone from Canberra to Adelaide. There was a big tree on a set of cross roads near the entry to Wagga Wagga & underneath it was a police pursuit car, on another corner there was a Scalies' wagon. Well a trucky also spotted them & told everyone every few kms the fact. What he forgot was that they too would have had a UHF set in their cars. He went on & on for around 100kms!!

Another was when we were out bird watching & utilising channel 9 north of Townsville. This trucky was confused at one of our calls - he asked what was an "Eglet"? It seemed he had a mate who was aware & said, "It's not an eglet - it's an egret - a white bird with a sharp beak". We had a conversation with them for about 5 mins before they moved out of range.

I hope you enjoy your purchase. At least you'll learn where the "Flash for Cash" cameras are, if nothing else.

Mariner30 · Senior Member

I'm retired as well and have used/owned radios since the mid 70's, either through the jobs that l had or through recreational pursuits...remember the car yards that would spruik the " buy a CB radio and get a free car"

While 27 megs has gone the way of the dodo l still have UHF handheld radios ( bought 5 in the last 12 months ) and handheld and fixed VHF radios ( for the boats ).

Anywho...l drove trucks for years around northern Vic and remember a funny event in Shepparton about 3am one night,

There was a fellow who would get on channel 40 and try to cause havoc with the truckies by abusing them,
He'd do it every night.

This particular night l pulled into a servo for fuel when this drongo was carrying on like a two bob watch,
I had my uhf on but rarely used it,

As l'm driving up the road l realized l was getting closer to this bloke as the signal was getting stronger and the clarity was very good,

When l pulled into the servo there were a couple of vehicles already there, even though it was so late.

One was an old 2 door Range Rover.
He was the culprit on the uhf...l could see and hear him talking...he hadn't noticed me though.

I put the passenger window down, turned the volume up and bipped the horn and waved the mic at him.

Well, he ****e himself and took off in a hurry with smoke pouring out the exhaust.

It was funny at the time

StewG · Senior Member

I have a in-cab UHF and a handheld principally for emergency use. I thought it was a good idea when I bought them and still do, but very quickly tired of the profanity and drivel. So we travel with them off most of the time. Like others, I've never had a problem with extra wide loads or overtaking or being overtaken. I will always move over to allow others to overtake when it is safe to do so. Most truckies use blinkers to indicate when safe for me to overtake and also show their appreciation when overtaking. So in short, the UHF is there if convenient or needed, but rarely used. I think Cuppa has summed up the UHF question succinctly.

dogbox · Guru

StewG wrote:

I have a in-cab UHF and a handheld principally for emergency use. I thought it was a good idea when I bought them and still do, but very quickly tired of the profanity and drivel. So we travel with them off most of the time. Like others, I've never had a problem with extra wide loads or overtaking or being overtaken. I will always move over to allow others to overtake when it is safe to do so. Most truckies use blinkers to indicate when safe for me to overtake and also show their appreciation when overtaking. So in short, the UHF is there if convenient or needed, but rarely used. I think Cuppa has summed up the UHF question succinctly.

always have had one fitted but most of the time it is turned off

dogbox · Guru

Mariner30 wrote:

I'm retired as well and have used/owned radios since the mid 70's, either through the jobs that l had or through recreational pursuits...remember the car yards that would spruik the " buy a CB radio and get a free car"

While 27 megs has gone the way of the dodo l still have UHF handheld radios ( bought 5 in the last 12 months ) and handheld and fixed VHF radios ( for the boats ).

Anywho...l drove trucks for years around northern Vic and remember a funny event in Shepparton about 3am one night,

There was a fellow who would get on channel 40 and try to cause havoc with the truckies by abusing them,

He'd do it every night.

This particular night l pulled into a servo for fuel when this drongo was carrying on like a two bob watch,

I had my uhf on but rarely used it,

As l'm driving up the road l realized l was getting closer to this bloke as the signal was getting stronger and the clarity was very good,

When l pulled into the servo there were a couple of vehicles already there, even though it was so late.

One was an old 2 door Range Rover.

He was the culprit on the uhf...l could see and hear him talking...he hadn't noticed me though.

I put the passenger window down, turned the volume up and bipped the horn and waved the mic at him.

Well, he ****e himself and took off in a hurry with smoke pouring out the exhaust.

It was funny at the time

was a fellow just coming out of melbourne could be the same one maybe who use to get his jollies by commenting on truckies an someone would always bite back

TheHeaths · Guru

There is one of those idiots around Gepps Cross in Adelaide, near to Regency Park where there are a great many interstate truck depots. He gets lots of bites!