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| Communications |
| I can't speak for other countries outside Australia but I have the feeling that communications particularly in more remote areas whilst out and about in a 4WD can come down to a little more than convenience regardless of what part of the world you're in. Over the years I've heard of many stories on the news about people suffering and dying in remote areas; even not so remote areas for that matter but simply unable to call for help. Sure mobile phones have revolutionised our way of life and saved many without a doubt, but here in Australia less than 3 per cent of the total land mass is actually serviced by mobile phone coverage. Sure the advertising will tell you well over 90 per cent of the population is covered but over 90 per cent actually live in densely populated areas in that 3 per cent land mass.. Not much good in the bush. Satellite phones provide a good alter- native but are enormously expensive and often bulky. VHF radios again will summon help but once again are prohibitively expensive and difficult to fit in most vehicles. However a satellite phone or VHF can be rented if you're attemping to visit the more remote parts of Australia such as the 'red centre' , Cape York, Kimberleys etc. VHF is monitored continually and is a lifeline to the RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) which will more than likely be who you'll be in the capable hands off should an accident happen. At the very least I'm a great advocate and believer in EPIRB beacons. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons are a cheap, simple rugged little device that everybody who goes to sea in a boat or visits remote wilderness areas whether on foot or in a vehicle should have. Hey even light aircraft for that matter. The EPIRB can't receive a signal but when activated they transmit a signal that can be picked up via aircraft or satellite and will summon help anywhere whithin hours. The batteries in the beacon have a shelf life of several years and should be replaced generally every five. The EPIRB can transmit continuously for over 24 hours. A scenario I recall only a couple of years ago was a young European couple who had become bogged in soft sand near Lake Eyre, a large inland salt lake deep in the desert in South Australia. The 4x4 system had failed and were unable to budge the campervan. Some time later one of the hapless tourists were found with the vehicle alive but in very poor condition and the other some kilometers away having died from dehydration. For the sake of an EPIRB that costs less than $300 AUD it probably would have saved a life and the huge cost of a search. |
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| A couple of types of EPIRB though they come in many shapes and forms and configured for different purposes and mountings eg marine with hydrostatic releases etc. The MT310 by GME is one that I carry being small, robust and as simple as they come though the KTI EPIRB (right) is another popular model. They can be hired as well. Anybody who wanders off the beaten track and traverses remote terrain whether by foot, vehicle, boat or light plane should think about. Australia is a big place and people have died simply because they couldn't be found in time. Whether a vehicle rollover in the desert or a hiker with a broken ankle metres down a ledge from a well walked track, an EPIRB almost guarantees help will arrive ! |
| UHF Radio 40 channel (27MHz) CB radios have been around for years. Most young blokes either have had one in their first car or have at least messed around with one. Sure they're fun and a good way to have a good yarn to mates but don't serve much purpose in the 4WD world. UHF is a more recent addition to the communications world. Once very expensive they are now quite affordable and are pretty much the standard when it comes to what preofessional drivers use ie truck drivers etc. Whilst still a 40 channel unit they use entirely different frequencies from the old CB's. UHF is clearer and some area equipped with Selcall which enables a user to call specific UHF users much like dialling a phone to speak to someone in particular. This system has been used for many years by taxi cabs, courier companies and tradespeople for example. Another great advantage is range. While both CB's and UHF's are short range devices even on the open road, UHF has a duplex function that allows fixed repeater stations to pick up and relay a signal to more repeaters and so on giving a potential range of hundreds if not thousands of kilometers. This can come into play in remote areas as many homesteads, stations and long distance drivers have UHF's and can pick up these signals. While the RFDS doesn't use UHF most homesteads etc also have VHF and can relay a call for help should it be needed. UHF's are small and can be fitted in any vehicle with a simple antennae. I use a GME TX3400 which is about as small as they come but are packed with just about every feature you could imagine. The control panel with the controls and display can be mounted remotely from the main body of the unit therefore taking up the smallest amount of space on a console, dash or overhead and in my case the body is mounted under the seat. Functions such as scanning will monitor either all or set groups of channels for transmissions. Other frequencies can actually be programmed into the TX3400 via a computer serial cable and an optional software package that most dealers can sell to you or for a fee add the extra frequencies for you. You can't transmit but you can receive ie breakdown trucks, police channels etc. |
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| GME TX3400 UHF 40-channel radio |
| Antennae choice is also important when buying a UHF. Think about where you want to mount it, where you're going to use it and how much you want to spend. Fibreglass antennae are very flexible and relatively cheap but I prefer the stainless steel adjustable length type. Around town I use 2 sections that are a total of 830mm in length giving 6dB of gain. For trips further afield additional sections giving a full 1230mm are added which give a full 9dB of gain greatly enhancing the capabilities of the UHF (included in pack). Not much good in the city as they tend to hit the roof in underground carparks etc but easily changable via an allen key and 2 minutes of your time. The GME TX3400 is one of the more expensive units but with all the features and the tiny size they're well worth it at around $499 AUD. An AE409L and mounting bracket is about another $100. There is a slightly cheaper model almost identical called the TX3200 which does not feature the detachable face. However being a half-DIN size not much dash or console space is needed to mount them. Uniden is another reputable brand is UHF's and again has a wide range of units & accessories. |
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| (Below) TX3200 is almost identical to the TX3400 save for the detachable face panel. Half-DIN size so not much space needed to mount. |
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| The Uniden UH090 (left) is an unusual unit; it is the only radio in Australia to feature BOTH UHF and CB in one unit. Saves buying 2 individual sets if you insist on keeping CB channels as well as UHF. Compact in size and a quality brand name. |
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