Leave a UHF radio scanning and you will hear everything from truckies calling overtakes to someone two dunes over asking about tyre pressures. Listening is easy. Transmitting is where the channel matters, because a handful of channels are legislated, a few are reserved, and using the wrong one ranges from rude to a criminal offence.
The short answer
- Emergency: Channel 5, with 35 as its repeater pair. Emergencies only, no exceptions.
- Calling someone: Channel 11, then move to a free channel to talk.
- 4WD convoys and national parks: Channel 10.
- Caravans and campers: Channel 18.
- Highway and truck traffic: Channel 40 nationally, and Channel 29 on the Pacific Highway and M1 between Newcastle and Tweed Heads.
- General chat: 9, 12 to 17, 19 to 21, 24 to 30, 39, and on 80-channel radios 49 to 60, 64 to 70, 79 and 80.
The Channel Guide
| Channel | What it is for |
|---|---|
| 5 & 35 | Emergency only. Legislated under the ACMA class licence and monitored by volunteer groups. Call on Channel 5 with duplex on, then duplex off if there is no answer. |
| 11 | Calling channel. Make contact, agree on another channel, then move off. |
| 10 | 4WD clubs, convoys and national parks. |
| 18 | Caravanners and campers travelling together. |
| 40 | National road safety channel used by trucks, pilot vehicles and highway traffic. |
| 29 | Road safety on the Pacific Highway and M1 between Newcastle and Tweed Heads. |
| 22 & 23 | Data and telemetry only. Voice transmissions are not permitted. |
| 61–63 | Reserved channels. Do not transmit. |
| 1–8 & 41–48 | Repeater output channels. Use with Duplex turned on. |
| 31–38 & 71–78 | Repeater input channels. Avoid using these for normal conversations. |
Channel 5 is not a suggestion
Channels 5 and 35 are reserved by law for emergencies. Misuse carries penalties that scale from on-the-spot fines to prosecution, and interfering with a genuine emergency call is treated as seriously as it sounds. If someone is hurt and you have no phone coverage, call on Channel 5 with duplex on. No response, switch duplex off and try againRepeaters in one minute
A vehicle-mounted UHF manages roughly 5 to 10km line of sight, less in hills. Repeaters sit on high ground and rebroadcast your signal, stretching that to tens of kilometres. Selecting a repeater channel (1 to 8 or 41 to 48) and switching duplex on does the work. This is also why the input channels stay off limits for chat: transmit on 31 to 38 and you are keying up over someone's repeater conversation without hearing it.
Convoy etiquette
Agree a working channel before you leave, away from 10, 18 and 40 if the group is chatty. Use 11 to find a lost member, then move. Keep transmissions short, remember everything is public, and if locals are already using a channel, shift. A properly tuned antenna does more for convoy range than shouting ever will.
Picking the radio itself
A fixed 5 watt in-car unit with an external antenna is the standard for touring, and it outperforms any handheld by a wide margin. Handhelds at 1 to 5 watts earn their place for spotting, walking tracks and the second vehicle. Antenna choice matters as much as the radio: high gain antennas throw signal further across flat open country, low gain versions hold up better in hills where the signal needs to go up and over. On the coast road north out of Sydney, a mid-gain antenna around 4.5dBi is the sensible middle.
Frequently asked questions
What channel should my UHF be on?
Scanning when you are travelling solo, Channel 40 when towing on the highway so you hear the trucks around you, and your agreed working channel in a convoy. Never park the radio on 5, 11, 22, 23 or 61 to 63.
Which UHF channel for convoys?
Channel 10 is the recognised 4WD convoy channel and Channel 18 covers caravans and campers. Most groups pick a quiet general channel as a working frequency and keep 10 or 18 for finding each other.
What is the emergency UHF channel?
Channel 5, with Channel 35 as its duplex repeater pair. Both are legislated for emergency use only.
A UHF is the cheapest safety gear on the vehicle, and it only works as well as its install. We supply and fit radios, antennas and mounts and accessories at Brookvale, including tuning the antenna to the vehicle rather than leaving it factory-vague. Get in touch before your next trip north.
