UHF 40 as call channel for BT to BT talk; HF?

10 is supposedly for the desert
18 is supposedly for caravans
20 is supposedly for motorhomes
40 is the road channel.

I will be sitting on 18 or 40 and scanning the other.
Once contact is made with a BT I would go to 18 to have a conversation to keep the road channel clear.

Need 40 to talk to road trains.

Alan

Hello Rick & Julie,
I will start this off and most likely show some ignorance at the same time.

We do similar with the UHF, but tend to scan all 40 channels with the ch40 as the chosen one to go to quickly (what ever the term is for that!)

Regarding HF - we are with Bush Telegraph & the Bush Phone facility for Radio telephone calls. (I have been informed by Wayne Reid [Bush Phone etc in Cowra] that very soon a facility will be added where by folks can call us by phone to our HF unit (I would guess may be by some sort of use of our secall no.)
Bush Telegraph is also associated with HF Radio Club of Australia (formerly NSW) and so we can join their skeds as well.

However VKS 737 seem to dislike their folks chatting to other HF users, well at least a year or so back it was stipulated in their rules that it was not to be done.

So whilst we are willing to chat, some of the VKS 737 folk may not be so happy to do so.

In the meantime I think most who have HF have put their details into their listing on this site on the members listings.

Cheers - Ian & Sally

We tried scanning 18/40 once, and the only thing on 18 was a chit chat conversation between two caravanners travelling together, and i consider it just a 'chat' channel. Except where otherwise specified, we stay on the highway channel, and have a big 40 on the back or front of the van. Likewise when moving farm machinery, we all stay on 40 for quick communication with other traffic.

If we wanted to chat with someone travelling the same way, we would suggest another channel (like drop to 39) to leave 40 open, but for just greeting while passing, 40 is usually free. In most cases, unless near towns, there will rarely be anything on 40, other than an occasional greeting between two truckies passing.

Bad langauge has been rare (only city stuff).

Motherhen

Howdy again Rick & Julie,
Yep, the HF stuff is in our personal info as there is a section for that info. That is the stuff in the Members list where you can click on our name and open up what we wish to share with others.
Ours is as follows - Selcall 9304 & we scan the Bush telegraph & Hf Radio club frequencies.
Officially we are VMS469, Mobile 5TANGO 520.

We also have the RFDS call sign which is the ID given to us by the ACMA when we were 1st lic. and which we have to use when talking with the RFDS.

Cheers - Ian & Sally

G'day again Rick & Julie,

This topic has been covered many times over the years. Channel 40 is the universal road channel, except for the Pacific Highway between Sydney and Brisbane, where Channel 29 is used. This is primarily for truckies travelling the F3...if they are travelling via New England they are on 40, and if they are travelling the Pacific, they are on 29. Despite the frequency of bad language (which can be diffused by the sound of a women's voice), the primary purpose of the comunications is about road and traffic conditions. Truckies, who are professional drivers, doing their job, have great appreciation for caravanners who are on their channel and using it to co-operate with them in sharing the road.

If a truck comes up behind you, call and tell him that you'll back off as soon as he pulls out. Then do just that, and when the rear of his rig has passed your bull bar, flash your lights or tell hime to "bring her in" .

If you are on a gravel road, or a 12 ft bitumen road, and a truck is coming towards you, tell him you are pulling over to let him through or to stay on the bitumen. He'll slow down and appreciate your co-operation. If you try to stay on the bitumen and/or don't pull off and slow down, he'll maintain speed and shower you with rocks!!

Often an interesting conversation can pursue, and you can learn a lot more about this country than others who are chatting on 18, or, their very own personal channel, with a sign on the back saying "Fred & Mary - Channel 24"

10-4...........Rob and Liz

It is only occasionally that a truckie will call to say 'I am about to pass you, and didn't want to give you a scare if you hadn't seen me'. We appreciate the contact, even though we are aware of their presence.

Mostly they don't call, but have always sounded appreciative when called to say 'xxx truck behind Bushtracker caravan, i will give you space when clear' to which they reply 'stay as you are, there is a good place to pass coming up in - - '.

Listening to 40 and knowing what is ahead if in a traffic jam or go-slow keeps you informed and sane.

Mh