Radio Communications

This page covers radio communications (excluding mobile phones) which may be used along the river. The two primary modes are CB radio and Marine radio.

CB Radio

Using a UHF CB Repeater

There are a number of UHF CB Repeaters that can be accessed at various points along the river. The repeaters use a channel between 1 and 8. Channel 5 is reserved for emergency traffic and should be kept clear. After all, you'd like it clear if you had to transmit an emergency call wouldn't you?

To use a repeater, set your CB to that channel and select duplex operation. When you are using a repeater, you listen on the selected channel, but actually transmit on the repeater channel + 30, That is, if you are using the channel 4 repeater, you listen on channel 4, but transmit on channel 34. The signal you transmit on channel 34 is received by the repeater and re-transmitted on channel 4 so everyone else can hear your signal.

Once you have established contact with another traveller, switch to another channel to continue talking. This frees up the call channels for other users. If travelling in a fleet, it makes good operating sense to settle on a usual 'working' channel prior to setting out.

Ship to Shore Radio Communication using UHF CB

Mobile phone coverage is not consistent along the river, As a result, an alternate method of communication is often necessary. There are a number of cheap UHF CB radios that are small enough to be clipped to your belt. These radios provide an effective way to maintain communications with people who go ashore. While some of these radio can use the the repeater channels (channels 1- 8), repeater access is often not possible along the river. In these cases, it is best to select a simplex channel for your ship-to-shore communications.

Channels 1 - 8 and 31 - 38 should not be used for simplex operation as they are used by the various repeaters. Channels 22 and 23 should not be used as they are reserved for data transmission. My Lady uses channel 9 for simplex operation. If channel 9 is busy, channel 19 is used.

Be sure to check that the hand held radios and the ship's radio can communicate correctly before leaving the boat to ensure that that radios are correctly set up. Where it is likely that part of the group may turn back or separate from the main party, it is advisable to have more than one radio so everyone can keep in contact. If the shore party is likely to travel more than a couple of kilometres from the boat, occasional radio checks will ensure that radio contact is being maintained.

Marine Radio

Unlike CB, marine radio is specifically set aside for marine operations using special Marine Radio Frequencies. The operation of this equipment may require the operators to be licenced. More details about marine radio can be found at the Australian Communications Authority web page.

Amateur Radio

Amateur Radio is a personal radio communications system which provides licenced operators to use a wide range of frequencies and operating modes such as voice, data and vision. Amateur radio operators maintain a selection of Amateur Radio Repeaters which can be used to communicate with other amateurs. Its use on the river is rather limited since only licenced amateurs can communicate with each other. For licenced Amateurs, however, it does provide the capability to send and receive emails from anywhere in the world.

Other Radio Communications

There are other radio systems that can be used by travellers. These include the Australian 4WD Radio Network and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. These systems are usually used by travellers in the remote areas of Australia and may not be as relevant for river users. There is a number of recognised Traveller's Frequencies which are used by these origanisations.

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