UHF CB

UHF CB is a class licensed (meaning licence-free use for most users) citizen's band radio service authorised by the governments of Australia and New Zealand in the UHF 477 MHz band.

UHF CB provides 40 channels, including 16 channels (8 output, 8 input) allocated to repeater stations. It is similar in concept to the 40 channels used in United States' HF CB allocation, which is also available in Australia and New Zealand.

User equipment designs are similar to commercial land mobile two-way radio. Except for repeater stations and stations using the data-only channel, the maximum legal output power is 5 Watts. External antennas are permitted and common commercially manufactured antennas have gain as high as 12dB. Handheld transceivers (walkie talkies) are permitted and have transmit power from 500mW to full legal power and are relatively cheap compared to full-sized transceivers.

Other similar personal radio services used in other countries do not share the same band plan, power output, channels etc as UHF CB. It is usually illegal to use these systems in Australia and New Zealand because they will interfere with other licensed services. Care must be taken with radios imported from overseas to ensure they comply with local regulations.

Features

A feature of the Australian UHF CB band not available on HF CB is the availability of repeater stations to extend range. Repeater stations are available for use by all UHF CB radio owners but unlike them, repeaters are individually licensed by the relevant authority (Such as the Australian Communications and Media Authority) and repeater owners pay a license fee. Channel 5 and 35 are designated as emergency calling frequencies.

Use of CTCSS and Selcall are permitted for selective calling between CB users.

Frequencies

Channel 11 is designated as a calling frequency. Although not officially specified as such, channel 40 is usually used as a road channel to communicate with road travellers, truck drivers (truckies), and the like. Similarly, channel 18 has become an unofficial "caravan and motor home" channel.Fact|date=January 2008

Ch 29 is also used as the Road Channel on the Pacific Highway area(Coast road) from about Sydney north the the Queensland border.

ee also

* VMB4 Newcastle - An example of an Australian UHF CB Repeater

External links

* [http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.2490560:STANDARD:1482813137:pc=PC_287 UHF CB license conditions determination] - The Australian official license under which UHF CB operates
* [http://www.acma.gov.au Australian Communications and Media Authority] - The Australian regulator of the radiofrequency spectrum
* [http://www.rsm.govt.nz/cms/licensing/types-of-licence/general-user-licences/citizen-band-radio/ Citizen Band Radio Service (CBRS / CB Radio) or Public / Personal Radio Service (PRS) — Radio Spectrum Management Group (RSM), part of the New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development] - The New Zealand regulator of the radiofrequency spectrum