RV FEATURE
QUICK TIPS
1. Never rely on a hand-held UHF radio for
emergency communications. These little 5W
units are great for communications in a tag-along
tour, keeping in touch with the kids around the
caravan park, or listening to directions from your
spotter as you reverse. But they’re unlikely to give
more than a couple of kilometres of line-of-sight
communications. Your signal is certainly unlikely
to be received on the other side of the horizon, the
theoretical limit of your broadcast range.
2. Altitude is everything. To achieve maximum
broadcasting efficiency, a UHF antenna should
always be mounted vertically – an antenna’s
broadcast is more or less flat – and as high as
possible. The roof of the vehicle is ideal. If the
antenna is on the bull bar, the vehicle can become
a ‘shadow’ that will inhibit its ability to broadcast
in all directions. You can also optimise your signal
by heading to higher ground – even a hand-held
UHF radio’s range will increase the higher you go.
3. Channels 5 and 35 aren’t the only legally
restricted channels. Channel 11 is a ‘call channel’
to be used for initiating calls only. Users must
quickly organise another channel once contact
has been established.
Channels 22 and 23 are for data transmission
only. No voices are allowed.
Channels 61, 62 and 63 are reserved by the
Australian government for future use and are not
to be used.
4. Finally, watch the profanity while using a UHF
radio. Remember: you never know when little
ears are listening and I’m sure you’d hate to be
the reason why little Johnny’s first words were an
expletive. – Max Taylor
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DIY CARAVAN DISASTERS
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17A Cooper Street, Campbellfield VIC 3061
Phone: 1300 893 813 Email: reception@northernrv.com.au
www.northernrv.com.au