Radios for the field

Just curious if and what radios peeps use on the field these days? I see a lot of recommendations for the Baofeng radios but to my understanding they’re not legal in Aus cause they don’t meet the ACMA requirements here.

I’ve looked at the basic Uniden ones at JB or Jaycar but there don’t appear to be much in the way of accessories for them like there is for the Baofengs, things like ear pieces and PPT switches etc, thou I have seen some kits with very avg looking quality accessories in them.

Just something I can use to communicate with my mates and would fit into my load out.

GME’s aren’t overly cheap but you can get ear pieces for them

https://www.repco.com.au/in-car-technology/uhf-cb-radio/uhf-handheld-radios/5-1-watt-ip67-uhf-cb-handheld-radio-tx6165x/p/A5743848

Ear piece
https://automotivesuperstore.com.au/gme-hs009

From what I was reading you can buy baofeng in Australia off Amazon and eBay and they have already been reprogrammed to the aus standard 80 channels, any use outside of the standard 80 channels in Australia will leave you subject to fines, prosecution, jail time, etc. so baofeng may still be an option for you and are considerably cheaper that gme radios for example


This one is programmed for 80 channels
https://www.designfab.com.au/baofeng-uv-5r-iii-tri-band-two-way-uhf-vhf-ham-rad?srsltid=AfmBOorfZFYhFzhJB75XE8gBJN2DJUivXexEpPRB_jbXI7xYtMforM5V

While I wouldn’t operate outside the official channels (because I’m a good radio citizen), I also wouldn’t be too concerned about being fined for misuse. I’ve met dozens of boaties over the years who use VHF without a valid licence. Every second 4x4 in the Vic High Country is running a radio amp well over 5W. Enforcement is basically zero.

Agree, as long as you are not doing stupid things with them, you are fine.

I used to rely on high powered UHF for communication to locals 10klms away but don’t anymore since the mobile phone towers have been installed I use that instead. There was a couple of channels we had to stay off for emergency service use and remote switching station use I roughly remember. Channel 20 I think, so we ran on 22 and 27.

Still get some funny convos picked up from miles away, umm kids block your ears with a truckie swearing like a trooper at some clown that just cut him off :rofl:

Yeah definitely stay clear of channel 40 and 29 (most common truckie channels) unless you’re looking to hear a good laugh :joy::rofl:

You can easily find a list of the restricted emergency and repeater channels on google

The funniest time, I was working for a friend/ near neighbour driving one of his harvesters reaping wheat and barley, We had 40 channel UHF to communicate as he was driving the other header. All good…

Untill we reapt a high big hill one day and the UHF starts going off. It was on, the chaser bin overflowed, f this and f that, the semi broke down, the wheel fell off his header. There was all sorts of shit going on. Another farmer 30klms away.

I txt’d my farmer friend and said are you getting this through UHF, I haven’t spoken to you in hours. He said yea tried to call in few times but those fkheads had the channel blocked with their BS.

Funny thing was we both knew them enough. I caught up couple months later, so how did your harvest go with the biggest shit eating grin on my face :laughing:

Wednesday afternoon heading southbound on the pac, a trucks in lane 3 of 4 despite the no trucks right two lanes signs, all of a sudden I hear, “get out of the third lane f#ckwit”, their reply was “get f#cked ya dog”, then another voice comes over the channel, “only truckies with small c#cks drive in the third lane”

Next thing the truck in the third lane indicates and moves into lane two almost immediately

:joy::rofl::joy::rofl::joy::rofl::joy::rofl: