We have come a long way since

these types on phones

But not far enough with Mobile Coverage for some areas of Australia.

Communications - On the Road.  

Using Payphones
Email and Internet access
Choosing the right mobile phone
UHF/CB_radio
UHF_Radio_Channel_Allocation
Communications_for_travelling_further_a_field
Satellite_Phones
HF_Radio
Emergency_Position_Indicating_Radio_Beacons_(EPIRB)_

Some Communications Options
Choosing the right communications options is an important part of planning any trip. Choosing wisely will allow you to stay in touch, and get help when required. The options available vary widely in cost, application and complexity. Probably the first choice to make is where do I want to communicate from, and to whom? One of the easiest and cost effective is the Internet, but it is not always available. The coverage is improving, but you may need other forms of communication as well. It is hoped the following will help you make decisions about what is right for you, and your circumstances.

Communications Tips
Using Payphones: When travelling in remote Australia most townships have the old fashion pay phone can be the best option. These are normally the most cost effective method of keeping in touch with loved ones. Many of these phones are in remote areas and can be found in most country towns.  You need to watch out though, either because they do not have the money removed often enough, by design, or vandalism, many will not accept coins. It is a good idea to invest in a phone card. Doing this before you leave home is a good plan, as you may have great difficulty purchasing one in some areas. Remember to purchase a top-up card when you are in larger towns, so you are not left stranded and unable to communicate with anyone when you arrive in a smaller community.

Email and Internet Access
Using either a NextG Phone or a data card it is a relatively simply process to connect a laptop computer to the internet.  Data charges for doing this are higher than your home internet connection, but used sparingly it can be managed. There are options that allow you to either pay by the amount of time connected, or the data downloaded, so by picking an option that works for you it can be a very cost effective way to keep in touch with loved ones whilst on the road. Remember you can compose your email before you connect, so you only pay for time it takes to transmit the emails. Emails provide the ability to send pictures, and much more information than can be passed on than in a short phone call, or phone message. This is a good option especially when those at home are leading busy working lives, and may be harder to catch up with.  By sending an email, with photographs attached, you can give those at home a real taste of what you are doing, and you can send when it is convenient for you. They can read and see the pictures when they are ready.

By connecting to the internet from your own computer it provides you with the ability to access things like tourist information, and Internet banking.  Accessing Internet banking from a kiosk on the road is a very risky prospect due to the risk of computer viruses, worms and trojans. By using your computer, good antivirus software and an anti-spyware product, you can conduct those necessary transactions on the road with reasonable confidence.

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Communications for those planning to stay on the beaten track:
Choosing the right mobile phone
Until fairly recently mobile phone technology meant that you had two choices, Groupe Spécial Mobile (GSM) was the network of choice for those in cities whilst Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) was the preferred option for those of us travelling further a field, in Jan 2008 the CDMA network was shutdown and replaced by the NextG Network from Telstra. The other standard now available is 3G.  3G and NextG are both high speed communications networks that offer not only telephone networks, but also access to a range of data services.  In city areas GSM and NextG are pretty much the same. Both offer phone and high speed data. NextG is the replacement network for CDMA and it provides broader coverage, about 100 times more coverage (if you believe the Telstra Hype). By choosing NextG your only choice of carrier is Telstra. NextG operates on a different frequency to 3G. It is therefore important that the phone you select is matched to the Network you choose.

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UHF/CB radio
UHF/CB radio provides the ability to communicate with other road users. It offers the benefit of instant access, no call costs, and the ability to communicate with users without needing a phone number. Basically your options are UHF or CB (27Mhz). These days however, virtually everyone uses UHF. UHF Radio is a great option for communicating when travelling in a group, or to communicate with other road users. It has an effective range of about 20Km but works on a line-of-site, therefore this might be better, or worse, depending on the terrain. UHF is a relatively cheap option for communications. A well set up UHF radio will probably cost about $300-$400 installed. When choosing a UHF radio for car based communications stay away from handheld units. They do not have the same power and therefore are only effective over 1-3 km. As mentioned before UHF uses line-of-site, so if you wrap them in a big can (your car) they are not very effective. Unless you plan to spend your time with the radio, and your head outside the window, give them a miss. A hand held unit will normally be effective for no more than 500 meters when used inside a car. When installing a radio in your car avoid the temptation to mount the aerial on your bull bar. As mentioned above UHF operates by line-of-site.  By mounting the aerial on the bull bar, the signal strength behind the car is significantly reduced and may reduce your transmission distance by 70-80%. UHF radios transmit, and receive, the majority of their signal through the bottom of the aerial. The best option is to mount the aerial on the roof using a gutter mount.

If you need to communicate over longer distances (20 to 100KM) with UHF then one option you have is UHF repeater stations, or duplex communications. UHF repeaters are beacons that retransmit UHF signals over a wider area. They are usually located on the highest point in an area; they receive signals on one channel, and transmit on another. Normally repeaters use channels 1-8 and most UHF radios provide this facility. You may find that only 1 or 2 channels will be available in a particular area.  To find a repeater channel in a particular area you can locate them via the co-ordinates available on sites such as UHF CB or Tropinet.  When travelling, if you tune to a specific channel or use the scan function of your radio, you can find a repeater station by listening for what sound like Morse Code. If you can hear this, then you can use a repeater on that channel in your current area. Only use a repeater channel when other options will not work, and keep conversations brief, as others may want to use the channel.

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UHF Radio Channel Allocation
Below you will find a list of UHF Radio channel allocations. There are many channels that have been established by law, including the Emergency Channel 5 and the data transmission channels 22 and 23. For more information see UHF CB

• 1 to 8 - These channels, which are established by law, can be used when sending a signal to a repeater station, which will help increase the communication distance
• 5 - This channel, which is established by law, can be used by anyone, but only in an emergency situation
• 9 - Used for conversations
• 10 - Used by 4WD enthusiasts, clubs, convoys and in national parks
• 11 - Calling channel. This channel, which is established by law, is used to call or locate another station. Parties will then switch to another channel to continue with their conversation
• 12 to 17 - Used for conversations
• 18 - Holiday maker’s communication channel (e.g. when in a convoy)
• 19 to 21 - Used for conversations
• 22 and 23 - These two channels are used for data transmissions and are established by law. Voice transmissions are not allowed on these two channels
• 24 to 30 - Used for conversations
• 29 - Highway Communications which are mainly used by truck drivers and other highway users
• 31 to 38 - These channels, which are established by law, are received by a repeater and re-transmitted on channels 1 to 8 to help increase the communication distance
• 35 - Can be used in case of Emergencies also
• 39 - Used for conversations
• 40 - Highway Communications which are mainly used by truck drivers and other highway users

The Australian Government has legislated that channels 5 and 35 on the UHF CB Band are reserved for emergency use only (the following information is from UHF CB)
As at January 2007 the maximum penalties for the misuse of the legally allocated CB emergency channels are:

• For general misuse - if an individual 2 years imprisonment, otherwise $165,000 (a $220 on-the-spot fine can be issued in minor cases); or
• For interference to an actual call - if an individual 5 years imprisonment, otherwise $550,000 (no on-the-spot fine can be issued, you must go to court)
  

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Communications for travelling further a field.
If you are planning to travel to more remote parts of Australia or when trying to communicate over long distances UHF will not work. It is fair to say however that in these environments communications moves from a convenience to essential. This is particularly true when travelling in a single car or remote areas where help may not pass by for quite a while.

The main options available in these areas are Satellite Phones, HF Radios and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB). Each of these options will provide assistance in an emergency but as with everything they have different uses and benefits.

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Satellite Phones  
Satellite phones are the perfect blend of convenience and simplicity. They operate in the same way as mobile phones and therefore are reasonably simple to use for anyone with basic mobile phone skills. Rather than communicating through mobile phone towers they communicate via a satellite. The coverage for satellite phones is pretty much all over Australia although they do have some black spots depending on the time of day, atmospheric conditions, and satellite positions. They are however for the most part the simplest solution.

A distinct advantage of a satellite phone is that they can also receive as well as make calls in the same way as a normal phone. Therefore if you are looking for an option where others can reach you simply, the satellite phone is often the best way to go.

Satellite phones when compared to other options are relatively cheap to purchase. A reasonable phone will cost approximately $1,500 to $1,800.

The downside of Satellite phones is their running costs. As with normal mobile phones they need to be connected to a network through a mobile phone plan. A check of current prices shows plans start from $35 per month, and call costs is approximately $2 per minute. These costs make Satellite phones expensive to maintain and use. They are however the clear winner on simplicity and function.

If you do not plan to be away too long, another alternative is to hire a phone. This is great if you plan to be away for a week or two, but usually any the time beyond this you might as well have purchased a phone.  Typically a hire phone will cost from $250 per week.  Phone call costs are also much higher on rental plans and typically could cost approximately $4 per min.

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HF Radio
High Frequency (HF) radio is an effective option for remote travellers. Operating in a similar way to many other radios, they are a little clumsier to use than a satellite phone. HF Radios require the user to have a more detailed understanding of how the technology works.  When you purchase a radio, many suppliers will provide training on how to use it. This is normally a half day course. HF provides several benefits over satellite. Firstly once you have purchase your radio, other than an annual licence charge there are no more costs for radio transmissions. Using an HF radio you can communicate directly with emergency services, such as the Royal Flying Doctor service.

Unlike UHF radio HF can transmit many thousands of kilometres, and therefore provides effective communications for remote travellers. The transmitters used are much more powerful, and therefore you require a licence to transmit. This is however a relatively simple problem to overcome. By joining a radio network like VKS737 you pay an annual membership, which includes a license with the rights to use their network channels. Important Changes to VKS737 call signs  plus more information on VKS737's site

Radio networks provide a range of services for remote travellers beyond just a network. They will track your position in case of an emergency, and provide a check-in to monitor your progress. They can also provide weather and road information. Membership is about $80 per year.

It is possible to make phone calls from an HF radio using a radio phone service. The process of making calls is more complicated, but it is cheaper than satellite phone options. Access charges are about $120 per year and about $1 per min for calls.

HF Radios are not a cheap option. Installed units will typically cost $3,500 to $4,000. However once you have installed the unit, the ongoing costs are minimal, and over a few years rapidly become more cost effective than a Satellite Phone.

One thing to watch out for is that HF radios have a very thick base for the antenna which can obstruct vision. Laws regarding the mounting of the base vary in different states. Mounting on the bull bar is illegal in some states. So be sure to mount it in accordance with the law in all States. The best option with this aerial is to mount it on the back of the car.

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Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)
EPIRB’s have predominantly been used in the marine applications for many years. In recent years they have started to be an option for remote travellers. The basic concept is that the device is “activated” and begins to transmit a beacon and position signal. Authorities can then locate it and send assistance. The EPIRB should not be used as your primary communication option. As the only option for authorities is to send in a search and rescue team, this is a very expensive option. Activating a beacon in non emergency circumstances can carry very expensive fines, so this option should be avoided unless it really is an emergency.

The EPIRB has its uses but it is really a tool of last option. It should be carried as a backup option for either a satellite phone, or an HF phone, to be used in the event that the other options have failed. EPIRBs usually operate from their own power, and are therefore a useful option if your vehicle has been totally immobilised and does not have power to drive an HF radio or Satellite Phone.

A warning: when purchasing an EPIRB.  There are digital (407 MHz) and analogue versions. The analogue network was decommissioned in 2009, therefore if you have an analogue EPIRB it is NOT a good option. Also be aware of offers that seem cheap (less $500), it may be a version that is already  "past its use-by date". Another reason to buy digital is because they have more precise location capabilities than analogue, which means you are more likely to be found in an emergency.

Happy and safe travels.

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ACTIONS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS PAGE OR THIS WEBSITE

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