That's true! But the radios work without cell towers and infrastructure when I am out and about. it's a hobby and a safety feature in one!
Where I go, here in Australia your cell phone might as well be a brick for all the use it is with no reception. And you would be surprised by how quickly that reception disappears when you head out of town. We have a population of 25 million in a country larger than most of Western Europe or the US.Ah, so that's why the mobile phone was invented, slim and would fit in your pocket
Hi @AnD3rew , but you could use a satellite phone, couldn't you?Where I go, here in Australia your cell phone might as well be a brick for all the use it is with no reception. And you would be surprised by how quickly that reception disappears when you head out of town. We have a population of 25 million in a country larger than most of Western Europe or the US.
Yes and if you go really remote you should take one. But we use UHF primarily for vehicle to vehicle communication and satellite phones are quite expensive for that. It’s also illegal to use a phone while driving but not illegal to use a radio.Hi @AnD3rew , but you could use a satellite phone, couldn't you?
Ah ok, thanks for the explanation. Unfortunately, more and more things are being banned and regulated here.Yes and if you go really remote you should take one. But we use UHF primarily for vehicle to vehicle communication and satellite phones are quite expensive for that. It’s also illegal to use a phone while driving but not illegal to use a radio.
The other advantage is that if you see another 4x4 or a truck in the road and you want to talk to them to ask about overtaking, or ask how the road is ahead or just say hi, or warn them about a speed camera ir cop ahead, even if you do have reception or a Sat phone you would have to know their number to call them. But most people monitor specific channels for various locations or uses so a good chance with the UHF you can contact them on the road without needing to know their number or anything.Ah ok, thanks for the explanation. Unfortunately, more and more things are being banned and regulated here.
But that you are not allowed to use the phone in the outback, where the next vehicle is 5 miles away, is incomprehensible to me. But you have a radio there. So all is well.
I only have to drive 10km from home and I have no mobile phone reception.Where I go, here in Australia your cell phone might as well be a brick for all the use it is with no reception. And you would be surprised by how quickly that reception disappears when you head out of town. We have a population of 25 million in a country larger than most of Western Europe or the US.
Yes, that's right. In fact, in the past we used to have that too. I always had the truckers' channel on. Because they knew best about the situation. I still had the device installed in the Defender. But the messages on the motorways were hardly available any more, and if they were, they were in an Eastern European language.The other advantage is that if you see another 4x4 or a truck in the road and you want to talk to them to ask about overtaking, or ask how the road is ahead or just say hi, or warn them about a speed camera ir cop ahead, even if you do have reception or a Sat phone you would have to know their number to call them. But most people monitor specific channels for various locations or uses so a good chance with the UHF you can contact them on the road without needing to know their number or anything.
I have no mobile reception at home! Rely on wifi calling to make mobile calls at home.I only have to drive 10km from home and I have no mobile phone reception.
The same here in some places in Germany.I have no mobile reception at home! Rely on wifi calling to make mobile calls at home.
Aside from commercial vehicles, here in the US CB, GMRS, HAM radios are much less common unless you live/operate in more remote areas.Yes, that's right. In fact, in the past we used to have that too. I always had the truckers' channel on. Because they knew best about the situation. I still had the device installed in the Defender. But the messages on the motorways were hardly available any more, and if they were, they were in an Eastern European language.
But in the USA it seems to be the same as in Australia. Perhaps one of our American friends here can confirm this when they warn of the Kojaks with the Kodaks with the BirdDog on.
Thank you @Jiman01 for the detailed explanation!Aside from commercial vehicles, here in the US CB, GMRS, HAM radios are much less common unless you live/operate in more remote areas.
Probably the most common method for warnings up ahead, like police, accidents, etc…are crowd sourced applications like Waze. That obviously requires cellular, but on US highways, it’s normally pretty well covered…especially where I am on the East Coast. Out West, I’m assuming cellular coverage isn‘t as dense.
. Perhaps one of our American friends here can confirm this when they warn of the Kojaks with the Kodaks with the BirdDog on.
Waze also very popular here and I use it all the time, but yes no good as soon as you lose cellular coverageAside from commercial vehicles, here in the US CB, GMRS, HAM radios are much less common unless you live/operate in more remote areas.
Probably the most common method for warnings up ahead, like police, accidents, etc…are crowd sourced applications like Waze. That obviously requires cellular, but on US highways, it’s normally pretty well covered…especially where I am on the East Coast. Out West, I’m assuming cellular coverage isn‘t as dense.
I have just followed Canny Outdoors suggestion on Antennae mounting and coax run. I mounted the antennae to the front bullbar and ran the coax (encased in some loom tube) behind the light, along the inside top guard in the engine bay and down to a grommet just made for the installation. Now to work out where to install the radio and put the Microphone Hand-piece. Next jobPretty sure no DIN slots anywhere and the panels are not modular as they appear to be. So far I haven’t seen anyone post an installation. I will be looking for a spot behind the dash to locate a remote unit and put a jack for a remote microphone with integrated speaker somewhere to plug it in. Will be looking for a grommet in the firewall to pass an aerial cable through to the front and mount on the roo bar.
Pics pleaseI have just followed Canny Outdoors suggestion on Antennae mounting and coax run. I mounted the antennae to the front bullbar and ran the coax (encased in some loom tube) behind the light, along the inside top guard in the engine bay and down to a grommet just made for the installation. Now to work out where to install the radio and put the Microphone Hand-piece. Next job
Shortwave is ok.