Australia > Hints, Tips & Links > Communications

Smart Phone or iPhone

If you can condense the amount of items you need to take with you, you won't be sorry you did. The Iphone would have to be high on the list for multiple uses when you think of all of the extra things you would need to pack in place of its many uses. It is also a GPS, modem, spirit level, calendar, compass, timer, alarm, calculator, voice message, ipod and much more.

Mail Forwarding Services

When you are travelling for an extended period and don't want to burden someone else with your mail retrieval, a safe and reliable mail-forwarding service is a great idea.

You can pick up a free postcode book from Australia Post to help you with which Post Office you want your mail to be sent to.

LINKS
  • Landbase Australia
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    Emergency Locating Devices

    The essential purpose of emergency locating devices (also known as distress beacons) is to assist in determining the location of survivors in search and rescue operations.

    These include, but are not limited to, devices known as emergency position-indicating radio beacons, personal locator beacons and the maritime survivor locating system.


    Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons

    Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) are primarily marine beacons and are small, self-contained, battery-operated radio transmitters that are both watertight and buoyant. EPIRBs are used by vessels of all kinds in distress to signal their location. Please refer to appropriate state legislation for any legal requirements regarding the carriage of EPIRBs.
    Personal EPIRBs, designed to be attached to a life jacket or carried by an individual, are also available.


    Personal Locator Beacons

    Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are designed to be carried by individuals, e.g. bushwalkers and four wheel drivers. They are not designed to float upright in water like an EPIRB but are frequently carried personally to supplement an EPIRB or Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT).


    Maritime Survivor Locating System

    The Maritime Survivor Locating System (MSLS) is a device that is designed to be operated as a system on 121.5 MHz. The transmitter component of the system is intended to be worn by individuals on-board a vessel. The receiver is located on the vessel. The system is designed to alert the vessel in an overboard situation rather than send an alert to a satellite.

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    Internet

    If you are travelling with your laptop, obviously internet cafes are a welcome sight but you can also head to the local club for a drink and usually get access there, as well as the local library who may offer free or discounted internet.




    UHF Radio Channels

    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.

    1 to 8 - These channels, which are established by law, can be used when sending a signal to a repeater 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 is 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

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    UHF & CB Radio Emergency Channels

    The emergency channels for your UHF or CB radio is 5 and 35