UHF PRS LICENCE-FREE RADIOS
UHF CB (PRS) radios use frequencies authorized by the governments of New Zealand and Australia in the UHF 477 MHz band. UHF PRS provides 77 channels, including 32 channels (16 output, 16 input) allocated to repeater stations. These popular channels are free to use for personal or business use and are a brilliant alternative to the more costly commercial licenced radios with allocated channels and commercial-grade two-way radios.
New Zealand offers the UHF PRS (Personal Radio Service) and 26 MHz Citizens Band frequencies. 26 MHz is often referred to as the old 'truckers' channels, similar to Australia's 27 MHz Citizens Band services.
The New Zealand Government's Ministry of Commerce introduced the UHF 477MHz PRS channels in 1996 to allow for freely available short-range wireless communications as an alternative to the 26 / 27 MHz CB band. The UHF band was selected due to its ability to withstand atmospheric and ground wave interference unlike the existing 26 MHz allocation.
CB or PRS radios can be a starting point that could lead to a hobby interest in radio communications and could be the catalyst to building knowledge with the goal of studying towards joining the worldwide amateur radio (ham) community.
Usage
PRS Radio's are popular as a portable, convenient, lightweight, easy to use, yet powerful communications choice for personal, safety or business use.
They are perfect to keep a group communicating:
- Off-roaders
- Preppers and emergency communications (when cellphone sites go down)
- Skiing
- Mountain climbing
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Caravaning and camping
- Amusement parks
- Hiking
- Car convoys
- Keeping in touch with your kids when outdoors
- Neighbourhood watch, retirement homes, adverse weather communications
Or for businesses, such as:
- Farmers, orchards, kennels, catteries,
- Hotels, motels and accommodation
- Camp ground owners
- Electricians, security companies and camera installers
- Road working crews
- Film and photography
- Hospitality - bars, restaurants, food courts, functions, shows, events, etc
- Warehouses and storage facilities
- Shop security
- Lumber yards
- Building and construction sites
Limitations of UHF PRS Channels
Unfortunately all the good things about using UHF PRS channels come with some limitations. The UHF PRS channels are shared channels and can be used by any member of the public. If you're a business user and share personal information, financial details, have critical communications needs, or associated safety risks, don't want to have your communications interrupted or staff talked to by other radio users, have concerns over eavesdropping or need longer distance communications then we suggest cellphones or commercial two-way radios to cover your needs. The same applies for marine communications, you should own and use a quality VHF marine radio for your maritime safety and communications needs - particularly if the need arises, marine channel 16 is your life-line in the case of an emergency.
Equipment
User equipment designs are similar to commercial land mobile two-way radio, except the maximum legal output power is 5 Watts. External antennas are permitted and commercially manufactured antennas have gains as high as 12 dB. Handheld transceivers (handy talkies) are permitted and have transmit power from 500 milliWatts to 5 Watts (full legal power) and are relatively cheap compared to full-sized transceivers. The other good thing is you can communicate with other users who also own UHF PRS radios, almost regardless of their brand choice. Simply select the same channel and you can have group communications easily Operation in the band is restricted to modes F3E and G3E (FM or PM of analogue voice telephony) except for channels 22 and 23, which are data modes only.
Don't underestimate one of the most essential parts of your UHF PRS radio - namely the antenna. This is the part that radiates and receives all your signals - a tuned antenna is required with some models creating radiation patterns that extend (and could even double) the range of your radio. This is called antenna gain and generally higher the gain, the more range you get. At Techoman we have a range of extended antennas, mobile mount antennas and base station antennas.
Licensing
GURL licensing means that users do not have to apply for a licence or pay a licence fee; however, they must comply with the regulations of the GURL licence.
It is illegal to use non-approved radios purchased from overseas because they may interfere with licensed land-mobile services. This includes overseas personal radio service devices because they do not share the same band plan, power output and channels as UHF CB. Care must be taken when importing radios from overseas to ensure they comply with local regulations. Approved radios are identified by an Australian standards "C Tick" or RNZ in New Zealand.
CTCSS / DCS
Continuous tone coded squelch system (CTCSS)allows a group of radios set with the same tone to converse on a channel without hearing other radios using that channel. CTCSS can be used to silence a radio until another radio with the same tone transmits. This allows monitoring of a channel for transmissions from radios set with the same tone without hearing other conversations that use different or even no tone.
The use of CTCSS is not permitted on UHF CB repeaters or the designated emergency channels.
Repeaters
Repeaters extend the range of transmission by receiving and automatically rebroadcasting a transmission using an antenna located in a high location, normally the top of a mountain, tall building or radio tower. Sometimes a transmission range of over 100 kilometres (60 miles) can be achieved through the use of a repeater. Repeaters are on channels 1–8 and 41–48 and the duplex button should be pressed to access the repeater.
Signage
An excellent use of UHF PRS channels would be to install signs at worksites, roadworks, regional highways, national parks, heavy vehicle checking stations, and on the rear of camper vans and caravans to advertise a UHF channel for communications. For example, during the widening of the M1 Pacific Motorway in Australia, contractors installed "UHF 29" signs at the entry point of each worksite to help share driver information.
Channel use
Legally restricted channels
The following channels are legislated as a part of the UHF PRS Licence.
- Channel 22 and 23 are only to be used for telemetry and telecommand. Packet data and voice transmission are not allowed.
- Channel 61, 62 and 63 are reserved for future allocation and transmission on these channels is not allowed.
Channels used by consensus
The following channels are not legislated as a part of the class licence however are used for the following purposes by consensus.
- Channel 10 is typically used by 4WD clubs when in a convoy and in national parks. This channel is used to avoid interfering with road safety communications on channel 29 or 40. If you are not in a convoy it is recommended that only 29 or 40 are used, depending on the road in question.
- Channel 18 is the campers and caravan convoy channel typically used by travellers.
- Channel 29 is the road safety channel on the M1 Pacific Motorway and Highway between Tweed Heads and Newcastle in NSW. It is used due to one transport company who travelled this road who always used this channel. Other drivers switched from 40 to 29 to talk to them and it became a custom. This custom prevails even though the original transport company no longer exists.
- Channel 40 is the primary road safety channel Australia-wide, most commonly used by trucks including pilot/escort vehicles for oversized loads.
Users should be aware that UHF CB channels 31 to 38 and 71 to 78 are the 'input' channels for repeaters. Users should avoid using these channels to avoid interfering with repeaters. If a repeater is to be used, switch to 1–8 or 41–48 and press the duplex button.
UHF CB Band Plan
Expansion to 80 channels
On 27 May 2011 the channel spacing on UHF CB was changed, allowing the band to expand from 40 channels to 80 channels. Due to data channels 22 and 23 occupying 25 kHz bandwidth, the expansion effectively allows the use of 77 channels, as channels 61, 62 and 63 are reserved.
ACMA originally intended to make older 40 channel UHF radios on the 25 kHz spacing illegal to use from June 2017. However, in February 2017, it reversed this decision after determining that the two systems were working well alongside each other.
Current UHF CB band plan (80 Channels)
General chat channels are used in simplex mode, repeater channels must be used in duplex mode. If you are not using a repeater it is recommended to choose a "general chat" channel.
| Channel Name: | Frequency: | Purpose: | Frequency Spacing: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel 1 | 476.4250 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 2 | 476.4500 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 3 | 476.4750 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 4 | 476.5000 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 5 | 476.5250 | Emergency Repeater Output (not an emergency channel in New Zealand) | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 6 | 476.5500 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 7 | 476.5750 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 8 | 476.6000 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 9 | 476.6250 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 10 | 476.6500 | 4WD Clubs or Convoys and National Parks. | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 11 | 476.6750 | Call Channel (main trucking channel in New Zealand) | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 12 | 476.7000 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 13 | 476.7250 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 14 | 476.7500 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 15 | 476.7750 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 16 | 476.8000 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 17 | 476.8250 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 18 | 476.8500 | Caravanners and Campers Convoy Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 19 | 476.8750 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 20 | 476.9000 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 21 | 476.9250 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 22 | 476.9500 | Telemetry and Telecommand Only (No Voice or Data) | 25 kHz |
| Channel 23 | 476.9750 | Telemetry and Telecommand Only (No Voice or Data) | 25 kHz |
| Channel 24 | 477.0000 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 25 | 477.0250 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 26 | 477.0500 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 27 | 477.0750 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 28 | 477.1000 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 29 | 477.1250 |
Road Safety Channel
Pacific Hwy/Mwy between Brisbane (QLD) and Sydney (NSW) and normal channel in New Zealand |
12.5 kHz |
| Channel 30 | 477.1500 | UHF CB Broadcasts, Weather etc | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 31 | 477.1750 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 32 | 477.2000 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 33 | 477.2250 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 34 | 477.2500 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 35 | 477.2750 | Emergency Repeater Input (not an emergency channel in New Zealand) | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 36 | 477.3000 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 37 | 477.3250 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 38 | 477.3500 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 39 | 477.3750 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 40 | 477.4000 | Road Safety Channel Australia Wide | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 41 | 476.4375 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 42 | 476.4625 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 43 | 476.4875 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 44 | 476.5125 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 45 | 476.5375 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 46 | 476.5625 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 47 | 476.5875 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 48 | 476.6125 | Repeater Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 49 | 476.6375 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 50 | 476.6625 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 51 | 476.6875 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 52 | 476.7125 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 53 | 476.7375 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 54 | 476.7625 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 55 | 476.7875 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 56 | 476.8125 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 57 | 476.8375 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 58 | 476.8625 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 59 | 476.8875 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 60 | 476.9125 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 61 | Unused due to bandwidth of data channels 22 & 23 | - | |
| Channel 62 | Unused due to bandwidth of data channels 22 & 23 | - | |
| Channel 63 | Unused due to bandwidth of data channels 22 & 23 | - | |
| Channel 64 | 477.0125 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 65 | 477.0375 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 66 | 477.0625 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 67 | 477.0875 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 68 | 477.1125 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 69 | 477.1375 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 70 | 477.1625 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 71 | 477.1875 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 72 | 477.2125 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 73 | 477.2375 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 74 | 477.2625 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 75 | 477.2875 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 76 | 477.3125 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 77 | 477.3375 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 78 | 477.3625 | Repeater Input | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 79 | 477.3875 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |
| Channel 80 | 477.4125 | General Chat Channel | 12.5 kHz |