Two-way radio FAQs

No. UHF CB operates under an ACMA class licence, so there's no individual licence to apply for and no fee, provided your radio is an approved 80-channel UHF CB unit. You just have to use it within the rules — for example, keeping the emergency channels clear and not using more than the legal 5 watts. Amateur radio is different and does require a personal licence. See our licence rules guide.

Yes — that's the whole point of them. Two-way radios talk directly from one radio to another, so they don't rely on mobile towers, SIM cards or the internet. That's exactly why they keep working out bush, in the desert, down mines and on remote properties where your phone shows no bars.

Channel 5 is the designated emergency calling channel for UHF CB in Australia, and Channel 35 is its repeater input — the pair that carries Channel 5 through repeaters. You should keep both clear for emergency use and not use them for general chit-chat. Many radios have an instant Channel 5/35 button so you can jump straight to it.

Keep clear of the channels reserved for specific uses. Channels 5 and 35 are for emergencies, channels 22 and 23 are data only and must not be used for voice, and channels 61, 62 and 63 are reserved. Following these keeps the emergency and special-purpose channels available for everyone. You can see the full layout on our channel guide.

A Baofeng such as the UV-5R is an amateur radio transceiver, so transmitting on it legally requires an amateur radio licence — and it is not an approved UHF CB radio. Using one on UHF CB channels without the right licence and approved equipment isn't legal here. For licence-free use, choose an approved 80-channel Australian UHF CB radio instead.

Yes. UHF CB is licence-free, so there's no age restriction and kids can use an approved radio to stay in touch around camp, at events or on the farm. A simple, inexpensive low-wattage handheld is ideal for them. Just teach them to keep the emergency channels, 5 and 35, clear and to leave the data and reserved channels alone.

It depends almost entirely on terrain and antenna, not on a headline number. UHF is line-of-sight, so expect roughly 1 to 5 km in hilly or built-up areas and 10 to 25 km across open, flat country. A tall, well-placed antenna and clear ground beat extra watts, and a repeater on a high site can extend range much further. There's a full explainer in range explained.

By convention, Channel 40 is the main highway and truckies' channel across much of Australia, so it's the one to monitor when you're travelling. On the Pacific Highway, Channel 29 is commonly used. These are conventions rather than legal assignments, but following them means you hear and are heard by other road users. The channel guide lists the rest.

For UHF CB the practical answer is the legal maximum, 5 watts, which is what most full-size handhelds and all vehicle-mounts put out. Smaller and toy-grade radios may only do 1 or 2 watts, which limits range and suits short distances around camp. Remember that antenna and terrain affect range far more than the difference between watt ratings.

Often it's the best upgrade you can make, especially on a vehicle-mount. A quality antenna mounted high and in the clear improves range more than a more expensive radio would. Higher-gain antennas suit open country while lower-gain antennas work better in hilly terrain, so choose to match where you travel — many tourers carry one of each.

A repeater is a radio on a high site, like a hilltop or tower, that receives your signal and rebroadcasts it to extend range well beyond line-of-sight between two handhelds. UHF CB repeaters use the duplex channels, typically channels 1 to 8 and 41 to 48. To use one you switch your radio to duplex on a repeater channel; for local chat you stay simplex.

No. A UHF CB radio transmits on radio frequencies and can only talk to other radios on the same band and channel — it has no way to connect to the mobile phone network. Some radios pair with a phone over Bluetooth for an app or a wireless earpiece, but that doesn't let the radio call or message a phone. They're separate systems.

Only if they're on the same band and channels. Another approved Australian 80-channel UHF CB radio will talk to yours, but many cheap imported toy or PMR walkie-talkies use different frequencies that aren't legal for UHF CB here, so they often won't communicate. For everyone to hear each other, stick with approved Australian UHF CB gear.

Both are leading Australian UHF CB brands and you can't go far wrong with either. GME tends to lean premium, with features like Bluetooth, app control and slick scanning, while Uniden tends to lean value, giving you a solid 5 W radio for less money. Pick GME if you want the extra features, Uniden if you want the most radio for your dollar. We compare them head to head in GME vs Uniden.

Choose a handheld if you're mostly on foot and want something portable you can hand around; choose a vehicle-mount if the radio lives in a 4WD or work truck and you want the best range. A mount feeds a tall roof or bullbar antenna, so it out-talks a handheld even though both run 5 W. Plenty of tourers run both. More in handheld vs vehicle-mount.

IP67 is a dust and water rating. The first digit, 6, means the radio is dust-tight; the second digit, 7, means it survives brief immersion in water — roughly up to a metre for about 30 minutes. It's the rating to look for on a rugged handheld for camping, touring or worksite use. Marine radios often quote IPX7, where the X just means dust wasn't separately tested.

It varies by model and how much you transmit, but a typical UHF CB handheld lasts a day of normal use on a charge, since listening draws far less power than talking. Look for a removable battery so you can carry a spare on long trips, and USB-C charging so you can top up from the car. Vehicle-mounts avoid the issue by running off the vehicle.

For a boat you want marine VHF, not UHF CB. Marine VHF is a separate service with its own channels, including Channel 16 for distress and calling, and it's monitored by other vessels and coastal stations for safety. It also comes with its own operating rules and knowledge requirements, so read up before you transmit. UHF CB is fine for land-based comms but isn't the right tool on the water.