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UHF radios, citizen’s band (CB) radios, or walkie-talkies, are names for small portable radio transceivers. Ultra-high-frequency radio waves are limited to line-of-sight transmissions, making them a short-range proposition, especially in mountainous areas. They are not especially useful for co-ordinating two widely-dispersed parties in hilly terrain. However, we have found them useful for managing a very large party, by placing a radio at the head of the party, one at the rear, and one with the party leader.
Radios in the half-watt power range are suitable for this, and you can purchase a pair of such radios for under $100. Alternatively, they may be used to allow a small sub-party to scout ahead of the main party, for example to investigate a campsite without dragging the whole party down the track. A more powerful model up to two watts may be useful here. However, five watt units (the legal limit on power output) are heavier and more expensive, and may not be worth the outlay.
Units by Uniden and GME are common in electronics shops. For use in snow or poor weather, a speaker microphone keeps the main unit safely in a pocket or the pack, while allowing the radio to still be used. We have seen a situation where the radio was kept in the top of a pack, with a plastic-wrapped speaker mike clipped to the pack straps for convenience. Having the channel being accidentally changed while in the pocket is a common occurrence, leading to missed transmissions; a radio with a keypad lock prevents this.
Radios are an added weight penalty and should not be relied upon absolutely. However, in appropriate circumstances they can be used to great effect.
Over-reliance on electronic devices is a potential cause of problems for a party which does not have the equipment and skills to do without that device. An obvious example of this is a party which sets off with a map and GPS but no compass or spare batteries. You should never rely solely on electronic devices if the safety of your party could be compromised by the failure of the device to work properly.
More information
Australian Communications Authority The consumer information sheets provide a wealth of information about the licence conditions for UHF radios, and information about other kinds of radios which might be helpful to you.
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