American Radios for Austrailain UHF CB

[2wayfreq]

I was curious, Could I bring my GE/Harris M-RK UHF 470-500 Mhz Portable to Australia to use on the UHF CB channels? I have all 80 channels programmed in it and set for narrow-band. I even set up the emergency repeater up on the Red button.

 

[kerravon]

This is one of those questions that always seems to spark debate.

Viewed from a strict legal perspective, based on the assumption that our equivalent of the UK OFCOM (which we call ACMA) has not laboratory tested your radio and found it to be suitable for use in Australia, then it is not considered ACMA "type approved", and only ACMA type approved radios can be used on the UHF CB band under the ACMA UHF CB band "class license".

Viewed from a practical perspective, the answer is that there are many people who use non "type approved" radios on the band and there seems to be little or no action taken to deal with this

I have been bringing ham radio gear in and out of Australia on frequent occassions for 5 years and never been quizzed at customs. Also had police ask out of curiousity what I was doing while operating ham gear stationary mobile and never once have they asked whether it is a CB or "type approved"?

Just listening to some of the action on the CB bands, particularly in the cities, suggests that ACMA either does not monitor them much, or if so, does not put much emphasis on enforcement.

Just my views and I could be wrong.

 

[philbert87]

kerravon,

yes you are right that the ACMA do not or more the point will not attempt to enforce the CB Class Licence as they are more concerned about the Amateur, and Private Frequencies. i also know many of people who are importing said Non ACMA Approved Radios to use of UHF CB and the ACMA know this and do not seem to care.

2wayfreq,

Send me a PM got a few questions for you that will be better suited for PM

 

[Jay911]

Interesting - I emailed the ACMA last year prior to heading to NSW and got this reply:

In Australia all radios are required to be licensed and meet certain standards. Whilst the CB radios operate under what is called a class licence and operate on specific set of frequencies which are different to those used in Canada. Front panel programmable radios do not meet the required standard. Therefore you would not be permitted under the Class Licence and Standard to use that radio on CB frequencies in Australia. The attached links will take you to the ACMA web page to the Class licence and also an information paper on the Class Licence for CB ACMA - Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002

There is also a possibility for amateurs to use their equipment or their call sign in Australia under a Class Licence System. The link at ACMA - Radiocommunications (Overseas Amateurs Visiting Australia) Class Licence 2008 will provide further information re overseas amateurs visiting Australia.

I was inquiring about taking a "programmable UHF handheld" (my XTS3000). They misinterpreted it as a FPP-capable radio. Still, to avoid the hassle, I just didn't bother, and took scanners to explore the then-being-built NSWGRN P25 system.