UHF CB is a class licensed (meaning licence-free use for most users) citizen's band radio service authorised by the government of Australia in the UHF 477 MHz band. A similar frequency allocation is also used in New Zealand. It provides 40 channels, including 16 channels (8 output, 8 input) allocated to repeater stations. It is similar in concept to the 40 channels used in United States' HF CB allocation, which is also available in Australia and New Zealand.

The equipment designs are similar to commercial land mobile two-way radio gear, though a fair amount of inexpensive equipment is available that is roughly equivalent to the low-end gear commonly available in the U.S. and Europe for FRS/GMRS or PMR 446 usage. Except for repeater stations and stations using the data-only channels, transmitter RF power is limited to 5 Watts.

Use of CTCSS and Selcall are permitted for selective calling between CB users.

A feature of the Australian UHF CB band not available on HF CB is the availability of repeater stations to extend range. Repeater stations are available for use by all UHF CB radio owners but unlike them, repeaters are indivudually licensed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and repeater owners pay a license fee. Channel 5 (and with its corresponding repeater station input, if a repeater is available, channel 35) are designated as emergency calling frequencies.

Channel 11 is designated as a calling frequency. Although not officially specified as such, channel 40 is usually used as a road channel to communicate with road travellers, truck drivers and the like.

"UHF CB" may also be used informally to refer to the FRS in the North America, PMR 446 in Europe, or any similar service, but this is mostly a fact of regulations and not an official name given to the service. Australian UHF CB and these services are at different frequencies and are therefore incompatible, and usually illegal to use in each other's areas as it is likely to cause interference with other services.

Printable Frequency Allocation Table

External links

• UHF CB license conditions determination - The official license under which UHF CB operates
• Australian Communications and Media Authority - The Australian regulator of the radiofrequency spectrum
• VMB4 Newcastle - An example of an Australian UHF CB Repeater.

wireless communications