UHF Radios in the USA ???

[SteelArt]

Hi Guys,

Ok so I am in Australia about to move to the USA and working out what stuff to bring and what to leave. I have several ICOM 440 UHF Radios and was just wondering if they were fine to use in the USA Frequency wise etc ?

Up to 35 Receive only channels are programmable (450-520Mhz)

ICOM AUSTRALIA: UHF CB

 

[rusty_tlc]

I'd try to sell it there before you leave. CB in the US is completely different.

 

[SteelArt]

yeah ok thought as much. So I guess I will sell some.

Cheers,

 

[1911]

In the U.S., 450-520 MHz are GMRS/FRS and commercial frequencies, and the 70CM amateur band is from 420-450 MHz.

 

[george_tlc]

Yep, as an oz that lives/works here I can confirm that oz uhf radios will be of no use (and not legal) over here. The Oz uhf stuff is nothing like the US frs/gmrs stuff either.

The US "CB" stuff is still 27MHz, where in oz the "CB" stuff went UHF and typically 5W.

Here most of the frs/gmrs UHF stuff is sub 1W with a few units at or above 1W. Basically all are hand held.

Once over here and if you decide to join a local 4wd club etc, then pick up something compatible with what they run, CB, FRS/GMRS or Ham gear (simple written test).

In oz I run a UHF CB when I'm with folk running that in their 4wd's, but have installed an amateur mobile unit too (2m/uhf) and take a couple of hand helds with me as well. The Ham 2M stuff works so much better than the consumer radios.

Oz 4wd with UHF CB and Ham Radio:

cheers,
george.