The Value of Radios

Roddy Kerr

Hand signals remain an important kayaking skill. But radios, both UHF and VHF offer better communications over longer distances for keeping kayaking fleets together and for use in emergency situations.

Each year a four day paddle is organised on the Macquarie River. Starting from Wellington, it progresses to Dubbo before finishing in Narromine. It’s very popular with paddlers and is known as the “WomDomNom”. It’s designed to be a recreational paddle, with an emphasis on encouraging paddlers to push their limits in paddling across four days.

On my first WomDomNom, I noticed their extensive use of UHF radios to manage operations both on and off water. This popular trip attracts up to 150 paddlers, with up to a forty minute spread between the lead and last paddlers. Clearly the use of radios was a great solution for holding the whole event together.

Having led a number of flat water trips with my local club, I could see even at the club level, the use of radios would be of great benefit. Getting club approval wasn't easy, the first response was to push back the idea - “We’ve got this far without them”, but eventually it was agreed to trial two radios and see how they go.

Eventually the club purchased more, then individuals purchased their own, as radios became an essential part of our safety kit bags.

Safety is paramount when you’re out of town exploring a remote location. Add water to the mix with a group of paddlers running an unfamiliar river and clear communication soon becomes a necessity.

We’re all aware of the hand signals used by our paddling community, especially for the sea kayakers or white water paddlers. We do use hand signals from time to time on our expeditions. However, relying on hand signals with a larger group quickly becomes inefficient and impossible when paddlers lose line of sight.

Like 4WD groups and bushwalking groups, we have found inexpensive consumer grade UHF radios are a big asset to our expeditions safety protocols and trip success.

UHF send signals from radio to radio and use short frequency waves. VHF have a longer frequency waves, which are enhanced by the series of coastal transponders along the NSW coast. When paddling on the coast, we carry VHF radios - as a means of emergency communications, and carry UHF as a means of intra-group communications. Inland, where there is no comparative transponder network, only UHF radios are carried, for intra-group communications, and if required, to talk to emergency service if they arrive in our immediate area.

Keeping the fleet together, monitoring pace and identifying hazards are just some of the benefits of utilising radios.

No license is required to use and operate a UHF radio.

The UHF frequency band is sometimes better known as the old CB radio. Long distance truck drivers famously being big users. https://youtu.be/Sd5ZLJWQmss

The song ‘CONVOY‘ (CW.McCall) was a 1975 cultural phenomena inspiring the CB radio craze of the mid-’70s, as well as the Convoy and Smokey and the Bandit movies. The movement reached its zenith with the 1979 truckies blockade on Razorback Mountain (otherwise known as the Siege of Sydney). The story of “Con- voy” was told in CB jargon using both Country and Western twangs.

The song is one example of an insular radio language for a distinct community. For truckers, their radios are powered all day, they work in an unique environment, so they can talk all day, using their culturally exclusive language, their commonly understood shorthand - something about a rubber duck sitting on a pig pen looking for a four-ten.

Unlike the world of truckers, radio communications should be open to all and plain speaking. Correct radio procedure stems from the military and does include some words for etiquette and procedure including "Roger'', ’‘Copy'', ’‘Over" and ''Out"'. Good radio communications are short and precise.

Learning the basics of radio language is a useful skill, especially if the worst happens and you need to communicate with emergency services. Unlike the air conditioned confines of a truckers' cabin, using radios in outdoor emergency conditions will involve significant environmental distractions - wind, rain, fire etc, so messages need to be short and sharp and mutually understood.

The standard NATO alphabet was developed to support greater consistency and accuracy in radio communication, on the assumption, such communications often occur in adverse situations.

A-Alpha, B-Bravo, C-Charlie, D-Delta, E-Echo, F-Foxtrot, G-Golf, H-Hotel, I-India, J-Juliet, K-Kilo, L-Lima, M-Mike, N-November, O-Oscar, P-Papa, Q-Quebec, R-Romeo, S-Sierra, T-Tango, U-Uniform, V-Victor, W-Whiskey, Y-Yankee, Z-Zulu.

We have grown accustomed to the reliability and versatility of our mobile phones, especially paddling within urban environments. But step into regional Australia and the story quickly changes. UHF radios provide a reliable localized network which faithfully follows us, irrespective of electoral boundaries.

On an expedition, we utilise a three radio network including the scout, the centre of the fleet and tail end charlie. By keeping radio chatter to a minimum, we know we can keep our radio batteries going for seven days. We normally carry a couple of spare radios, and keep these turned off. In an emergency, we want a radio with a full signal and a full battery.

Our radios of choice is the GME TX6155 or the TX61605 hand held UHF radios. The TX6160 is the latest update on the TX6155 and is well built and reliable with a new unique O-ring seal for the extended microphone making it by far the most convenient to use. They’re available in safety Orange and Yellow colours as well as black which is very useful especially gearing up before dawn.

5 watts is the most powerful handheld available and fulfils our needs.

Radios are an important safety technology, and their use and maintenance is a practiced skill.

In use - Although waterproof, if the radio takes a swim it can be inoperable for a little time as the speaker membrane gets wet. Immediate action is a good hard blow to clear as much water away - after a few minutes away from the wet, the radio should be back in use.

Rainfade - This is a known phenomenon whereby a strong wet weather front can drastically cut down the range in which UHF radios can work. The findings are varied on this with many citing UHF is the least frequency affected however it’s our experience that it can happen and so its worth being aware of the possibility in certain conditions.

After every trip - Clean radios and inspect for damage. Drain the battery completely and then recharge completely. Remove batteries for storage and inspect the latch mechanism - a small shot of WD40 will ensure the latch is working when the battery is ready to go back in. Place the radio in an airtight container with a cup of rice for a day. This will ensure the radio is completely dry before long term storage.

The Value of Radios

Hand signals remain an important kayaking skill. But radios, both UHF and VHF offer better communications over longer distances for keeping kayaking fleets together and for use in emergency situations.

Case Study

A 31yr old man was attacked by a shark whilst fishing from his kayak off the coast of Moffat Beach in Caloundra, Queensland.