Australian 80 CB UHF Channel List

This article covers everything your business team needs to know about the legal use of the 80 CB UHF Channels in Australia.

In this article, we are going to discuss:

  1. What are the 80 CB UHF Channels?
  2. 80 CB UHF Channel List
  3. Who can use the Channels?
  4. Who regulates the use of the Channels?
  5. What are the rules governing the use of the 80 CB channels?
  6. What are legal UHF radios to use in Australia?
  7. Can I use a CB radio I have imported from overseas?
  8. Do I need to pay a licence to use CB frequencies?
  9. What are the penalties for using illegal UHF radios in Australia?
  10. How does the ACMA catch users using illegal radios?
  11. Can I use my Australian CB radio overseas?

What are the 80 CB UHF Channels?

The 80 CB UHF channels are free to use UHF radio channels, for all Australians' public benefit. The 80 channels are contained within the UHF spectrum of 476.4250 - 477.4125 MHz. Each of the 80 narrowband channels are split by 12.5 KHz spaces.

80 UHF CB Channel List

Channel Frequency Use
1 476.4250 Duplex – Repeater Output
2 476.4500 Duplex – Repeater Output
3 476.4750 Duplex – Repeater Output
4 476.5000 Duplex – Repeater Output
5 476.5250 Duplex – Repeater Output - Emergency Use Only
6 476.5500 Duplex – Repeater Output
7 476.5750 Duplex – Repeater Output
8 476.6000 Duplex – Repeater Output
9 476.6250 Simplex – General Use
10 476.6500 Simplex – 4WD Drivers, Convoys, Clubs & National Parks
11 476.6750 Simplex – Call Channel
12 476.7000 Simplex – General Use
13 476.7250 Simplex – General Use
14 476.7500 Simplex – General Use
15 476.7750 Simplex – General Use
16 476.8000 Simplex – General Use
17 476.8250 Simplex – General Use
18 476.8500 Simplex – Caravan & Camper Convoy Channel
19 476.8750 Simplex – General Use
20 476.9000 Simplex – General Use
21 476.9250 Simplex – General Use
22 476.9500 Data Only (No Voice – No Packet)
23 476.9750 Data Only (No Voice – No Packet)
24 477.0000 Simplex – General Use
25 477.0250 Simplex – General Use
26 477.0500 Simplex – General Use
27 477.0750 Simplex – General Use
28 477.1000 Simplex – General Use
29 477.1250 Simplex – Pacific Hwy (NSW), Bruce Hwy (QLD) – Road Channel
30 477.1500 Simplex – UHF CB Broadcasts
31 477.1750 Repeater Input
32 477.2000 Repeater Input
33 477.2250 Repeater Input
34 477.2500 Repeater Input
35 477.2750 Repeater Input (Emergency Use Only)
36 477.3000 Repeater Input
37 477.3250 Repeater Input
38 477.3500 Repeater Input
39 477.3750 Simplex – General Use
40 477.4000 Simplex – Truckers / Highway Channel
41 476.4375 Simplex – General Use
42 476.4625 Simplex – General Use
43 476.4875 Simplex – General Use
44 476.5125 Simplex – General Use
45 476.5375 Simplex – General Use
46 476.5625 Simplex – General Use
47 476.5875 Simplex – General Use
48 476.6125 Simplex – General Use
49 476.6375 Simplex – General Use
50 476.6625 Simplex – General Use
51 476.6875 Simplex – General Use
52 476.7125 Simplex – General Use
53 476.7375 Simplex – General Use
54 476.7625 Simplex – General Use
55 476.7875 Simplex – General Use
56 476.8125 Simplex – General Use
57 476.8375 Simplex – General Use
58 476.8625 Simplex – General Use
59 476.8875 Simplex – General Use
60 476.9125 Simplex – General Use
61 Reserved For Future Expansion
62 Reserved For Future Expansion
63 Reserved For Future Expansion
64 477.0125 Simplex – General Use
65 477.0375 Simplex – General Use
66 477.0625 Simplex – General Use
67 477.0875 Simplex – General Use
68 477.1125 Simplex – General Use
69 477.1375 Simplex – General Use
70 477.1625 Simplex – General Use
71 477.1875 Simplex – General Use
72 477.2125 Simplex – General Use
73 477.2375 Simplex – General Use
74 477.2625 Simplex – General Use
75 477.2875 Simplex – General Use
76 477.3125 Simplex – General Use
77 477.3375 Simplex – General Use
78 477.3625 Simplex – General Use
79 477.3875 Simplex – General Use
80 477.4125 Simplex – General Use

Who can use the Channels?

The 80 CB UHF channels can be used by anyone in Australia with an approved walkie-talkie device.

Who regulates the use of the Channels?

As UHF radio spectrum is a natural resource, its use is regulated by the Australian Media Communications Authority (ACMA). The Radio Communications Act (1992) contains the rules defining how the 80 CB UHF channels can be used, which revolve around providing the spectrum for public benefit.

As Radio Warehouse is a corporate member of the Australian Radio Communications Industry Association, we work in partnership with the government to ensure this part of the radio spectrum is managed professionally for the benefit of all Australians, business & consumers alike.

What are the rules governing the use of the 80 CB channels?

The rules regarding proper use of CB radio in Australia are:

  1. Only use a type-approved walkie-talkie that is certified to use the 80 CB UHF channels. You can quickly identify equipment that is legal to use on CB channels, as it will have the Regulatory Compliance Mark, previously known as the "C-Tick" logo located on the back, bottom or inside of the radio.

    C-Tick compliance mark for Australian ACMA-approved radio communications equipment
  2. You must also not broadcast on channels outside their allocated definition. The most obvious example is do not use emergency channels 5 & 35 unless it is an emergency.
  3. Do not use the service to threaten, harass, defame, abuse, incite violence, call "fake emergencies" or cause interference to others.
  4. Do not broadcast for more than 60 seconds.
  5. Do not broadcast at a transmission strength greater than 5 watts.
  6. Do not operate your radio in "digital mode" (IDAS / NXDN / DMR etc) on the CB UHF channels. Your equipment should be broadcasting in analogue mode.

What are legal UHF CB radios to use in Australia?

For consumers who are looking to use a UHF CB radio for a one-off event, such as camping, travelling around Australia on a caravan trip, or perhaps attending a music festival, there are cheap 80 CB UHF radios available from companies such as Uniden, GME, and Oricom.

However, at Radio Warehouse, we only sell radios that are purpose-built for commercial and government users, and do not stock the above brands.

For commercial / government teams, or those who understand that you often get what you pay for, UHF radios that can legally communicate on the 80 CB channels in Australia are:

Can I use a CB radio that I have imported from overseas?

You cannot import radio communication equipment from overseas. If the pricing is usually "too good to be true", it's most likely considered a "dodgy device" according to the ACMA. Using radio equipment that is not type-approved is illegal in Australia.

Do I need to pay a licence to use the CB channels?

You do not need to pay for a licence to use the 80 CB UHF channels. The Radio Communications Act (1992) provides you with a free, automatic, licence to use walkie-talkie radios, provided that you use radio equipment type-approved for use of the Australian CB channels and you adhere to the rules governing the use of the 80 CB channels.

What are the penalties for using illegal UHF radios in Australia?

The ACMA imposes large penalties, and potential jail time, for users detected using illegal radio communication devices.

Fines in excess of $1,300,000 and five years imprisonment may be issued if your radio communication device causes interference with emergency services.

How does the ACMA catch users using illegal radios?

We do not know all of ACMA's methods to detect radio transmissions originating from illegal equipment. We do know that the ACMA monitor licenced channels for potential illegal use & users of illegal radio equipment acquired outside of Australia normally give themselves away.

Radios that are imported from overseas, which are not type-approved for use in Australia, are usually manufactured to such poor standards that the frequency the radio is supposed to be communicating on, is often not. These cheap radios can subsequently “drift” broadcasting onto other frequencies, and therefore cause disturbances on channels that may not be legal to operate on.

Another way the ACMA detects users of illegal radio equipment is by users who program in their own frequencies into radios they have acquired, without having a licence to do so. When users engage in this behaviour, they are effectively running a “pirate radio station”. The ACMA moves quickly in on this.

We recommend that you do not attempt to illegally obtain a copy of the radio’s programming software, or, attempt to acquire non type-approved radio devices that may allow you to “program in” whatever frequency you may want to transmit on. This is a fast way to be issued a large fine by the ACMA.

Legitimate radio users who are experiencing interference on their radio channel are encouraged to fill out the ACMA's investigation form. If you are a Radio Warehouse client, we will take the stress out of the situation and deal with the ACMA on your behalf.

Can I use my Australian CB radio overseas?

In summary, you can only use your Australian CB radio in Australia and New Zealand.

You cannot legally use it in other countries which will be governed by different regulations around their use of the UHF spectrum respectively.

For example, in the UK you can only broadcast at 0.5 watts on their PMR frequencies, whereas in Australia you can broadcast up to 5 watts on our CB frequencies. In the United States, if you use an Australian CB radio whilst visiting, you may be broadcasting and causing interference on channels used for Federal penitentiaries! We doubt you will receive a Presidential pardon.