Andy Collins

If you do it the "proper" way, you can be employed and self-employed at the same time, in your own right. Your employer for let's say 4 days pays you PAYE and the other days you choose to work you declare as S/e., with all insurances etc in place. Most companies started in the same way, with the boss breaking away to form his own company. Of course many bosses then resent this happening to them, even though it was their way years before. I do think there would be a conflict of interests however, I have seen subbies dishing out their own cards to clients, which is a big no-no, so it's not straight forward. Another thought is that as an employer, if I had someone who wished to be starting up on their own, that would tell me that they no longer wished to work for me, so I'd be encouraging them to go now, rather than later, I'd need time to get new staff up to speed.

Had mine since the last APF and no leaks, no tears, going well

I don't see the issue, the bar is covered, end of problem. It's not an offensive weapon, it is a tool of the trade, and if the police were to stop him and go through his bags they would find the rest of his kit. I have been in a vehicle stopped for routine checks, had a knife larger than legal on my belt, in a sheath, I have told the officer of this and he just shrugged and told me it was a tool of the trade, didn't bat an eyelid. It might be different if I went into a nightclub, but I wasn't. I have taken saws on a train before now, Ive taken them into pubs, never had any problems. Some make more of a fuss than necessary. The harder you attempt to conceal, the more of a criminal you look.

Lol, an accident is something that happens, and most of us are not unreasonable to that end. If all due care is taken, yet something still get broken then fair dos. But if it's down to negligence, stupidity or a fit of rage and damage occurs, then it is unreasonable and totally unnecessary. It's more about what is generally acceptable, when the cost is to the employer it can get to the point of exasperation when damage repeatedly occurs. If I took a risk on a climber who was just starting out, and things got broken in the course of the day, I'd make the excuse at he still had a lot to learn. If a chaps been climbing 15years, is highly skilled and wants top dollar, then breakages are not so acceptable.

Joking aside I have some Motorola MTS2000s ex-police retuned to 449, I'd rather use them, tough as old boots, compact enough to wear in a chest rig, loads of ancillary items, covert mics, handsets etc, and excellent tone for noisy environments.

Lol, not a problem to discuss it as far as I know, and it's interesting to see what gets thrown into the conversation. IMO, a pair of 349s makes perfect sense, tough and built for th e harshest of conditions, would suit tree work perfectly. Just don't get caught using them, and certainly not if you are near mil bases!

Problem with operating a 349 it won't operate legally, being in tye 30+ Megz bracket, it doesn't comply with Amateur licence, UK Gen licence or anything else. I know you can argue that it doesn't matter, but as a mod I have to recommend something legal to operate. Given that, I believe a 349 only puts out 1watt PEP, so not exactly an issue, so long as you don't interfere with other MoD comms, I suspect they may not be best pleased.

Ah but the Bowman is not available in civvy form, they are only shifting the Clansman due to the upgrade to Bowman, even though personnel see it as a backward step. Utilising CTSS and DCSS will give a degree of security, not that security in tree work is that important, more the less of intervention from others outside the net. radio protocol should mean that a busy channel is left to the person there first, but rarely works as such. DCSS and CTSS are available on most radios these days, even the most basic supermarket 446MHZ radios. Of course, you can step up to digital radio, rather than analogue, with the Motobro radios, but I feel this is too expensive and unnecessary for tree work, but essential where secure comms are needed.

Ii think being self employed is something you really have to "want". Being a subby you are doing the same as being employed, but without the benefits of employment. Add up what your employment is worth in your current position, including holiday pay and other advantages, especially as you a lead climber. Can you expect you expect to earn close to that amount day in day out? My opinion, give the current climate, you have a regular job, keep it. Review things in a couple of years, see f tye climate picks up.

In self employment you never know where your next job is coming from, in theory it's easy you get work and you do it, and get paid. But the real world this rarely runs so smoothly. As s/e it's part of the masochistic fun, when things go well they go very well, when they go bad it happens quickly, whether work dries up, or a deterioration in health for example. But the rewards usually manage to outweigh the bad points, and it's well worth it.

No the sheer power of the Russians means they literally over power our feeble signals. CB operates 26-27Mhz, which is HF (High Frequency) UHF (Ultra High Frequency) is completely different spectrum, typically 449Mhz. the new Bowman army radios are supposed to be superior to the old Clansman systems, however it has been reported that many have experienced a lot of issues with the Bowman. It's is probably better for scrambling messages, more suited for transmission of data etc, and more compatible with other nations forces systems, but time will tell. To compare a Clansman set to most of the modern radios available in the commercial sector is like comparing a 60s car to a modern day one. The beauty if the Clansman system is it's simplicity of use, at all levels whether at platoon level or command level, and it's robust build. As a system it also has a decent HF range of frequencies. Suitable for the modern workplace? Heavy, bulky very robust, but I'd spend less money on more modern radios, personally.

You mentioned CB as an alternative idea for radio contact. This is ok but the Russian Taxi companies ave recently swamped the airwaves quite heavily in those frequencies, they run massive power boosts to out perform their rivals,with no regulation to stop them. It's been said that two trucks in convoy over here can be swamped by the Russians! So maybe not the best option, and with sunspot activity increasing I'm sure the problem is only going to get worse.

No genset UHF is perfectly legal, you can run on either 446 (PMR) but there will be kids etc on there, or 449 (Site Simple licence) no worries. VHF also requires a licence, and you have about a dozen frequencies to use. You cannot use Marine radios other than for Marine use, this is strictly regulated and they come down like a ton of the proverbial on those who mess about. A lot of modern two-ways have a"man down" sensor built in, where if you are collapsed for a period of time, it will automatically raise an alarm with your check in point. Bit dearer though. On recollection, they changed the user frequencies some time ago in UHF which was termed SRBR on 461 Megs, think this was to allow for analogue mobile phones, which have now been replaced with digital elsewhere.

Look at the VHF top band radios for better range, rather than the UHF stuff. UHF is better in built up area where the signal need to punch through brickwork etc, I have switchable VHF/UHF for this very reason, on UK Gen licence. The comparison even in relatively short distances, say 2 miles is that the voice received is probably 10x clearer on the VHF. If you drop down to VHF low band its even better, as rule. Tbh radios between 164-174MHz are adequate for our needs, and if you have the switchable radios you can use 449MHz as well which eliminates the kids playing about that you get on 446Mhz PMR. the Chinese are sending in some very reasonably priced radios these days, which are strong enough for commercial work, and more affordable than the Mitex range. You can also pick up ex-Police radios reconditioned and re-tuned to 449 MHz for a very reasonable amount, the clarity of the audio is far superior to many of the cheaper radios.

Don't be silly, 15years from now, H&S will abolish fire, and sitting around for risk of piles, the APF will be finished as there will be no forestry industry any more thanks to tree hugging activists, and we will all be bankrupt. So we'll be sitting around our computers talking about it, with our pipes and slipper cos in 15 years well be retired and living on a crap pension. Doom doom doomity doom with a bit of gloom chucked in for good measure.

Read this http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg73.pdf look into Crisys and Anserve for lone working systems. Have means of communication. Ensure you're EFAW+F trained. Modern two way radios have a "man down" alert on them, look into these. Unfortunately it's seems you have to bend over backwards to just earn a living, but that's the way these days. Hope some of this is of help.

Really glad things panned out for you Silky, your enthusiasm is infectious, you have ability through your years of experience, I don't think you ever need to be down to your last quid again, I'm sure just a quick pm for help will sort you out. This thread is a fine example of the forum being used properly, to advantage you, to help in a quest for work. It's made such a refreshing change to see a thread which doesn't just say, "I need work, call me on **** **********" and achieving yet another dead end. It's been well documented, making it a fun thread to read, and want to catch the next installment. To those who think Arbtalk is about a small clique of people who all know each other, and others aren't welcome, Silky has proven this isnt the case, I knew him by sight at shows, others didn't know him at all. But through this thread he has found help, work, friends in areas he had never worked with people he never knew. All the best Silky, which ever route you choose to take

Yes, fell all the way, only remove the fence panel first!!! Have been there countless times, and tbh I can't remember stuff getting recklessly damaged. It's a state of mind, think on your feet all day long, adapt and adjust to get it done...safely and controlled. Of course there will be genuine accidents, things will go wrong, but we aren't on about that, we are on about wanton carelessness.

I'm surprised at that. I've had two claims, one on Accident and one on Sickness over 16years. Both have paid out well, in fact on the sickness policy I just got back more than all the years I've paid in. On the Accident policy I certainly recouped what I'd paid ip to that point. I guess if you never need a claim it seems a waste?

Not sure I understand, if you turn the drum and check the gap between blades and anvil, and everything is tight, how could the gap change? I check mine the same way, run it up on tick over after. I guess all you can do is replace blades and anvil, you'll just cause more problems using as is. Well I suppose you could get the blades resharpened of course, if they aren't too damaged.

Is he talking in his sleep?

Someone told me last night was the coldest August night on record, a sign of things to come?

I remember a subbie climber saying that to an old boss, after he'd just broken a slab. He didn't work there after that day. Guess he's breaking stuff for someone else these days

Now I wonder how long before someone actually does this

I'm loving the vibe of last nights gtg, and the sight of the buttie is a sight for sore eyes, have you no shame?