Coops replied:

apologies all - I've just searched and I would believe all the info I need to be available already unless you have something new to add that is.
Sorry for the inconvenience

Cruiser replied:

Hi Coops, You're right, the info is available. But it lacks one vital ingredient: your potential needs and usage. Think about what you want and need, factor it into all the information, then make your decision. Either will work but take note of the differences. Cheers, Cruiser

Bob replied:

There are definite pros and cons for each but can't help feeling that the sat phone is the way of the future.

PETER replied:

Hi satphone is great as long as you know whom to phone if they are home and if they care. on hf everybody that cares hears you and offers assistance. beat that for $60.00 per year if your a member of VKS737

regards peter victor 4868

Bob Allan replied:

Coops, where do you have to live to qualify for the rebate? Is there a website with this info?

Darian replied:

Coops.......One of the best points I have heard re HF is the "community on the air" that you relate to while out in the bush.
Re the VKS network, you can listen in to scheds, request info, offer advice and catch up with other hf travellers you know,
all on free air time. Most users leave the HF on all day, and monitor any traffic going by...you can catch up with quite a lot of info.
A brief call on the satphone is very effective communications but there is no community........dp

old soldier replied:

Coops, From what you describe as your needs I would suggest that Satphone is the way for you to go. Agreed that there could be a sense of "community" by using HF to communicate, but in my experience, voice communications on HF radio are quite often unreliable .

John replied:

I just love Gadgets........buy both!

The real question is "What sat phone system is the best"

John

Member - Nigel replied:

Neither is better - they are different forms of communication and for some particular purposes one may be better than another, and vice versa.

For emergency communications either will summon help.

Cruiser is correct - it deepends entirely on your needs and interests as to which one will suit you better.

And as for the bloke who suggested that only people with HF's can contact you if you have a HF - there's an invention called a telephone interconnect that lets anyone with a phone contact anyone with a HF.

When satphone companies introduce a broadcast mode where all users in a large area can hear you and it costs nothing to talk to them, then satphones may replace HF. Until then HF will be used for long distance RADIO communications and Satphones will be used for remote PHONE requirements.

Cruiser replied:

Isn't this fun! We get to discuss this about every month! I am fortunate enough to have both - for different purposes. Had my iridium for a year now and have used it all over Europe, at sea and in Oz. Never let me down but I admit I was probably lucky to get reception amongst the trees and valleys in Vic High Country. Point about emergencies: The RFDS website only lists one telephone number - for their Jandakot (WA) base. For those who opt for the satphone, that would be a good starting point, together with a police number which you can dial from an international phone. (ie, full number with area code). Together with a UHF that ought to get you help if you really need it. (Provided you can accurately describe and pinpoint your location of course.......)
Cheers, Cruiser.

Jayson replied:

I recently went through the HF/satphone dilema and settled on Iridium with a 9505 handset. Here in the north west of WA the phone only cost $895 after rebate and $28/month. I was looking at a new Codan HF but the $4400 up front scared me off. The satphone will give me ten years before it adds to that (I know! excluding call costs of $2/minute). I don't go bush to yabber all day on the radio but to get away from the buggers so unless I have an emergency that $28 will usually be the monthly cost.
It gives my non HF family piece of mind to be able to call me as simply as calling my mobile phone and they can send an SMS too. One point missed through this whole discussion is I can put my very small satphone, running off its own batteries, into my backpack and leave my vehicle for a walk. Along with my GPS (and personal EPIRB - should always have a spare gonk) I can confidently go bush on my own to places my vehicle can't get and should something happen then all is OK - unless unconscious when neither HF or satphone is any good until you wake up. Theft and breakage of autotune antenna and having HF headset visible in car is also eliminated. A satphone in a small pelican case is much more useful to you when your HF is underwater with your car in a creek. Less weight/space taken in your car and everything you need for your phone is included in the kit, two batteries, external antenna, leather case, car charger, wall charger and more.
Cheers Jayson

Member - Nigel replied:

Coops I'm not suggesting that you should buy a HF if it doesn't suit your needs, but I would like to make this point: You mentioned earlier that you don't want to be part of a "community", yet I see that you've just potentially saved $300 because of your involvement in the "community" of the Exploroz Forum. Now if you were only using email for your online communication, then you may have very well missed out on this cost saving information, but because of the forum you could talk to more than one person at a time and therefore have access to a much larger pool of knowledge. That is the essense of the difference between broadcast radio and person to person phone calls.

Member - Nigel replied:

Sorry Coops, I wasn't trying to criticise your choice, I just saw that as a good way of explianation of the real difference between HF and Satphone. I think if people can understand that difference then they will be less likely to make rash statements about the subject. Both HF and Satphone have a purpose. Cheers Nigel

Darian replied:

Nope...not quite finished yet :-)....having brought up "community" on this post, I could have said "optional access to community". Heh...I turn it off when I want some quiet too. But like the bloke in the Simpson the other day who couldn't get his Disco to disco, if the chips are down I would canvass advice and possible assistance from anyone on the air....hell....they could be just x sandhills away. While not claiming to be "right" if it's one, or 'tother, it's HF for me.....dp and Coops...you're right...this is THE forum.

Gordon replied:

Coops, with all these replies from dedicated HF users, I can't understand why nobody pointed out that HF radio can be connected to the telephone network by paying about $100 per year to someone like Radtel. I haven't connected mine but this is what I was quoted in May this year. Then you can make and receive telephone calls just like any one else. They have several call plans as with any mobile. The HF has more functionality than SatPhones and is free for any community communications but it costs you more to buy and you can't easily carry it with you. The best things about HF are 1) access to the community when you want it, and 2) the ability to get help from someone close to you who you didn't even know was there.

Steve replied:

Hi Coops, My family and I are planning a 14 month trip around Oz. I was hoping to purchase a satellite phone for emergency use. I made a phone enquiry regarding the govt rebate for Satellite phone purchase and was dissapointed to find out that I did qualify as my intended use is "recreational". I'm curious to know, will you be using the phone for a similar purpose to us, or is it work related ...or some other reason ? Regards, Steve.

Steve replied:

Damn, don't you hate it when you leave out the most important word in your reply !!! - The above should read "I did NOT qualify" - Regards, Steve.

Mike replied:

Wow, what a forum response! I might as well add my 2 bobs worth!

True emergency: EPIRB
Serious emergency: Satphone
General Emergency: HF

MY logic:

If it all goes to s*%t big time then you might not have the time, energy or resources (read vehicle or power) to use the HF or satphone and therefore a self powered and standalone EPIRB (for $200?) is the way to go.

Now about all this know who to call etc - what happened to 000 for emergencies? Even if this doesn't work for Satphone then I'm sure that there are other similar country wide numbers. Satphone is definately an easy option and it will work almost everywhere - above ground anyway! This is probably the way of the future for outback calls. I was recently in Singapore and you can buy a full system now for $1200 (phone & aerial pod etc) with 25c a minute call!

HF - great for open channel listening to a number of folks. And consider that HF probably became established because satphones weren't available and are were expensively prohibitive. HF would probably be better if you use it to communicate back to base from the long paddock etc because it has low running costs.

Ignoring EPIRB for true big time emergencies. I'd probably choose HF because of the open channel feature and relatively low running costs. However, if I had a one of need for a single trip then a satphone would be the choice.

Only an opinion!

Liz replied:

I purchased a Telit Sat phone last year ($2023) as we were travelling across the Gunbarrel, Canning and Kidson track then back home via the Anne Beadell Hwy. It has been terrific and was well worth the cost. It is a normal mobile phone as well at standard mobile phone rates. We considered a HF Radio but decided on the phone as is can be used all year round, whereas the radio would sit in the cupboard most of the year. I also enquired on the rebate as I heard about it whilst in WA. I was told no as I live in Victoria. It appears that unless you live in a remote area you will not be eligible. In Victoria they had not even heard of the rebate. I hope this helps you