HF Radio or not?

Did that trip or close to some 35 years ago with no radio and not much else at all but now carry one, and everything else, as you say its a saftey issue in those days we did not know what to expect and we were just travelling and working along the way, young and mad in those days.
Have fun
Going soon can't wait

Try the archives, this has been done 20-100 times in the past, some good threads.

my point, radio is cheap insurance for a kids life.

Like others have mentioned we too travelled extensively with no HF 25 years ago, young and invincible etc. But when the kids came along we decided it was a bit irresponsible to take little kids into remote areas without one. It does seem a lot of money but the first time you have to use it in 'anger' to get medical assistance in a remote area (in our case Mt Beadell) for an 18 month old it has paid for itself.
Since having the radio we have used it on about 1/2 a dozen occasions to contact the RFDS or arrange vehicle assistance for us or others and would have been in trouble without it.

Andy, we had a HF fitted yesterday for the safety aspect & radphone contact home to keep intouch when bush. As others have said we have done trips not having one but rented sat phones that never work if you need them so i went HF as you can also get weather & road reports.Regards Bob
Where to next

Where you intend travelling are well used routes. Mobile GSM or CDMA services are throughout your intended route. Hire a Satphone if you wish. More likely than not if you have problems there will be passersby within the hour.

I have always had a HF Radio and have used it 3 times in 30 years of outback travel.

Cheers,Willem
Out on the Gibber

Don't bother wasting your money. You really sound like you intend sticking to the basic 4x4 tourist route and at that time of year, you are only going to have to wait 10 or 20 minutes if that for someone to come along with enough radio gear to talk to the Mars explorer. If you were to be doing the Canning, some cross country desert work or driving off season well it would be worth it then.
If you are still paranoid and feel you must have your security blanket, buy a tested 2nd hand portable unit fitted with the VKS 737 frequency's and pack it in the back.
Sell for around $600. Craig..............

Don't bother wasting your money. You really sound like you intend sticking to the basic 4x4 tourist route and at that time of year, you are only going to have to wait 10 or 20 minutes if that for someone to come along with enough radio gear to talk to the Mars explorer. If you were to be doing the Canning, some cross country desert work or driving off season well it would be worth it then.
If you are still paranoid and feel you must have your security blanket, buy a tested 2nd hand portable unit fitted with the VKS 737 frequency's and pack it in the back.
Sell for around $600. Craig..............

I dont know a lot about this either!

dont know how far off the beaten track your wanting to go?
but if not would'nt a UHF be more than adequate. A lot of stations have or usualy set up a repeater for adjoining neighbours to use to get that "extra" distance when required.

If you had a portable epirb (you could take it with you when bushwalking) as a back up to UHF for remote areas then i reckon you'd be covered.

having said that HF sounds nice and one can alwyas listen to the side chat
a sat phone (hire?) also sounds nice!
mmmmm how much$$$$ can I find mmm?
Wow, am I cute! The extra long legs are built-in prevention against ducks disease. Great looks and a real goer. Doesnt waddle along like some.