HF radio??

Submitted: Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 00:00
ThreadID: 1166 Views:3195 Replies:7 FollowUps:6
This Thread has been Archived
We have a UHF and also a Sat phone. We are fairly well set up as far as money will go, we have had to cut corners ie. hand winch instead of electric winch, huge esky instead of fridge etc but we would certainly call ourselves responsible 4x4 travellers. Do we really need a HF radio or will what we already have be sufficient? We don't go to way way out of the way places and only travel where we feel confident of going.
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: John R. - Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 00:00

Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 00:00
If you're not likely to go into places where you might not expect other travellers for days on end, you'll be OK with what you've got. If on the other hand you start exploring out-of-the-way places, overgrown tracks, etc, you might want to consider travelling with others who do have HF.
Common sense is often a better tool in the outback than technology.
It's just as easy to contact help (police, Flying Doctor) by satphone as HF, provided you have the relevant phone numbers.
AnswerID: 3659

Follow Up By: Fay - Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00
John R. thankyou, your suggestion on travelling with someone who does have HF radio will be used when we decide to travel out of the way places
0
FollowupID: 1523

Reply By: Bill - Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 00:00

Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 00:00
Fay - In my opinion you are better equipped for contacting help in the event of an emergency than those who have spent thousands on an HF radio. You can contact people within 30-50km on your UHF (almost all 4wders have UHF) and your phone gives you almost instant contact with emergency services .... even if you don't have the relevant numbers 000 is always there!!
I'd buy a fridge though!! LOL
AnswerID: 3663

Follow Up By: Fay - Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00
Bill, definetly working on that fridge!! Our esky has done a wonderful job.Thanks for your reply
0
FollowupID: 1524

Reply By: Nigel - Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 00:00

Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 00:00
You don't need a HF from what you've told us. As I said in reply to other questions, a HF gives travellers who embrace the benefits of HF a more rewarding travel experience. Depending on where you intend going you may like to consider buying a SSB receiver such as the Sangean ATS909 or ATS505 (both available from Dick Smith Electronics) so you can listen to the VKS737 broadcasts of road and weather reports. If you have kids they may enjoy listening to the School of the Air.

Another relative cheap safeguard is a personal EPRIB ($200-$300), but they can only be used in life threatening emergencies and only if all other means of contact has failed. Again it depends on how remote your travels will be.

One thing I think is important: Make sure you have a list of phone numbers that you may need in an emergency (eg RFDS) as dialling 000 connects you to a call centre designed to help people living in populated areas and you'd be better talking to the remote area experts.
AnswerID: 3664

Follow Up By: Fay - Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00
Thankyou Nigel you have given us some very helpful ideas that didn't occur to us, ie phone number for RFDS. I like the idea of the kids listening to the school of the air.Many thanks
0
FollowupID: 1522

Reply By: Cobra - Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00
I agree with Nigel. Satphone is great if you have the relevant contact numbers. I use satphones for work and found that Iridium is superior to Vodaphone. Also have an EPIRB for those unforeseen circumstances
Cheers
AnswerID: 3669

Follow Up By: Fay - Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00
Cobra, We have actually been giving the EPIRB some thought we may just act apon it. Many thanks
0
FollowupID: 1526

Reply By: Darian - Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00
Fay....check out Mick's forum posting of 17 may....phew....did that start something. I have joined
VKS737 and am using a 24 year old Tracker Scout HF, with 2 VKS channels and 6 Flying Doc channels.....goes like a rocket....wonderful communications. Was $500 complete about 3 years back (from an acquaintance who knew how to look after things). People I work with have recently done the same (in the Trading Post), but paid as low as $200 complete and then paid about $150 to have a couple of channels changed to VKS frequencies. While being able to afford a new fangled HF, thought I would go with the Tracker because I have already invested in a mobile phone, GPS, UHF and HF CB's.....rationalisation took over! It is true that with HF you join a "community of the air" - it can help to while away those hours behind the wheel.
To any contributors......I like to keep track of costs and options....I am very happy with my set up, but keep an eye on the new HF's ($3100 Barrett etc.)....what is the entry level costing for reliable Sat phones in 2002 ?.....would be interested.
AnswerID: 3677

Follow Up By: Fay - Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00
Darian, I think we may start looking in the trading post. Sounds like you got a bargain. Thankyou for your suggestions
0
FollowupID: 1525

Reply By: Nigel - Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00
Actually the trading post is a good idea, as you may get a HF for the same price as a new SSB receiver. The Codan 8525/8528 are a great radios and the first of the programmable codans. The earlier models should be a lot cheaper as they use crystals to control the frequencies and are therefore not as useful and may cost more once you get all the crystals changed.
AnswerID: 3688

Reply By: Roger Lowry - Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 20, 2002 at 00:00
Seems to Me that you have got it right for the type of trip you envisage. Yes the Sat phone is slowly overtaking the flying doc system.
AnswerID: 3695

Follow Up By: Nigel - Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 00:00

Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 00:00
I believe some RFDS bases are recommending satphones, although their website still seems to promote HF.

While satphone may be better to communicate with the RFDS than HF, there are still many other benefits to a HF. See the question about GlobalStar Telit 550 sat phone for the full debate (which is still raging :)
0
FollowupID: 1562

Sponsored Links