HF radio??

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.