Vehicle Maintenance Course & HF Radios
Submitted: Friday, Jun 14, 2002 at 00:00
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michelle
Does anybody know anywhere in
Melbourne where we can do a basic vehicle maintenance course that would allow us to have an understanding of how to fix minor problems and have a better understanding of how our 4wd works and its parts prior to our trip around Oz. We would like to find a course that give ideas on how to get by and make temporary repairs that will hopefully enable us to 'limp to help' (the types of bush repairs I'm always reading about in 4wd books) rather than just a tafe type course that just covers the basics? Also, can anyone recommend where we can get a reliable second hand
HF radio - we would like to have one but really cannot afford the $2000+ that the new ones cost? Can anyone recommend which types/brands of radios we should look for? Thanks
Reply By: Cruiser - Friday, Jun 14, 2002 at 00:00
Friday, Jun 14, 2002 at 00:00
Not sure about the course but for a
HF radio, try www.desertaccess.com.au/ then click on 'Equipment for sale'. Based in
Adelaide, they frequently sell ex-hire units. Bought one last year for $750, complete and ready to install. Easy to install yourself - they provide information about installation and use, plus help if necessary. Noticed they had a later model Codan there earlier this week for $1400. There's a phone number so you could give them a call. Either Codan or Barrett are recommended and widely used. Make sure it has both VKS-737 and Flying Doctor frequencies, then join the VKS-737 network.
Regards, Cruiser.
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Follow Up By: Chris - Saturday, Jun 15, 2002 at 00:00
Saturday, Jun 15, 2002 at 00:00
Does anyone know of a similar course offered in
Sydney?
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Reply By: Darian - Saturday, Jun 15, 2002 at 00:00
Saturday, Jun 15, 2002 at 00:00
Michelle.....I, and others I work with, have bought the old fashioned type HF radios - Tracker - Scout - Codan etc. 8 channel crystal locked HF radios - design is old fashioned , but experts say they still perform as good as anything new. Only loss is you have several channels at best, no sellcall, no
beacon and GPS etc. Here in
Adelaide, we have picked up these units for $200 complete, then paid a technician about $200 - $250 to change crystals (channels) for VKS737 network use.
For this outlay, you have a very reliable radio that can get out to anywhere the new ones do. I would not be inclined to invest much more in this mode, because you are starting to get closer to the second hand price of the new type radios. Have seen a Codan 9323 for sale here at $2200 (lot of features etc). Barretts might be down there too. New ones of current design start at about $3300 I'm told. With several VKS737 network channels and some RFDS channels, you have all the "
HF radio security" you could need. Cheerz.
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Follow Up By: Nigel - Saturday, Jun 15, 2002 at 00:00
Saturday, Jun 15, 2002 at 00:00
Something you may want to keep in mind is that a company call Jenal in WA sells mics that add selcall to the older style radios. Their website is
http://www.jenal.com/
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