Outback communications

Go with HF, and get it fitted by place you buy from most will work with you on price...

It a personal choice Andy. If you a like a bit of chat and having a vast rescue force available go the HF but there is a small learning curve. If you like making lots of phone calls, being put on hold and told that the NRMA, RACV don't rescue from the Simpson and no one really being interested go the phone.

This has been done a few times before...have you searched

Hi Aandy,

A HF radio is perhaps the most useful communication tool in the bush, but it does take some training to be able to use it properly. A satphone on the other hand is easily used by almost anyone, but who do you call?

I am a member of VKS 737 and one of the things you continuously read about in their member magazine is the assistance of other VKS 737 members who are close by. I have used my HF to log my position during scheds and while "on the side" have been amazed to hear of how close, or far, others are away. There really is a bush telegraph out there and VKS 737 taps into it. Think of how many vehicles you see "in the outback" with a HF antenae hanging off it - all potential rescuers.

Now think of your sat phone. You can call the RAC, NRMA, 000 or whoever, but how do you contact a mechanic who lives 50km north of the black stump? If you must make telephone calls, do not forget that a HF radio can do this, even direct dialling a number! But it is not as simple as using a sat phone (but nothing that 5 minutes of reading a manual wouldn't teach you).

Now there is also an EPIRB (emergency positioning indicator radio beacon). This is a true emergency device, not to be used otherwise. While there is much hype about simply turning it on and waiting for the helicopter to arrive, the reality is vastly different. To cut a long technical story short, it takes a considerable amount of time (~6 hours) to get a fix and even in ideal conditions it will only have an accuracy of 20kms radius (~1200 square kms - a large place to look).

So, back to your question, IMHO if you are doing "some quite extensive outback travel" you are irresponsible if you do not have some means of reliable two-way communication (either HF or satphone). While I would recommend HF, I can understand the hassle of changing vehicle and hence going for the satphone option. But I would also recommend an EPIRB, simply as extra insurance. It's a once off ~$250 cost and is a backup in the event of HF/Sat failure.

Cheers

Captain

Why "a little man in a shop", is your rig that small?
But seriously, those who adopt a condescending attitude should not be surprised to get poor service...

I have a codan 9323 and autotune antenna for sale, if your wanting a cheap HF.

It comes with all required items except aerial bracket to mount in car.

Well, I am swinging the vote the other way. HF radio is fine your you to make calls out, but the sat phone is easier for someone to get in touch with YOU! You can even send text messages out and receive them, as long as the phone is on. We use UHF radio, EPIRB and a sat phone for all our remote work.

With the sat phone subsidy from the Government, you will be cheaper off! Anyone can use it easily. A 2 year telstra deal is going to cost you $2600 minus ~ $1000 from gov subsidy, with $10 worth of call or SMS included per month. You get a Motorola phone with external entenna (magnetic for the roof), Irridium access, car charger, international charger, etc. You can take it hand held in the backpack, leave it in the car, and pretty much use it anywhere in the world. Batteries last ~36 hours if left on all the time!

Definitely my choice!

CruiserHead

HF is the go for me (I'm in VKS737 and a volunteer). But with swapping the HF installation every 11 months even I might go Satphone ! For the reasons stated above re 'community contacts", I choose long distance HF (with CB's as back up).
See the vks737.on.net pages and info here at EOz re comparison's on available Comms. Re the EPIRBS....note that the cheaper ones are rapidly heading toward low support by the authorities (too many false alams for them to maintain interest).
The dearer ones (400+megs) carry your personal ID so the resue auth. know who the signal is from. In a few years the latter will be the only supported system. The lag time for getting on-site help to an Epirb is hours + - via HF it could be quite soon (suggest Satphone would be somewhere in between)...decisions...decisions....

Another consideration is this. In a recent rollover my boss wiped out all the antennaes on his vehicle end result no communications whatsoever. He was in a CDMA black spot, not really very far from assistance. If any one of his antennaes had been operational he would have been OK. HF and Satphone were both vehicle mounted units and useless because of the accident. HE did a bit of walking and got help.

Hand held satellite call costs have come down considerably in the last couple of months and they will now operate either sat or CDMA. If you can only afford one unit I would consider a powerful handheld unit with the ability to communicate over large distances.

Duncs

Hi,

What about a 27 meg side band AM radio. I don't have any experience in them but have heard that you can transmit long distances via skip.

As for sat phone I've heard 2 stories, the one on the official site is that you can only get the subsidy if you work or live in an area not serviced by land line or mobile. The other story I've heard is that you can also get the subsidy if you spend time in these same areas for example just on holidays. Is this true, has anyone actually got the subsidy for a phone just because they travel in and through remote areas??

New vehicle every 11 months!!!

Half the fun is customising it :-)

Utemad

The difference is: Sat phone you break down in the desert, ring the garage & they come out, repair your car & charge $3000 for your trouble. (Good service)
HF: You call up Alice Springs radio. Operator Ken treats you like his best friend and with all the recources of the 4x4 radio network, technical assistance is relayed over the air. A couple of members in the area detour to your location either fix your car or tow you out. (Better service)
The sat phone is a good tool. The HF is a great organization. (the EPIRB is a poor option)..... Cheers Craig.......

Aandy,

go to the Barrett site and check out the portable, knapsack HF radios. No installing from vehicle to vehicle and no loss of aerials in a rollover.

I'm trying to decide which way to go as well. Pros and cons for either.

SK