hf antenna

Best way to look at it is that for $600- you've got yourself (hopefully) a good radio for your remote travel.....like an insurance policy.....and great entertainment too (listening to all those other lucky buggars all over the countryside as they report in during the skeds.
I don't believe the RFDS channels are really necessary........if you've got the VKS737 channels, you can soon be in touch and summon help via that network. So a tapped whip with less taps could be a cheaper option.

Good luck

Roachie (whiskey 622)

Check the Terlin website; they sometimes have s/h tapped antennas for sale. Even brand new, they have ready-made generic ones which cover a range of rfds and VKS737 frequ's for a better price than custom-made.
Terlin
Gerry

Hi
Before you head of have the unit checked by a credible radio store, one that only deals in communication equipment, they will tell you firstly whether the unit works and secondly whether it has the correct channels fitted for VKS-737, RFDS and others. Also talk to them about selcall & telcall fitment options, generally you will need selcall to contact a VKS-737 after sunset although with luck someone out there may be listening. Check out these sites and they will answer a lot of questions.
Cheers Brad
VKS-737 Website
Radtel Website

I would happily refund your money if you loose interest!! Cheers

You can just use it just for VKS-737; And the frequencies that are most useful are 8022 followed by 5455. With just those two frequencies you have a very useful set.

Another option for an antenna is to get the "SuperRod". Its a 9metre long extendable fibreglass fishing rod which has 8.88metres of wire up the middle. If you use that as an aerial it will perform better than any other aerial bar none - the length is the tuned length for 8022, but it seems to work fine on 5455 as well. Takes less than a minute to set up and dismantle. I find that it will transmit beautifully to base stations when everyone else might be struggling.

Electric Bug in Adelaide have them for something under $300, or you can attempt to make something similar.

I have the current model Barrett 950 with umpteen frequencies tuned in, and all the other stuff is fun (listen to football, weather etc) but not really necessary.

The old 250 is what iv'e got , nothing wrong with it .

Thanks for the replies fellas, plenty of good info that teaches me what to look for in antennae. You have expanded my almost non-existant knowledge of HF considerably.

Yep - in case the following was not emphasised I think its possible to buy a used radio, that needs new frequencies installed, plus a tap antenna, that could all add up to a lot more than you'd pay for a whole, used, running setup. And ........ some of the early systems using tapped antennas are great performers - much better (for voice only) than the modern machines.

For an alternative to the terlin Taped HF whip, check out the HF antennas produced by the Frankston and Mornington Peninsular Amateur Radio Club (FAMPARC). Available for VKS737 & amateur HF bands, these antennas work a treat and are much much cheaper than the commercialy produced HF whips. A mounting base will also be required.
I have absolutely no vested interest with FAMPARC and I am not a club member.
http://www.qsl.net/vk3frc/ and follow the links.
Cheers Tony.
http://www.qsl.net/vk3cat

I've been through the same thing with a few Barrett 250's. I got a ROM file from Barrett installed by a radio tech (just overwrites an EPROM chip), then I got the chip copied for the other sets. Now they all have VKS737 channels and the most commonly used other channels recommended by Barrett. I have a few chips left over, if you're interested.

Also, I've also been told that you can program the channels by changing a jumper (J3) on the remote head controller board. My manual says that it is a "reserved" jumper. I'm not recommending that you try it, but someone might have more info on this. I also understand that they have small batteries soldered on one of the main boards, and if you program your own channels, then you might need to get the batteries replaced. I'm not sure how, if at all, this affects the channels that are written to the EPROM. I saved money and carefully installed it myself (after lots of reading, running all the cables as recommended) and haven't had a problem

regards