codan 6924

Good place to ask about this is on this group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/codan_outback_radio/

Cheers

Hello
read this and all will be revealed
Codan 6924
Main issue appears to be installed channels - make sure it has the ones you want or it could be a hassle changing them.
Cheers
Greg

I had one A 1972 model

Bought it in 1985 for $100. Then I bought another one in 2000 for $250 and had a Coadan specialist build me one out of the two.

I have a variety of RFDS frequencies and VKS

It works well but has its limitations as it relies a skip most of the time.

It should be serviced every year for 'dry joints'

I have a 20tap whip aerial fitted to the bullbar.

I've got the 6924 mk 2, and find most the time I need to be relayed to to Perth base for them to hear my message. I can hear transmissions from all over Oz very well but the old units just don't have the transmission power to get out there themselves. Thought I might change my call sign from Whiskey 788 to Rodger Rodger, cos thats what you end up yelling into the mike when they can barely here you on the sked and no one can relay you on... The vks mob always ask for a clear "rodger" if every thing is ok
The unit cost me a bottle of Bundy from a work mate, then a couple of hundred to sevice and fit the vks crystals. Still, I wouldn't leave home with out it!
Matt

The 6924 mk1 is a cheap but very old radio. When they are working properly, they are a great backup to your main radio. Personally I wouldn't use one as my main method of communication. They are low powered and a s0d to fix and maintain.
The 6924 mk2 is a much better radio, easier to work on and much more reliable.
The trick with these radios is the use of an effective aerial and earth, something that few people seem to be aware of.
Of the hundred or so 6924's that I've had dealings with, few have been tuned effectively. They also suffer from coils and slugs that can be fairly brittle.
A great add on if you can organise one, is a "roger beep" as their signal is usually fairly low and the beep lets people know that you have finished talking etc.
The mk1 sells for around $100/$150 on Ebay, the mk2 can cost around $250.
Unless you need low battery consumption (eg walking etc ) I'd suggest a later model.
The base model to consider should be the Codan 8525A, and even these are long in the tooth. But they are relatively cheap for what they can do.

Thanks for all of your thoughts.
Might hold off and look around for a later model.