HF or Sat Phone what is the trend for the future?

Will - you may have seen the hopefully balanced comment on the Satphones page at VKS737 (I'm the author - but here I speak as an individual - not on VKS737 policy) - re the future - my guess is that HF will stay expensive to buy (new that is) but cheap to use. Satphones should be cheaper to buy but call costs will stay up there. As for the actual comms (why else have them :-) - the pros and cons for each aren't going to change much in my view. BPL MAY start to impact on signal quality at the bases in the urban areas - IF that becomes an issue, I can see the network moving the urban bases out into the sticks. The vast majority of skeds are done via phone interconnects anyway. If BPL follows phone lines to these outer bases, I understand that we can link to the base (might be further "out") via VHF(and beat it that way - already done at one base far as I know). I'm no tech of course - but I'm staying with HF because of the "community" angle - you always get someone and they could be nearby. And when its all said and done, we really only need effective remote-area comms.

The only reason that we are looking at a sat phone over HF is the portability. We can shove the sat phone in our day pack and go for a walk...and still have access to the world if we injure ourselves or get lost.

Hi Will, I was pondering the same question as you, and decided to go HF, getting a new Codan NGT installed on Tuesday, I agree with the others, you could be in trouble and someone could be only a few miles from you to help(as long as they have a HF Radio) I will also get an epirb as a back up to use if all else fails...don't forget that you can also use your HF as a telephone Via Radtel, and join VKS-737

Hi Will,

I have both. I have an Iridium Satphone and I have recently upgraded from a 9323 (Codan) to an NGT.

I have no problem justifying the expense of fitting HF and as a paramedic would not travel without it.

Having the HF if one of my mates wanted to borrow the Satphone at the same time as I wanted to do an outback trip I'd probably loan it to them rather than see them travel without comms.

The HF I wouldn't leave behind but the satphone I can do without. I've even thought more recently of selling it. I didn't even turn it on on the last trip to check SMS's, I just told close family to leave a VKS737 message if they needed to get in touch as I frequent the scheds almost daily when on the road anyway.

There's a little more know how required with the HF but it's not hard and practice is the key to getting the hang of it.

It's amazing how many members of VKS737 there are travelling around out there and most are always up for a chat over the camp bbq or a beer when you run across them. They're usually only to willing to help if someone needs it too as is evidenced on the scheds if you listen in.

See a previous post of mine on a medical evacuation from Talbotville a few weeks ago that I coordinated from Swan Hill for a good example.

You are asking for opinions so I'll give you mine.

Buy a second hand Codan 9323 with 9350 autotune for under $2k ($1500-1900 seems the going rate) or if you have to a Barrett 550 and autotune (but make sure it's a late model autotune - the older ones fall to bits eventually,) and join VKS737 & Radtel (calls are half the cost of Iridium). If you have a little extra to spend the NGT is worth it and I heard of a bloke haggling hard to get a new NGT Venturer (i think that's what they're calling it) with autotune at the last 4x4 show in Melb for $3000 which is exceptionally good.

If you still want a satphone later then save your pennies and get one later, but I'm thinking that if you get the hang of the HF you'll never bother.

Luxoluk is another member I know has both and I think he'd probably venture the same opinion - are you out there Leigh??

When on the Canning trip Leigh was still stuck in Melbourne and we conversed regularly by direct link or Radtel to rub in that he wasn't with us. More recently on our Wonnangatta trip Leigh was coming in from Mansfield while we were coming in from Myrtleford. I dropped him a selcal and we had a chat over a hundred or so km as clear as a bell about where we were and when we'd meet and all that sort of stuff. It was free and we talked for about 5 or 10 minutes on and off on the way in checking each others progress and making sure he was okay (travelling on his own in a Toyota - risk taker!)

I could have called his Satphone if we didn't have the radios but it would have quickly exceeded $20 worth of calls.

Let us all know what you decide. Which ever way you go they only have to get you out of the $hit once and they are cheap insurance.

Dave

Hi Wizard,
To answer your question you can hire a HF radio for the trip, in Melbourne John at time plus will hire you one for the trip.

Will
I have been travelling in outback Australia for the last 30 years and have always had a HF radio with first as an amateur and then on the VKS 737 network.

The satphone is great if you know who you want to call if you are in trouble and of course have all the phone numbers with you that you may need. They are fairly cheap to buy, but expensive to run. (I know price doesn't matter if you are trouble)

The advantage of HF Radio is you can talk to an operator 24 hours aday, get local weather reports Road Closures, even a good spot to camp or fish depending on who's on base. If you are in trouble they will get you the advise you need, even order the part for the vehicle and often another member will come to your aid either to deliver the parts or even help you repair it.

On one trip we had damaged a fuel line and lost alot of fuel, another emember hearing of the trouble went out of his way to bring fuel and although we had done temporary repairs to the line, picked up a new hose just in case. Refused payment for his trouble and we enjoyed a beer and a meal together, all he wanted for his trouble. Sat phones don'y do that.

Go HF and if you have the extra cash get a sat phone as back up

Ray

Thank you all for the replies...

It seems that Codan NGT is the prefered option rather than the Garrett 550, is there a specific reason why?

Which one takes less room in the installation?

I had a look at the installation, sizes etc on this page but never seen a Codan NGT, the web site doesn't show much detail.

Thanks Again.

Will

Will
When i crossed the simson I hired a HF and joined VKS, only having 4 weeks off a year it's not often I can get to remote areas to justify the cost. I did enjoy the security of listening every evening just to see whats hapenning. I pick up my new Rodeo on Monday and heading to WA for a month, think I might try a Sat phone this time.

Alex

Personally

I would hire a Sat phone and have an EPIRB and UHF (vehicle and handheld).

If something happens to your truck (blows up), you're fu*ked. Your HF can't help you. Even if you did hire it and it's portable.

Ask the poor family whos 60 series blew up. The poor bastard drove some distance away from the camp fire as well to refuel from the jerry's. Just unlucky that the fumes actually travelled that far. Wife and kids couldn't do sh*t.
No sat phone, they had UHF and HF.

Lucky there was a camp close enough that heard it.
I'm pretty sure the guy died at hospital.

I personally have a small 'MAN BAG' that has all my wallet, GPS, mobile, UHF and if i hired a Sat phone, that would be in it as well. I leave the vehicle when back at camp, it comes with me.

I know where everything is. You just can't be too careful.

I think HF is a great idea but not fool proof. Nor is a Sat phone. But i feel safer with a Sat phone. I can at least ring someone and pass on my GPS position.

That's what i think.
Hope it helps

I'm a fan of HF - its more social, and you can access plenty of opinions, or professional help easily thru VKS. And I can phone home thru a HF phone network. So I don't need a satphone.

But if I were to travel alone, I'd throw in an Epirb as well. Its pretty easy to roll your vehicle on a slippery track, and that usually wipes out the HF. Also, if something happened to me, others can activate an Epirb easier than the inexperienced using the HF.

This subject comes up on a regular basis

I have had a HF radio since the 1970's. On a couple of occasions it has been used in anger and has been worth its while. Sometimes I will listen in to VKS chatter but 'out there' I prefer to have peace and quiet in the bush.

Two years ago I bought a 2nd hand satphone and am linked up with Telstra. I find that the Satphone is more useful especially when travelling in remote areas. I can phone a friend on a regular basis to give a destination report.

The trend however is that we are going softer and softer as a human race developing so many accessories to make our lives easier and safer to live and some of us live in the fear of What If? As mentioned in a post above there are always extreme cases of things going wrong in the bush and there is not always a simple fix. That should not deter you however from taking whatever comms you need to take with you.

There are lots of used radios and phones out there which should not cost you a fortune. I would get both HF and Satphone and EPIRB if you want peace of mind. It depends entirely on how far you intend to get off the beaten track. If you are only sticking to byways then you can get either the HF or the Satphone.

Phew - that question stirred them up GU ! Should say that the latest Barretts and the Codans are very good in their own ways - different approaches and design ideas, but doing the same thing. Options in each system let you decide on features required. Barrett is usually quite a bit cheaper than Codan - both have a very good reputation - each having a very big market overseas - I've met the CEO of Codan - he said nearly all of their product is sold overseas - much the same for Barrett. If you only want to talk to someone (not necessarily selcall or use radphone), some of the earlier HF types in fine order can be had for well under $1000 - that level of outlay, teamed up with a Satphone might a good idea ? - I use the Barrett 950 with autotune antenna - has worked very well for me to date.

I dont have a Sat phone, but have had Hf for years, and am a member of VKS. Will not rejoin VKS after this year, as it seems that all the bleep s that were on CB, are now on HF, as On my trip through Qld This year I could not access Base Stns, due to inconsiderate boneheads who persist in swamping calls to the bases with their Bloody Selcall signals. They press the selcall button before their miniscule brain is in Gear. To the smart sod who told me to learn how to use the radio, I am a Qualified Marine Radio operator, and have used Hf for years. Never again for me.
Ringa