HF Radio Owners with Autotune Aerials

Depends, what other channels are you licensed for ? Yes you can access the RFDS through the 737 network, but it may be handy to have them availiable, jusr in case. You might also have the HF CB channels put in.

When you join Radtel and VKS737, you are licenced to comm with their bases, and members, only. You can of course comm with RFDS (or anyone) IF there is real drama at hand. To comm with "outsiders" at any other time you need an applicable licence. An Outpost licence from the ACMA (Fed Gov) covers most needs. That said, VKS and Radtel membership is comprehensive - within VKS, you can selcall a host of authorities for free via fixed connections and get them on the phone (when available - and HF conditions permitting). Radtel has the greatest flexibility, in that you decide the phone number (mobiles too) but there is the cost. Radtel does not cater for vehicle to vehicle though - so VKS and Radtel are in fact complimentary. I'm with VKS only - I don't need to comm with anyone specific, while away.The Outpost licence would be baggage in my view.

Davoe, If you only have VKS737 frequencies you do not need a radio licence. This was confirmed by VKS737
Cheers

I have a licence issued by A.C.A. and it is called a mobile outpost licence,which I have a separate call sign. I am also a member of the R.F.D.S. Before VKS was on air all we had was to communicate was the R.F.D.S. frequencies and generally after hours on the Alice Springs frequencies one could talk to other stations providing you did not interfere with their transmissions. Bases like Port Augusta were on air 24/7 and you did not use those base frequencies. Before Radphone bases had telegram sessions where you could send and recieve telegrams. This was our only comms with the outside world. I still have both the A.C.A. and V.K.S.licences and as i have had the comfort to have medical advice over radio from the R.F.D.S. I believe that all who travel in the bush should support the R.F.D.S. as they are the people who will assist. The outpost licence is $35.60 a year and about the same with R.F.D.S. membership. I can contact the R.F.D.S. direct, or through V.K.S. however would probably go direct.

Cobber What model HF are you getting? New or Second Hand?

The new Codan NGT comes fitted with all the frequencies you may require including VKS, RADTEL, RFDS, and a few others.
I would assume that Barret would also fit the same.

Cheers

Hi John, I am getting a new Codan NGT,.................. I thought my question was not to complicated!!..................So dose the Codan NGT come with the TX RFDS Channels already programmed into it?

Join the HF Radio Club,more channels,access to phone patch,more vehicle to vehicle conversation