Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 00:46
Hi Kim,
In the past I've owned a Codan 7727B, 87xx, 8528 & now an 9323 & an NGT AR.
I've had an 8558 (2 actually - still have one in bits) and both the 9323 & NGT have 9350 autotunes on them.
I did briefly own a Barrett 550 & autotune and sold it to a friend. I've also trained another VKS member I met in my travels how to use their 550 - they'd had it two years and not ever tried it.
I've also had tapped whips.
I'm a comms tech by trade but hadn't really dabbled in HF for years until I started back again a few years ago.
Barrett/Codan is like Ford & Holden.
Both are good units and for the most part will perform as expected when expected. I have seen some dumb design decisions in the 550 regarding the way the volume potentiometer mounts to the board but it's a problem that would only rear it's head in a few sets and only if subjected to harsh treatment. (Lots of corrugations over a longish period of use.)
A few words of advice.
Yes you can get started for under $500. It's a bit like buying a motorbike helmet though. I always say your heads only worth what you are prepared to pay to protect it. Radios aren't a lot different in some ways. Would you stake your life on a 35 year old radio if you really needed it? Yes they do work but anything that age has passed the expected life of some of the components used to make it. It will fail eventually.
(By the way, with Codan gear the first two numbers indicate the year the model design commenced though not neccessarily the year of manufacture eg. 8528 - 1985.)
Tapped whips are simple. Will generally take a bit of a beating and still perform. You need to manually change the tapping when you change channel though and some people think this is a pain. Not so much if on VKS737 where you'll spend most of your life on 8022, but certainly on Radtel Network where frequency changing is a constant exercise.
The 85xx Codans are good units. Reliable, computer programmed (no crystals) and can be set up a number of ways. The 8528 is the pick of the bunch and gives the user more flexibility in setup, displays frequencies and can phone dial direct. Many are sold with the older 8558 autotune and they are renowned as a piece of crap - failure on a working 8558 is not a case of if as much as when. The later D series is more reliable but only just.
The 8528 however is no longer supported by Codan and parts such as the membrane keypad are no longer available. Should that fail & you can't find spares the set is pretty much useless. That said if they look to be in good nick you could get years of use out of one. Expect to pay $1000-1200 for a set and 8558 autotune, or about $1400-1600 with a 9350.
The 9350 autotune is faster to tune, has a much better system doing it, amplifies internally for listening/scanning and is extremely reliable. On their own they sell for between $500-1200 depending on age & series. New they are about $1450 and Codan still service & sell them.
The 9323 is a much better radio than the 8528. More channels. Alphanumeric labelling of channels. Multiple selcals (good for a separate outgoing billing selcal for Radtel) and memory setup. They are still serviced/supported by Codan. Easy to use with a little practice and good value for under $2000 with a 9350 autotune.
The NGT is the ducks guts if it has the right program profile in it. If not it's a pain in the ar$e. I bought mine a little while ago and I'm getting the hang of it now. I had it reprogrammed and the firmware upgraded by Lake MacQuarrie Comms who operate the Radtel Network and now it's extremely simple to use. Great for Lynne who was always reluctant to get on the air.
The DSP filtering called Easytalk makes static much less of an issue and listening is so clear it is unbelievable. Other features are usefull but most people won't ever use them to their potential.
An NGT Venturer will set you back about $4000 or a bit less if you haggle hard new. (I heard of one at $3700 recently) Second hand you can pick up NGT AR's for between $2300-$3500 with an 9350 if you
shop around.
If you have the $$ the NGT is the way to go. The 9323 a close second and if push comes to shove a Barrett 550 before the 8528 but make sure you get a late model (
grey) autotune not the creamy color one. The cases on the early ones are now fatiguing apparently though I've not seen it.
The Barrett will inevitably be cheaper. (I picked one up that needed a little work for $400 but that was a steal. Sold it for just under a grand when repaired and that's probably about where the market is for those right now.)
They are a good set, but difficult to use if you are used to Codans. Once you understand the button & menu system it's quite intuitive.
Join VKS737 and the best way to learn is to get on the scheds. Don't be shy. The operators are very supportive of newbies. Make sure everyone in the car - kids too - know how to get on the air and selcall a base. No good having one operator if they're the one in trouble.
Radtel is good and I've used it a bit. Cheaper than the Satphone (1/2 price of Iridium) for call costs and quite clear if you pick your frequency
well. There's a way of doing that.
Any other questions fire away.
Seeing as how the thread degenerated earlier - I own an Engel and a 9350 autotune. Both as reliable as each other but no matter where I set the dial on the fridge the antenna won't tune to it..... as long as the beers & bundies were cold and I could listen to the footy on the Canning I didn't care though....
Hope that helps,
Dave
AnswerID:
148468
Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 00:49
Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 00:49
If you do end up with an early model radio for affordability there's nothing wrong with it, it's just not optimal but that's life & budgets - but don't go earlier than an 8525B.
Preferably get one with a remote head so that the head of the radio can be mounted in the front of the truck while the bulky transmitter receiver can be mounted down the back or on the cargo barrier.
Forgot to mention that.
Dave
FollowupID:
401707
Follow Up By: Member - Luxoluk - Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 11:08
Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 11:08
There's only one unit that counts....a Codan 9320...any idiot can use it!!
FollowupID:
401748
Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 12:10
Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 12:10
I agree that my 6924 has passed its Use By Date but at this stage of my life I am not going to fork out $4000 for a NGT.
I have found a company in
Adelaide who can still service and repair them.
FollowupID:
401753
Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 14:22
Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 14:22
So what is it that you are admitting about yourself in this very public
forum Luxoluk??
Give yourself a little credit! You did manage to fit it yourself - rather nicely too I might add.
Dave
FollowupID:
401768
Follow Up By: Member - Luxoluk - Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 16:30
Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 16:30
Hi ya Dave. Yeah I thought my comment may get a response and very positive at that too!!
Do you look like being a goer for the salt races in March? I'm a remote posibility but something else will have to give if I take another week off. Fly out tomorrow and away for a fortnight so leave is getting a bit tight.
FollowupID:
401778
Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 22:55
Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 at 22:55
Hope to get to the salt. Just have to talk to Pete regarding dates.
Have a good trip - pleasure or pain (work?)
Dave
FollowupID:
401827
Follow Up By: Member - Luxoluk - Sunday, Jan 15, 2006 at 11:18
Sunday, Jan 15, 2006 at 11:18
Hi Dave...all pleasure but as for pain...... I suppose I should say SWMBO is also going. Cheers for now
FollowupID:
401888
Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Sunday, Jan 15, 2006 at 12:43
Sunday, Jan 15, 2006 at 12:43
I hope she doesn't surf EO.com on the sly searching your posts...
Have a good/safe trip mate.
Dave
FollowupID:
401893