HF radio. I have no clue. Officially
Submitted: Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 10:10
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longJohn
I want to get
HF radio for my travels around. But I have no clue and I am fiding it difficult with all the radio jargon. I have used UHF and 27meg radios before, but I need a
HF radio as I dont like the idea of sat phones and I like the idea of having a radio that you can just listen in to get some information.
I know that I need to join VKS 737 but not sure which frequencies I will need. IS this radio the right one for this job? Will this radio do the 5 frequences listed below for VKS 737 without getting it programmed or paying a technician to do anything to it?
FT-857D www.radiospecialists.com.au/amateur.htm
Or should I go with an old cheap set. With an old cheap set ive found i can get these three frequencies - Freqs fitted 2020, 4980, 6845khz RFDS
VKS737 uses
1 5455 Khz The second channel used for most skeds.
2 8022 Khz The main channel for all skeds, and used a lot by members for private traffic (outside of sked timeslots).
3 11612 Khz Used for minor sked traffic, as per the sked sheets. Often subject to overseas interference.
4 14977 Khz Used for minor sked traffic. Often has a very good reach, during the middle section of the day.
5 3995 Khz No sked traffic - free use for members. Quite good for short distance comms.
Reply By: RFLundgren - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 10:18
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 10:18
Longjohn
Unless you have an amateur license and plan on using the amatuer bands I personally wouldnt go down that path.
I would suggest that you stick with either a Codan or a Barret as with either of those radios you cant really go wrong. As to which model of either you get, that will depend on the features and the budget that you have to work with. Do you also need the ability to make phone calls from the radio or do you just want it for HF communication? Auto-tune or multi-tap antenna?
There are many combinations, but you will probably find that most people have the Codan or Barret. personally I have a Codan NGT and couldnt be happier with it.
If you dont want to buy new, have a look at the trader adds on here, the same on VKS site and you can find the occasional great deal on ebay also.
Good luck with it.
Richard
AnswerID:
208897
Reply By: SteveL - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 10:28
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 10:28
I am a member of VKS-737 and a radio amateur.The Yaesu you are looking will not transmit on VKS frequencies without modification and doesn't have selcall for
contacting VKS bases away from sched times.It also doesn't have RFDS emergency call.
I have a Codan 8528 with an auto tune antenna that I bought on ebay for $1000 with all accessories needed to fit it to a vehicle.I did however,need a new
eprom with the correct channels which I paid $50 for.A cheaper option would be to use a tapped whip instead of an autotune which are available for $130 (famparc whip) with all the VKS channels.
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 10:33
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 10:33
8022 and 5455 are essential. The others are not. This will allow you to listen in to all the sked sessions, and to transmit your location, get emergency help and receive messages etc etc
Any Barrett or Codan should be able to do this. And can do so with something as simple as a wire aerial, although most will use a multitap whip aerial for convenience on the old sets. Beware of old sets - crystals may not be readily available.
Next step up the chain is to get a radio with many channels eg Barrett 950 with 450channels and autotune antenna. With this you can
#1 easily use the telephone networks (make a radiotelephone call to the folks back home, or to seek assistance at a cost of $120 per year plus calls)
#2 Tune un to ABC or radionational to listen to the cricket or the news if you're interested!
#3 Tune in to any of the flying doctor frequencies, although I believe this is becoming less relevant now - I think VKS can hook you up with this anyway.
#4 Theres a heap of other stuff you can tune in to if you're interested, but I don't bother.
If you can afford $2-3.5k, then I'd buy a Codan or Barrett with Autotune, and seek advice about the aerial installation - position and a substantial earth lead help heaps.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Footloose - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 10:38
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 10:38
What specific jargon are you in strife with ?
A light hearted primer can be found here Site Link
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Follow Up By: Doggy Tease - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 20:45
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 20:45
that site Mr Foot, is bloody hilarious.
meow.
rick.
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469024
Follow Up By: Footloose - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 23:00
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 23:00
Rick, if you liked that take a peek at this.
home.iprimus.com.au/jimshire/4wd.html
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Reply By: Wizard1 - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 11:38
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 11:38
Get a SATPHONE...........
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Follow Up By: Member -Signman - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 12:43
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 12:43
I think he wants reliable communications...
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:20
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:20
If he wants reliable coms then get a Sat phone and a modern HF.
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468900
Reply By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 12:09
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 12:09
longJohn
I too am a member of VKS-737 and I was goinf to make some suggestions for you but the other EO members have done a perfect job of helping you and I can't add anymore than what they have told you, What I will say is that you will get much enjoyment from VKS-737 and have fun.
Doug
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Follow Up By: Ron George - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:28
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:28
Aye Doug. Mate I just love your pan licker, but where did the back legs get to????
Cheers RG
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Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:35
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:35
Ron
Yeh sorry but you were too late, I had a photo of him sitting in a wheel of
big Lizzie ,thought all would have seen it so took it off again,I just use that page for purposes of short displays ,If you want to see him go to my Members Rig and Profile next to the Excavator
Doug
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Reply By: longJohn - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:08
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:08
ok, i was about to buy a codan 7727 that had 2020, 4980, 6845khz fitted but I guess that would have been useless. I just want to listen in to weather, skeds on VKS737 and parks information etc, and have the ability to call for help if needed. I dont need a satphone, I dont need to call someone else in a hurry, and I dont really need all the other stuff that only an amatuer can do (have no license) So I guess just a radio with Channels 5455Khz, 8022Khz will do eh?
cheers
John.
AnswerID:
208914
Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:19
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:19
If you are going to spend any dollars make sure what you get WILL do what you want.
The very old HF's such as the 7727 can be severley limited in all respects, particularly parts and service
You have received some good advice here maybe give it some serious consideration before spending any of your hard won $.
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:40
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:40
sounds like you are after what I was after. I ended up getting a 2nd hand barret 250 from a guy on this
forum. Came with enough features but without bells and whistles i wouldnt use. I went for a multi tap ariel for simplicity and price even though it has auto tune capability. An auto tune ariel can easily exceed the price of a second hand radio.
For a set up like that you might expect to pay 600-1000 second hand and probably around 1500-2000 for a setup with auto tune (second hand top of the range stuff is obviosly more again)
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Follow Up By: SteveL - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:52
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 13:52
An older radio with only 2 channels fitted ,would be limiting your options IMHO.
In an emergency I would want a few more to cover varying distances and HF conditions.
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Reply By: longJohn - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 14:06
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 14:06
and with a barrat 250, what antenna should I use? I wouldnt mind mounting it in my 4wd.
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 15:04
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 15:04
you get 2 choices of ariels with most HF sets
1) multi tap. has plugs on it which you change to match the frequncy you are using
pros: fairly cheap, bush freindly (just pull them off in thick bush)
cons: you need to stop and manually change channels on the ariel to suit the channel on your radio, Limits the choices of available frequencys to that which the ariel has plugs for
This type of ariel is best suited for a user that uses only alimited number of channels and would not expect to change them much
2) auto tune
Pros: changes channels itself, can tune into any channel programmed into your radio
Cons: more expensive and thats it best choice if using many channels or change channel often.
All ariels need to be mounted outside the vehicle
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Reply By: Footloose - Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 16:07
Wednesday, Dec 06, 2006 at 16:07
Whist some here use amateur sets in defiance of several sets of regulations, most would buy and legally use Barrett or Codan. They are much of a muchness, like Holden and Ford.
With Barrett, a 250RC would be your minimum purchase these days. Codan would be an 8525/8528. Both of these radios have more channels than you'll ever use.
The models mentioned are not recent, but are attainable for most.
See other posts for autotune/whip aerials. Do NOT buy a Codan 8558 autotune aerial unless you absolutely must. They are not a great aerial for many people.
Last point, are you going to bet your life on a $400 radio from Ebay ? Whatever you buy, do so from someone that knows what they're on about, someone you can contact for after sales assistance and preferably someone who uses them in the bush just like you're going to.
Also check out the archives.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: landseka - Thursday, Dec 07, 2006 at 09:37
Thursday, Dec 07, 2006 at 09:37
Longjohn, if you still are interested in an
HF radio email me at "neil_hf at internode dot on dot com"
I have something that may interest you.
Regards
Neil.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - John and Val W (ACT) - Thursday, Dec 07, 2006 at 12:33
Thursday, Dec 07, 2006 at 12:33
Long John,
Have a look at this site, there is a heap of information and there are some very helpful people on there.
Site Link
John and Val.
| J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein
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