VKS737

Submitted: Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 14:50

ThreadID: 60441 Views:3205 Replies:5 FollowUps:16

This Thread has been Archived

Member - Borgy.. (SA)

Hi everyone,

I've just bought a second hand Indo Pacific HF radio (apparently built by Codan), but i wouldn't have a clue how to tune it or which channels to use...

Does anyone know anything about these radios & which channels do you use so i can see if it works properly (transmitting, recieving). Or can anyone direct me to a website where i can find out a bit more?

Cheers, Borgy

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 14:56

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 14:56

Mate if its a Codan this is the best site with some really knowledgable people on these and for that matter other radios.

Join and ask here Codan Users Group

VKS737 - Mobile 6352 (Selcall 6352)

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 318781

Follow Up By: Member - Olcoolone (S.A) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 15:04

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 15:04

Hope you didn't pay to much, it might be a costly exercise to make it work on the VKS network.

Can you post a photo and how old is it.

FollowupID: 585285

Follow Up By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 15:20

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 15:20

G'day Richard

He told me the radio was approx 7 yrs old, paid $350.00

Cheers......Borgy

A couple of pics

Image Could Not Be Found

Image Could Not Be Found

FollowupID: 585286

Follow Up By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 15:26

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 15:26

G'day John

Thanks for the link mate...

Cheers......Borgy

FollowupID: 585287

Follow Up By: Member -Signman - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 17:46

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 17:46

7 years old ???? Tell him he's dreaming !!!

FollowupID: 585310

Follow Up By: Member - Olcoolone (S.A) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:06

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:06

Never heard of that radio and can find nothing on the net except Ebay for the manual.

Give Steve a call at VKS Adelaide base or phone Paul at the Electric Bug....one of them may know something.

Good luck.

FollowupID: 585315

Follow Up By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:12

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:12

Signman
Obviously you know something about this radio , so could you please enlighten me???

Cheers.....Borgy

FollowupID: 585318

Follow Up By: Vivid Adventures - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:28

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:28

Well I think it was made by Perth Communications who were bought over by CODAN but a looooooooong time ago... much longer than 7 years... more like 15 or 20 years.

I doubt CODAN would even know how to spell the product's name these days.

FollowupID: 585328

Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:39

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:39

Borgy, Footloose is the man you want he should be able to help you with detail and if for some reason he couldn't the guys on the Codan User Group will certainly be able to help with ID and detail.

VKS737 - Mobile 6352 (Selcall 6352)

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

FollowupID: 585330

Reply By: Stu & "Bob" - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 17:20

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 17:20

Looks nice. What frequencies are in it at the moment?

If you are in Adelaide, give VKS Adelaide Base a ring, and take it in to them, they may be able to sort it out on the spot.

You will need to get another tapped whip antenna that has the VKS frequency taps on it.

HTH

AnswerID: 318807

Reply By: Stu & "Bob" - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 17:24

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 17:24

Borgy,
Check out ebay item HF105 manual

You will need this......

.

AnswerID: 318810

Follow Up By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 17:38

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 17:38

Thanks for that Stu, i missed out on the manual, was ended with a buy it now bid.....You wouldn't happen to know the number for VKS Adelaide by any chance would you??
So the aerial i have with the unit is no good??

Do you think $350.00 was a fair price for the unit??

Cheers.....Borgy

FollowupID: 585308

Follow Up By: Stu & "Bob" - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:06

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:06

I am no expert Borgy, but I think that provided it all works, $350 is a good price for it.
VKS head office can be contacted on (08) 8287 6222.

The aerial should work with the frequencies that are in the radio now, but when you add the vks frequencies, they may not be covered by the aerial that you have. You will need to ensure that the aerial has taps (plugs) for the VKS frequencies.

FollowupID: 585316

Follow Up By: Stu & "Bob" - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:13

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 18:13

are there any numbers on the whip taps? or at the base of the fibreglass that could give an indication of what aerial?

Have you any pics of the rear of the green box? where the power cable goes in?

FollowupID: 585320

Follow Up By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 21:47

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 21:47

Stu , there are no numbers on the aerial apart from the 1 - 10 will post a pic of back of unit tomorrow

Cheers......Borgy

FollowupID: 585377

Reply By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 19:58

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 19:58

Hi Borgy,
The unit is a Perth Communications HF106, also sold as Indo Pacific. Bought out by Codan probably about 15-20yrs ago, to be then buried by same company, was never actually made by Codan. So it certainly isn't 7 years old!
I currently use one, and they are fine. Up to 99 channels can be programmed.
But:
If it already has the VKS737 channels in it, then you're in luck, but if it needs programming, then you could be in trouble (Rx-only channels can be easily entered via the keypad). The unit needs a master chip to enable Tx programming, and they are as rare as. Codan do not have any master chips, and the chip is not copyable, nor is there any source code surviving. I know of one person in WA who has a master chip (one of the original designers). I'm not sure if he is available to do the programming tho'.
Also, if the fitted microprocessor chip in it has a sticker marked "WA2", then you will not be able to program the selcall to current standards (WA2 was Perth Comms own selcall standard).
Some units were fitted with an interface to work with certain Codan autotune antennas, but these are rare.
I do have a CD copy of the service manual if you require one.
Gerry

AnswerID: 318854

Follow Up By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 21:44

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 21:44

Thanks for that Gerry, have sent you an MM

Cheers......Borgy

FollowupID: 585375

Follow Up By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 23:07

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 at 23:07

You should have an email by now, Borgy.
Gerry

FollowupID: 585385

Reply By: Member - Footloose - Monday, Aug 04, 2008 at 09:08

Monday, Aug 04, 2008 at 09:08

Sorry I was a bit late getting to this one. The posts are quite correct. Three basic problems, reprogramming, aerial taps and selcall incompatibility.
Other than that they are an Ok unit.

AnswerID: 318929