HF Radio - HFoZ

Hi Fred
You are able to have mobile to mobile communications with other members of the VKS Network, providing it is not during the schedule skeds times. I know that you are not supposed to talk with other non VKS Members.

When I first joined the VKS network in 1994, the membership list was on 2 A4 Sizes of paper. Just have a look at the book of members now and you will see why it is the biggest growing Radio Network here in Australia.

Once again it was a South Australian idea and put in place and then the other states four wheel drive associations wanted a piece of the action, and then has just snow balled from there. The operators are all volunteers are a great bunch of men and women.

I will never say a bad word about the VKS network, they do an unreal job

Cheers

Stephen

Thanks Stephen,
yes they do sound like an awesome network of volunteers. I have heard of plenty of stories mobile members have come to the aid of other members and travellers.

i quit vks. i realised that if i needed to talk to some one i needed to be atleast 500k away from them (min) for transmission to work. if im travelling with a group then uhf/ vhf is enough. if i am by myself i dont need to call me mates to tell them im broken down. better off calling the parts shop and a courier ( radtel is my option)..

qubert,

That would appear, from the limited information you have provided, to be somewhat misinformed.

It may be true that HF is not particularly good for short distance communications, but the whole point of having this "network" of many thousands of travelers is to use the bases as the first point of call if in any sort of difficulty. They can then put the call out for others to assist.

Additionally, the bases keep fairly good records of "who is where" and if contacted, they may realize that someone able to assist is not too far from you, even though you may not be able to call or hear the closer station.

There have been many instances of travelers broken down or in trouble who have then been assisted by someone close by, using the various base stations as their point of call.

To use Radtel to call the parts shop and courier parts out to you in remote areas is going to take a VERY long time and cost you MUCH money.

Just my experience with the network over about 17 years.

Cheers,

Mark

Mob. 3531

"if i needed to talk to some one i needed to be atleast 500k away from them (min) for transmission to work"

If you can't talk to someone closer than 500km, then you're using the wrong frequencies and antennas.

For short distances you need an antenna with horizontal wires and to use low frequencies.

On Thursday I was doing tests from Katoomba to Newcastle (about 100km) and getting very consistent Beacons using VKS737 Channel 5 and Channel 1. At night only Channel 5 will work for short distances with the current sunspot cycle trough we're in.

If you have an Autotune antenna you need to run 4 metres of wire out horizontally from the top of the housing.

For short distance communication you need the signal to go directly upwards and a vertical antenna is useless for that.

Useful infortmation whether a sidetrack or not and Im pleased you posted it Mike Thank you.
Ian

Side track it may be but I agree very useful information

Mike DID would you be able to elaborate on the horizontal wire for the shorter distances please?

i.e. coated or bare....insulated at one or both ends....wrapped around the base of the whip etc?

Thanks

Landy

I joined up straight away when it started but have not used it yet only testing a beacon test.

It started as a chat type version of a HF radio but is turning into something big (GPS, and Data ) not many members yet only a A4 page, but growing.

I joined because I'm one of those people that just can't have too much :-), but saw the merit in the chat line part of it.

I'm am still a VKS-737 and Radtel member but VKS is so big these days skeds take up all day. so HFOZ users can call in on VKS skeds and if they hear anyone they know can drop up to HF-OZ and have a chat.

I may never us it but I have a HF radio so why not use it

Cheers


Richard

I have not proof read this, so I hope you under stand it ... LOL

Thanks Richard

I did actually read a previous thread you had posted on this topic so thanks for that and your recent post.

I actually find the ability to log your position via GPS a good development as it provides others the opportunity to see were you actually are.

I’ve been a member of Radtel for a number of years as it had the phone service and have also been a member of VKS.

I inadvertently let my VKS renewal lapse and the reason for my post was to gauge whether I should rejoin VKS or take up the current offer Radtel members have with HfoZ as it does fit my requirements of having an avenue of communication.

We haven’t been travelling much in recent times; however I hope this will change in the months ahead and I understand the benefits of VKS membership. I may well rejoin it, and also HFoZ as you have done.

Cheers

Woops....sorry Landy. So easy to get sucked in by someone's silly comment.

Can't help you much with HFoZ, but I imagine it will grow over the next few years to be a useful addition to the other HF networks, though I doubt it will ever grow to the size and magnitude of the VKS network and I see this as a bonus.

Over the years I have been a member of just about all the networks (Phillip Collins and Assoc 4wd net - the predecessor to the VKS Net, Bushphone, Radtel, RFDS, VH2RGC, VKE, VMS and even a private work network, but probably haven't used them to the capacity that I could.

These days just tend to activate them for a trip as I'm traveling a little less with a very young family.

You can never have too many though, especially if it's mobile to mobile comms you're after.

Cheers,

Mark

Yes...but all information for others still.

Thanks

I doubt that you can get many opinions at the moment as it is so new and still under development but if you have been with Radtel and your satisfied then HFOZ should be no different with basically the same owner.
Ian