HF radio options

HF Radio

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Colin, I dont think you would get much of an argument about that, i guess they makers will tell you its low production volumes that hold the costs high. Michael

so buy second hand

somethig like a Barrett 250 will set you back well under a grand and still bemuch better built with any freq you want and selcall

A lot of the amatuer stuff is aimed at wider bands - therefore possibly won't be as sensitive as a dedicated HF - maybe
Not sure if they are built as rugged mil spec etc??
Which antenna would you use when mobile? will an autotune connect, or maybe a multitap? obviously long wire when stationary - but an autotune is about 1500(barrett) - and included in the high price you list.
Sellcall and alarm beacon call is a usefull emergency function - and in my opinion a HF is primarily usefull for emergencies.
I realise its only a programming thing but a lot of the amatuer HF units won't transmit on the VKS freqs in stock form.
FWIW i paid $1500 for a barrett 550 with 910 autotune, admittedly it was the older light grey plastic bodied autotune, with a few hairline fractures, but i picked up a brand new case(top and bottom) with mounts and cable for $100 when i was in perth this year from Barrett.
In reality i don't think i'd drop $3000 on one new, but second hand its not a bad deal.

Gday Colin,
I've had a Barrett 950 with autotune for about 7 years now and Selcall and Radiotelephone calls are the main reason I keep it.

I've never had a sat phone, so keep in touch with the family by making telephone calls out using the BushTelephone network.

Many friends have HF and set them to scan on the VKS channels, so we often selcall one another on the low frequencies to catch up. Also if any of us are outside UHF range, we sellcall one another if needed.

Hi Colin,

I asked the same question (in another forum) last year before I bought a Codan NGT.

I think the short answer as to why we cannot use an Alinco or other brand HF for "travellers" frequencies such as VKS-737 etc is that only specific Codan, Barret and Icom radios are permitted to be used for this purpose (notwithstanding that they may be also used for amateur purposes). I realise this seems completely counter - intuitive; surely its the individual not the radio that requires the license or permit. But I was assured by others (who also have amateur licenses) that this was the case. I suspect its more likely something to do with a particular radio's ability to be locked to certain Tx frequencies. Also you can't by an amateur HF (apart from a Codan or Barrett etc that is restricted to VKS etc frequencies) without an amateur license.

I know Codan sell 98% of their HFs offshore. I am surprised they can be bothered putting as much into the Australian market as they do.

I personally think the latest Codan and Barretts are fairly priced for everything they can do. They are amazing pieces of gear - they are small computers with a radio attached. The public networks are only just starting to take advantage of their capabilities (eg text messages between radios, short e-mail to and from the radio without a computer attached, automated GPS positioning on web pages, easy outgoing phone calls, auto-tune antennas, address books ). I use selcall and phone calling functions all the time.

I agree not everyone wants or needs selcall etc. If all you want to do with your radio is participate in a sked every afternoon while on the road, and have time to muck aroumd with a tapped antenna, then a basic 2nd hand barrett or codan and tapped antenna can be had for the prices you are talking about. They are easy to install yourself.

In a similar vein many people on this forum spend thousands on laptops and mapping software etc. I am personally happy with a paper map and a $200 GPS.

I realise I have a very different view to you Colin, I think its a good discussion to be had so others can work out what's right for them.

Cheers

Ben

"The latter 2 companies artificially hold the price high while they seem to hold a monopoly on mobile HF radio sales in Australia."
Not quite sure how 2 companies can hold a "Monopoly" particularly as their are actually 4 when you include Qmac & Icom. With satellite phones replacing much of the HF market the price of radios is about what could be expected for a relatively low turnover item.
We picked up an older Barrett 550 with autotune for $1200. Spare parts are readily available & backup service has been A1.
Cheers Craig.........

Colin
This topic has come up before and its worth having a read of these two threads.
The words of wisdom from our departed friend remain as true today as when he wrote them.
And if anyone knew the reasons for one over the other it was Footy.

Hope this helps.

Thread 55875

Thread 58800

Colin,

A great question that has been debated (somewhat hotly at times) on this forum.

Our recently departed (RIP) Footloose would have defended the commercial manufacturers strongly and his opinion was centered around the fact that, in his opinion (and he was an electronics engineer) that the commercial sets are built to take the pounding of thousands of km of corrugations. Amateur sets are not and he described many situations of failed amateur equipment over the years from such abuse.

He would also have alluded to the importance of human life and that to skimp on a piece of equipment such as this is counter-intuitive, given the costs of everything else we tend to accumulate to satisfy our love of travel ...(like a $15k+ engine swap :-).

Many of the replies above are correct. It is illegal, except in circumstances that involve 'life and limb' to transmit on 'commercial' frequencies, of which VKS 737 and the like use, with modified amateur radio equipment. Amateur radio gear will not be able to transmit on these frequencies without internal mods. It is however quite legal to transmit on the amateur radio frequencies with commercial equipment, provided that you are appropriately licensed.

Personally, I have a Codan 9323 that is about 15 years old and has been used quite extensively over most of Australia and whilst I have taken the time to 'service' it occasionally, it has never let me down and you would be able to pick up a reliable set like this for under $1500 with Autotune antenna.

There are others on this forum that will disagree with these comments, but at the end of the day, if you want to be legal, you have no choice. Try www.hf-radio.com.au as Dave there has some reasonable buys at times..... no affiliations etc.

All the best with you're decision making.....

Cheers,

Mark

Thanks to all that replied,
I still firmly believe that the prices are sky high and dont need to be so high.

However the debate is OVER now, Footy showed me the light as to why I should pay the price and cop it sweet.
Thanks to all Colin.

When through a similar mental debate and gnashing of teeth about the price of a Codan NGT when I purchased one about 8 years ago. All that stopped the moment I made my first emergency call to the RFDS!

On a recent trip through the Simpson, we had the company of the ABC Radio transmissions from Alice Springs and the company of other friends with HF who would selcall for a chat.

It seems a lot of money (and it probably is a bit inflated) but the reliability, ease of use and the functionality are the things that linger, not the price.

Anyway, that's my two bobs worth.

I'm no tech, but the following is my understanding - the ACMA regulations stipulate certain technical configs for 'outpost' classified HF radios in Australia. A lot of radios that 'could' be used are simply not compliant with those regs.
As far as pricing goes - any high technology made in Australia is expensive - and both Codan and Barrett / QMac are internationally focussed companies - that is where they do nearly all of their business.
There are plenty of good used units around, although many sellers have warped views on what they are worth. You should be able to get a good complete system for $1500. I did, and that was a good 5 years back. As for doing without selcall / Radphone - while there are some really good 'crystal units' still around at virtually give away prices, the ability to selcall does offer plenty of real benefits.

Colin,

Knowing you, the answer will be to pull the guts out of one unit and shoe horn it into another.

I miss Mike Harding.

Matt.

One test of price is to contemplate making one yourself?

Another thing to remember is that both Codan and Barrett are built to military specifications. They are a lot more robust in construction than any of the "ham" sets in the marketplace.

If you keep an eye out on your local govt. auctions, there is a chance that they will come up for auction every so often. I got a 9323 at auction in Townsville a few years ago for $140 without aerial. A Codan NGT AR went through an auction in Cairns a while ago (I couldn't get there at the trime) and it sold, with 9350 autotune antenna, for $500 (still kicking myself).

Being govt. auctions, there is no reserve on them, so you could get a bargain.

HTH


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