Finally, the best answer to which is better - HF or Sat Phone?

G'day Allan,

the press release was on the VKS website (which I visit periodically) and also on the VKS Facebook page. I haven't seen any other releases to members. Its a great idea though.

Cheers

John

Thank John, I only visit occasionally when I want to look something up.
The newsletter is only quarterly so, as they have our email addresses I wonder why press releases etc are not emailed to members.

Anyway it is a good idea, best of both worlds for those of us with a satphone.

Hi Allan, all the new subscription forms are being posted to all VKS-737 members over the next week. The new forms now have a section to be completed if you wish to register a sat phone. The sat phone will get a separate call sign. For HF radio members there is no additional cost to register a sat phone. There will be a reduced charge if you register a sat phone only. Let me know if you like more info. Cheers

Thanks George, I received my renewal form this week and noted the space for satphone number. Cannot see any reference to reduced fee for satphone only, however it does not matter to me as I am renewing my full HF licence anyway.

Hi Allan, I believe that the sat phone only registration is $90 but check with the VKS-737 office. Cheers.

When we registered this year we had to provide Sat phone numbers for the first time. I guess this is for this new facility.

Peter

There are a couple of advantages.

1)Once you call VKS they can do a lot of running around for you. Eg find where the local dealer is with the part you want, then find another VKS member who is headed your way or arrange a courier with one phone call.
How much would that cost to do on a sat phone? Even if you had all the numbers which is unlikely.

2)Some Sat phones, eg Thuraya and Isatphone pro can't call 000, 1300, 1800, 13 and as an international $18.00 a min call you won't get many organisations to call you back. They can call VKS

3)They have expertise in managing outback calls and know places like CSR well 22 like the back of their hand. They can often translate a vague location description into a set of GPS co-ordinates.

4)They can give you weather reports and road reports often lesn than hours old from other travellers for all of Australia.

5)They know if there are other travellers near you or on their way. You may even get back on the road in hours rather than days or find there is a doctor 15km away travelling.

I can't think of any other resource or group of resources that can offer that, can you?

I give up!!!!! You must have a financial interest in VKS to be so blind as to not acknowledge that anything else may be better for others.

No way would my grandchildren, my wife nor my elderly sister be able to operate the radio if something happened to me. A phone. Just turn it on wait, do what the screen says and then call.

Phil

That's the other point PJR that I missed, everyone can operate a phone and if completly stupid you follow the bouncing ball instructions I have with the phone in the event I'm stuffed and cant call. A stranger unless trained wouldn't have a clue with a HF.
No doubt BB you can do all of the above but even diehard HF users will talk around the campfire and agree that more people are favouring satphones over HF.
They are simply easier to use and another advantage is they're mobility.
Anyway you've asked which is better and that's my opinion.
Bob

Geezus, PJR no need to get worked up about it. I really don't give a rat's arze about if you want to use it or not. If you are happy then good luck to you.

I have zero financial or other interest other than highlighting a new service to people who may be interested. If you have no interest then I don't give a rats.

I get the point =. Sorry for having an opinion that differs from yours on a thread I started.

DH

Lets calm down hey! I just recall that whenever you seemed to compare the two you appeared to be biased towards the HF and always knocked the satelite phone, regardless of who the service providor is. It never appeared a fair criticism.

Personally I have used HF in the past and have always said each to his own. If I am mistaken and missed you saying the same then I apologise.

I will leave you at this point and say cheers and hope that a level constructive criticism is made of both modes for the readers.

Phil

Apology accepted.

Phil and Bob, I can't see what you are on about, Boobook was just pointing out the advantages of registering your Satphone with VKS nothing about buying or using a HF radio.
I think he was trying to point out that you can call VKS with your Satphone, they can then put a call out to HF radio uses that may be in your area and arrange help for you eg. you are on the CSR and need a doctor, there may be someone that can offer assistance just down the track, they can then call you back on the Satphone to let you know help is on the way.
Or another example, you are stuck in the simpson with a broken fan belt, call up VKS they can again put a call out to HF radio uses and maybe someone over the next sand dune has a spare to help you out.
Try to do either of those with a Satphone alone, sounds the best of both worlds
Chris

I must have hit the submit button or something last time. My point Phil was that I have never knocked or put down a Sat Phone in a forum or otherwise unless you count a few times I have highlighted that Isatphone Pro can't call 000, 1300, 1800 etc, or asking if it works well in the high country. In fact I own an Iridium and use it frequently. If you search this or other forums you should find dozons of positive posts of mine on Sat Phones that are hopefully helpful to others.

I don't have a financial interest in VKS 737, or Iridium or Motorola or Telstra or any other network service provider.

I thought that this was all resolved.

So much for accepting an apology.

Phil

Chris and Debbie,
The question was asked by BB, which is better, satphone or HF.
If you read our answers you simply see we are giving our opinion on why we think satphones or better just as you are giving your opinion on why you think HF is better, not rocket science.
I hope this clear enough for you to know what I'm on about.
Bob

Yep, totally agree Bob. IMHO your reply was spot on and welcome input.

Sorry all I must be very confused and read all above wrong.
I never realised that BB was asking what is better, thought he was just saying that you can now have the best of both worlds, ease of use of the sat phone and the wider support of HF radio users.
I was also not giving any opinion on which is better, in fact I think being able to use a sat phone to contact HF radio users,via VKS, would be the best option without actually having to own a HF.
Chris

Well originally it was a rhetorical type of question. I was originally just trying to make people aware of the new service that seems applicable to this audience. But if people have an opinion as to why it has little value, bring those opinions on.

My objections was to one poster who was rude and falsely accused me of having financial motives and a vested interest, and accusing me of making posts I have never done. Just because they disagreed to the value of a service that may be of a lot of use to others. That really got my back up.

TOTALLY UNWARRENTED. I APOLOGISED. That is bordering on slander.

I apologised for missing what you said earlier. And you accepted it. Why then toss it out. You appear not to trustworthy and worthy of apologies.

I have requested moderation of my post.

This is out of control, I get abused for my views on a thread I started.

I do accept your apology.
However as you can see, the thread has been hijacked to the point that people are even questioning what my original post is even about, and the misquote and subsequent discussion has confused other posters.

While I do accept your apology, I do feel that I must make it very very clear as to the intention of the original subject and my position and my response to ongoing attacks. That is very different to not accepting your apology and can not go left unsaid given the confusion on this thread.

I hope that makes my position crystal clear. I am not sure why this has become such a big issue. I really just wanted to highlight a new public service to travellers who may need or want it.

Thankyou all, I think we've taken this as far as it can go. Lets all move on before you further detract from what was an interesting debate.

Thankyou

The Moderation Team.