To HF or not to HF

Probably not needed Brian - most likey a Telstra phone and your UHF is all you need unless you plan to go where these 2 items don't work or passing traffic is rare.

I think the principle reason we use VKS-737 HF is for the sense of being in touch with similar travellers.

Strongly suggest a UHF handheld in conjunction with your car UHF though.

Get yourself an Isatphone satellite phone prepaid.

Agree with the above, worked with hf since 1980 in the forces and have owned an old barret for many years, it gets dusted off ever 2 years or so. Now looking at a sat ohone as its much easier to use and carry, less concerns over ionospheric condiciton.
However if you want a bit of a hobby then that might be diferent.

Rgds
Ian

I agree with Robin, probably not really necessary for what you are planning.
I use my HF frequently when traveling on both VKS and RFDS frequencies to yap to people that I know.
However, if you were considering some trips into more of the remote areas (even on bitumen), I would consider a HF radio.

Hi Brian and Judy,

IF you are sticking to sealed main roads then you probably dont NEED a HF radio. But given the length of remote stretches of road where there is no mobile coverage I think you would do well to have some form of communication with the outside world. As I see it, there is one big advantge with HF and that it is possible to be in contact with vehicles that could be quite close if you need help - with a sat phone you will never know if help is just over the next hill. Also listening in to the VKS skeds you will pick up a fair bit of useful info about places to see, to camp and to avoid, where the fish are biting etc. And who knows, once you have ventured forth on the blacktop you may find yourself wanting to explore further into places where a HF (or satphone) is essential.

BTW the article highlighted in the box beside your post is worth reading carefully.

Cheers,

Val

Hi Brian

Like the replies above, it will depend on where you are travelling, but the UHF is still a very important tool to have. The only major Telecommunications provider that will give you the greatest coverage will be Telstra, which is available in many out of the way place like Birdsville in far western Queensland.

HF is still the most reliable long range communications for remote travel in Australia and the VKS Network is a fantastic group to belong to. The down side is the initial cost of setting up a HF Radio in your vehicle and it will cost a lot of money. I have had my Codan HF radio now for well over 20 years and it has been very helpful and has been used a couple of times for outside help. I use it as a daily log in with the VKS network and the ability to listen to what is happening in the outside world.

Over the years I have looked at Satellite Phones, but again they were dear and there were 2 year lock in contracts, regardless if you were travelling or not. I have seen some units that were hopeless out bush and had a very small window of opportunity for making phone calls, which in an emergency situation is the last thing that you want to happen.

There have been a number of new players in the Satellite Phone market and 1 caught my one and it took me 12 months to make my mind up and I finally went for the IsatPro Satellite prepaid Phone. I gave it a good try out last year and it worked faultlessly and acquired satellite coverage very quick and easy, and the call rate was not that dear at less than $1 a minute per call. The pre paid is great, as if you do not want to use the phone after your credit has expired, you do not have to get a new sim card when you reconnect and you still retain the same phone number. Another great feature is that your family and friends can send you a free text message via the internet.

So what is better.......I am not game to say, as they are both very different. One good example of the HF was a good number of years ago, a call went out for a missing couple of the Oodnadatta Track. We were many hundreds of kilometres away south of Birdsville, but know that a situation had developed, which after an hour, the couple were found safely, but bogged for a few days with only a mobile phone on them, and they wondered why it would not work when they were told that it would work in 90% of Australia. If on the other hand I only had a Satellite Phone, I would never of known about the situation and the call for outside help. For a long term investment the HF is a viable proposition, while on the other hand, when we leave our vehicle of head off on foot, my HF is useless and my Satellite phone is my lifeline in my backpack.

Regardless of what you buy, you have piece of mind that if you have to make contact with the outside world in an emergency situation, you know that you have what is required and not relying on passing help.


Have a fantastic trip.



Cheers



Stephen

B & J S
If you decide on the UHF only, but two of them.
As previously mentioned one should be a handheld 5W unit which can also be connected via a connector to a vehicle aerial for distance purposes,.
The other can be a dedicated incar setup.
Therefore one is portable and the other fixed but communications for your selves can be had by using the handheld away from the vehicle and still be in contact, ie going for a wailk.


If both are used in vehicle one can be set for the road channel you are travelling on to pick up truck colourful truck "chatter" while the other can be set to 18 to contact other vanners/traveller as they pass or you overtake. This is handy because some sit only on 18 and some on 40 for example.
Also they can be set to scan selected channels so you can monitor frequencies which are important to you.

I found after using one channel and talking to a station and also Oodna Pink Rhouse the local mailman knew who I was 1 1/2 weeks later when he called at another station I was at. Generally if you talk the locals are listening. My contact was related to a motorcycle accident and with a good aerial suitably positioned I contacted station repeaters 70km away. yes it is fairly flat. Was also told by the late Adam Plate that UHF don't work from where we were, I talked to his wife and he was surprised.

Try your setup by doing some travel away from a another radio operator/ point so you can gauge the performance, try both flat areas and hilly, to find what it does so no surprises and disappointments.

One thing to remember..... don't rely on a UHF or mobile phone to work if need in an emergency.

HF radio would be an over kill for you and a satellite phone would be a good idea..... the down fall of some satellite phones is you can not dial local 1800, 13, 1300 or 000.

Be very cautious with the IsatPro Satellite prepaid Phone's, they don't like the numbers listed above and can be very very costly for people to phone you.

If you don't want to spend the money I would be looking at a SPOT or a PLB with GPS (personal location beacon) for emergencies......

I have both but only because when I am currently resident is outside of mobile reception which allowed me to buy a Isatphone Pro for the princely sum of $123.75 plus some pre-paid credit - all due to the governments 85% subsidy. As far as I know its the only sat phone without a 'plan' and monthly fees.

The Barret 930 does a great job and would be our first point of call on VKS737 if we had a problem. VKS are a fantastic volunteer organisation. The sat phone is useful as I can throw it in the bag if off prospecting/fishing if away from the vehicle.

One advantage is the HF is a 'one to all' comms systen versus a sat phone which is 'one to one' - and you have to know the number. You never know help may be just down the track.

John

The short answer is you will not need a HF or satphone on the blacktop. If you want a HF for a bit of fun get one but they do take up a lot of space.
If you decide you want long distance communication for in the vehicle and out a satphone is the only way to go in these modern times.
Iridium is the best and be aware some phones and this includes isatphone I think can not dial 000/112 emergency for help, the only number you want in an emergency.
While cost shouldn't sway your decision compare HF V Sat and I bet you walk away with a satphone.
Happy Travels
MM

I am not quite sure on the pricing of Isaphone call charges. If you look at some Australian sites the call costs are more than a $1.00 a minute. A 25 unit prepaid is about $42.00 ie about 1.70 a minute. These units expire in 30 days.

After travelling Australia for 40 years+ and living in places like Oodnadatta I still think HF is the quickest way to get help in an emergency.

VKS has arrangements with RFDS and its operators can be contacted 24/7 you can speak to a real person who will help you out.

Phone calls via VKS to emergency services are free and untimed.

Enjoy your trip.

Hi all

Many thanks for all your replies and the time taken to answer our question.

A lot of food for thought there and we will consider both options.

Thank you again and we hope to see some of the travellers here on the road during our round the block tour.

Cheers and safe travels.

bjs