Codan X2 HF Radio

[Redback]

Are they worth getting for HF communication in the bush.

Baz.

[86mud]

Hey Baz

I am in the same boat at the moment. I posted an earlier thread regarding Codan Vs Sat phone....and prefer the Codan....now for which one.

the X2 seems to be ok with basic channels and the ability to be hooked up to the autotune antenna, but apart from that, I don't know what their performance is like compared to the 9323 or evern the 8525.

Anyone else out there with knowledge on the X2?

Cheers
Andrew

[TYE]

If you put your rig on its roof then there go,s your aerial and no coms, so i would look at the sat phone? This is just one thing to look at.The price of sat phone,s are coming down all the time and the calls are getting cheeper as well.

[weeds]

i looked into the HF v sat when i did my simpson trip.......i hired a sat phone of a friend in the end, it was handy as i had to make one call to my mechanic, from memory it cost me $50 for the three weeks.

for me a HF set would sit in the car unsed between trips, its been five years since my last outback trip.......on that note, i need to organise another

[Rick Fischer]

Have used an 8525 for over 15 years. Good value!

Last time I looked and it was a while ago, satphone was $15 flag fall and $5 a minute, and that is if there is a satellite above the horizon.

Don't know what people here might say but was advised by my Avionics colleagues if I was to consider a sat phone, only get one which uses the Iridium system - more sats always overhead, and lower; and works under trees and verandahs.

HF still OK if you wipe the auto tune. Carry a tapped length and throw it over a tree, will even work off of saltbush. I carry a "Firecracker" for just such an eventuality.

Cheers

RF

[Xtreme]

One big advantage, often overlooked, with HF is that wharever your situation (breakdown, illness etc.) you make one call to the base station and the operator will know who to contact for help.
Also, other travellers who are listening in (especially during the morning and evening skeds) may be close enough to assist in a timely fashion.

Not familiar with the X2 so can't comment on performance.

[87County]

The X2s would be getting a bit long in the tooth - while 10 fixed channels should more than provide your hf comms, if you come forward in time to the 8525 through 8258 you should be able to get a cheap useable outfit that you can at least listen to s/w, ABC, Radio Oz etc when you relax after tea... :)

Otherwise there are more recent (and therefore expensive) Codans and Barretts readily available

With any set check that the freqs fitted correspond to those in use by the service provider that you are going to go with (you can google what they use).