My old Codan.

[wally]

I have an old Codan 7727 SSB HF radio tucked away in my shed. I've had it forever. It's been in a few different vehicles over the years. And I used to use HF radio for work in the olden days. Since we're planning to do some mildly remote trips I'm considering putting it back into service. I wasn't sure whether anyone even used HF anymore - I haven't needed to give it much thought for about the last ten years. But after a quick search it appears that they're still favoured by members of the 4wd community and the RFDS. So that's good. The question I have now is whether the frequencies fitted to my radio will be of any use in today's world. Can anybody help with that? The frequencies are 2020, 5110, 5145, 5410, 5945, 7543.5.

[Kevin B]

HF Radio Frequencies | Royal Flying Doctor Service (http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/Communications/HF-and-UHF-Radio-Frequencies/)

Have a look here

[rick130]

I have the oldies old Codan and multi-tapped antenna which I'll put back into service when I travel up there ;)

Warwick is the VKS737 repeater/responder/whatever you call him for the Alice region too, so you'll be talking to someone you know if you use their service/frequencies :D

[wally]

Well it's great to know that old radio is still useful. Those first four frequencies can potentially get me in touch with either Port Augusta, Cairns, Charleville, Mt. Isa, or Alice Springs. So use of those frequencies hasn't changed in quite a long time. The only one that's still a mystery to me is 7543.5. That's interesting about Warwick, Rick. How did he finish up in that role? Is he a volunteer?

[rick130]

Can't recall Cameron, they did tell me but the old memory isn't what it was :o

[Kevin B]

According to the ACMA frequency Register, 7543.5 does not exist as an allocated frequency the nearest is 7545 registered to Fisheries Dept.... interesting frequency to have in a radio if its not in use..

[Bearman]

Quite possible that frequency was a private one. A lot of outback rural companies and trucking mobs had their own frequency back in the Codan 7727 vintage years to keep in contact with home base. I also have a 7727 with one oddball frequency (was from a mineral exploration company in the NW before I purchased it)

[Bearman]

Well it's great to know that old radio is still useful. Those first four frequencies can potentially get me in touch with either Port Augusta, Cairns, Charleville, Mt. Isa, or Alice Springs. So use of those frequencies hasn't changed in quite a long time. The only one that's still a mystery to me is 7543.5. That's interesting about Warwick, Rick. How did he finish up in that role? Is he a volunteer?

Wally, I don't think they monitor the frequencies any more, pretty sure you have to call them on Selcall. But at least you will be able to contact some other user as there is always someone listening in on any frequency.

[87County]

If you go to

VKS737: The Australian HF Radio & Radio-Telephone Network ! (http://www.vks737.on.net/)

and check on the frequencies heading on the 2nd page (just under the "VKS.737" logo/title) the VKS737 freqs are listed

those generally used are 5455 khz and 8022 khz


someone else may be able to tell us if that older 2020 khz RFDS freq is still monitored

[87County]

here's a block copy from that page:

Frequencies (channels)
If you have an HF radio with UPPER sideband capability, that can access our channels, you can listen in any time to our staff and authorised users as we run our scheduled base station sessions (skeds). Authorised users may be heard on our channels too, in between the sked sessions.

Should you decide to join or seek more information, please see the Application Form 01 on the Documents page or contact head office via the Contact page.

The channels at right have been allocated to us* by the ACMA; Our sked sheets available to VKS-737 subscribers (via the Users tab) show accurate sked timings; we have both summer and winter sheets to accommodate daylight saving where applicable.

*shared with other users, to a minor extent


Channel


Frequency

1 5455 kHz

A secondary channel for most skeds.
Free for general & telephone use by authorised VKS-737 subscribers outside of sked time frames.
2 8022 kHz

The primary channel for all skeds.
Free for general & telephone use by authorised VKS-737 subscribers outside of sked time frames.
3 11612 kHz No sked traffic - free for general & telephone use by authorised VKS-737 subscribers.
Has a very good reach, during mid morning and mid afternoon.
4 14977 kHz No sked traffic - free for general & telephone use by authorised VKS-737 subscribers.
Often has a very good reach, during the middle section of the day.
5 3995 kHz

No sked traffic - free for general & telephone use by authorised VKS-737 subscribers.

Good shorter reach frequency.
6 6796 kHz

No sked traffic - free for general & telephone use by authorised VKS-737 subscribers.
7 10180 kHz No sked traffic - free for general & telephone use by authorised VKS-737 subscribers.
Has a very good reach, during mid morning and mid afternoon.

[wally]

These are all frequencies that I had fitted myself over the years so there was a reason for each of them at the time. It's just been too long now and I can't remember. I know that one or two of them were frequencies used by Parks and Wildlife which I had fitted to my personal radio with permission from the Parks service. So that's probably what it is. I think 7543.5 was probably the one we used on Cape York but I would have no idea whether it's still in use.

[mick88]

I also have a couple of HF Codans (30 watt and 100 watt) in mothballs.
Do you have the alarm fitted to your set?
I wonder if the alarm system is still active for the RFDS Bases should the need arise!

Cheers, Mick.

[wally]

I also have a couple of HF Codans (30 watt and 100 watt) in mothballs.
Do you have the alarm fitted to your set?
I wonder if the alarm system is still active for the RFDS Bases should the need arise!

Cheers, Mick.

Yes, mine has the emergency call button. Apparently you can still use it but only for Broken Hill and Port Augusta bases.

[rar110]

Brian's correct, you have to selcall RFDS now.

I used a Barrett 550 on a recent trip, mostly for phone calls.