VKS 737......OR....... VKE 237

[dullbird]

So we here that vks737 has more bases but is very much straight to the point with no chit chat

and that vke237 is where you go if you want to talk to people on your journeys

so what would people recommend joining?

what are you all joined too?

you see ian slipped over this afternoon when i was at work before he hit the floor he hit the phone and brought a second hand barrat:o:D


Lou

[jik22]

I went with VMS469 (Reids radio Data) just because it offered a less formal service for only $30 and hopefully is all I need to chat to other 4WD'ers. It includes access to the HF radio club's frequencies too.

Most on here seem to be with VKS though. There was a thread on callsigns on VKS made into a sticky here (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/communications-car-audio-electronics/62636-vks-callsigns.html).

Interestingly, the respective licenses seem to prevent you talking to users on other networks, despite a couple of the available frequencies being shared.

[bblaze]

Hi
I just joined VKS737 because of the coverage of the base stations, I think this is a better option for outback travel. When I do the grand circut towing the camper I think I will also join the other just to keep up with those on simular travels but beyond the uhf
cheers
blaze

[The ho har's]

well that is a contentious subject at the moment...you see VKS737 has just changed their policy we are no longer members ...we are now subscribers....SO we have not any say how things run any longer....I know a LOT of VKS members...including base operators.... for many years and they are saying it is much better joing the HF club much cheeper membership better services...however we are joining again this year and see how it goes............membership has jumped from $70 to $100 in three years


Mrs ho har:)

[jik22]

membership has junped from $70 to $100 in three years



Does that include a network subscrition to phone services, or just the 5 voice channels?

Reids were $30 just for access to the HF voice frequencies, and $85 for that plus telephone, but not including any call allowance.

[The ho har's]

Does that include a network subscrition to phone services, or just the 5 voice channels?

Reids were $30 just for access to the HF voice frequencies, and $85 for that plus telephone, but not including any call allowance.

No phone services...just voice though we have more than 5 channels.


Mrs ho har:)

[jik22]

No phone services...just voice though we have more than 5 channels.


Mrs ho har:)

OK, thanks. So for the $100 or so what do they do apart form Skeds (Which anyone can listen to, I guess?) and let you talk on their frequencies outside Sked times?

Also, what else do you have access to, frequency wise? They only list 3995, 5455, 8022, 11612 and 14977 so I assumed any others would be dedicated for HF telephone services or similar, and not voice?

[The ho har's]

OK, thanks. So for the $100 or so what do they do apart form Skeds (Which anyone can listen to, I guess?) and let you talk on their frequencies outside Sked times? no

Also, what else do you have access to, frequency wise? They only list 3995, 5455, 8022, 11612 and 14977 so I assumed any others would be dedicated for HF telephone services or similar, and not voice?

just those channels...BUT we have a book full of all the other uses including police..emergency services..flying docs...etc...we are not allowed to talk to any non VKS uses unless it is strictly an emergency...so outside sked it is not an open channel


Mrs ho har:)

[jik22]

just those channels...BUT we have a book full of all the other uses including police..emergency services..flying docs...etc...we are not allowed to talk to any non VKS uses unless it is strictly an emergency...


OK, see what you mean now when you said other frequencies - just receive or emergency ones. I think all the HF networks/clubs/associations are limited by their ACMA licenses to only allowing users in their organisation to talk to each other and not across networks regardless of frequency.

What I find interesting though is that some frequencies seem to be shared by more than one HF network operator, so I've always wondered how that works in practise if two users in the same location were trying to talk back to a base on that frequency - especially if the conditions dictate that only that frequency is really viable on that day at that time! Once I get the Codan setup, or a decent antenna up at home for my amateur set, I'll have to have a listen and see what goes on....

[weeds]

yep i am leaning towards the HF Radio Club, i meant to drop in on a guy that does the weekend skeds for them. the club pres rang after my inquiry and answered some questions

i gotta get around to buying a hf set first though

[justinc]

So we here that vks737 has more bases but is very much straight to the point with no chit chat

and that vke237 is where you go if you want to talk to people on your journeys

so what would people recommend joining?

what are you all joined too?

you see ian slipped over this afternoon when i was at work before he hit the floor he hit the phone and brought a second hand barrat:o:D

Lou


:D:D:D:D

I joined VKS737 and am happy with the choice. Chit chat on UHF and 27meg gets really irritating after a while, not to mention the gutter language etc. HF still have a bit of chat without the attitude, I was having a laugh at some of the sched chat especially from charters towers base at times (Ron:D) and I will continue to subscribe to this service. I haven't tried Radtel yet, possibly do it if we go to the Kimberleys next year, but I'm happy with the service i'm getting ATM.

Congrats on the barrett unit, they are a good thing:cool: - what model did he 'trip over and fall' on?

JC

[Bushie]

I joined VKS around 18 months ago but didn't really use it until our Madigan trip. I found the service to be good, there was plenty of interaction with the bases (partic Ron at Charters Towers) and during the trip we were using the frequencies out of sked time to keep in touch (or at least try) with other friends who were heading to meet us.

It was pretty obvious that they would put a lot of effort into assisting members that were in 'a spot' arranging some very expensive recovery efforts.

We checked in with the bases each day, and while they dont do "trip following" in the strict sense it's obvious that they keep tabs on regular users.


As far as not being able to call other users this is from the VKS web site


Can I call other VKS-737 subscribers, at any time ?
Yes.....but you must "give way" to sked sessions and any other important traffic (such as bases and authorities assisting with emergencies).

Not unreasonable



Martyn