Barratt and Codan info?

Hi, I have a Codan 8528 over 10 years - been on different 4 Land Rovers now. I had to rebuild the auto tune aerial some years ago but overall it has been excellent. The radio allows us to go into remote areas with confidence. Several of my friends have similar sets and when anyone is on Hols we keep in touch. The range is phenominal - Gove in the NT or Kalgoorlie come in loud and clear to Sydney most times. You have to understand a little about frequencies and ground planes to get the most out of the HF radio. Cheers, Erich.

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Originally Posted by Bundalene

Hi, I have a Codan 8528 over 10 years - been on different 4 Land Rovers now. I had to rebuild the auto tune aerial some years ago but overall it has been excellent. The radio allows us to go into remote areas with confidence. Several of my friends have similar sets and when anyone is on Hols we keep in touch. The range is phenominal - Gove in the NT or Kalgoorlie come in loud and clear to Sydney most times. You have to understand a little about frequencies and ground planes to get the most out of the HF radio. Cheers, Erich.

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what sort of antenna do you have accompanying your units?
also
do you have the codan auto tune unit or another one?

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Originally Posted by dullbird

what sort of antenna do you have accompanying your units? do you have the codan auto tune unit or another one?

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I have a Codan auto tune antenna. In my case the aerial driver is in a separate box, because that is how I bought it.

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Originally Posted by p38arover

I have a 3-channel remote head 7727B for sale for $120 plus postage.

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That's an excellent price Ron - let me see if I can get crystals to add other channles, and I'll come back to you. This, with a simple multi-tap might prove ideal for the Defender, allowing me to put the amateur HF rig (Most likely going to get a Yaesu 857D) in the D3 with a bigger multi-tap and antenna tuner.

Well, summing up, (and ignoring wha Ron is selling for the moment) it seem I can get:

Cheaper 8528's, but the lack of autotunes s/h, means I'd be running a tapped whip.

Older Barrett 250 for $700ish on eBay, but same deal as above for the aerial.

I've also been offered a remote head 9360, with 9350 autotune, for about $2300.

Or, I can get a new Barrett 2050 with 910 autotune for $3200.

As to aerial, I think I'd carry a long wire and tuner (Borrowed from the amateur kit I'm also about to start putting together) as a backup.

Decisions, decisions...

Thanks for all the info.

Hi DB,

I have a Barrett 910 Auto tune antenna that comes with the 2050 unit. (I bought an 'Outback traveller' package from Barrett in WA, it comes complete with whip, auto tune antenna, remote head unit and main unit, full installation kit and is a piece of cake to install.) To answer your Q though, the Barrett auto tune antenna is different to the Codan unit only in the way they operate, to achieve the same result.
I thought of a multi tap aerial, but I like to set the unit on scan sometimes, and I also tune in to local ABC news and regionals from time to time. I can also get Weather reports, both air and shipping, and voice of america, BBC world service, Radio Australia, Radio Beijing, Netherlands, etc etc etc. (The last few with the aid of a wire antenna, tree mounted, at night, atmospherics permitting...)

JC

I know I should sell my Codan 9323 and 9850 autotune but I still want to fit it (one day) to the P38A.

Many years ago, I was a radio apprentice for a company that made HF radios for RFDS. The company was called Tracker Communications, and the radio came in 2 variations - the Scout & the Scout L/R, being the one with the remote head.

We installed these radios in many different types of cars, utes, trucks & buses. The one thing all of these installs had in common, was that just about everyone opted for the tapped antenna. Auto-tunes wern't as popular in those days, but the tapped antenna never seemed to fail.

As for "rigging up a bit of wire between a couple of trees" goes, it is a little more complicated than that. However - a company like Codan or Barrett will be able to look at the frequencies installed in your particular radio, and make an antenna for you. These are particular good in the middle of nowhere, and do tend to work better than a tapped antenna.

When looking at HF radios, it might pay to check out & see if a licence is required from ACMA. I know they used to be, but you could get a special one if you only had the emergency RFDS channels installed.

Without wanting to hijack this thread any more than I already have, just wondering if anyone still has any of the old Tracker Scout radios installed & working?

Cheers all....

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Originally Posted by justinc

Hi DB,

I have a Barrett 910 Auto tune antenna that comes with the 2050 unit. (I bought an 'Outback traveller' package from Barrett in WA, it comes complete with whip, auto tune antenna, remote head unit and main unit, full installation kit and is a piece of cake to install.) To answer your Q though, the Barrett auto tune antenna is different to the Codan unit only in the way they operate, to achieve the same result.
I thought of a multi tap aerial, but I like to set the unit on scan sometimes, and I also tune in to local ABC news and regionals from time to time. I can also get Weather reports, both air and shipping, and voice of america, BBC world service, Radio Australia, Radio Beijing, Netherlands, etc etc etc. (The last few with the aid of a wire antenna, tree mounted, at night, atmospherics permitting...)

JC

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ok sorry to hijack the thread here......its only because i'm watching a codan 8525s which is the marine, version i know but the guy assures me it can be used for on land as well....
as well as a codan autotune 8551.

dont really know a great deal so watching blind really the guy has sent me info which has been really helpful.

but looking into the antennas for this unit new looks like we might have to spend upwards of $1000 dont really want to spen that much but its that or a sat phone..either way it looks like we would spend a coupld of grand:eek:......

this is what i'am watching.....

CODAN 8551 ANTENNA-CONTROL UNIT - eBay Accessories, 2-Way Radios, Walkie Talkies, Radio Equipment, Electronics. (end time 08-Jul-08 00:56:41 AEST)

CODAN 8525S SSB HF TRANSCEIVER - eBay 2-Way Radios, 2-Way Radios, Walkie Talkies, Radio Equipment, Electronics. (end time 08-Jul-08 00:40:00 AEST)

any not to technical advice would be greatly appreciated:)

Ahh, I remember Tracker (I was a radio tech a long time ago).

Re long wire antennae, I have an old Codan manual antenna tuner sitting out in my electronics workshop.