Thread: Chasing a cheap HF radio

Depends how you define cheap. 8525's are quite common on eBay for the $4-500 mark. I just missed an 8528 with full freetune option which went with the older 8551 autotune for $820.

There's a Barrett 250 on there at the moment as well. Same sort of money. Worth giving ther seller a call off of eBay, as the prices he quoted me direct seem a little less than the eBay ones. He usually has tapped whips too.

Otherwise cheapest whip I know is from FAMPARC in Vic. I bought the 13 band one to do amateur as well, which might be overkill for your needs. Don't really need it now I've got the Autotune, but it'll make a good spare.

It depends on what you want. I bought an old Wagner unit from the guy who was down at Cooma - Wayne from Bluepower. His number is 0428 236017. He gets units all the time and does them up. I would give him a call and see what he can do for you.

It is an old unit but with the VKS737 channels 5455 and 8022 it did the job well on the recent Madigan Line trip we did.

It cost me $400 with a multi-tap antennea. There are HFs on ebay all the time so you should get one at the right price.

Thank guys
I rung David in queensland (ebay seller) and have purchased a remote head coden with a multitap aerial delivered to tassie for $1095. The coden was $650, multitap $300, spring aerial base $35 + freight. Seems a great guy to talk to, offered a lot of advice and help
cheers
blaze

Originally Posted by bblaze

Seems a great guy to talk to, offered a lot of advice and help
cheers
blaze

Yeah, I found him very helpful when I spoke to him. What Codan did you get for $600?

Originally Posted by jik22

Yeah, I found him very helpful when I spoke to him. What Codan did you get for $600?

codan 8525 (hope Thats the right number), David said he wont have the remote head until next week. He had cheaper options but sugest one with celcal (?) as the better option. He seems an honest bloke and I told him it would only get used at most a couple of times a year, I was sort of angling at one time toward a auto tune but he talked me out of that.
Now just have to join VKS (seem to have the biggest network)
cheers
blaze

yep i have been talking to david as well......pretty sure i will go the barrett 250

i'm leaning toward joing the hf radio club, will see after i sit in on a sked

You must be talking about "unkerdunk" on ebay. Yes, I've dealt with him a few times and he's been a wonderful help.

I've got an old 90s Codan X2. It's just a simple little thing with three switches and three knobs. With a FAMPARC tapped whip it's been fine. I joined VKS-737 and that's been great, too.

I'm hooked on the whole radio thing so of course now I want a brand-new one! Typical!

Originally Posted by weeds

yep i have been talking to david as well......pretty sure i will go the barrett 250

i'm leaning toward joing the hf radio club, will see after i sit in on a sked

Hi Weeds
David told me that the Radio club was more a cavaran type thing with lots of friendly chatter. There web site dosnt seem to have much info on base station etc, not sure of the coverage you would get. Be good if you posted your thoughts after sitting in on a sked.
cheers
blaze