Thread: VKS 737......OR....... VKE 237

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.

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

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

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

Originally Posted by The ho har's

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.

Originally Posted by jik22

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

Originally Posted by The ho har's

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?

Originally Posted by jik22

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

Originally Posted by The ho har's

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....