Thread: HF Radio - Which one and why

Geez Bytemrk,
I have been watching this thread with interest but no replies yet .
I like the Codan and have an 8528 myself - haven't used it much yet. So can't really report much. - I got it cheap from the old man
I guess you have covered the two main options. I have never heard anyone complain about either the barret or codan (bit of a holden/ford of HF radios!)
I would have thought the early codans/barrets will be around the $1000 mark - maybe spend a few bucks having an expert give it the once over and you are set! Either would do IMHO.

some links and info here I hope, my experence
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/communicat...-hf-radio.html
cheers
blaze

I have an 8528 and it's been a good thing so far.

G'Day Mark.
I also purchased a Barrrett 250 from David (details in linked thread) in Brisbane. Has worked very well, once I earthed the Antenna properly ; ))
With top quality fuse and wiring +Bushmaster multitap whip (also from David) price was ~$1100 self fit of course.
The best bit was my mate who offered to go halves when I was talking about it. He will be using it on his Cape trip shortly.
We had reasonable comms in Kakadu (though kakadu comms aren't so great) great in Alice, good in the Southern states and good in Bris on our trip.
The 250 is old enough to be reasonably priced but with many modern features including telcall and Cellcall and RFDS Alarm if required
Hope this helps.
Dave.

Originally Posted by Bytemrk

Hi,

I am considering buying and HF radio, but my budget is tight (sub $1000)

I've thought for a long time I would eventually buy one. As I am currently planning an 8500 km outback trip later in the year, the timing just seems right.

I've read all the threads I can find on this forum and others, and at this point I am looking at something like a Codan 8525B or maybe 8528 or possibly a similar vintage Barrett and a tapped antenna.

My primary use is for emergency contact - so really only thinking of RFDS, VKS737 and probably the ABC, BBC listen only stuff.

That said - I do like gadgets and would be interested one day in investigating more in the ham radio world.

Has anyone got any suggestions on why I should or should not choose a particular system (within my budget)?


I'd appreciate any help getting the best system I can - for as little outlay as possible.

Mark

ours is an 8525B.....last big tip ...the Kimberley's last year it didn't work properly so when we came back we had it looked at and sure they said it is getting old and a lot of parts weren't readily available to replace bits .....they did what they could to keep it working ..it was a cheapish (HF speak) system with the multi tap and radio but I think you would be much better paying a little bit more for a newer model.....my thoughts only


Mrs ho har

I've got an 8528 and it's been good so far. I used to have an old 6924 lunchbox set, but it died from lack of use I'm told, capacitors etc dried out don't know how true that is.

As a result I turn the 8528 on when ever I take the defender for a run (not that you hear much around Sydney).

I'd say best bet might be to look for something between 8528 vintage and whatever is around now (and I don't know what that would be )



Martyn

Keep in mind that if you buy an HF rig of that vintage you will not have a guarantee of reliability. If, as you say, the primary use is emergency then you are much better off with a satphone. Up North the Thuraya phones give good coverage and allow you to contact anyone in emergency regardless of ionospheric conditions.

If you get the subsidy a Thuraya with SIM and one years subscription including about 100 minutes calls will set you back around $800. It will SMS to/from Optus with instant response for about 30cents from the Optus phone and about $1 from the Thuraya. It will not SMS to/from Telstra phones - don't know about the others but guess Vodafone will be OK as they use the Optus network I believe. As an aside I understand the opposite is true of the Iridium - it will SMS to/from Telstra but not Optus.

Also if you have a stack the 8528 or whatever may well be out of use - car battery dead, antenna unit crushed in rollover, whatever. Put the Thuraya in a Pelican case or similar and when you dust yourself off it (and hopefully you) will be ready for use. Prior to the trip, your travelling partners will have little trouble learning how to use the Thuraya if they have ever used a mobile phone.

If you are going into amateur radio later the 8528 and similar are a big limitation. As a ham I know that you will want a rig that allows you to tune the bands easily and that is not a feature of the commercial radios.

Finally, if you want to listen to shortwave then you are better off with a portable radio which you can then use when you are sitting in your camp at night without running the rig in the car.

That's my view. I am a ham, have a QMAC in the Defender, had an 8528 in my Troopie, have had many ham and military HF sets and have the Thuraya. Will now sell the QMAC and put a military set in the Defender for ham use.

Hope this helps.

Howard

Originally Posted by Bytemrk

Hi,

I am considering buying and HF radio, but my budget is tight (sub $1000)

<snip>

My primary use is for emergency contact - so really only thinking of RFDS, VKS737 and probably the ABC, BBC listen only stuff.

<snip>

I'd appreciate any help getting the best system I can - for as little outlay as possible.

Mark

Mark

Why don't you contact Jeff Sparks from the LROCV (your club), he is often helping out Cub members setting up vehicles with HF and at times he even has sets available.

Jeff is also one of the ops on VKS737.

BTW - VKS737 can offer you all the services you need, even interconnection to RFDS in an emergency and with a telcall enabled set they now do telephone interconnection. For telcall you would need an 8528 Codan as a minimum, sorry I don't talk Barrett so can not advise on that brand.

Diana