Thread: HF radio.......i have nearly decided

I have visions of you tapping the radio to get it to work...

I've got the Barrett 250, quite happy with it. Does the job quite nicely.

VKS 737 is virtually essential.

I've got a manual tap aerial too. It basically stays on the main VKS Channel, And I suspect so do a lot of autotune aerials btw.

Regards
Max P

We have the 8528 as well...though the microphone is broken ATM taking in to have it looked at again...(that was the prob at xmas in July weekend)


Mrs ho har

Originally Posted by Tusker

VKS 737 is virtually essential.

I've got a manual tap aerial too. It basically stays on the main VKS Channel, And I suspect so do a lot of autotune aerials btw.

Regards
Max P

yes i was deciding between VKS and the HF Club VKA? is it

David talked me out of an autotunes once i indicated i was going with VKS as he said i owuld be on the main channel 99% of the time

Originally Posted by The ho har's

We have the 8528 as well...

when i book in for some training

We have travelled with an 8528 Codan & autotune aerial for many years and have been very satisfied with the reception received in some really remote areas...(ie can talk & receive to Sydney from North East Arnhemland - very clear).

Hope this helps.

Weeds,

I have an 8528 with tapped whip. I'm pretty new to it but will be using it in the next few weeks throughout the centre.

They are certainly a good thing....

Cheers, Mark

Autotune aerial is much more flexible, especially if you want radio australia, weather etc as well.

HF radios have their place - but just remember - they don't work so well at night, as they bounce the radio wave off the ionosphere. Just something to bear in mind if it is for emergency comms.

Originally Posted by CraigE

Autotune aerial is much more flexible, especially if you want radio australia, weather etc as well.

I prefer an autotune, but I doubt they are necessary for receive only. I never tune my autotune to the receive frequency when listening to the likes of Radio Australia, or when only listening/scanning VKS737 frequencies.

My autotune antenna (and AFAIK, all others), does not automatically tune itself when a different frequency is selected on the radio. A tune button on the radio must be pressed after the frequency is selected, only then does the autotune do its stuff to match the impedance.

It is essential to tune it to match the impedance before transmitting though.

Originally Posted by Scallops

HF radios have their place - but just remember - they don't work so well at night, as they bounce the radio wave off the ionosphere. Just something to bear in mind if it is for emergency comms.

Skip from the ionosphere is only one means that HF radio signals are transmitted.

The ionosphere is up there day or night, but it's height changes throughout the day, which affects where your signal will be received (or not received), and is the reason why it is necessary to change frequency.

John, VKS-737 Mobile 4971