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Thread: HF radio advise please

  1. 17th November 2009, 10:07 AM #1
    Sith Guest

    HF radio advise please

    Greetings to all !

    I am wanting to install a HF unit for longer outback travel . I have been advised to get a CODAN 9323 with Auto tune ... then I get told they have voice modulation problems and I would be better off getting a Barrett 950 with Auto tune ... then the next guy says Barrett are to far behind the 8 ball

    The prices are all the in the same ball park , but the sales guys are mainly just interested in running each other down and the other products .

    So any 1st hand advise would be great thanks
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  2. 17th November 2009, 10:30 AM #2
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    Nothing wrong with either model. so far as I Know.

    Nor is behind behind the 8 ball a problem in HF. The older simpler sets do exactly the same job.

    HF is not as easy as a mobile phone. It takes a bit of research & practice to get the best out of it.

    I run a Barrett 250 - well before the 950. And the 9323 is also a superceded model. Coden did release a new style - NGT? - which allegedly caused a few problems. Mainly at the user end, i.e. not understanding what the radio was doing behind the scenes.

    Stick with a model you tune yourself.

    For that matter, you don't need an autotune antenna. The self-tapping antennas are more efficient and more robust. Disadvantage is that you have to get out of the car to change channels. But in practice that's no big deal, you'll end up on one channel most of the time.

    There are a lot of autotunes that don't move off VKS737 Channel 2

    Regards
    Max P
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  3. 17th November 2009, 01:23 PM #3
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    Both are fine.

    The arguments between them, are a bit like Holden vs. Ford.
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  4. 17th November 2009, 01:25 PM #4
    Sith Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Sleepy View Post
    Both are fine.

    The arguments between them, are a bit like Holden vs. Ford.

    Ok so which is the Ford ? Cause I dont want a second rate Holden in my dash
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  5. 20th November 2009, 07:19 AM #5
    scott oz Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Sith View Post
    Ok so which is the Ford ? Cause I dont want a second rate Holden in my dash
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  6. 20th November 2009, 12:01 PM #6
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    we have a codan 8525B with multi-tap antenna...has served us well for the last 6 years..

    in saying that we are going to purchase a second hand 9323 with auto-tune as the 8525 is getting less reliable because of it's age..over 20 years old..as parts are becoming hard to source

    most people we know carry both antennas and change them depending on their location

    we are in VKS-737 radio network and can say we rarely have change off channel 2

    hope this helps


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  7. 22nd November 2009, 10:46 PM #7
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    If you haven't bought the auto tune yet you could consider getting one like the SGC tuners. I have an SGC237 mounted under the front mudguard and a 9ft stainless steel whip antenna mounted on the guard. This works well and will work with any transceiver.

    Attached are a couple of photos.

    Howard
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  8. 23rd November 2009, 01:09 AM #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sith View Post
    Ok so which is the Ford ? Cause I dont want a second rate Holden in my dash
    Well then you best be getting the Barret, cause I have a Codan and that must be the Holden.
    Thought you liked Toranas

    Either are good, Codans are probablly a little more prominent and common.
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  9. 23rd November 2009, 04:25 PM #9
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    SGC237

    Hi Howard,
    I have a codan 8528-would this tuner work with it?Are they difficult to hook up?Where to buy and approx what cost'did a google so sorta know what they look like.Am using tapped whip at the moment but would like an auto tuner.Thanks,
    Mary

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  10. 23rd November 2009, 05:27 PM #10
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    Hi Mary,

    These tuners will work with any transceiver. They do not need to talk to the transceiver with any special circuitry as they sense the RF being sent when you press transmit and tune to it.

    You have to connect the antenna lead from the transceiver (in your case the 8528) to the tuner and you have to supply 12v to the tuner. They come with a cable that has the antenna and power leads all in one. If there is a switched 12V connection at the back of the transceiver you can get the power from there (need to check if it can supply enough power).

    From the tuner you connect straight to your whip antenna using the shortest possible cable to connect the two together. I have used the same ICOM Stainless Steel whip and base as in the photos with my earlier post for about 20 years, moving it from car to car (Land Cruiser troopie, Jeep Wrangler and now the Defender). They are dear but last forever.

    You can also connect it to a long wire for better signals if you are parked (I carry a long wire with an alligator clip connected to one end and a piece of rope tied to the other. Clip the alligator clip to the top of the whip antenna and throw the rope over a tree then you have a long wire antenna that the tuner will work with - this gives much better performance).

    The only trap is to use something suitable (not ordinary insulated wire) from the tuner to the antenna base. If you use ordinary insulated wire it will arc to the car body. The best solution is to get a length of RG8 coaxial cable and remove the outer insulation and the shield. The inner insulation with a copper wire running through it is perfect for your connection between tuner and antenna base.

    If you go to the SGC web site you can download the handbook for the SG-237 and it gives you all the info you need. You will see that if you are a bit handy there are some other features you can wire up but they are not necessary.

    Probably the best way to buy one is to buy it direct from SGC in the USA. The way the dollar is at present you will get a very good price! If you do not wish to do that (and I have bought two that way without any problems) you can email them to find out if they have a dealer in Australia. The web site will show you the current price.

    Howard

    PS I used mine on an ICOM IC725, a Codan 8528, an Alinco and a QMAC HF-90. I believe the earlier SG-230 was re-badged by Codan and supplied for use with their sets at one stage.

    Howard

    Quote Originally Posted by malleefowl View Post
    Hi Howard,
    I have a codan 8528-would this tuner work with it?Are they difficult to hook up?Where to buy and approx what cost'did a google so sorta know what they look like.Am using tapped whip at the moment but would like an auto tuner.Thanks,
    Mary
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