Thread: Using ICOM type all mode HF transceivers in Australia?

Amateur transceivers such as the Icom are illegal to use on the VKS network. You must use a commercial radio such as the Codan, Barret or similar, however I believe the law states that in an emergency you can use any means of communication available.
From experience I can say that there is no way to tell what radio the people on the other end are using. The licence application asks you the make and model of radio you are using.

I have a Kenwood TS50s that can transmit and receive on the VKS network if I want to do that. I am not into idle chat and the radio is there for emergency use only. I do find it interesting listening in on where people are travelling on the daily skeds though.

These questions always spark keen interest and many opinions and the sets like Icom 706MKIIG are not illegal and is more about the operator being appropriately licensed to drive these radios to their full potential. The majority of amateur gear comes into the respective counties with restrictions imposed for ham bands only so then unlicensed and opening up full transmit sparks further interest and debate and how can you use one without a call sign anyway?

The other negative is no sell call and a bit of work is required to hook sell call up.

Don't get me wrong as I would recommend the Icom 706 or in my case the Yaesu FT857D as the two main contenders for your 4WD. And then why would you not go for a ham call anyway as morse code is no longer and only approx 57 dollars a year for the licence. Each radio has slight differences i.e. yaesu has low receive draw and that Icom well its just a hoot of a radio with large screen etc.

The other negative I had and having both Codan and amateur was the difference in quality and build type (ham gear is open chassis and number of fans cooling so bull dust is a nightmare on these rigs). I did a few desert runs years ago and my HF TS450 developed a fault and when the repair came in, I got into serious trouble due to all the ingress of bull dust and the like!!! Oops and this is where the expensive Codan comes in and that will be the best advice for you, where are you going with it.

And if you go the Icom, then have a crack at the ham licence as they can go hand in hand as well. I guess the above will give you an idea why VKS737 does not recognise these rigs and its the same reason why I will not talk to a non licensed person on our ham bands.

Whatever you choose if you have one license and sell call box, will be glad to assist or point you in the right direction with the setup and Icom's go well with codan autotune antennas as well.

The real disappointment with these radios is they all stop at 470MHz which stops the benefit of a UHF CB in one. The Icom 208H, my other radio does do 477 which was a surprise so bought this one and a nice bit of kit as well.

Regards

Geoff
VK4CM (thought I better disclose this time)

Make and type of radio you can use for organisations such as VKS737, Flying Doctor etc. is determined by the ACMA and there are only four brands recognised. None of the "amateur models" are recognised. Any radio can be used in an emergency though.

Suggest you read some of the MANY threads in this site about this subject.

Also... while it is very easy (tyoically a weekend course) to obtain an Amateur Foundation licence that will only allow you to use low power (10Watts). To use similar power to a recognised brand of radio for VKS737 etc., (around 100Watts) you need the Amateur Standard or Advanced licence which is much harder to get if you do not have any sort of electricel or electronic background.

Mike