Advocate II
- 2,315
- First Name
- Randall
- Last Name
- Treloyn
- Member #
-
5615
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- VK7VWK
G'day,
I finally completed installing my HF Land Mobile Outpost radio on my rig after six years.
The antenna tuning column is a bit ungainly, but I've made it so that I can easily disconnect and store it elsewhere when not in use. Typically it would mount on a bull bar, but I intend Overlanding in a location where that is not permitted for my vehicle, so I've looked for an alternative.
HF Outpost radio is used in Australia for long-range communication in the outback. It uses defined channels between 2Mhz and 15MHz and is separate from Amateur (HAM) radio bands. Its original purpose was to contact the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), which it still does and remote schooling via the School of the Air (SOTA), not so much nowadays.
I currently subscribe to the VKS-737 radio network, which offers 24-hour assistance, subject to radio propagation.
My radio is more than 30 years old. It is challenging to reprogram, with most attempts ending with fried EPROMS. It still works as it should, although I'm casually looking for a newer model that I can use in the HAM bands.
The Barrett 550R is 40W AM (potentially because I can't legally transmit in AM on those bands) and 125W PEP on SSB. The unit is "Type Approved", with licencing being either from a commercial reseller (VKS-737) or direct to the RFDS but with restrictions as far as location (you need to be in the outback).
The antenna is similar to a "screwdriver" antenna, except instead of having a motor arrangement uses relays and fixed coils. It is relatively light as the casing is made of plastic. It autotunes on transmit or if I press the "TUNE" button on the radio.
The radio provides an extra way of communication with the outside world should I need it. It should get plenty of use as I intend to spend much more time in the remoter areas in 2023.
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