Hi All,
Some time ago, in a rash moment, I bought a used HF radio off eBay. I still haven't gotten around to installing it, and am beginning to wonder whether it's worth having for extended Australian East coast cruising.
It is a top of the line model and in excellent condition and being a techo, I'd enjoy playing with it.
So, what do you guys think - is it worth installing it? Even if it's only to get weather reports and have occasional chats to others out there.
By the way, I'm licensed to operate it.
regards to all
allan
You can chat to the other couple of people still using it. You could have had mine for free.....
i dont know about them really but arent they good for open water and the high seas? i thought you could download weather faxes using hf radio.
Not really for East Coast, yes for the Strait and parts of Tasmania but once on the coast VHF works fine.
I can't comment on the Vic and NSW coast, but from my recent experience sailing from Brisbane to the Whitsundays, I'd say no. The VHF coverage has been excellent. Only once did I have trouble logging off with a particular CG station, but the next one up did it for me.
Personally, I can't believe we are still using HF at all. Some days a carrier pigeon would still be better
I will be cruising up the coast in a few weeks, my hf radio will be onboard. I'm registered as a land based hf on a boat ( go figure) mine is so that I can keep track of my 80 year old parents who insist on heading where there is no phone coverage as grey nomads. It's more so they can know I'm ok. I have no marine channels installed though.
You've got it, you like it, you'd likely get stuff all for it. Why not just install it and enjoy tinkering with it. Totally not necessary, but good to play around with, plenty of apps to toy around with weather fax etc.
If I had one sitting there, I'd set it up, just for the hell of it, and I've spent a lot of hours using it at work.
I used to repair and build HF transceivers from 5 W to 1 kW.
HF needs long aerial, backstay with isolators is minimum.
.HF set can transmit on marine channel or radio amateurs,
never both. Aus. law.
. if your HF receiver is all band that's great go for it.
.if not I would not bother, Coast Guard still listening on HF.
I am ex OK1DSM
A good VHF and antenna plus an external 3G/4G antenna will serve you very well. I had surprising good coverage over most of Bass Strait with this setup. In the dead spots, a decent portable SSB HF receiver will also get you the weather forecasts. That should cover pretty much all you need. But like the earlier poster said, having a HF transceiver will give also you plenty of fun tinkering time.
Cheers, Graeme
Slightly off topic sorry, but I was wondering why UHF Radios are not used aboard yachts, I 'm sure their is a good reason just wondering what it is thanks.
Select to expand quoteBruski068 said..
Slightly off topic sorry, but I was wondering why UHF Radios are not used aboard yachts, I 'm sure their is a good reason just wondering what it is thanks.
Shorter range than VHF. Crowded with fishing chatter and others abusing it with open mic etc. Users not required to be licensed, hence no knowledge of proper radio protocols, which is ok for casual use but a problem when life is in danger.
Cheers, Graeme
Select to expand quotewongaga said..Bruski068 said..
Slightly off topic sorry, but I was wondering why UHF Radios are not used aboard yachts, I 'm sure their is a good reason just wondering what it is thanks.
Shorter range than VHF. Crowded with fishing chatter and others abusing it with open mic etc. Users not required to be licensed, hence no knowledge of proper radio protocols, which is ok for casual use but a problem when life is in danger.
Cheers, Graeme
I think you may be thinking of 27 mhz radios wongaga.
Thanks all,
Good feedback, much appreciated.
I've decided to install it and maybe it won't get much use up the East coast - at least inshore anyway.
But I also plan Bass Strait & Tassie circumnavigation, so maybe it'll prove useful for weather forecasts/faxes and the odd voice calls when there's no 3G or VHF communication.
Besides, what else will I do with it 
regards to all
allan
If you are sailing north of Cooktown, HF radio may be the only avenue of communication. VHF is more likely ship to ship than ship to shore in that region.
I believe there is an HF station at Charleville, western Queensland that is active and relays traffic. Google it up.
In 2014-5 I was every weekend with Central QLD Coast Guard, HF set was always ON ,
we never received any communication . I was told by guys serving mid week, it is one every 6 month.
Thats how active is HF on East Coast.
Marine HF unit sold in Aus. have active transmitter on marine frequencies only,
some units are very easy to open for amateur frequencies 80,40,20 meters , you have half of the world.
Thats where fun starts. But you can listen traffic there but transmitting, need at least basic radio amateur licence and elocated VK prefix. I know the drill as a ex OK1DSM.
I saw a Codan marine HF for sale on Ebay so checked into whether its worth having one.
If you are in distress and want AMSAR to hear your call for help it is. They monitor many HF frequencies around Australia.
If you want other vessels, tankers, cruise ships, freighters and yachts to hear you on 2182 etc when you are in distress its worth having one. Many many monitor 2182 while at sea. In the past we always did.
So I bought it.
Its true the HF frequencies seem silent but people listening dont make a noise. Like Charriot said HF radios need a good antenna. I bought an automatic tuning unit also on Ebay so I can use the backstay as an antenna.
See here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2182_kHz
2182 has always been the distress frequency and I see no reason it will change. Even if you do not have a license and you need to transmit a mayday you will not be prosecuted. I agree with Trek that there are plenty of people listening. If you have it then use it. There has been a fair bit of criticism in the "Afloat" magazine recently about the poor handling of HF by the rescue associations and the maintenance of aerials etc but if it comes to the crunch I would suggest using both VHF and HF in a distress situation.
Select to expand quoteTrek said..
I saw a Codan marine HF for sale on Ebay so checked into whether its worth having one.
If you are in distress and want AMSAR to hear your call for help it is. They monitor many HF frequencies around Australia.
If you want other vessels, tankers, cruise ships, freighters and yachts to hear you on 2182 etc when you are in distress its worth having one. Many many monitor 2182 while at sea. In the past we always did.
So I bought it.
Its true the HF frequencies seem silent but people listening dont make a noise. Like Charriot said HF radios need a good antenna. I bought an automatic tuning unit also on Ebay so I can use the backstay as an antenna.
See here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2182_kHz
.....well, at least I'll be able to talk to you Trek - that is if we both have the units installed and running...
Having the HF on and listening to the rotating weather reports (details here; www.bom.gov.au/marine/radio-sat/voice-services.shtml ) is good background noise. 8176 gives me the best day/night reception up and down the east coast.
I also have a Codan HF and last cruise, 2014, I don't think I even turned it on. What I really liked was getting the phone in a sailbag and pulling it up the mast in certain places, and then using it as a wifi hub for the computer. Then I would get the Meteye forecasts for the next few days and play the animation for the next few days. Got texts and emails as well.
I would record the screen as this happened. This allowed me to check out what the weather was supposed to be doing up to 3 days after losing reception.
I don't log on to coast stations so the HF doesn't add much for coastal sailing. Heading offshore is a different matter but many ships that you want to talk to will probably have DSC HF. There are ocean marine nets that use HF and I certainly won't be binning mine any time soon. That being said, when I replaced the rigging I did not spring the extra $600 for the insulators, I will just send up a wire instead when needed.
I would put any money for a radio into DSC calling. It may be better to call any ships you see on your AIS with DSC. Also you can leave it on. I must confess I can't stand leaving the VHF on
and always turn it off at anchor and sometimes when sailing. With DSC I should be able to leave it on more of the time and not listen to inane chatter - "How much fish did you bag mate" sometimes even on channel 16.
cheers
Phil
The reason I was looking on Ebay and bought the old Codan - on a friends boat, night time, half way between Broken Bay and Port Stephens a couple of months back - no mobile phone coverage - called Marine Rescue on VHF multiple times - no reply - out of range.
Called for a radio check on 2524 - immediate answer. HF no use for coastal cruising? I dont think so, some waffle happening from obviously armchair sailors in this thread 
I think Kankama is right about DSC my next step up will be to get a radio with that, but too expensive right now. And Datawiz I will call you and talk to you with my useless HF radio
I think your comments are a bit harsh there Trek. I think most people here are speaking from their own experience. If your experience is different then great.
I think FreeRadicals post is the best. If you have it and it makes you feel better fitting one then fit it. No harm...
Select to expand quoteToph said..
I think your comments are a bit harsh there Trek. I think most people here are speaking from their own experience. If your experience is different then great.
I think FreeRadicals post is the best. If you have it and it makes you feel better fitting one then fit it. No harm...
You're right Toph I was a bit hard. The point I tried to make is to not carry HF at sea is similar to "lets not take our flares onboard we've never used them"!
Let us just agree that an HF Radio is not essential equipment if one is coastal cruising between Melbourne and Cairns. 
Between Port Stephens and Broken Bay you have MR Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Norah Head and Terrigal. Even with an anemic VHF one would think that you should have been able to pick up one of these units. I would be checking your friends VHF if you could see the coast as the VHF should be at least line of sight and should pick up one of these guys easily. IIRC MR Broken Bay are really hard to get on VHF because Broken Bay is down in Mona Vale with lots of hills to get in the way, and Cape Three Points too.
For those who like the HF, the glory days are gone. I remember waiting in line for my chance to log on to Dereck and Jeanine Barnard's Penta Comstat log in the early 1990s. A great way to keep in touch and get forecasts before mobiles. Had a bit of a family feel to it. Then we all just slowly shifted to texts and mobiles. Must have been easier as we all still had HFs.
Without labouring the point, its easy to be out of range with MR. Also Im not sure they all monitor VHF 24 hours, when I was there they didn't.
The CYC Sydney to Gold Coast race require boats to carry HF as mandatory. That covers a large stretch of the east coast.
CAT 1 & 2 races require HF under YA regs, but if you look at the Rules for this years Brisbane to Gladstone, there was a change that allows HF or Satphone. Brisbane to Keppel requires a hard-wired satphone as well as HF.
I have no doubt, HF requirements for CAT 1/2 races will eventually be dropped in favour of satphones.
Sat Phones are easily misplaced during a panic or emergency and just as easily lost overboard. Not to mention I cant afford one. And I already have a HF.
The disadvantage of HF to some offshore racers is in races like the Sydney Hobart is that yacht positions are broadcast!
