HF Radio guide for beginners

#subscribe #HFradio #howtoguide
What's a revertive? How does a selcal work? I need HF Radio help?.....Sound Familiar?
When I first looked at getting & even when I first got my HF Radio, I really didn't know a great deal about them, so this is for all the HF Radio newbies or beginners.....it is an idiots guide, runs you through the basics & shows you it isn't a big scary thing.
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Happy, Safe Adventuring - Cheers Graham.

[@DNL1200GSA]

Well - one of the most comprehensive and well explained overviews I’ve seen. Great vid mate, thanks for making such a huge effort to produce.

[@4west7]

What a fantastic video Graham! Really informative, I loved every minute of it 👍👍👍

[@squeek5810]

Great review 👏 thank you.

[@johnclayton5386]

A great video well explained and covers every thing in a way that most should understand plus this provider provides all the good stuff at a price that's affordable well below the money that 737 asks for the same service. I have been following you on youtube before seeing this, May hear you on the band one day safe travels. Cheers John 2512

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Will keep an ear out for you as well John

[@thes764]

Thanks for introducing me to that HF service, really interesting to see how the HF frequency range is used half way around the globe. Quite impressive how they made the tech relatively easy and document it such that none-tech people can put it to use. Greetings from a German amateur radio nerd.

[@JosephVE3GKT]

Fantastic video! I'm an active ham but do not know much about unlicensed services on the HF spectrum. This video was a great explainer. The system you have seems extremely effective for your needs and quite easy to use. Most of the ham rigs require a separate computer for any sort of digital communications, it's really cool to see a rig with integrated features. 73 de VE3GKT

[@joeglennaz]

Hello from Phoenix, Arizona USA. This is the best video on ham I have ever seen in my life. I’ve been interested in this for years and have not gotten my license because it seems so complicated. Whenever I watch a video on it, even a “beginner“ they start jumping in all kinds of complicated frequencies and gibberish I can’t understand. Your video was so concise and clear starting with the outside of the car in the antenna how everything was connected even and then you showed us your network and keeping a notebook is exactly what I would do, and now you’re showing us actual use of the radio. I haven’t completed the video yet but I’m looking forward to the rest of it. I just needed to stop and thank you.

[@vijfsnippervijf]

This is not Ham radio. I've read a lot on Ham radio, but that's a completely non-commercial service not allowed to have any connections to the PSTN. The Australian HF system is a commercial system with proper base stations that are connected to the Internet and may have a connection to PSTN.

[@philcarr7969]

As the other reply says, this is not CB, and NOT ham radio. That is a hobby (albeit with emergency possibilities), and very much a subset of the 2-30MHz (and other frequencies) radios used here. It's very much an Australian thing, though I believe Canada and Alaska have similar setups. For US Ham info, have a look at the ARRL site, technician licence.

[@PaulvandenBraak]

Thanks mate this was really helpful

[@davekiernan1]

Good video mate, thanks.

[@Colin_In_VK]

Great video :-)

[@jjsadv]

I've always been into radio from being a kid, and love what HF can do in an emergency, (ie others who are close) but Sat comms (phone, inreach etc) is so much easier for txt, general phone calls, data etc But this is one of the only and best HF clips I have seen on YT for newbie travelers.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

For the simple person - yeah I think satphones are best.....but HF has proven to be a super reliable tool for us, latest trip has proven that....big one is, can’t use a sat phone whilst driving, need to be stationary and pointed east....HF, no dramas 👌🏻.

[@jjsadv]

@@great_offroad_adventures better not tell my phone that, it might go on strike and refuse to work while moving.. 🤫. mine has a mag base button antenna especially to use wile moving. If you don’t want to hang you head out the window.. Mine you don’t have to be pointed in any direction.. just pull it out and make a call.. you limitation sound like the Thuraya system.. Yeh, they system does have limitations. But it’s cheap.. The only advantage HF has is you can get help that maybe closer.. that’s about it, and it’s fun to use.. the few times I have had a real emergency, remote motor bike accidents, the sat phone was excellent, rang the police, rang RFDS, rang loved ones..

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yeah I’ve got a satphone antenna and cradle sitting in the shed....it’s just something else to add to the puzzle IMO

[@ozkite]

great video & info Graham. Yep HF can be useful but possibly people need to be aware that in a vehicle accident/emergency the HF is very likely to be disabled (antenna damage/vehicle damage) so if you 'need' a HF then you should more importantly also carry a portable satphone. I guess many carry a plb with GPS as final/full safety coverage (a must have/last resort item item) but they can only send message for life threatening emergencies so a portable satphone and to limited extent HF do have valid use cases.

[@Hebdomad7]

More people who go off road should get their Amateur Radio Licence. By getting an Amateur Radio Licence, you'll get access to more bands and the training to operate it.

[@RA-II]

Great video, your auto turn antenna is over thousand dollars

[@jonimiller1954]

I would move that antenna. Being so close to the jack, body etc would reduce its efficiency heaps. The black section is actually a large loading coil, that needs to be in the clear as much as possible. Great vid. John VK2ZJJ

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Cheers for the advice John....its a trade off at the end of the day, commonrail diesels make alot of noise so front mounted isnt great, plus its exposed to damage in animal strikes etc.....which leaves roof or rear mounted, roof isn't great because we'd need another ATU like a Codan 3040 and also because we also have a rooftop tent we use which takes up all the roof space which left the rear as the only option....i understand it "could" perform better, but it's actually always worked fine for us in the 2 years we have had it....so I'm not going to rush out to move it.

[@BBQCrasher]

Very awesome demonstration. A Garmin in reach can be much more simple and is portable when under foot.

[@philcarr7969]

Yes, but totally depends on satellites. HF doesn't and is stand alone.

[@NToombes]

Any idea on the actual discreet frequencies in use?

[@alvarogaitan2529]

great station 73 from kb2uew

[@benrothacker7463]

Just out of curiosity where did you get the photo of all the radios in the Ford ranger at 4:25? That’s my rig, if you want any more photos of it let me know 👍

[@docpearson]

Somehow I missed which specific antenna you were using

[@wilcovanamersfoort6744]

I went through your video again as I was looking for how someone can send us a text message. Can that be done through their Out-N-About app?

[@nathanroberts355]

I would used a codan 8360 hf radio and ssb transceiver

[@andreweather965]

Hey mate where did u buy your set up from ?

[@kevincox1816]

Enjoyed you video. Just a point of clarification. On your section on a HELP call you say once you have received acknowledgment of your HELP to stay on channel. On the Austravel “how to” videos for the Barrett 2050 for a HELP call it is stressed to turn on scan after HELP acknowledgement as response may come on different channel. Can you clarify?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

I can’t clarify - we would need to ask Austravel to clarify….my understanding was that the text message that the Austravel responder receives includes base, channel & location (if GPS enabled) and their protocol is to access that base and use that channel to attempt to contact you first and for most. The problem I see with going back to scan immediately is that in the case of my Codan NGT it diverts automatically to Selcall Scan and so a voice call will not be heard….for the less proficient travels that’s another step they need to remember in the middle of an emergency….that being said by being on Selcall Scan another radio or base can Selcall you on any channel to make intial contact before then establishing voice communication. Sorry I couldn’t answer you question in more detail.

[@dougharding8535]

hi graham did you need to fit earth straps to body , muffler etc just installed envoy in my 200 good video

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yes and No….mines wired off my aux battery, and everything is earthed to the chassis at the rear and in the engine bay I have a shunt wired in which is earthed to the chassis and body, so it’s probably more efficient than stock, but it’s hard to gauge how much more.

[@robertlaurence8210]

Jus cn ya 40km sth karratha, I was roadtraining nrth bound, jus after those 3 lots of 6m loads went pass ya. Hava gr8 dy

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Cheers mate - did u call us up on the UHF?

[@wilcovanamersfoort6744]

Thanks for the video, it might be old but still relevant. Can you talk between members of another radio club, say VKS to Austravel?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

If you have common frequencies (channels) yes - but if you only have the freqs assigned to your network & vice versa then no you can’t. If you complete your amateur radio operator’s certificate then you’ll be able to access all frequencies & then can talk across networks.

[@wilcovanamersfoort6744]

@@great_offroad_adventures Thanks for your reply. I just got myself a NGT and going to install it. Your video is very helpfull.

[@tanzanos]

I am flummoxed. Our HF base station is transmitting to all our camps with a perfect signal but it does not receive. We tried another radio and same problem. Technicians say it is the antenna but how can the antenna be transmitting perfectly if it is at fault? This antenna and radio was working fine last year. We are a safari company in Tanzania.

[@great_offroad_adventures]

It may well be receiving but you have local noise which is over powering the incoming signal. Generators, grinders, fridges….anything with an electric motor can generate a lot of HF interference which sounds like white noise and if it’s more powerful than the incoming signal, than that’s all you’ll hear.

[@LVNITUPM8]

Hey mate hope you guys are safe in your travels. Quick question am about to embark on either sat phone or hf radio. My question is where did you get all the gear from as I have looked around but it's all just confusing and all websites are different. We are also based in perth so even if its a shop you went to a point in the right direction would be appreciated, cheers mate

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Hey mate. I had dealings with Allcom in Belmont and would recommend them without issue, would also recommend Netwest in East Perth....they were the ones who setup the GPS and programming in my HF Radio. Hope that helps you out

[@LVNITUPM8]

@@great_offroad_adventures awesome, thanks so much for the info, highly appreciated it

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Anytime, hope to see you on the network at some point and will have a chat 👌🏻

[@danielsykes2847]

Colin and the team at Netwest are great, he set up my Conan and has been jumping on the phone to help with any questions. They also have full refurbished NGT’s ready to go 👍👍

[@neilbeeson1406]

@@great_offroad_adventures Netwest are also Austravel members

[@rayarmstrong5374]

Hi Graham Watch all your videos Great work very informative Love you travel series What type of shower cube do you have and do you rate it Cheers Ray

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Cheers Ray, appreciate the support. We use the Quickpitch shower cube, proving itself again on our currently trip.

[@rayarmstrong5374]

@@great_offroad_adventures Thanks Graham

[@jamieh4x4]

Interesting, would have been a good bit of kit back in the olden days. I'm considering Starlink Roam for $174/month for when I'm out of mobile phone reception. Starlink looks idiot proof compared to HF Radio :)

[@R00RAL]

Difference is, Pilots, Police, Paramedics use HF.

[@WogChilli]

Can you use other radios like the yaesu's/icom?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Yeah provided they are on the HF spectrum they are all interoperable with each other.

[@morsecodelowl3603]

I would think that if u were calling on the radio and a phone camera sees you, you're fined

[@Arcton-nv9cr]

Explain this to a G3 in the UK, cut a piece of wire (full wave 1/2 wave ) and work the band

[@great_offroad_adventures]

Hahaha - yeah you’ve lost me, I’ll put it to my HAM buddy and see what he says.

[@sergeyraduga1854]

Так держать Брат Американец!!!!

[@Tech-NO-City]

Isnt that radio like $4000+ thats not really obtainable by most people :(

[@moosey2721]

Cant you use it without a license?

[@great_offroad_adventures]

No, but licence is a weird term, if your a member of a network, your permitted to use the channels or frequencies owned by that network (nothing else), you can be a member of multiple networks which increases your channels/ frequencies….if you want access to all frequencies then you need your amateur radio licence & that’s where the term licence comes from….but it’s not just a radio you can buy and hop onto, & for good reason, due to the frequency & transmission power. Got to remember the HF radio is transmitting at 100W which is 20x time the strength of a UHF and so it goes a long distance, before you even take into account the bounce or skip of the radio wave off the atmosphere…if their were cowboys everyone on the HF Frequencies talking crap like on UHF’s it would completely clog the frequencies due to the transmission strength & distance. Which would mean in an emergency, you wouldn’t be able to use the radio to call for help.

[@skepticsr_us]

​@@great_offroad_adventures Actually, ham radio operators, depending on their licence and where they live, can use UP TO 100 watts and even a full kilowatt but the rule is this, and it's always one of the questions in the exam: How much power can you use? You are allowed to use the NECESSARY power required for communication. If 5 watts, or even less, is good enough, this is what you should use, assuming your equipment gives you that kind of control. This minimizes the interference issues and allows more people to use the very limited amount of spectrum available.

[@emmanuelisinonte9973]

How much do you sale

[@great_offroad_adventures]

$300K, including a free fuel issue 👌🏻