Radios to suit VKS-737

Get a NGT Codan, much better. :) LOL

Arrrggh would I like one of them

www.icom.net.au/2000_web/index2.html

If you really want the Icom, then I would mate it with the Codan 9350 antenna. I have had both Barrett and Codan and IMHO the Codan is a better antenna. The AT 230 is similar to the old Moonraker antenna that was originally sold with the early 8525 Codans and mine was nothing but trouble. There may be a little fiddling around to get these antennas to work with the Icom, but from memory, I think Icom have various adaptors. The 9350 antenna is only about $1400 new. If the AT230 is $2k it's a no brainer.

I'm sure to be shouted down by someone who has one that has been around Aust 20 times and 1000000000 ks of corrugations etc, but this would be the minority. The 9350 is a tried and tested bit of kit and the later versions are particularly reliable.

That being said, I also carry spare options ie a broadband dipole and a couple of tapped whips, just in case.

I don't apologise for being biased toward Codan, but I do this having used both and fitted numerous of each. There's nothing wrong with the Barrett sets, it's just a personal preference for the Codan stuff.

Cheers,
Mark

I can sell you an AT230 from our Icom, it olny got used for about a day.

We ended up using the Codan 9350 auttune and an adaptor box.

Regards Richard

I have a Codan NGT and 9350 autotune. Works brilliantly and is another case of you get what you pay for. I am sure that the ICOM or Barrett would also be ok. One of the big things about the autotune attennas is the speed of tuning. The new 9350 is very quick and also robust. If you are only going to use it for emergency or limited frequencies then just buy a multi tap - much cheaper and nothing to go wrong but a right pain if you wish to switch channels regularly.

The autotune antennas are quite complex that is why they are expensive. They are also more fragile than the solid state radio itself. Make sure you get something reliable as a working radio with a caput aerial is not going to get you out of trouble. This is why most people with HF sets have a simple tapped aerial or wire dipole as a backup.

cheers
alastair

In answer to your inquiry "I'm looking at purchasing a radio to suit the VKS-737 network" - try eBay for a Codan 7727 or 8525 ( cost you up to about $500). Mate this with a tapped whip for about $200, and your on air !!!!
Spend the other $3k on something worthwhile..