HF Radio transceivers

[darrenptalbot]

Guys

A bit of advice required. I'm working in Liberia (West Africa), and have a couple of 660 Teneres on order, alongside 5 HiLux's.

I'm happy getting HF radios for the Toyotas, but not so sure for teh bikes. Was envisaging some kind of 'man pack' system, that I could strap on a pannier rack and use if there was a problem.

Anyone done this before/ got any recommendations?

I need HF for the range - I may be 200+km outside of Monrovia at times

 

[nick.ct]

Sat phones (thuraya etc) may be a better bet that relying in the vagueries of low power HF transmission

 

[darrenptalbot]

I know what you are saying, but the cost becomes an issue with sat phones!

 

[Sumprat]

There is some nice Ham Radio equipment available that will suite you such as the Yeasu FT817,
When supplied as standard they will only have access to the Amateur Bands, however it easy to have them wide or open banded. Most suppliers such as Martyn Lynch will do this for you.

Please note though that these radios won't be Type Approved and may not be allowable under your license conditions, but this shouldn't be a problem unless you start causing problems.

I would suggest taking the Radio amateur Foundation exam (then the Intermediate and Advanced) then you can use the radio for this as well (note you need Advanced to operate outside the UK).

 

[darrenptalbot]

Thanks, that's really helpful. I'll talk to them and see where it takes me!

 

[nick.ct]

I know what you are saying, but the cost becomes an issue with sat phones!

It's not just the vagueries of low power HF transmission itself, but also the skill and training of the operator. Whilst communication over long distances is certainly possible with portable HF gear, the ability to send a text in a hurry at the touch of a button giving your GPS coordinates is very reassuring in remote places.

I think I'll keep my Thuraya with a Vodafone SIM in my pocket just in case

 

[Kritou]

Also be aware that the frequency/wavelength/band you use will have a "skip". This is the distance between the directly transmitted signal (that is eventually gobbled up by the ground) and the where the signal that goes up into into the ether returns to earth. In this area you get zich reception. The skip distance also varies with time of day caused by chances in atmospherics

Your operational needs sound as though they could well be affected by this

 

[gerarddwatts]

www.belmont-comms.com

Speak to John Clark...the boss...he'll sort you out

 

[gerarddwatts]

Link don't work....type the address in

 

[trebor]

As already pointed out Skip may be a problem with HF frequencies above 4MHz. However, if you can use frequencies around the 2MHz band it shouldn't present too much of a problem as you should get a range of a few hundred miles on the ground wave alone during the day with this extending to 1000+ miles in the evening. Even 4 Mhz may suit your needs but going any higher will give potential problems.
A limiting feature with these bands is going to be power and the size of antenna you can use which will almost certainly affect range, when I last used these bands I had 2kW of power and a massive antenna!

Bob

 

[darrenptalbot]

Thanks for the info guys. My HF experience dates back to PRC Clansman days - I figure if I can get one of them to work, something modern should be a whole lot easier!

I'll contact John and see what he can do for me

 

[Sumprat]

Thanks for the info guys. My HF experience dates back to PRC Clansman days - I figure if I can get one of them to work, something modern should be a whole lot easier!

I'll contact John and see what he can do for me

I have a PRC 352 sitting upstairs

 

[g.s.john]

I used to use Marconi D11/R234 HF radio seperate transmit and reciever about the size of a filing cabinet each and the PSU about the size of a tea chest with 300 ft dipole antenna.
Not what you need just a little trip down memory lane.
Sorry about the bump

 

[Boon]

If you can find one...........


Alinco DX801/ DX701


channalised but programmable.........rugged .......100w ssb

big feckoff longwire, balun and an ATU...........sorted or use a loaded hf whip on a vehicle with the ATU...................always use an ATU, key up/clickety clack/green light and your off.....................keep it simple



DX70 TH is nice too but more expensive and fiddly........(I have one in the garage somewhere)


http://rigreference.com/rig/4434-Alinco_DX_801

 

[Boon]

Bump


What did you end up using?

 

[darrenptalbot]

Nothing yet. Thinking about inmarsat though, need to be able to carry it easily on a bike ....

 

[Loiq]

firstly workout who else is in the area, and what kit they have. then make a plan according to that set of reports.

I would also say sat phones are the better option and personal trackers with location buttons if you buy a block of airtime it becomes pretty cost effective... and your clients will foot that bill anyway...!

I use a bloke called Simon Curry from barnabus communications he's a straight forward sort of bloke.

http://www.barnabus.co.uk/

Fixed telephones

The fixed line infrastructure of Liberia was nearly completely destroyed during the civil war. In 2006, the country had approximately 5,000 fixed lines installed, almost exclusively in the Monrovia area.[4] Prior to the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 2007, the state-owned Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LIBTELCO) held a legal monopoly for all fixed line services in Liberia, and remains the sole licensed fixed line telephone service provider in the country.
Mobile telephones
Comium building (2006)

Four licensed GSM service providers operate in the country: Lonestar Cell, CellCom, LiberCell and Comium.

 

[darrenptalbot]

UN in the area, and NGOs, so not able to rely on them. Have heard satphones may have cloud cover issues in the rainy season, which is a stumbling block ....

 

[Loiq]

hand held sat phones can be shit, they don't work well in cars near tall buildings.

Iridium coverage is the the best and work most places... we've used the vodafone rental and contract lease solutions. If the clients are nice let them set it all up and it's a thing you then don't need to worry about.



if in doubt a quick flight in fact find and out is by far cheaper than a solution that's a pain in the arse and will make your vehicles standout like a pair of bulldogs bollocks...

iSOS must be in there some place and they'll have it figured out, they do medical cover for petchems etc.....

 

[darrenptalbot]

I'm sitting on my porch in Monrovia sending this, so have being there sorted!

I'll call isos tomorrow, they do our emergency cover too