High Frequency Radio Advice

[SPR]

Hi all,

My Brother & his Wife are planning to go North 70 degrees, in Norway - he carries VHF, SPOT & PLB.

Since this is big patchy cover he ask me about High Frequency Radio - on paper 3000 km in Range.

He is a Kayaker so everything needs to be portable...anybody got any experience using HF Portable Radio or point me in right direction.

His website is Kelp Scotland you see both them are bordering lunatics, but they do there best to stay safe.

S.

[Anchorhandler]

I can't say I've seen many hand portable MF or HF sets but would an Iridium sat phone or something similar not be more suitable?....

They can be rented easy enough which is handy if you know your only needing fit or a short duration.

Simon

Sent from my Experia Ultra europallet using Rib.net

[SPR]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

I can't say I've seen many hand portable MF or HF sets but would an Iridium sat phone or something similar not be more suitable?....

They can be rented easy enough which is handy if you know your only needing fit or a short duration.

Simon

Sent from my Experia Ultra europallet using Rib.net

Unless told otherwise - Iridium dont cover the polar regions, if PLB and SPOT worked he be happy...but i believe he in border area for these too.

WOUXUN KG-699E HF 66-88mhZ Two-way Radio Two-Way Radio, Ham Radio, Mobile Transceiver, Walkie-Talkie, Radio Accessories, Shortwave Radio

is handheld but range and effectiveness?

S.

[Anchorhandler]

Are you sure?

http://www.rentcell.com/rent-satelli...verage-map.htm

Simon

Sent from my Experia Ultra europallet using Rib.net

[willk]

Drop donegaldan a PM directing him to this thread - looks like just his department...

[SPR]

I need to check - with him it looks Iridium might work in Norway - that I said originally

I might been Greenland - he was there this year, it's next year he planning.

will drop him an email he definitely said 70 degrees north !

S.

[GJ0KYZ]

There are plenty of modern 100 watt amateur radio transceivers that could be converted to marine frequencies. Most of these will be portable but would require a decent power supply like a car battery. You would also need to carry an antenna - a wire dipole would be sufficient, but would need to be supported either in the middle or at one end. There are one or two other items such as coax, SWR meter or ATU that would also be required.

[SPR]

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

There are plenty of modern 100 watt amateur radio transceivers that could be converted to marine frequencies. Most of these will be portable but would require a decent power supply like a car battery. You would also need to carry an antenna - a wire dipole would be sufficient, but would need to be supported either in the middle or at one end. There are one or two other items such as coax, SWR meter or ATU that would also be required.

And send him on Ham operators course , car battery to heavy to take - with 3 weeks of food supplies...

[SPR]

Originally Posted by willk

Drop donegaldan a PM directing him to this thread - looks like just his department...

I have - thanks

[paulbrown22]

HF might have a much higher theoretical range, but that's only really if you're using a proper setup.

The HF SSB sets fitted to cruising yachts might transmit > 1000NM, but that's using 125W transmit power, and an antenna the length/height of the backstay!

That noddy little handheld only has a 5W transmit power and a stubby, non-ideal aerial that's very low down, so to be honest you aren't going to get much further than VHF!

How high are they going? Inmarsat is supposedly seamless up to +-76 deg, with limited/non-guaranteed service up to +-80 deg, because their handful of satellites are in a geostationary orbit around the Equator.

Iridium use a much larger number of satellites in an low earth orbit, constantly criss-crossing the entire globe, so polar coverage shouldn't be an issue.

[GJ0KYZ]

Originally Posted by SPR

And send him on Ham operators course , car battery to heavy to take - with 3 weeks of food supplies...

Just trying to be helpful mate. Any 100w transmitter with need a 25w PSU.

[ShinyShoe]

So if I recall my physics correctly squaring the power, doubles the distance travelled? So a 100W travels twice as far as a 10W. So roughly speaking a 5W will travel a quarter of the distance of the 125W on the yacht.

So if they get > 1000nm. He might get 250nm.

That assumes he has the same aerial.

Is he wanting comms for disasters - not really practical to rig a 20ft high aerial in an emergency.

Or is he wanting comms for updating the world what he's up to etc in which case when he gets to each camp site thee may be options to rig something up which actually just coils up? But then who'd be listening 250nm away? Would that reach SPR land?

How will he charge his mobile comms whatever that is? 3 weeks is a long time to be without a 3 pin socket in my world! So is he using solar power? How do you charge while underway (when the sun is at its best) and keep everything dry and accessible.

[SPR]

thanks - looks like iridium might work, with PLB being back up plan if it works!

Thanks - got advice both here and PM.

HF looks to complicated to consider...

S.