Australian Outback (4WD & remote area) Subscription HF networks

There are several publically accessible high frequency (HF) networks used in remote areas of Australia - where mobile telephone networks are not available, and the cost of employing HF radio is simply cheaper than satellite phone for most.

These HF networks provide general and emergency communications to registered users in remote communities such as cattle stations and mines. They also provide a vital safety network for people travelling through the outback – be it by car, caravan, 4WD, or truck - enabling contact with emergency services or other network relay stations.

All users are allowed to operate using a license authority - obtained via a subscription to a privately owned land-mobile radio network (shown below), enabling them access to the networks' licensed frequencies and services - such as scheduled check-ins, phone patches and emergency response relay service.

These HF subscription networks also include a provision for users to access RFDS frequencies directly or, at the very least, will have radio stations manned to pass on vital messages to emergency responders at RFDS.

The primary medical responder to remote medical emergencies is the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The RFDS has it's own licensed (government regulated) outpost network. Users may apply for a license to access this network via the government.
The RFDS network is the backbone for all other HF outback radio networks. Click for our RFDS section. 

The main Australian outback HF networks are:

RFDS - Royal Flying Doctor Service (separate page) Government network.

VKS-737 – (Jointly operates some RFDS HF bases)

VKE-237 HF Radio Club

VMS-469 Reids Radio Data / Bush Telegraph

HF OZ

RADTEL

AUSTRAVEL VMD 750

AUSTRALIAN HF Touring Club AXD 888

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VKS-737 Australian 4WD Network
http://www.vks737.on.net/

The VKS-737 Radio Network Inc. is the most established 4WD radio group in Australia, and holds Land Mobile licences issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) permitting the operation of mobile units and base stations on the frequencies of VKS-737 and bases of the RFDS :

VKS-737 Frequencies

CH1	CH2	CH3	CH4	CH5	CH 6	Ch7
5455	8022	11612	14977	3995	6796	10180

RFDS Frequencies Monitored

CH 20	CH 21	CH 22	Ch 23	CH 24	CH 25	CH 26
2020	2260	2280	2856	2792	4010	4030
VJN VJJ VJI	VJN	VJT VKJ VKL	VJT	VJB	VKJ	VKL
CH 27	CH 28	CH 29	CH 30	CH 31	CH 32	CH 33
4045	4980	5110	5145	5300	5360	6825
VJT	VJJ	VJN VJJ VJI	VJN	VJB VKL	VJT VJB VKJ VKL	VKJ
CH 34	CH 35	CH 36	CH 37	CH 38	CH 39	CH 40
6845	6880	6890	6945	6960	6965	7465
VJJ VJI	VKJ	VJT	VJB	VKL	VJN VJJ VJI	VJN VJJ VJI

 

RFDS Base Station Callsigns:

VJB Derby (WA), VJI Mount Isa (QLD),  VJJ Charleville (QLD),  VJN Cairns 1 (QLD), VJT Carnarvon (WA), VKJ Meekatharra (WA), VKL Port Hedland (WA)

Check for SKEDs on most frequencies on the hour or half hour. (Some may be H+45)

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VKE-237 HF Radio Club

http://www.hfradioclub.com.au/

VKE-237 HF Radio Club offers SMS, GPS tracking, phone patch, RFDS entry, general voice frequencies, and controlled network SKED voice networks.
This network operates from Cue WA, Alice Springs NT, Townsville QLD, and Hume NSW.

BASE	BASE SELCALL	BASE TELCALL NUMBER	RFDS Emergency Selcall
Hume NSW	2525	1008	9222
Cue WA	4425	4008	9111
Townsville NQ	6625	2008	9444
Alice Springs NT	8825	8008	9888

Channel	Frequency
50	3890.5
52	5135
53	9985
54	11487
55	14662
56	7899
60	6790
62	12197
63	15972

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VMS-469 Reids Radio Data / Bush Telegraph
http://www.reidsradiodata.com.au
This network provides HF email, phone patch, and daily voice SKEDs.                
Five general communication channels spread over a wide frequency range providing users with radio coverage up to about 3,500 km's. Operators can re-direct your call to RFDS. This is the most affordable of the HF networks.

·                Operating frequencies are (bolded are main voice freq):

3773 KHz

3995 KHz

5455kHz

5744 KHz

5836 KHz

7899kHz

8027 KHz

8083 KHz

9081 KHz

9360 KHz

11612kHz

121211.5 KHz

14977kHz

15968 KHz

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