The VKS-737 Radio Network is a HF Radio communications network licensed by the Australian Communications Media Authority to serve Australian travellers (land, sea or air). Primarily, we provide safety orientated information, pass on messages and arrange rescue/support for people in difficulties. With our many strategically located bases, we effectively cover the nation.

YES ! These radios operate at high power levels, so responsible use is required to minimise disruption on the spectrum. You need to be licensed for the frequencies you intend to use.
Subscription of the VKS-737 Radio Network carries inbuilt licensing for our 7 frequencies.

NO ! Subscribers DO NOT require an ACMA Outpost Mobile Licence (RFDS licence) to operate on the VKS-737 Network frequencies. An Outpost Mobile Licence DOES NOT permit operation on the frequencies allocated to the VKS-737 Network. See this form for more information:
[DOC 21 Conditions for use of the VKS-737 & HF-Tel Radio Networks – PDF download]

Subscriptions are from the 1st December until 30th November; the full yearly fee is payable upon application. Where applicable, pro-rata entitlement applies to second year subscription only.

You can expect us to try our best, but we cannot indicate any particular outcome for your situation! We offer help to all subscribers in remote areas. In general terms, we will do our best to get assistance for your situation, whatever it is. While we can’t offer to pay for any services you require, we will expend volunteers’ time and network funds (on long distance calls) to get assistance to you. We will also liaise with local area authorities and assist with coordination of their communications where required.

In short, no. While subscribers are welcome to advise us of their progress (log in) at any time, we do not have the resources to methodically track and/or monitor your progress. At any particular time during the various regional touring seasons, dozens of network subscibers are criss-crossing each of Australia’s states. Our base operators are all volunteers and their various roster patterns makes effective tracking an impractical proposition. Should we be advised that a subscriber is overdue or needs assistance, all of our resources will be applied to the situation, but we need to be contacted by the subscriber a family member or others, to commence the process.
Not withstanding the above we will endeavour to track a VKS-737 subscriber should the operator be specifically advised about  travel in a ‘dangerous’ (extremely remote) area/s.

Messages for remote subscribers are treated seriously and methodically by network staff. If subscribers monitor our many daily skeds and they are in communication range, they are most likey to get their messages.

We cannot however, indicate any particular outcome in the forwarding of messages.

This lack of certainty is mostly due to:

• Some subscribers not monitoring our skeds (in some cases, for weeks on end!)
• Deletion of non-urgent messages after 5 days.
• HF conditions being unfavourable at times, due to factors that include the subscribers location, plus natural and/or man-made interference.

On rare occasions:

• Network volunteers not being available for skeds.
• Equipment failure, either from the network or the subscribers side.

The above said, we can say that our messages delivery service has been very effective, but only for subscribers who monitor our daily skeds !

Our information is largely gained from State and Federal government orientated agencies ! We do not generate the information, so therefore cannot indicate any particular level of reliability for the information we offer. It is gained from the best sources we can access, but subscribers should not plan to, or venture into un-serviced and/or remote areas of Australia without contacting local area authorities first.

While Parks Management and local business people can be a valuable source of remote area travel information, we recommend local police as possibly the best starting point for your enquiries.

NO, But we will seek to connect you with (or relay to you) professional advice from accredited providers. For example, if medical issues arise, we would seek to get medical assistance on channel, and then you could talk to them direct. Should mechanical issues arise, we would get advice from the relevant roadside service, a manufacturer’s accredited dealer, or your nominated expert.

There is no simple answer to this, HF conditions vary greatly across the year, and location plays a part too. At times, users can reach clear across the country, at other times much less distance. Factors include antenna type, location, time of day, frequency used, and atmospherics. What is clear is that at any particular time, using equipment in good working order, you can expect to contact a VKS-737 subscribers or one of our bases, via voice or selcall transmissions.

New prices are commonly in the range $5000 to $6500. For these prices you get state of the art equipment capable of advanced functions. For simple yet very reliable ‘talk’ only, the now superceded design, used radios on the second hand market are a good option.

The answer here is “needs driven”; it depends on which facilities you need.
Radios are now available in two basic groups; The earlier “crystal” controlled units are very easy to use; just select a channel, adjust the tapped antenna, turn it on and go! The modern radios are very easy to use in voice mode too, but if you want to employ the advanced functions, a little more learning and practice is required. While travelling, it is a good idea to call into one of the bases daily, to gain confidence and ease of operation. If you simply want to stay in touch with the daily base station voice skeds while travelling, the “talk -only radio” will be fine. If you would like to contact particular mobiles, and base stations ‘out of sked hours‘, you will need the radios with selcall functions.
Note: Data Transmission is NOT PERMITTED on VKS-737 Voice Only Frequencies
See this form for more information: [DOC 06 Communications Systems Comparison – PDF download] and/or [DOC 12 Type Approved Radio Equipment – PDF download]

Anyone familiar in doing maintenance and lighter repairs to a car should have no problems. Modern radios are usually in several modular parts. The main radio box can go anywhere inside the vehicle, the user-interface unit (quite small) can go in a convenient place for reading, button pushing and microphone use, and the antenna system commonly fits to the rear of the vehicle (bracket required). Wiring it all up requires attention to the manufacturer’s supplied detail, but it is no more difficult than any after market accessories such as spotlights, second batteries, or winches etc. If you are not accustomed to such installations, have your dealer do the work, it’s most likely you will be offered comprehensive instruction on use of the radio as well.

Some radio communications equipment resellers in Australia cater for long distance HF – check our links page, or contact head office for a referral in your area. You might also visit the manufacturers’ web sites (our links page; tab above).

YES ! provided you are a current VKS-737 subscriber, during sked sessions operators don’t mind “saying hello” and giving you feedback (a Radio Check), but wait till the operator has covered traffic from remote area travellers. If you know other VKS-737 subscribers, you can arrange to contact them direct, but ensure this is out of sked timeslots. See the RADIO CHECKS link above.

YES ! provided you are a current VKS-737 subscriber; be aware you must “give way” to sked sessions and any other important traffic (such as bases and authorities assisting with emergencies).