RE: [Paddlewise] Oz Communications

Peter Treby wrote: -
>Where did you learn that VHF repeaters are to
>be closed down? VHF seems to be uncertain, and
>relies on line of sight or suitable transmission
>conditions. The recent Bass Strait rescue is a
>case in point. The two paddlers were lucky to
>have a naval vessel nearby which relayed
>communications. Read all about it in the next
>VSKC newsletter (and join up, we need the
>subscription fee!). I think a write up is to
>appear in the NSW newsletter as well.


G'day Peter Treby & Paddlewise,

Four of us have just finished a beautiful trip from Disaster Bay to Eden.
Seems every trip is closer to Victoria so maybe I should subscribe to the
VSKC newsletter as well as NSWSKC!

Re the repeater stations: - A few months ago on travelling further and
further south from Sydney (Australia), it became obvious that VHF was not
always available for weather reports and contacting the Coast guard. Also
there were reports at our local yacht clubs that VHF repeater stations were
being shut down along the NSW coast.

As you would appreciate it was important for us to have at least two day
weather forecasts for going around Green Cape to Bitangabee and Mowarry
point. The VHF radios fared poorly around Green Cape, there was no reception
of coast guard stations until we got close to Eden. This suprised me as
Green Cape Lighthouse is such a logical place for a repeater. It projects
about 5km out to sea and shipping/boating fatalities have been occurring
regularly in this area for the last 100 years; there was one last month.
Mobile phones were also out of range. Likewise on the one or two occasions
we tried to use VHF to contact clearly visible fishing vessels, we had no
success. However, the shortwave radios gave us 100% reliable reception of
weather reports. There was not much difference between the Sangean and Sony
radios on this stretch of coast, they both performed very well. Although
hopeless for weather reports the VHF radios were useful for maintaining
contact within the group.

Peter Rattenbury, was with us on this trip and knows much more about the
communications situation than I do if you wanted more detail.

All the best, PeterO


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