Canning Stock Route 2020

[Plasnart]

You are paying $100 for registration with VKS who will provide a single P.O.C. # manned 24/7 who will either patch you thru to a local service or manage your problem same as if called them on a HF.

Just like HF where you need to buy your own kit, you still need to buy/have a Satphone (not sure if they will accept rentals or not) and organise your own provider IE Thuraya/Inmarsat/Globalstar etc.

From that point onwards the VKS service works same for HF as Sat... downside is no-one close by will be listening out and hear the transmissions and be able to assist and there are no "social" channels off sked... upside is that Sat gear is a waaay less bulky, doesn't need a huge install and you take it with you when away from the truck

Sort of off topic but still sat phone related, saw a tv show a few years ago, tv crew on site with WA cops. This particular incident saw a cop out Eucla way at the scene of a crash trying to get a call through on his sat phone, but couldn't get a signal and getting very frustrated. Antenna was pointing at 45 degrees down towards the ground. Making sure your stick is up not down is critical. Would have thought emergency services were educated about this, but for us occasional hirers or users, this could be an understandible newby mistake. Make sure she's sticking up to the heavens like the manual says!

[FNQGU]

Would have thought emergency services were educated about this, but for us occasional hirers or users, this could be an understandible newby mistake.

Plas, from what I've seen over the last 25 years, the days of assuming the cops in the Outback know these things has long since passed. There are certainly still a good number around who do know what they are doing but there are so many of that more practical era who have just left the job or are now behind desks. Many are just sick of the 'shit' and many just move on far more frequently than they did. Remote posts are now often seen as a quick way to get up the ladder by the younger generation and the various Police Managers have to offer remote posts with a promotion just to get anyone to go there.

In fact, it is probably fair to say that that whole era of people who knew how to tie a truckies hitch or other now 'old school' skills, is fast disappearing across the board.

A bit generalistic, but I reckon a lot of the older school cops would agree with me. @10G - Sorry to hijack the post topic...

[10G]

Plas, from what I've seen over the last 25 years, the days of assuming the cops in the Outback know these things has long since passed. There are certainly still a good number around who do know what they are doing but there are so many of that more practical era who have just left the job or are now behind desks. Many are just sick of the 'shit' and many just move on far more frequently than they did. Remote posts are now often seen as a quick way to get up the ladder by the younger generation and the various Police Managers have to offer remote posts with a promotion just to get anyone to go there.

In fact, it is probably fair to say that that whole era of people who knew how to tie a truckies hitch or other now 'old school' skills, is fast disappearing across the board.

A bit generalistic, but I reckon a lot of the older school cops would agree with me. @10G - Sorry to hijack the post topic...

That's OK. I agree.

You have to rely on yourself, if you believe others will understand and take initiative you can end up in trouble, if something isn't specifically requested, you can't rely on it to eventuate.

Should the worst event occur, I activate the PLB, sit back and wait.