|
|
Post by Ozmale on Dec 14, 2006 19:56:24 GMT -6
Well, its been months since my little holiday and I have failed completely to post my trip report. So as I was playing around with the pics last night I thought the least I could do would be to put up a couple to show something...or at least nothing. These are taken in Outback South Australia in the area between Coober Pedy and Oodnadatta   I am still hoping to do a trip report sometime when I have some time! Regards Ozmale |
|
|
|
Post by edie2u on Dec 14, 2006 21:38:17 GMT -6
Great photos Oz. It looks a lot like a moon scape!
|
|
|
|
Post by Ardbeg... innit on Dec 15, 2006 6:58:28 GMT -6
Impressive!! And seemingly obsessive... looking behind you a bit huh? ...what had you done that you felt it necessary to keep the rear window clean in a place like this??
|
|
|
|
Post by Tex on Dec 15, 2006 8:37:01 GMT -6
The picture with the road could be in far west Texas. In my mind's eye, I can see the dust cloud coming from behind the car as it heads down the road.
|
|
|
|
Post by justheidi on Dec 15, 2006 8:45:47 GMT -6
that red dirt is wild........nice pics........
|
|
carbuff
Member
Make me wag my tail -- pet me !
Posts: 104
|
Post by carbuff on Dec 17, 2006 8:10:09 GMT -6
How many km is that from Adelaide? Quite desolate.
Trace
|
|
|
|
Post by Ozmale on Dec 17, 2006 16:52:10 GMT -6
Lets see now, Trace: Its about 1000 kilometres (600 miles) north of Adelaide. Nothing much out there except the occasional Station (cattle ranch) who graze an incredibly low number of head per acre. Towns Coober Pedy - pop 3200, Oodnadatta a 2-3 hour (in good conditions) drive from Coober Pedy - pop 230. Just a short bit about one of the Stations out there (the cattle numbers are wrong as we are now in the grip of one of the worst droughts in history - despite the fact it rained whilst we were there) www.wrightsair.com.au/anna.htmand some more about the area. www.williamcreekcampground.comwww.pinkroadhouse.com.au/I can highly recommend the William Creek Pub - coldest beers around and great tyre puncture repairs! Tex: Exactly the same except there wasn't much dust due to the rain that had just fallen. This explains the mud on the car. Roads out there are much better than when I visited the outback in my youth BUT its still a pretty nasty place to be when it rains. Roads turn to mud very rapidly! Bornagaindruid: Well, it always pays to keep an eye out behind you. I always sit facing the door in a restaurant too!!! Truthfully its just a habit to flick the rear wiper on when I put the front ones on. We had so much stuff in the back you couldn't see the read window anyway! edie: Part of this country nearer Coober Pedy is actually known as "Plains of the Moon" and has been used for several sci-fi movies as well as some kind of research project into Mars exploration! I'll try as things here at work get quiet over Christmas/New Year to post a few more photos! No promises tho! Ozmale |
|
|
|
Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Dec 17, 2006 17:41:51 GMT -6
What's the antenna, Oz???
|
|
|
|
Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 17, 2006 17:55:42 GMT -6
Oz - speaking of Adelaide, I was browsing through my computer's time zone options (I was sitting in an airport and bored) and noticed that your time zone is "GMT +9:30"!! Do you guys really have a time zone that is half an our out of sync? And is there a reason for that? It must be confusing. Anyway, I'm just curious, and you seem to be good at answering questions in this thread!.......Jake
|
|
|
|
Post by Ozmale on Dec 17, 2006 18:54:04 GMT -6
Bob: (I just don't feel right calling you Dr Idiot!) The Antenna is for a Codan HF Transiever. About 100 or 125 watts output power www.codan.com.au. Rather than use a satellite phone (which I tried on one trip to the US and Jamaica and was a heap of shit) we used this for communication instead. Conventional Mobiles work only in a few towns on the main north south highway. There is a very good volunteer network that have base stations around Australia and provide a communication and assistance service to travelers in remote regions. www.vks737.on.net This works better than satellite. On a couple of occasions we listened in as they co-ordinated help for people in trouble - one was simply arranging the local auto association to fix a broken down vehicle (not too far from civilization but out of mobile range) and the other was a fully fledged rescue co-ordinating police and medical assistance. The outback is also covered by the Royal Flying Doctor network that provides medical support and emergency aid throughout the bush and they too use HF for communication with remote stations, travelers and so on. Jake: Oh, one of my favorite subjects. Yes we do live in a time zone that is half an hour out of sync. South Australia is quite wide and the next one hour zone is a little west (400 miles but still in this state) of Adelaide the capital so we ended up with this weird half hour. One of the states leading employer groups has this huge obsession with this difference and periodically runs a campaign to move us to eastern standard time. It is usually well resisted. Their arguments are that it makes business with Sydney and Melbourne easier. I always laugh at that because when ever you ring someone these days you always get their voice mail cause they are not answering their phone so what does the time difference matter! And you can tell its a quiet day at work in the final run up to Christmas!!! Ozmale |
|
|
|
Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Dec 17, 2006 20:42:20 GMT -6
Bob: (I just don't feel right calling you Dr Idiot!) The Antenna is for a Codan HF Transiever. About 100 or 125 watts output power I can't seem to find the xmit frequency of these beasts. Does it operate in the amateur radio HF spectrum?? Do you need a license? Just HOW did you get to Mars??  ..........Bob |
|
|
|
Post by Ozmale on Dec 18, 2006 0:22:03 GMT -6
Bob,
Mine can but won't transmit on Amateur bands as it is blocked from them by the control software.
By hacking the software you can transmit anywhere you like (probably even on commercial AM)!!!
Codan or the dealer can also set you up for Amateur on these units if you have the correct license.
Mine is also ok to transmit on HF CB radio but the software limits it to 5 watts output.
It also doubles as a very good receiver for commercial AM radio (530 - 1600khz). Picks up stations far further out than a conventional car receiver!
Think Xmit is possible on something low like 500-1600 kHz all the way up to 30 MHz.
I have a licence for the 5 frequencies that VKS 737 uses (you get that as part of your membership of that organisation). I also have a licence as a Mobile Outpost which allows me to use all of the RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) frequencies. There are also a couple of services that allow you to make Radphone calls which I dont know much about as I havent used them! I never did get around to getting an amateur licence!
Nice Toy - easily talked from Alice Springs to Perth although due to the perverse nature of HF Alice Springs to Ayres Rock is much harder. I also have a much longer whip antenna (9 metres) but that can only be put up when the car is stationary (for obvious reasons)
Ozmale
PS I got to Mars by calling "Little Green Men" on 3755 khz (LSB). They tell me they constantly monitor that frequency and pick up anyone who calls them. They dont charge for their tours of the red planet. They consider it their gift to interplanetary relationships.
|
|
