Codan 8525B Series, Handbook

Page: 139 / 189

RFDS and Telstra services
10-2 Outback HF Radiophone
Royal Flying Doctor Service
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is a vital communications link in the
Australian outback. Apart from maintaining contact and a listening watch for medical
services, the organisation also provides general communication facilities which
includes radiotelephone and lettergram services.
Each base station is allotted with a unique range of channel frequencies, some of
which may be used to provide a day and night communications watch for medical aid
and assistance.
It is most important before embarking on a trip, or entering into an area covered by a
base station, that the listening watch frequencies and operating times are known–your
transmission may never be heard if you have chosen the wrong channel to make a call
for help.
How to contact the RFDS
To contact an RFDS base station, select the station primary frequency and tune the
antenna. Before transmitting, check that the channel is not being used and follow the
procedure in section 4, Transmitting.
Emergency communications
Each RFDS base station has its own specified times for routine medical consultation.
If during normal RFDS base station hours medical advice is required and cannot wait
until the routine medical session, the following procedure should be adopted:
•
wait until the first quiet moment on the frequency
•
transmit and call the base station by call sign, give your own call sign and then
mention that this is an urgent medical call.
F