NCNS HF Radios

The Spilbury SBX-11A is "THE" bush radio for the NWT. In service for over 25 years, it has become the most popular radio among hunters, trappers, geologists, campers and anyone else who ventures out on the land. This 4 channel, 18 watt, crystal controlled radio is very energy efficient and offers portable (operates on 9 D Cell alkaline batteries) HF communications in an extremely rugged package.

• Cost: $2300 (2 channels & antenna) or $275/month rental (up to 4 channels)

NCNS Model 85 Antenna

As the Spilbury SBX-11A has become the most popular HF bush radio in the NWT, so has the NCNS Model 85 antenna become the most popular antenna to be used with the SBX-11A. Also rugged and reliable, performing well in the extreme cold, it has changed very little since it was first designed and went into production at NCNS 20 years ago. With over 2000 produced to date, it is recognised by its characteristic yellow radiator wires.

• Cost: $120 or included with SBX-11A rental

SEA 222

The SEA 222 is a 125 watt base station HF radio suitable for use in camps, as well marine vessels. Requiring a good 12 volt car battery or a ASTRON-35A power supply to operate, the SEA 222 offers dependable HF communications for a very resonable price.

• Cost: $2500 or $200/month rental

NCNS Model 100 Antenna

Almost as numerous as the Model 85, the Model 100 antenna is built to withstand the power delivered by the SEA 222 and other HF base radios. The Model 100 and the soon to be released Model are both designed and manufactured at NCNS.

• Cost: $265 or included with HF base rental

NCNS HF Interconnect System

The HF interconnect at the NCNS shop was the first automated HF interconnect system in North America when it went online 6 years ago and has offered inexpensive telephone service to the mining and exploration industries ever since. While not as convinient as satellite telephone service, HF interconnect service is cheaper and the base radio is easier to setup. Always seeking to upgrade customer service, NCNS recently installed a more modern HF interconnect system at its Yellowknife location and added a second system in Cutknife, Sask. This gives even more flexibility to its HF interconnect customers.

• Cost: $2900 or $700/month including terminal access.

Codan 8525/8528 & Barrett 550

NCNS offers the choice of three different 150 watt radios with which to access its HF Interconnect System. The simple 8525 allows the field unit to dial any of 20 preset numbers as well as 4 additional user defined preset numbers. The 8528 operates in one of two modes. The first mode is identical to the 8525. The second mode allows the user to dial any number, not being restricted to the 20 preset numbers and the 4 user difined numbers. Finally, the Barrett 550 allows both preset and any-number dialling, as well as access to a greater number of NCNS HF ferquencies and user defined frequencies.

• Cost: $2900 or $700/month including terminal access.