"SKED" is a standard abbreviation for a scheduled radio contact at a specific time (i.e. every day at the same time). Austravel Safety Net sked operators make voice calls on 30 frequency/base combinations every day ensuring great coverage across Australia. 

Skeds may change each summer and winter seasons as daylight effects the best channels to use around sked times as we cater for solar activity increases. These progressive changes are needed to keep providing the best HF radio coverage of Australia at sked times. Our bases and sked time selection are designed to provide strong signals to the travelling members, improving reception by overcoming potential local noise problems. Please stay up to date and check on the changes as each new selcall list comes out. Get a current copy before you head "outback". 

The 2025/26 summer sked timetable is available on the left and was revised for WA effective 11th December 2025.  There are two skeds per day - morning and afternoon.  Please note that UTC (universal time / GMT+0) and actual sked times stay the same summer to winter but local times may vary with daylight savings.

The Summer Sked timetable is active when daylight saving time is operating in NSW, ACT, Vic, SA and Tas.  The Winter Sked timetable is active when daylight saving is not in operation throughout Australia.

You can also check out the Space Weather web site (click on link located at the top left labelled “HF Radio Conditions”) which provides HAP charts for our bases. This information provides a guide to the predicted transmit and receive range within Australia of each channel, current to within the hour or look at the past 24 Hr history.

Would you like to become a sked operator?

Austravel SafetyNet is always looking for new sked operators.  All you need is some spare time, internet access, a computer or tablet, and confidence to engage with members who call into skeds morning and afternoon. 

All our operators are either social members at a cost of $30 per year or full members who own and use their type-approved HF radio when travelling. Our operators connect with bases using their phones or their computers and speak with members through the radio transmitter located in each base. When a member calls into a sked, the operator records details of their location and travel plans on their computer or tablet.

Training and ongoing support is provided by our sked coordinators Ray 1923 in the West and Brad 2261 in the East. They would welcome your contact if you may be interested in becoming a sked operator and require more information. Ray and Brad may be contacted at skeds@austravelsafetynet.org.au