VHF radio's

[joru]

What is a good VHF radio and how far away can you receive or transmit messages? Is there an advantage over CB's? Are they regulated by the government? Anything would be helpful.

[brshooter]

Good topic. I bought a 19' North River this spring and may want to venture out and give bouy 10 a try if the conditions permit it. I want to get a VHF radio before I would even consider this trip. It is not something I would use much, but I would hate to get caught without one if a situation came up. Kind of like insurance.

What do you look for in a radio? I know you want to be able to scan and monitor certain channels. Fixed or handheld? Most of the fixed units are 25 watt, and most of the hand helds are either 1 or 5 watt. How do you match your antenna to the radio? I figure I could save some money online, but not knowing much, it may be the better value to get the right equipment from someone like West Marine? Any suggestions?

[ 06-28-2001: Message edited by: brshooter ]

[Salmonator]

My last sled had an Apelco and it was a good radio. Only thing I would have changed is getting the full scan feature instead of only a few channels. Also in my next boat I think I will keep a handheld in the glovebox or handy in a dash holder in addition to the fixed. Should the unthinkable happen and you end up in the water instead of on it, I think a waterproof handheld could be lifesaver... Joe

[ol tuna skipper]

My personal opinion. I have a Standard Horizon Eclipse+ GX1250S 25 watt VHF Marine Transciever. It has full scan capability. 65 channels: 55 marine 10 weather. It switches to 16 at the touch of button and a seperate immediate button for weather channel. Fully waterproof. I shopped for 6 months and got this one a fishermans on sale.

The key to good signal/reception is the antenna. I have a centenial 5101 solid core 8 ft. antenna by shakespear. The antenna was about 75 dollars. The taller the better. VHF works off of line of sight.

I was told I can reach about 25 miles. When in the Columbia near St. Helens, I have picked up conversations from Astoria to Portland. Coast Gaurd comes in clear all the time. Total cost for my setup I believe was about $250.00. Radio and antenna. Not bad for the security. My family and my life are worth that.

I looked at a lot of hand helds, but they didn't have that good of a range. If you change boats alot you might get a handheld. If you sink that fast that you can't get a call out, the water is pretty rough.

I always figured if I go in the water, Ive got about five minutes, then I'm a gonner. Hypothermia is the major killer in oregon coastal and river waters with the water temps. around 50 degrees.

Good luck

[dogfishboy]

Well, this is the second time in the last few days this topic has come up. I think I have expressed my feeling about this on the old DB but maybe its time to “stumble up onto the pulpit again.” This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I feel many boaters/fishers are unaware of the importance of ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication. PLEASE don’t overlook this vital piece of boating safety equipment. GET ONE! I don’t care if you boat or fish inland waterways or venture out onto ‘big blue,’ you and the rest of us out there want you to have one and understand how to use one. Your life and mine just might depend on it.

The model you get is unimportant. Features are a luxury. If you can afford them get as many as you can. If not, get what you can afford. Boaters/fishers have only three allies out there...our own knowledge, the coasties, and each other. The only way we can help each other is if we can communicate. I’ve had several circumstances when ‘communication’ has saved lives.... don’t underestimate this resource.

Features are less important than your ability to be heard. So be sure to spend an adequate amount of money on an antenna. Shakespeare’s Galaxy brand antennas are a quality product. If you can’t afford this get something you can rather than nothing.

Listen to the VHF and learn how others use and abuse this piece of safety equipment. You will find it a valuable resource in your safety arsenal and you might just safe a life... maybe mine.

I highly recommend folks go to West Marine and spend $5 to get their catalog. In it you will find a wide range of options. Then go into one of their stores and talk to them. All around the country I have found them to be knowledgeable and experienced inland and blue water boaters. You will also find a useful section in the catalog called the ‘West Advisor.’ Here you will find may useful operating and installation tips.

Joru,
VHF radios are far superior to CB’s when it come to saving lives. CB’s work fine for communication with your fishin’ buddies...but that’s it. You no longer have get a licence to operate a VHF.

Brshooter, If you can afford a handheld I strongly recommend one. I have had to go into the water to assist another boater in distress and my waterproof handheld was invaluable in assisting the coasties in locating and extracting us from the water.

Salmonator, follow your instincts.

Ol tuna Skipper, you make some good suggestion...especially in regards to antennas and the role your family and friends play in your decision.

As Pilar can confirm, our best and often only resource out there is the coasties, and if you are unable to communicate you can kiss your and maybe your loved ones *** good bye.

I don’t want to scare folks...no! yes I do. Fear is healthy and just might save your or someone else’s life. If my ramblings above sound redundant there is a good reason.

Safe boating and good fishin’

David

[DF]

The higher antenna the better
VHF is FM. Just like a police radio or FM ham radios. they are strictly line of site. The bigger antenna with the higher gain the better. I am a ham radio operator and the sam applies for this as dose ham.. remeber this. 75% of your station is your antenna, You could have the best radio in the world. But without a real good antenna and good height you have nothing. Trust me all of my antenna's for my radios are ona 30 ft tower in the back yard [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Neighbors love it [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[Tilla]

I think a key factor is that the Coast Guard can triangulate and locate your signal using the VHF!!! If you are lost in a fog, they can figure out where you are even though you don't!!!!

[smilesforu]

I had a friend who was a coastie radio man. And they used different antennas to vector triangulate boats when in distress. They could also find pranksters on shore who sent false signals. I don't presently have a vhf but would like to get a nice hand held. After reading this I am inspired to get one. Just never know when you may be in the water during a fog. BTW I will be wearing my float coat incase I hit the water too. Good advice guys

[DF]

Be aware. With line of site. Your handheld will not go very far. Most likly it will reach the coast guard because the stick there antennas way way waaaayyy up in the air. So you will have no problem. I have Icom handheld. Its a ham radio but I converted it so it also dose vhf. I have had it on and have been walking through the halls of our high school and heard coast guard portland. So they work great for that. But be aware. You wont be able to take from boat to boat for very far. And, Have lotsa batteries [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
my .02

[Pitch Pocket]

I've got a Standard Model CNB230 handheld that I carry with me whenever I go to the estuary. I also carry my cell phone. How far out in the ocean does the cell phone work?

[Whalerman]

I have a Standard Horizon vhf and a cb on my boat. Both have their purpose. Am using a Shakespeare base loaded antenna (loading coil and about a 3 ft ss whip) on vhf. For my application it works well. A full size type has more gain, but no where to mount one conveniently on my boat. btw, was 10 miles off Brookings, Or. salmon fishing and called the coast guard for a boat dead in the water. First thing the c.g. asked, what is your position? Having a gps on board made it easy to respond. Suggestion: If you go off shore especially, be prepared, know your equipment.

[Bait O' Eggs]

I have a pair of Icom MC-3a hand held radios. We use them for hunting, I know they are suppose to be used on water only. (that is why I pack a canteen to sit on when I use the radio hunting [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] ) They are far superior to the FRS radios for distance. We have reached 5 miles quite easily if we are line of sight. I know they say they are line of sight only, but we have actually reached around a ridge, way out of line of sight. I have never tried more than 5 miles where we didnt have a mountain in our way. This weekend I hope to take one out in the ocean and leave one in camp and see if we can talk, I will have the GPS so I can get an acurate distance measurement. I will let you know how far we can talk on big blue when I get back from vacation.

Dustin, I put 6 AA batteries in the unit and use it for a weeks vacation daylight till dark and dont run out of batteries. It is usually on all day, but I dont talk a lot on it.

[BigFish]

West Marine is having a 10% off everything sale now through July 1st. Just bought a complete setup for $200.

5101 antenna $40
uniden 1020 $126
antenna mount $30

[DF]

Yes the batteries will stay good for a long time. If you dont transmit [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] transmiting takes up ALOT of juice. I have a rechargable Nicad battery pack on my Icom handheld and it will last a good. 3 hours transmitting with about 10.5 volts in the battery. After about three hours the voltage will drop off and the battery dies

[dogfishboy]

When your shopping for a handheld, two feature are important. Get a unit that has a high waterproof rating and nicad batteries that can be charged from a 12V source. We have a couple of older apelcos and a Ray 102. Our battery life far exceeds specs , even with a lot of outgoing transmission. Backup battery backs for your units costs a couple of pennies but worth the change.

As for fixed units, antenna extensions come in 2' and 4' lengths or you can custom make additional lengths. Does improve transmit and reception.

dfb

[WheresMyBobber]

Hey Dustin, be careful with those tall antenna's at home. I once responded to a house fire during a lightning storm where the lightning hit the antenna, bounced off and blew a hole in the roof, totally fried all the wiring in the whole house, sent electricity down the gutters and downspouts which also caught the outside of the house on fire. MAJOR problem for those folks, luckily they weren't home at the time.

Be careful! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[ 06-29-2001: Message edited by: WheresMyBobber ]

[steelie t]

I was in the coast guard in the early 80's
and we spent meny a fogy day hunting for lost boaters and the ones with VHF were the easy one's to find. because the coast guard boat's all had VHF directional finders on them. we could not do it on a CB and I tell you what a pain. we spent hours running surch patterns for people with CB's only.
So BE SAFE GET A VHF. AND A GPS. They could save your life!!!

[Tilla]

Say whatever you want about Ifish. This is a great thread. The information here may save a life! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[AngleThis]

U get 7 miles point to point with no obsticles. The key is your antena...get a good one. CB is a different band and you won't pick up CB transmissions on a VHS if you are at sea, nor can you call the coast guard if you need help. Yes they are monitored and the coast guard and they will give you sh** if you don't use it correctly.

[DF]

Yes you will get 7 miles. Depending on the amount of power and hieght of antenna [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] If you are using a big tall antenna with about 9 db. gain and say about 25 watts out the back of the radio. Wich when you have a high gain antenna ( this may get confusing ) your Efective Radiated Power is greater than 25 watts. So basically when you put 25 watts out your actually getting more out power out because of the antenna. I dont remeber how much it gose up for every db gain but I will find it and post it. You may get 7 miles with 25 watts point to point but im not sure about 5 watts. Now if your using 50 to 100 watts your going to get alot more range [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Chaps]

The big gain antennas have more range under ideal conditions but two negatives are the transmit radiation pattern is very flat (like a pancake) so if your boat is rocking around the receiving station will not copy well since you will cut out a lot. Also the horizon is closer than the range of the high gainers so it is kind of a waste. Best coverage set-up is a quality 6db antenna mounted higher than anything else on your boat. Radiation pattern is much fatter so your rescuers will hear you while you rock and roll on those 12 foot swells.