As someone who had a two-way radio business and installed radio communication systems, some on boats, I would use any handheld radio with the ability to connect an external radio and alkaline or lithium batter packs. Receive is important. If they can hear you but you can’t them, there is no communication External antenna because the rubber duck antennas on handhelds do not work well. Antenna mounted on the mast with quality coax cable works best. With a “mobile” radio, dash mounted or? An external antenna is still needed, a battery supply is needed and the transmit power is greater, but not always needed. Radio needs depend a lot on your use. My old standard horizon handheld with a mast mounted antenna will easily communicate to the mainland from the close in Channel Islands off the Los Angeles coast - Catalina or anacapa. John Kitchens from my phone
On Dec 3, 2021, at 23:40, Lawrence Winiarski via montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
And in case it's not obvious, the higher power dash doesn't help you receiving just transmitting.
Don't underestimate the importance of the antenna for range. Sailboats are lucky for having the big mast!
On Friday, December 3, 2021, 10:58:42 PM PST, Lawrence Winiarski via montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
I put an antenna on the mast and ran down a coax cable. I can plug in a hand held (with a bnc adapter) to thehigh antenna.
Dash mounted ones use more quiescent power than hand held ones in standby.
- On Friday, December 3, 2021, 10:42:36 PM PST, Paul Baker <avalonjazz@gmail.com> wrote:
I am planning on buying a marine radio for my Montgomery 15. I know dash mounted ones can be 25 watts, which a much further range than handheld, but require a marine battery which I don't have. If I install a battery, I have to have a way of charging it. Any information or suggestions on this decision I must make would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Paul Baker
On Fri, Dec 3, 2021, 9:51 PM John Schinnerer via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
I have a Standard Horizon HX280S.
https://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=85...
Got it used some years ago for $50 (including 120V AC and 12V DC chargers and Li-ion battery, but not the alkaline battery holder) from someone I knew in Hilo sailing club who was clearing out assorted used gear. Submersible, reasonably compact. Relatively large capacity battery. 5 watt max not 6, also has 1 watt setting for power saving when range is short. Similar stuff is on eBay in similar price range.
I just wanted to have a decent enough VHF in case I needed one, for sailing or paddling on ocean. Used very little so far as mostly I've been lake boating.
I did think about dropping ~$200 on a new one with GPS and DSC. But after thinking about the GPS part, I realized I'd rather have a separate GPS if I have one at all. Several reasons, including separate user interface for each, separate battery run time, display size & quality, and safety. If I have just the one VHF/GPS device and it breaks or goes overboard I have neither any more. If I need the GPS a bunch I'm also using up my VHF battery, and vice versa. VHF GPS displays are limited compared to dedicated handheld GPS. Seemed more versatile with separate devices. When I saw this one on my friend's list of used gear I looked it up and it looked good enough so that's what I have.
cheers, John
On 12/3/21 6:46 PM, Jim Sadler wrote: What are you skippers using for handheld vhf? Merry Christmas skippers ? Capt Jim SV Pelican M 15
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-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com