Mounted vhf radio q’s

fred1diver

fred1diver

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Aug 17, 2013
1,037
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa/Gatineau
Hello everyone, I have a few questions regarding vhf radios.
I have a mounted vhf but no antenna for it on my boat, but I also have a handheld one, how important is it to get the mounted one operational?
I know it isn’t a big job to install the antenna and route the wire, but should I save my money for other projects?
 
Richard19068

Richard19068

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Jun 11, 2004
1,776
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
Depends on how far you want to be able to communicate. VHF is line of sight so the higher the antenna the further out you can send and receive.

VHF / UHF Antenna Line of Sight Distance Calculator

Online Very High Frequency /Ultra High Frequency line of sight calculator to calculate the range of electromagnetic transmission between two antennas. This transmission includes light emissions traveling in a straight line.
www.easycalculation.com www.easycalculation.com
 
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J

JohnShannon

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Jan 4, 2010
1,037
Farr 30 San Francisco
How far away is anybody you might want to talk to? The fixed mount is 25W of power the handheld is 5-6. The fixed mount is broadcasting from 40 ft over the water vs 8 for the handheld. If you are just sailing in the Ottawa area I would imagine a cell phone would work fine.
 
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D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
13,010
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
As others have said, the antenna height is critical for maximum range. So, how much range do you need?

While the optimum location is the mast head, the antenna can be mounted anywhere. The stern rail is sometimes used. You may be able to fashion a small pole to raise the antenna a few more feet to gain some additional distance.

The one big advantage a fixed mount VHF has is more power. With an antenna on the rail the range will not increase much, however the added power (25 w vs 5w) will blast through any noise that would drown a hand held.
 
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fred1diver

fred1diver

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Aug 17, 2013
1,037
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa/Gatineau
I will be mainly be on the Ottawa river but I am planning on going up to Oka this summer, maybe a trip up the canal to Kingston, not sure yet
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
13,010
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
fred1diver said:
I will be mainly be on the Ottawa river but I am planning on going up to Oka this summer, maybe a trip up the canal to Kingston, not sure yet
Click to expand
You should be fine. While range will be limited in an emergency you will always be in cell phone range.
 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

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Sep 25, 2008
7,460
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
fred1diver said:
Ok, so I just ordered an antenna. Coax cable, and connectors, along with many other goodies, now if the snow can melt and the temperatures go up, I will be a happy boater
Click to expand
Was surprised by that given everyone commented that it sounds like you don’t need the range.

just curious - from where did you source the coax, connectors, etc…? What type coax, what brand connectors?
 
fred1diver

fred1diver

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Aug 17, 2013
1,037
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa/Gatineau
I get my stuff at my local chandlery (the Chandlery)
I got tinned coax.
I just remember my trip last year and I needed to reach the other boats on our trip and they were out of range, so that weighed in the balance.

I like to have a ship shape boat, I could have bought a new handheld since I don’t really trust the one I have because the screen is cracked therefore not waterproof anymore, I just want to be safe
 
Richard19068

Richard19068

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Jun 11, 2004
1,776
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
fred1diver said:
I just remember my trip last year and I needed to reach the other boats on our trip and they were out of range, so that weighed in the balance.
Click to expand
Keep in mind that range is line of sight. If another boat is around a bend in the river and behind a hill your ability to reach them by vhf may be limited.
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,259
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Congrats Fred on your selection. I like the fixed radio. It is pretty essential in open waters. I also carry a fully functioning hand held. It is usually on my person when I am sailing.

It is a voice line to call for help should I be off the boat for some reason...:yikes:

It also provides backup should something go wrong with the fixed radio... i.e. a mast comes down.

Funny how these safety tools need backups.

May the sun shine brightly and warm your sailing waters so you can take that boat of yours out on the water where she belongs.
 
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C

captcoho

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Oct 29, 2012
353
Catalina 30 TRBS MkII Milwaukee
If you get in a situation were you really need help, not only having a fixed station with an antenna high on the mast. But in the event that you lose the fixed unit, you can with the help of a little adapter you can attach your handheld to the mast mount antenna and get out a strong signal.
 
BarryL

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,068
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Hey,

I realize that I'm late responding, and you already bought an antenna. My question / point is how old is the VHF that is currently installed? Does it work? Is it relatively new and does it include mandatory features that all new VHF units come with like DSC? If it's so old that it doesn't have DSC I would not bother with the antenna and I would just use the hand held.

Good luck,
Barry
 
JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,774
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Mark Maulden said:
What’s mandatory about DSC? Am I going to learn something today?..
Click to expand
Fast response by Coast Guard and if your radio has GPS, they can locate you.

Sends out radio signal on channel 70 , if I recall right.
Jim...

PS: Sends a continuous "ping" until shut off. No GPS needed.
 
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Head Sail

Head Sail

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Nov 13, 2013
723
Catalina 34 Tacoma
Get an antenna for your mounted vhf and mount on the masthead. My experience being disabled off San Juan Island allowed my fixed antenna to contact Canadian Coast Guard 15 miles away. Handheld would never make it that far.
 
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B

Barnacle Bill

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Jun 9, 2008
1,801
- -- -Bayfield
The lower off the water the higher dbg number should be. So, powerboats often have 8 dbg antennas while sailboats with the antenna mounted at the masthead can get away with a 3 dbg antenna. As stated about, hand helds have only 5 watts per channel which larger wired in units have 25 watts per channel. What is good about a VHF radio over a cell phone, is that you cannot always get a cell phone signal and also, if in distress, not only will the coast guard receive your transmission, but nearby boaters can also hear the call and lend a hand.
 
Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,704
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
BarryL said:
Hey,

I realize that I'm late responding, and you already bought an antenna. My question / point is how old is the VHF that is currently installed? Does it work? Is it relatively new and does it include mandatory features that all new VHF units come with like DSC? If it's so old that it doesn't have DSC I would not bother with the antenna and I would just use the hand held.

Good luck,
Barry
Click to expand
From my experience with DSC usage levels I wouldn’t really factor that into my purchase decision. I’ve had a DSC radio for 9 years and have used the DSC functions exactly zero times, and I’m generally an early adopter of new technology. I’ve heard a few Coast Guard broadcasts that they received a DSC distress call of unknown origin, but typical distress calls and hails are, at least to a very high percentage, standard VHF.
 
BarryL

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,068
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Hey,

I believe that DSC was required in all fixed mount radios since 2000. So it's not exactly new. I don't know how many people get an MMSI number, load it into the VHF, make sure the VHF has GPS data, etc, but the radio must have it.

I've seen some very old radios on some boats. They still work (or at least power on and receive) but I would not bother buying (and installing) a new VHF antenna for a 20+ year old radio. BTW you can buy a brand new 25 watt fixed mount VHF for under $150.

Barry


Mark Maulden said:
What’s mandatory about DSC? Am I going to learn something today?..
Click to expand
 
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