I am considering buying a Uniden 350 waterproof handheld VHF or similar productl. How far can I expect to transmit and receive with 5 watts, assuming line-of-sight condtions ?
portable VHF's
- Thread starter R4576
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- Jan 22, 2008
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I would agree with 2-3 miles at best on a perfect day, standing high on the cabin top with topped up batteries. Recieve is better than transmit as often I can hear others but they cannot hear me.
The hand helds are very short range. They are good for a race so you don't have to go to the cabin to answer, and of course they are better than nothing if you have it cliped on your life jacket when you go over the side. But I would never depend on one as your only VHF if you plan to sail more than a couple of miles from shore.
Two things to consider with a handheld VHF.
First, does it float? A lot of the new ones do. This is a good thing if you're a klutz...since, if you drop it, it doesn't shoot straight to the bottom.
Second, can you get AA batteries for it? Many VHF handhelds allow you to use AA batteries with a different battery holder, often at a reduced power output. However, if you're planning on carrying a handheld VHF and might need to use it in a ditch bag situation, carrying the AA battery holder and a bucket load of AA batteries is a really good idea... and if yours can't use AA batteries, the handheld will only be good for as long as the battery in can hold out.
First, does it float? A lot of the new ones do. This is a good thing if you're a klutz...since, if you drop it, it doesn't shoot straight to the bottom.
Second, can you get AA batteries for it? Many VHF handhelds allow you to use AA batteries with a different battery holder, often at a reduced power output. However, if you're planning on carrying a handheld VHF and might need to use it in a ditch bag situation, carrying the AA battery holder and a bucket load of AA batteries is a really good idea... and if yours can't use AA batteries, the handheld will only be good for as long as the battery in can hold out.
I've had good luck using an inexpensive Uniden/West Marine (+/-$100 or so) hand-held VHF as a backup to my installed Icom. Range really does depend on conditions -- and the condition of your batteries as transmitting takes far more power than receiving. It is a handy VHF for racing, contacting bridges and marinas, and particularly when cruising with another boat in sight. I did not buy a waterproof model, but instead keep the unit in a waterproof bag. The bag has long lanyard to which I've clipped a carabiner. I can then clip the carabiner to anything nearby to ensure the radio stays aboard.... Very happy with this unit.
The best time to test a handheld VHF transceiver for send/receive range is when it's hot and cloudless day.....line of site only.
Reason being this is the worst conditions for sending VHF signals.
On a cold and cloudy day the signals will bounce off.... the clouds and cold air layer and travel further then the line of site distance only.
paulj:troll:
Reason being this is the worst conditions for sending VHF signals.
On a cold and cloudy day the signals will bounce off.... the clouds and cold air layer and travel further then the line of site distance only.
paulj:troll:
Smart Shopping
We've been using handhelds for years. Our C22 didn't have a VHF installed. Our C25 had an old one with crystals (ohmigod just imagine!) and only a few channels and was located so far out of reach of the helm that it made the boat feel bigger! For the past ten years we've been through three or four on our C34 (which has an old Standard Horizon built in at the nav station below). I put a footman's loop on the drink holder in the cockpit, so it is right at hand. We've used West Marine models, one of those Uniden that WM made, too (it's sitting here in my study now), and we now have a Standard Horizon on board that we got from Defender for well under $100.
Look for sales, most of them are pretty much the same except for the Icoms and I figure as they change over the years it's worth buying new ones. They seem to last about three to four years anyway. The alkaline battery trays are handy and we leave one on board, fully loaded, ready to go, but use the rechargeable batteries most all of the time. My friend bought me a recharge kit and I'm thinking about a separate one for the boat, but for now we just bring the cradle to the boat - plug it into 120V at home, the cig lighter on the boat.
We've been using handhelds for years. Our C22 didn't have a VHF installed. Our C25 had an old one with crystals (ohmigod just imagine!) and only a few channels and was located so far out of reach of the helm that it made the boat feel bigger!
For the past ten years we've been through three or four on our C34 (which has an old Standard Horizon built in at the nav station below). I put a footman's loop on the drink holder in the cockpit, so it is right at hand. We've used West Marine models, one of those Uniden that WM made, too (it's sitting here in my study now), and we now have a Standard Horizon on board that we got from Defender for well under $100.Look for sales, most of them are pretty much the same except for the Icoms and I figure as they change over the years it's worth buying new ones. They seem to last about three to four years anyway. The alkaline battery trays are handy and we leave one on board, fully loaded, ready to go, but use the rechargeable batteries most all of the time. My friend bought me a recharge kit and I'm thinking about a separate one for the boat, but for now we just bring the cradle to the boat - plug it into 120V at home, the cig lighter on the boat.
Hand held to hand held, cockpit to cockpit is about 3 miles max. Have tested many for articles in UK boating magazine.
Hand held from cockpit to Coastguard with his antenna on a high cliff gave 35 miles transmission each way. Frankly I was amazed and only called up because I was concerned about people in life rafts with HH sets trying to send Mayday messages.
Later I visited the Coastguard HQ and spent a couple of hours with their main communications man. The CG only use similar equipment to the leisure market but, of course, it and their antennas are in perfect order.
Roger is right about standing on cabin top as this improves matters somewhat.
Get one with a Lithium Ion battery else it will always be run down when you need it. Li-Ion do not self discharge.
In their later HH sets ICOM have now removed the circuit which deliberately discharged the batteries in a week even when the set was switched off.
Hand held from cockpit to Coastguard with his antenna on a high cliff gave 35 miles transmission each way. Frankly I was amazed and only called up because I was concerned about people in life rafts with HH sets trying to send Mayday messages.
Later I visited the Coastguard HQ and spent a couple of hours with their main communications man. The CG only use similar equipment to the leisure market but, of course, it and their antennas are in perfect order.
Roger is right about standing on cabin top as this improves matters somewhat.
Get one with a Lithium Ion battery else it will always be run down when you need it. Li-Ion do not self discharge.
In their later HH sets ICOM have now removed the circuit which deliberately discharged the batteries in a week even when the set was switched off.
Donalex-
Lithium Ion batteries do self-discharge. They just do so much slower than NiMH and NiCd batteries do.
Lithium Ion batteries do self-discharge. They just do so much slower than NiMH and NiCd batteries do.
great information
Many thanks, all. You have answered more questions than I have asked. Guaranteed, if I went into a store, I would not have come out with as much useful information as I get from my fellow sailors on this forum.
P.S. Merry Christmas to one and all.
Ron
Many thanks, all. You have answered more questions than I have asked. Guaranteed, if I went into a store, I would not have come out with as much useful information as I get from my fellow sailors on this forum.
P.S. Merry Christmas to one and all.
Ron
Thanksgiving - Christmas
We celebrate Thanksgivings here in Canada in mid-October, so Christmas is the next big one for us. All in all, a very happy Thanksgiving to my American sailing neighbours
We celebrate Thanksgivings here in Canada in mid-October, so Christmas is the next big one for us. All in all, a very happy Thanksgiving to my American sailing neighbours
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