Radio

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Tom Hoffman

Tom Hoffman

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Dec 25, 2009
269
American 26 & MFG Challenger 12 American 8.0, Challenger 12 Lake Pepin, Wisc.
I have come to the point where I am looking at getting a radio, so I can communicate with other boats and marina's etc.

What would be your recommendation for a hand held model? Is this something that I need a license for or is that not a requirement any more?

Thanks for any help.

Tom...
 
W

Winkfish

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Jul 28, 2010
914
Boston Whaler Montauk New Orleans
No license required for a VHF. As for what model, depends on your budget. Handheld vs fixed mount depends on your use. Handhelds obviously dont have the range a fixed mount does. The antenna is important as well. Figure out your needs, then see what meets those needs.
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
VHF - No license req. when operating in US waters.

What are you looking for base mount or hand held? Hand held units have a relatively limited range based on power and antenna height.

Brands - Std Horizon, Uniden, ICOM, Apelco, Raymarine. All good radios, but you need to decide what you are looking for.
 
Don12364

Don12364

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Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
Typical Ranges - Rough Guide only but these are actual ranges achieved and partly from trials done for a UK magazine:
HH to HH (i.e. cockpit to cockpit) 2-3 miles.
HH to masthead antenna (i.e fixed mount) 5-8 miles.
Masthead to masthead (i.e. fixed mount to fixed mount) 17-25 miles
HH to coastguard antenna height 300' approx 25+ miles.

Note:- These are NOT the theoretical ranges calculated from "line of sight" earth curvature etc.
Actual ranges will vary depending somewhat on weather conditions, aerial installations etc. Occasionally, during a 'high' extraordinarily long ranges are achieved.

If going for HH suggest buying waterproof one and with a lithium ion (Li Ion) battery.
Problem with HH radios is that they only last about a day on their batteries and should not left on charge; thus, when you leave the boat you don't put the set on charge - and when you return next weekend the battery is flat!
Li Ion have longer life, very low self discharge and many recharge in an hour or so and some do have a charger you can leave on.
 
Paul J. Rusyniak

Paul J. Rusyniak

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Jan 24, 2008
293
Alerion Express 28 Oneida Lake, NY
Tom...
Thanks for bringing this up as I'm also interested in a handheld for daysailing on a lake.
Looking forward to additional comments on
cockpit-to-cockpit range
rechargeable battery performance
Paul
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Paul:

I have a Standard Horizon hand held. The batteries seem to last for several days if we are not transmitting on it. I think you will find that all radio are different in this regard and it depends on the quality of the batteries.

I think you will find that the analysis that Donalex has presented will give you a good idea on the range. The hand helds are poor at best. I do not have any idea how large the lakes are that you are sailing on but if you need help and you are 5-10 miles from another boat/base you could be in trouble. You also need to think about how you are going to report your position (lat/lon) if you are in trouble. Some of the new equipment (radios) also have this capability built in too. They just probably use up more of your battery power.

We currently have a RayMarine 230. It allows us to have a radio in the cockpit as well as at the helm. It is great unit with exceptional range. We also have a hand held as a backup too.
 
Paul J. Rusyniak

Paul J. Rusyniak

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Jan 24, 2008
293
Alerion Express 28 Oneida Lake, NY
Steve:
Thanks for the information!
The lake is approx 4 miles x 20 miles. I'll continue to read/research the topic.
Paul
 
Tom Hoffman

Tom Hoffman

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Dec 25, 2009
269
American 26 & MFG Challenger 12 American 8.0, Challenger 12 Lake Pepin, Wisc.
Thank you all for your efforts. I bought a radio this morning. I bought a 25 watt Uniden.
Base unit instead of a Hand Held. Now I just have to run the cable down through the mast from the mast head antenna....
 
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rejenk3

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Nov 12, 2009
49
Catalina 22, El Toro Folsom
Paul,
I mostly do lake day sailing and ended up with a Standard Horizon HX850S. It works fine and easily holds a charge for as long as I've needed it. It also comes with GPS, Lat/Long SOG COG as well as weather. It submersible, floats and has a water activated strobe. It also has Canadian channels if you drift north a bit.
 
kenn

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
Tom Hoffman said:
Thank you all for your efforts. I bought a radio this morning. I bought a 25 watt Uniden.
Base unit instead of a Hand Held. Now I just have to run the cable down through the mast from the mast head antenna....
Click to expand
You made the best choice. A fixed VHF radio with a masthead antenna is about as good as it gets for marine VHF, yet doesn't cost that much more than a good waterproof handheld. Our 19' boat came with a small fixed VHF, I upgraded the masthead antenna ($60) and it's been a reliable performer.

We also have a cheap handheld (factory repack - about $25) and it's fun, but we don't have to depend on it. :)
 
td2dv

td2dv

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Feb 16, 2010
3
none na Minneapolis
The unfair advantage

Hi Tom,
Sailboats have an unfair advantage over power boaters in that we already have an antenna mount that is quite high, thus greatly extending the radio's line of sight range over the curve of the earth.
Plus there are way fewer power concerns.
HH's are best for dingy-ing and and in the Keys, giving amusing navigation suggestions from a bar stool. =)
Good choice on you part.
denis in Minneapolis
P.S.
If you are looking for crew on your American, I'd enjoy riding one again.
luckyatusfamilydotnet
 
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