I'm adding another VHF radio to the helm as I can never hear the one at the nav station. Is it OK to put a splitter on the current vhf antenna coax cable and hook both to the same antenna.......or will this cause major problems?? Could both be on at the same time? I'm sure someone here has first hand knowledge of this. Thanks for your help. George
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2 radios 1 antenna
George, Don't use just a simple coax splitter because when one radio transmits it will dammage the other radio. There is a very specific device for this purpose which switches one radio off the coax. Shakespere makes one, called an automatic coaxial switch and costs about $70 to $80. I bought an ICom VHF with a second station mic for the cockpit. Just installed it last summer and it works very well. The extension "command mic" is easy to disconnect and or hide. It also has an intercom feature with the main unit below at the nav station, something you can't get with two radios. It is more expensive but is a great gadget!
George, Don't use just a simple coax splitter because when one radio transmits it will dammage the other radio. There is a very specific device for this purpose which switches one radio off the coax. Shakespere makes one, called an automatic coaxial switch and costs about $70 to $80. I bought an ICom VHF with a second station mic for the cockpit. Just installed it last summer and it works very well. The extension "command mic" is easy to disconnect and or hide. It also has an intercom feature with the main unit below at the nav station, something you can't get with two radios. It is more expensive but is a great gadget!
Portable
I would like a command mic when I get a new radio but for now I use a handheld and keep it near the pedestal. The base VHF down below is on and does not interfere with the handheld. A handheld VHF is a must. What are you going to do when your base VHF goes down with the boat when the boat sinks? Plus it can be used for when you go ashore in your dinghy and leave someone back on the boat ie, kids or friends go check out an island while you stay behind.
I would like a command mic when I get a new radio but for now I use a handheld and keep it near the pedestal. The base VHF down below is on and does not interfere with the handheld. A handheld VHF is a must. What are you going to do when your base VHF goes down with the boat when the boat sinks? Plus it can be used for when you go ashore in your dinghy and leave someone back on the boat ie, kids or friends go check out an island while you stay behind.
Hand Held 
I agree with the previous sailor. The hand held is the way to go. Take that $70 or $80 dollars and put it toward a hand held. I have one and would not be without it. Mine is older, but the new ones that are out are nice and small. ;D
I agree with the previous sailor. The hand held is the way to go. Take that $70 or $80 dollars and put it toward a hand held. I have one and would not be without it. Mine is older, but the new ones that are out are nice and small. ;D
Two Things to Keep in Mind
There are two major things to keep in mind about handhelds. They are typically lower power than base units (usually 5 watt vs 25 watt). Also, VHF radios are "iine of sight". A mast mounted antenna, or even a stern mount, is typically higher than what you'd have with a handheld. As far as sinking with the boat, if I wait that long to use my radio when my boat's in trouble, I've waited too long.
There are two major things to keep in mind about handhelds. They are typically lower power than base units (usually 5 watt vs 25 watt). Also, VHF radios are "iine of sight". A mast mounted antenna, or even a stern mount, is typically higher than what you'd have with a handheld. As far as sinking with the boat, if I wait that long to use my radio when my boat's in trouble, I've waited too long.
2 radios
Hi George; I also found the radio located at the nav. station on my C30 to not be practical, especially when motoring. I used a hand held for several years and considered a remote mike. I would have had to change out my nav station radio to use a remote mike, and instead purchased a Standard Horizon fixed mount with DSC on sale for less than the cost of a good handheld or a Ram mike. I installed in in the combing on the starboard side right above the shore power connection. Very handy to the helm position. Installed a simple Shakespere manual antenna switch at the nav station and everything works well. See page 87 of the new West Marine catalog. Nice to have full control at the helm position and 25 watts when needed. Probably use the helm position radio for 95% of transmissions. Fair winds Dave
Hi George; I also found the radio located at the nav. station on my C30 to not be practical, especially when motoring. I used a hand held for several years and considered a remote mike. I would have had to change out my nav station radio to use a remote mike, and instead purchased a Standard Horizon fixed mount with DSC on sale for less than the cost of a good handheld or a Ram mike. I installed in in the combing on the starboard side right above the shore power connection. Very handy to the helm position. Installed a simple Shakespere manual antenna switch at the nav station and everything works well. See page 87 of the new West Marine catalog. Nice to have full control at the helm position and 25 watts when needed. Probably use the helm position radio for 95% of transmissions. Fair winds Dave
IMHO
If you do blue water stuff, navstation radio mount. If you do coatal/inland you need something at the helm OR a remote speaker from the navstation radio to the helm. The speaker was the chepest solution for me as I do a little of both and mostly only monitor channel 16-9-72. If I need to have a conversation with somebody the wife gets envolved anyway and does it from the navstation.
If you do blue water stuff, navstation radio mount. If you do coatal/inland you need something at the helm OR a remote speaker from the navstation radio to the helm. The speaker was the chepest solution for me as I do a little of both and mostly only monitor channel 16-9-72. If I need to have a conversation with somebody the wife gets envolved anyway and does it from the navstation.
Radios, radios, everywhere radios
I put a new Standard Horizon DSC VHF at the nav station last year, and also got a handheld to have in the cockpit and should I have to abandon ship. This year, I got the RAM mic for the base station, which I plan on installing in the cockpit as well. More so for convenience, and the added range and DSC convenience in the cockpit. On a side note, one thing to remember about that antennae at the top of the mast. If you have one or more radios attached to it, and something catastrophic happens (dismasting), then you've got NO antennae. When adding new radios last year, I picked up an emergency antennae, which is about a 12" antennae on a six foot cable. Enough to hook to the radio and get on deck in an emergency. Cheap insurance. Also, regarding the comment about using the handheld from shore as a link to the boat. I thought I had read some where that technically, that was illegal. That the marine VHF bands where for boat to boat, or base station to boat, and that walking around with a handheld VHF doesn't really constitute a base station. Not saying that people don't do it, and I certainly wouldn't report anyone, but it's something that I had heard/read. To that end, we generally have 3-4 of the Walkabout FRS radios on board. We use them ship to shore, between cars, at amusement parks, etc. Anyway, George, I think your question has been answered previously, yes you can do it, you need a special splitter to run them both, and there are a variety of alternative solutions out there if you are interested. Good luck - T J
I put a new Standard Horizon DSC VHF at the nav station last year, and also got a handheld to have in the cockpit and should I have to abandon ship. This year, I got the RAM mic for the base station, which I plan on installing in the cockpit as well. More so for convenience, and the added range and DSC convenience in the cockpit. On a side note, one thing to remember about that antennae at the top of the mast. If you have one or more radios attached to it, and something catastrophic happens (dismasting), then you've got NO antennae. When adding new radios last year, I picked up an emergency antennae, which is about a 12" antennae on a six foot cable. Enough to hook to the radio and get on deck in an emergency. Cheap insurance. Also, regarding the comment about using the handheld from shore as a link to the boat. I thought I had read some where that technically, that was illegal. That the marine VHF bands where for boat to boat, or base station to boat, and that walking around with a handheld VHF doesn't really constitute a base station. Not saying that people don't do it, and I certainly wouldn't report anyone, but it's something that I had heard/read. To that end, we generally have 3-4 of the Walkabout FRS radios on board. We use them ship to shore, between cars, at amusement parks, etc. Anyway, George, I think your question has been answered previously, yes you can do it, you need a special splitter to run them both, and there are a variety of alternative solutions out there if you are interested. Good luck - T J
There's no Technically about the illegality
using your hand-held Marine Band VHF from shore. It's illegal. Period. If you want to communicate from shore to your mother ship, get a FRS radio or a GMRS / FRS radio with the required licenses (for GMRS, all operators must be licensed, for FRS, no license is required). The comment above about having an emergency antenna is a good one. I've seen at least two boats dismasted and unable to communicate because their antena was in the water. I used a hand-held from the cockpit and a fixed mount with a remote cockpit speaker from my nav station on both of my previous boats. If I ever transmitted from my hand-held on the same frequency as I was monitoring on the base station (or the opposite), I got an awful feed-back between the two. Just monitoring the hand-held used the batteries at a horrific rate, so I usially kept the hand-held off until I wanted to use it for transmitting. This option is at best, marginal. On my present boat, I have found the RAM Mic to be the cat's meow as I can monitor and / or transmit from either the helm or from the nav station. This option uses fewer electrons than two fixed mount radios, and, as an initial installation, is probably cheaper. If you use two frixed mount radios, you should probably use the same antenna (with either a manual or an automatic switch) to avoid the problem of feed-back between the two radios. Steve Alchemist C-320 Steve Alchemist C-320
using your hand-held Marine Band VHF from shore. It's illegal. Period. If you want to communicate from shore to your mother ship, get a FRS radio or a GMRS / FRS radio with the required licenses (for GMRS, all operators must be licensed, for FRS, no license is required). The comment above about having an emergency antenna is a good one. I've seen at least two boats dismasted and unable to communicate because their antena was in the water. I used a hand-held from the cockpit and a fixed mount with a remote cockpit speaker from my nav station on both of my previous boats. If I ever transmitted from my hand-held on the same frequency as I was monitoring on the base station (or the opposite), I got an awful feed-back between the two. Just monitoring the hand-held used the batteries at a horrific rate, so I usially kept the hand-held off until I wanted to use it for transmitting. This option is at best, marginal. On my present boat, I have found the RAM Mic to be the cat's meow as I can monitor and / or transmit from either the helm or from the nav station. This option uses fewer electrons than two fixed mount radios, and, as an initial installation, is probably cheaper. If you use two frixed mount radios, you should probably use the same antenna (with either a manual or an automatic switch) to avoid the problem of feed-back between the two radios. Steve Alchemist C-320 Steve Alchemist C-320
Illegality - you're right, but -
Alchemist wrote: "There's no Technically about the illegality using your hand-held Marine Band VHF from shore. It's illegal. Period." Alchemist, I am sure that you are correct, but it is still done all the time. A recent example for me was a charter trip to Catalina Island (CA). The shore boats (water taxis) there are raised on VHF9 - so if you are at the dock and want a boat - you get on VHF9 with your handheld and nobody says a thing against it and they answer that they will be right over to pick you up. They don't have GMRS/FRS radios or any other communications as far as I know. Also - their shore station uses VHF from land (special license?). It is kind like a local "wakeless" lake here - wakeless in Colorado means 5mph or less. But the local lake is advertised for windsurfers, catamarans and planing dinghys that easily beat this. There is the law as written, and then as it is done or enforced.
Alchemist wrote: "There's no Technically about the illegality using your hand-held Marine Band VHF from shore. It's illegal. Period." Alchemist, I am sure that you are correct, but it is still done all the time. A recent example for me was a charter trip to Catalina Island (CA). The shore boats (water taxis) there are raised on VHF9 - so if you are at the dock and want a boat - you get on VHF9 with your handheld and nobody says a thing against it and they answer that they will be right over to pick you up. They don't have GMRS/FRS radios or any other communications as far as I know. Also - their shore station uses VHF from land (special license?). It is kind like a local "wakeless" lake here - wakeless in Colorado means 5mph or less. But the local lake is advertised for windsurfers, catamarans and planing dinghys that easily beat this. There is the law as written, and then as it is done or enforced.
Illegal?
If you are on/near a dink on the beach and the dink was from the mother ship, then you are not actually considered a shore station. This is the same as when you are tied to the dock with your engine off. If you want to chit-chat FROM land with boat, and you are not in/near your dink then you would be a shore station, which is illegal, unless of course you apply for and receive a shorebase license. To get a shore base station license You need to apply for a land radio station license using FCC Form 503, available at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/marine/fctsht14.html. You may find that the FCC won't approve your application based upon your intended use: typically, you'd need to have a requirement to communicate with a fleet of vessels (e.g. more than one), or provide some sort of service to vessels, or not be able to use the services of a public coast station. If you do not meet the FCC's requirement for obtaining a land radio station license, you cannot operate a marine radio ashore.
If you are on/near a dink on the beach and the dink was from the mother ship, then you are not actually considered a shore station. This is the same as when you are tied to the dock with your engine off. If you want to chit-chat FROM land with boat, and you are not in/near your dink then you would be a shore station, which is illegal, unless of course you apply for and receive a shorebase license. To get a shore base station license You need to apply for a land radio station license using FCC Form 503, available at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/marine/fctsht14.html. You may find that the FCC won't approve your application based upon your intended use: typically, you'd need to have a requirement to communicate with a fleet of vessels (e.g. more than one), or provide some sort of service to vessels, or not be able to use the services of a public coast station. If you do not meet the FCC's requirement for obtaining a land radio station license, you cannot operate a marine radio ashore.
One more thing....
Boat docks, marinas, fuel docks, etc all qualify as shore base stations and can be licensed.
Boat docks, marinas, fuel docks, etc all qualify as shore base stations and can be licensed.
NAV Stations and VHF
I alwyas said that nav stations on a small boat (usually under 65 feet) are a manufacturers way of showing a sense of humor. They are a joke when it comes to any functionality. They may serve as a good place to do normal paperwork i.e. read mail, balance a checkbook etc. If you cant open your largest chat folded in half and be able to work on it, the nav station becomes useless. You wont be able to see the edges of the charts where the lats and longs are. Next, some of you have already stated that you cant hear the radio below. I for one ,never could either. When you are piloting, especially when alone, your "NAV station" should be at the helm where GPS, VHF, and all other safety things are needed. One time I was on a 45 foot sailboat with a friend ( who, BTW, was always told by me how rediculous it was to have radios, etc at the NAV Station below), Antway, we were responding to a Coast Guard call for a rescue in our area. Guess What? The handheld radio was too far to be used. Sooooooooooo, being creative and looking like idiots, he would yell up to me with the CG requests and info, I would then yell back down to him and he could relay the in fo to the CG. "HEY, I SEE THEM." then he would tell the CG. "WE CAN SEE THEIR BOAT". THe CG would ask him if it had a blue hull and he would yell up to me.."DOES IT HAVE BLUE HULL". I would yell down to him "YES, IT HAS A BLUE HULL". Then he would get back to the CG "Yes it has a blue hull". And so it went. Nav stations give one pride to know they have one, but i plot from the galley table which is large and roomy and well light and my radio, gps etc is at the helm where i need them not down below where i cant use them. Also, i find that a handheld is great for contact with the dinghy if there is a shore party and someone is till on the main boat, but thats another story. Just my opinion.
I alwyas said that nav stations on a small boat (usually under 65 feet) are a manufacturers way of showing a sense of humor. They are a joke when it comes to any functionality. They may serve as a good place to do normal paperwork i.e. read mail, balance a checkbook etc. If you cant open your largest chat folded in half and be able to work on it, the nav station becomes useless. You wont be able to see the edges of the charts where the lats and longs are. Next, some of you have already stated that you cant hear the radio below. I for one ,never could either. When you are piloting, especially when alone, your "NAV station" should be at the helm where GPS, VHF, and all other safety things are needed. One time I was on a 45 foot sailboat with a friend ( who, BTW, was always told by me how rediculous it was to have radios, etc at the NAV Station below), Antway, we were responding to a Coast Guard call for a rescue in our area. Guess What? The handheld radio was too far to be used. Sooooooooooo, being creative and looking like idiots, he would yell up to me with the CG requests and info, I would then yell back down to him and he could relay the in fo to the CG. "HEY, I SEE THEM." then he would tell the CG. "WE CAN SEE THEIR BOAT". THe CG would ask him if it had a blue hull and he would yell up to me.."DOES IT HAVE BLUE HULL". I would yell down to him "YES, IT HAS A BLUE HULL". Then he would get back to the CG "Yes it has a blue hull". And so it went. Nav stations give one pride to know they have one, but i plot from the galley table which is large and roomy and well light and my radio, gps etc is at the helm where i need them not down below where i cant use them. Also, i find that a handheld is great for contact with the dinghy if there is a shore party and someone is till on the main boat, but thats another story. Just my opinion.
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