VHF Radio easy question

Anchor Lady

Anchor Lady

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Jun 1, 2019
30
Oday 30 Saugatuck
Hey Gang,

I have a very old Standard Horizon VHF Radio. It is probably 20 years old. Antenna is on top of the mast. I also have a handheld Standard Horizon HX210 just in case as a backup.

Here is my softball question: If I have both radios on channel 16, the old built in radio seems to get all of the radio chatter, the handheld gets about 10%. Is this because the old built in has a longer range? (Yes the volumn is up on each).

It’s a newer handheld, maybe there is a setting I’m missing.

Thanks for looking,

Jim
 

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Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,485
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
Yes, I think you are correct. The range on the hand-held is not nearly as far as the built-in with an antenna at the top of the mast.

May also be some other settings affecting what you pick up (or what you hear)...but Range is certainly much farther on the built-in.

Greg
 
DayDreamer41

DayDreamer41

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Oct 29, 2016
1,929
Hunter 41 DS Port Huron
You could test the theory by reducing the squelch on the hand held as your reduce squelch the chatter should increase but the noise will increase as well.
 
BigEasy

BigEasy

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Jun 21, 2004
2,810
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Transmitter on fixed mount VHF with mast mounted antenna has about 20 mile range vs about 5 miles with handheld. Fixed mount has about 20 watts output vs 5 watts with handheld. VHF waves travel by line of sight; therefore, mast mounted antenna can “reach out” further because of higher placement. And, range for both radios is subject to weather conditions. Nice to have both on board, especially if you don’t have a remote Mike for use in the cockpit and if you ever have to abandon ship, nice to have the handheld!
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
One experiment you can do (if you have adapters) is to put the handheld on the mast antenna. That should take care of the "lack of chatter" on the handheld.

But as mentioned above, it is not the radio, it is the height of the antenna. Antennas that are mounted on top of the mast will "hear" better than antennas mounted directly to the radio. So I think you are OK.
 
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