Best VHF Radio

[Tony D-26X_SusieQ]

Paul,

When you do those radio checks please remember to do them on channel 9 and not on 16. Too many people don't realize that radio checks are illegal on 16.

[Paul S]

Paul,

When you do those radio checks please remember to do them on channel 9 and not on 16. Too many people don't realize that radio checks are illegal on 16.

why would you do it on 16. That is the distress channel. I am not new here. Been boating for 14+ years

Paul

[mike]

Paul,

When you do those radio checks please remember to do them on channel 9 and not on 16. Too many people don't realize that radio checks are illegal on 16.

why would you do it on 16. That is the distress channel. I am not new here. Been boating for 14+ years

Hmmmm... around here, people ask for radio checks all the time on 16 (including myself once or twice). I didn't realize it was illegal. The Coast Guard doesn't seem to mind, though the do get very aggravated when people carry on a prolonged casual conversation about how many fish they've caught... the CG will then broadcast a standard message of "to the parties conversing on this channel, channel 16 is a hailing and distress channel only. Switch to a working channel. This is United States Coast Guard New Orleans Louisiana Group monitoring AND RECORDING on channel 16. Out." or something like that.

--Mike

[Paul S]

Paul,

When you do those radio checks please remember to do them on channel 9 and not on 16. Too many people don't realize that radio checks are illegal on 16.

why would you do it on 16. That is the distress channel. I am not new here. Been boating for 14+ years

Hmmmm... around here, people ask for radio checks all the time on 16 (including myself once or twice). I didn't realize it was illegal. The Coast Guard doesn't seem to mind, though the do get very aggravated when people carry on a prolonged casual conversation about how many fish they've caught... the CG will then broadcast a standard message of "to the parties conversing on this channel, channel 16 is a hailing and distress channel only. Switch to a working channel. This is United States Coast Guard New Orleans Louisiana Group monitoring AND RECORDING on channel 16. Out." or something like that.

--Mike

Not sure if it is technically illegal..but every coast guard aux course I have taken stresses not to use 16. In the Boston area..the CG corrects people all the time about radio checks on 16. It is getting to the point I just shut the radio off because of all the chit chat.

Paul

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

16 is not just for distress signals. It's definition is a "Calling Channel". It is the correct channel to use when hailing someone. Once connected you should then agree on a working channel to switch to. 09 is an alternate calling channel. The only time you must maintain radio silence on 16 and not call is when a active "May Day" or "Pan Pan" is in progress.

[jklightner]

How many out there have a VHF interfaced to their GPS so that in an emergency, it will broadcast your position? And how can you test it without getting SAR all bent out of shape?

[Paul S]

At my navigation class this year, the instructor said they are relaxing the restriction on using 16 as a calling channel (at least here in new england).

Back in 92 (I believe) the CG asked the FCC to remove calling on 16. I remember because I had a class back then. It was, at least in New England, not sure about the rest of the country, until this year I believe.

But he suggested keep using 9 as the calling because of the amount of radio traffic Boston gets.

I keed a dual watch on 9 and 16. Other than a radio check on 9, I rarely use the radio.

Paul

[mike]

How many out there have a VHF interfaced to their GPS so that in an emergency, it will broadcast your position? And how can you test it without getting SAR all bent out of shape?

My DSC radio is rigged in this manner. I guess the most important part is to ensure that the GPS info is being received properly by the radio. On my Intrepid+, basic nav information (heading, speed, coordinates) is displayed on the radio. If no GPS info is being received, it simply says "Invalid Position Data" or something like that.

As for testing the actual transmission of your position, I suppose you could do that with a buddy who has a DSC-capable radio (not sure of the exact procedure, but hit whatever buttons need to be hit to transmit your position to him).

But again, I think the most important part is to ensure the GPS info is being received by the radio reliably, and that's easy to do. Also, of course, be sure to get a MMSI number!

--Mike

[Tony D-26X_SusieQ]

Paul S,
You are correct about the CG trying to change the hailing channel to 09. The problem they ran into was a lot of the older radios don't have a scan feature so us boaters would loose a lot of boats that would be listning to 16 and responding to distress calls while waiting for someone to hail them on 09. So the CG still allows hailing on 16 though they prefer hailing to be done on 09 first then on 16 if only you do not get a response on 09. In a few years the DSC conversion will be complete and emergancy traffic will be moved to 70 exclusively.
I monitored a situation a couple of weeks ago where a boat capsized and 6 people were in the water. It was very frustrating as I was at best 2 hours away at WOT and could not get there to help. Fortunately there were other boats in the area monitoring 16 and were able to get there and help. It is so important to all of us that 16 is monitored by as many boats out there as possible. You never know when you will be in a position to help or need help. The CG and the CGAux try to keep as many patrol boats out as they can but they can't be everywhere and it happens a lot that the patrol boats are an hour or more away from the emergancy. Especially in remote areas where there isn't much traffic where we all love to relax and enjoy life on the water.

[Chip Hindes]

My two cents:

A handheld is great for putzing around, and you can use it in the dinghy, but I don't think it's wise to depend on one as your sole means of calling for help in an emergency. I have a decent handheld, Horizon HX350, and there have been several times the past two summers on the Bimini and Dry Tortugas cruises, that I could neither hear nor talk to other boats in the formation just a few miles of open ocean away. I know my fixed mount does a lot better even with only a stanchion mounted antenna. Haven't gotten around to mast mounting yet, I'd imagine the handlheld range is way less than the fixed mount with a mast mounted antenna.

I'm pretty certain you can hook up an auxiliary antenna to most handhelds. Anyone know if one of these would be a reasonable substitute for a fixed mount?

Also, I made a mistake when I cheaped out on my fixed mount. Mounted in the cabin with no provision for remote mike capability, it's pretty near worthless. Even at max volume I can't hear it with the motor running (Yes, it's a nasty, noisy, two stroke). An extension speaker might allow me to at least hear it, but I'd still have to abandon the helm and go below to transmit; not necessarily something I'd want to do in any circumstance, let alone an emergency. It was purchased in the pre-DSC days, so I suppose that's two reasons to replace it with a remote capable, DSC unit sometime soon.

[Rolf]

I have the icom m32 which I love except for the Ni-Cad battery which constantly has to be discharged and then recharged in order to run properly-- I know, you shouldn't "top off" a Ni-Cad without discharging it completely first. Too much stuff to think about IMHO. Lithium seems to be the way to go. I also have the cheap uniden polaris which seems fine, but don't buy that cheap waterproof uniden phone they sell at Sam's for $29.. It sounds like crap.
Rolf

[Scott]

Did anyone else get the sail magazine (I think) 10 items not to buy for your boat.



The flier said that send and recieve quality was as low as they had tested. I cant find the flier and I dont remember the model. Heres a pic!

We've never had a problem, even used it for a couple emergencies. (Other boats, not me)

Figures

[Frank C]

Scott,

I don't think I've seen the Sail magz you referred to.
Sorry if I'm just dense ... but what radio have you pictured?
Is it the one that was reviewed by Sail to have lowest send/rec'v functions?

[Scott]

Frank, it wasnt a magazine. It was a flier (supplement)? that we recieved separate in the mail.

Basically it was 10 purchases not to make.

The radio is a uniden and I have all the liturature on the boat, Ill get the model # this weekend and post accordingly.