|
|
Posts: 90
Location: Athens, Ohio | I'm looking at VHF radios for my new boat and I'm unsure of exactly what I'll need as far as VHF radio. I was going to go with a mounted unit, due to more power, longer transmission range. I've heard good things about Standard Horizon and Icom, but don't know what I should be looking for such as models or features. I'll be fishing local lakes in Ohio, Ontario, Lake Erie, and St Clair.
Thanks for any help. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 5874
| I think the antenna is more important the the brand of radio you get. I think the Shakespeare Galaxy series antennas are the best. Either the 4' little Giant or the 8' foot.
I've had Uniden Oceanus radios, and they have performed well for me. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 243
Location: South Central Wisconsin | I have a cobra radio and a "little giant" antenna. It seems to work pretty good. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 44
| + 3 Antenna is the most important part, if your boat will handle an 8' version they have better range in areas that are "cluttered" with islands.
I have had several Icom radios in a row, they are very reliable. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1316
Location: Lebanon,Mo | Antenna doesnt mean squat unless you have a good quality radio. The power is the radio. Cheap/low watt radio matched with a high capacity antenna doesnt get you far. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 118
| 8 foot antenna for sure is what I've always heard.....buddy has a 4 footer....can't hear him a lot of the time.....depends on how far you want it to carry I guess.....Ray Marine has lasted me 10 years...hope it doesn't crap out this year.... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I would agree with Shep on not skimping on an antenna.
VHF is a line of sight communication system. The higher the tip of the antenna, the more range capability you have, given little obstruction between you and who you are contacting. Put a bunch of islands in between you and the other party, and range drops quite a bit.
Most fixed mount radios will be 25 watt, and honestly, if you stay with a known brand, you will be good to go.
Steve
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1316
Location: Lebanon,Mo | And if you choose a 8ft antenna make sure it has the copper or brass rod that runs the full length of the fiberglass. There are several out there that just run the end of the coax wire up the inside and doesnt give a true 8ft antenna. Normally price will tell,but specs are also helpful on each model. Use no less than 8ft of coax and if you have extra,just coil it in a big of a circle you can and ziptie. For some reason this helps on signal as what radio techs say.
Edited by missourimuskyhunter 2/3/2014 6:10 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 90
Location: Athens, Ohio | Thanks fellas |
|
| |
|
Location: Eastern Ontario | You should check licensing requirements. In Canada we are SUPPOSED to take a course and write a test to get a RESTRICTED OPERATOR'S CERTIFICATE MARITIME also a DSC endorsement. The course teaches proper use and regulation. I studied the material and challenged the test with out taking the course. You can tell the clowns that have no idea and think they are on a CB interfering with emergency and commercial transmission. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 5874
| missourimuskyhunter - 2/3/2014 2:40 PM
Antenna doesnt mean squat unless you have a good quality radio. The power is the radio. Cheap/low watt radio matched with a high capacity antenna doesnt get you far.
All the radios mentioned are fine. But if you go with a cheap SS whip antenna, all the power in the world won't help that thing. If you can go 8' Galaxy, great. I got great reception with that, and also my last one, a Little Giant. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Ditto: Don't waste money on cheap antenna's - its a two way street, e.g., both transmitting and receiving.
If you want the best performance, have a profesional who does mobile radio or marine installations do the installation. He or she can check the transmit SWR and tune the system so you get the most performance from your radio system.
http://www.hamuniverse.com/testingswr.html
Have fun!
Al |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Both schools of thought are correct...you need a decent antenna AND the power to push it. But I'll say this, if you're on LSC, Erie, Ontario, etc, there's plenty of repeaters that you'll not have any issues talking to anyone you'd need to talk to. I have a Lowrance 850 that's several years old, and a simple 3 or 4' whip antenna and I can talk to Sector Detroit (Detroit River) from the St. Clair River and have great comms; enough for me to help execute two separate SAR cases from my boat and be in comms with Sector, Station Shores and Station Port Huron. That's the entire St. Clair flowage from a 10 year old radio and a whip antenna. Likewise, I can talk to Sarnia CG radio from open water almost to the South Shore of LSC. No, I can't talk to Buffalo, but I don't need to.
If you want the 8'er, go for it. But other than going offshore in the ocean, or being along the North Shore of the GL where repeaters aren't as frequent, you can communicate just fine along the populated SE part of the GL. And if you do get the 8' glass antenna, remember it has to be UP to work. I see guys with 8' antennas trying to transmit with their antenna in the down position.
Edited by esoxfly 2/5/2014 6:17 PM
|
|
| |
VHF radios...whats needed for most guys?