VHF RADIOS
Ted Colburn
CB to VHF for communications, mostly guest pick ups. Would like some
input on a good brand/low cost. Only transmitting about two miles. Been
looking at them in Boats/US. The more I look the more confused I get on
all the specs. Thanks..
TED
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Ted Colburn 209-358-2949
Email: mailto:col...@jps.net
URL: http://www.jps.net/colburn
Bob Knazik
>
> Got a house boat on lake Mclure in central CAL. The marina switched from
> CB to VHF for communications, mostly guest pick ups. Would like some
> input on a good brand/low cost. Only transmitting about two miles. Been
> looking at them in Boats/US. The more I look the more confused I get on
> all the specs. Thanks..
> TED
> --
Practical Sailor just did a review of VHF radios. Apelco 8500 came out
on top. I just bought one for $179. Apelco 4500 was second, but cost
$149. May as well spend the extra $30.
Bob K
SIJackie
the majority of your radio needs are to call the marina for a pick-up, it would
seem all you need is a minimal radio. The Apelco 4500 would meet, or exceed
your needs.
I just bought a Uniden HH955 hand-held as a back-up radio on my sailboat.
Works fine at ranges under 10 miles and runs on either AA or nic-cad batteries.
Can also be connected to the house batteries on the boat, and to the ship's
main antenna. At $125, its a bargain and it, too, may serve your needs.
Rod McInnis
> Got a house boat on lake Mclure in central CAL. The marina switched from
> CB to VHF for communications, mostly guest pick ups. Would like some
> input on a good brand/low cost. Only transmitting about two miles. Been
> looking at them in Boats/US. The more I look the more confused I get on
> all the specs. Thanks..
Good things to get:
Instant Channel 16 access (I think they all have this now) A single push of
a button gets you to channel 16. Some radios also have the *very* nice
feature that pushing the button a second time takes you back to your last
working channel.
Monitor: The ability to "scan" between channel 16 and a working channel of
your choice. Very nice feature if you are expecting someone to call you on
a working channel, but you still want to monitor the hailing channel
(channel 16 is used for emergency and hailing purposes).
Other features that you might find usefull:
Water resistant: If the radio is mounted where it will get splashed,
this is a good feature. Not a concern if the radio is mounted in the
cabin.
Illuminated controls: Most all radios will illuminate the channel
display. However, trying to locate the right button in the dark can be
real tough! Buttons that glow in the dark are real nice to have.
SCANNING: I find this useless, but some like it. Scanning means to have
the radio sequence through all (or selected) channels, stopping whenever it
hears something. This might be usefull if there is very little traffic
(like out in the middle of the ocean). In a busy harbor, it isn't very
usefull.
Don't forget that the radio is useless without an antenna. Don't skimp
here, the antenna will have a lot more impact on the performance of your
system than the brand of radio you buy!
Rod McInnis
RGrew176
channels you program in. It also has a feature that has come in handy a couple
of times this summer. If you program in one of the local weather channels and a
weather bulletin is issued by the National Weather Service the radio will give
a warning beep and you push the weather button and catch the broadcast as it is
issued. Comes in handy when the weather changes unexpectedly.