Archive for the ‘VHF Radios’ Category
VHF is something you hope you never actually NEED.
Buying a VHF Marine Radio for your boat or pontoon is, in many ways, like purchasing a life insurance policy. Nobody likes to spend money on something that they hope they will never use or need, but the reality of it all is that lives have been saved by early weather warnings issued 24/7 on the NOAA weather band on your marine radio which can give you sufficient warning to get your craft to a safe harbor if a fast moving weather front is detected by the national weather service. The US Coast Guard will broadcast warnings on channel 16 so always keep your ear tuned to this channel if you are in waters that may become perilous in the event of an incoming storm system. Happy Boater.
VHF is not a direction, but a way to go…
It’s a given that having a VHF radio on board can be the difference between being safe and not safe! Part of that safety factor comes from being alerted 24/7 on the weather broadcasts and alerts from the US Coast Guard regarding any fast moving systems that may be coming your way. They make sure everyone is alerted in enough time to allow them to get off the water – or at least get to a marine refuge area. The NOAA weather channel broadcasts constantly also and will also alert you incoming weather systems. I know just how fast a calm sea can whip up into a frenzy. It really isn’t fun when you find yourself caught in something like that. Be safe and keep your passengers safe. Always have a VHF marine radio on board – either a hand held VHF Radio, or a fixed mount VHF radio. Who knows – maybe your life depends on it!! Happy Boater.
Storm’s a brewin’ – are you ready?
I just came off the water. We had white caps that just pounded the boat when heading into them. It surely takes some of the relaxation out of the day on the water, but it’s all part of the outdoor communication device that will aid in giving you enough warning time to allow you to get off the water in time to keep everyone on board safe. If you are on a small body of water, maybe a CB Radio would suffice, but if you are negotiating the waves on a larger body of water, you owe it to yourself to invest in a very affordable VHF Marine Radio or at least a marine radio receiver capable of receiving the NOAA Weather channel which broadcasts 24/7 to keep everyone on the water safe. HAPPY BOATER.
Tough to enjoy something if an accident happens due to neglect…
Summer is certainly here!! Here on the north shore of Lake Superior, it’s unusual to find more than 3 vehicles on the road during this time of the season without at least one of them towing a boat! Then ….. why not?? The weather is great, the scenery is beautiful and the fishing is incredible! Always make sure that when going over your final check list when outfitting your boat for a day on the water that you have a VHF Marine Radio on board – especially if you intend to be on a larger body of water. This week we’ve surely had a flurry of storms brew up in a big hurry! You don’t want to take these weather warnings for granted. They are there for your safety. Enjoy your day on the water, but be sure to make it a safe one! Happy Boater.
Summer is a very good reason to think VHF!
With the summer season comes the unpredictable weather patterns that sometimes haunt us. As I have been observing the weather this season – even if its very early into the summer boating season, it seem like we’ve had more than our share of bad weather creeping up just about everywhere across this nation of ours! Weather is one of those entities that will always be with us and the weathermen seem to have a very high error margin when predicting weather patterns around a large body of water. For instance, today was supposed to be stormy, but we had one of the most beautiful days that anyone would ever ask for! Not complaining, of course, but just observing the error margin once again. Having a VHF Marine Radio (either hand held or fixed) installed in your boat will ensure the early weather warnings that are broadcast 24/7 on the NOAA channel and the US Coast Guard will also alert the boaters who are properly monitoring channel 16 when boating. Let’s be safe this summer – be alert and respectful of the rapidly changing weather conditions. Don’t be caught unprepared! Happy Boater.
Channel 16 used as a ‘clearing’ channel…
The US Coast Guard has set aside certain frequencies to be used for certain things. One of those channel frequencies is channel 22A. On this channel, you will hear marine information broadcasts. Now, on your VHF Marine Radio (either hand held or fixed), you will occasionally hear an announcement on channel 16 from the US Coast Guard telling all boaters that they have some information that they think may be of interest to you. You then have the choice to turn to channel 22A or to simply not take heed to the announcement. They would generally request that anyone wanting to hear the information should turn to channel 22A. …and remember – Channels 9 and 16 are still to be used only for calling another vessel. Once you reach your party, you should always turn to a “non-commercial” frequency such as channel 68 to continue your conversation (this would be termed a “working channel”). That way you don’t tie up the channel other boats are monitoring and then you eliminate “chatter” so other boaters can enjoy the peace and quiet they probably wanted for their day on the water. Happy Boater.
Is “splish splash” a good sound??
Normally, when you’re out on the water, the sound of something hitting the water isn’t necessarily a good sound. I was out on a fishing charter a few years back out of the Duluth-Superior harbor out on Lake Superior fishing for lake trout and salmon. We had a couple of deep lines out and noticed that the one on the port side of the boat was seriously bending down. I reached for it and announced “fish on”. The captain told me to stop for a minute before taking that pole out of the holder. He said that he had rarely seen that pole with such weight on it and told me to get a good grip BEFORE I took it from its mooring. Otherwise, he told me that 2 splashes would follow……the first would be his new pole and reel hitting the water, and the next would be me!! Well, needless to say, I’m still here so all went well, but after a half hour fight with whatever was on the end of my pole (we suspected a large atlantic salmon) let go and I never got a chance to view what I had hold of. Oh well – it was a lot of fun! Now with the technology that is offered with the new hand held VHF Marine Radios, you don’t have to worry about getting them wet as they are waterproof up to a meter below the water for roughly 30 minutes. That makes them a great asset to have on board a life raft – or simply for fumble fingered users! Have a great day on the water. Happy Boater.
Something special for “Recreational Boaters”…
The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has established a VHF-FM channel on channel 9 as a supplementary calling channel for recreational boaters – also referred to as non-commercial vessels. Just when you thought nothing was free anymore!! So, let’s say that someone in your party is out on a boat and you wish to communicate with him/her. Of course we know that one should always be monitoring channels 9 or 16 on their VHF Marine Radio while on the water. Channel 9 has been very useful and was originally established to reduce the congestion on VHF Channel 16, the distress, safety, and calling frequency. It is recommended that boaters follow the simple rule that if they are calling a base unit on shore from the boat (or the other way around), that you use channel 9 to accomplish this. If you are communicating with a commercial vessel or a commercial base unit from the boat, you should always use channel 16. Channel 9 is strongly recommended for you monitoring channel in waters off the coast of northern New Jersey, New York, and New England – otherwise, it is optional as to whether you monitor 9 or 16. Happy Boater.
CB’s can be invaluable!
This past week was a real wake-up call for some folks as they were caught in severe flooding across the United States. My heart breaks for those who experienced loss as a result of the flooding. As I watched the searchers on television, I realized just how important a simple CB Radio is – even nowadays!! Over the years, CB Radios have seen their peaks and valleys in popularity, but have seemingly come out on the top of the heap as they are more popular in today’s world than they ever have been. I can only assume that those many rescuers were using communication radios of some type – either VHF or CB Radio to communicate with each other during their search. It’s heart breaking that the results of the search were not more positive. Certainly my thoughts and prayers go out those lost this past weekend in those floods. Be prepared to help in a moments notice – consider a CB radio for your vehicle or ATV. Happy Boater.
A VHF gift!
How many times do you get to give a gift that both classifies as a “gadget” (with real buttons that we all know is an important element in a guy’s gift!) as well as a very sophisticated piece of safety communication equipment? My guess would be not very often. Why not make this year the year that you give the gift that can really give back if an emergency ever happened while on the water? Not a lot of money has to be spent, as these units (both fixed VHF Marine Radios and Hand Held VHF Marine Radios) have become very affordable for the end users. Ladies – Father’s Day is coming! This would be a GREAT investment in your family – even if you some day were able to avoid a storm by receiving the auto updated weather broadcasts (NOAA). What a gift! Happy Boater.