Archive for February, 2010
Start downloading your favorite tunes!
This week I had to go out plowing snow a couple of times. I guess its not quite spring yet. I have high hopes that the next 6 weeks will hold a promise of spring, although on the other hand we can enjoy all seasons. I’ll be taking a long snowmobile ride in a couple of weeks so we don’t want to wish away the winter, either!! Now, however, is a great time to put together a list of your favorite music and that music you believe your companions on board your boat may enjoy this next boating season. Its not a mystery that we all don’t like the same music – fact is, some of the “music” I hear on the airwaves nowadays just may want me to JUMP overboard!! (ha-ha) Since a lot of the marine radios and receivers on the market today have the capability of playing your favorite tunes by simply just plugging in your pre-loaded MP3 player into the unit, you can enjoy a day on the water and also be enjoying your favorite tunes! Make use of this “downtime” to prepare for your summertime fun!
Ergonomics may be top concern
With all the various brands and styles of VHF Marine Radios on the market – both handheld VHF Marine Radios and Fixed Mount VHF Marine Radios, just how does one decide on which one is best for them and for the type of boat they have? Many comparison studies have been done regarding just such dilemmas. I’ve read a few of them and it seems the general opinion reached by most of them is that they all do a pretty good job. Yes, some brands may have clearer installation instructions and some may use the full 25 watts better than another brand, some use slightly less power, but in general when it comes to actually using them they all have a good sound quality capability and they all do a pretty good job. So, it really boils down to which one has the microphone that “feels” the best in your hand. That may be over-simplified, but it really may come down to that. Happy shopping!
Make sure you cross the “t’s and dot the i’s when installing…
Have you ever purchased something and hurried home to hook it up only to find that it’s performance falls way short of the advertisement on the front of the box?? I think we’ve all experienced that. If you’re going to install a new VHF Marine Radio on your boat, you must consider the proper installation procedures for your unit. Now, we all know that the range is up to about 20 nautical miles if properly installed, but depending on the height of the antenna and its ability to transmit and receive will hinge on the equipment and how its installed. A VHF Marine Radio is only as good as the entire system – that is the cabling, antenna, and power supply must all be present, shielded, grounded and weather-proofed. Although most of the time, you will get satisfactory results with less than satisfactory installs, it would be wise to take the extra measure of care required to do it right so you will be ready to gain that extra transmitting power if that need should appear. Happy boating!!
Consider a list of boating essentials…
When thinking about the next boating season, it may be wise to compose a list of essential equipment that you may want on board this year. That list doesn’t have to be long or involved, and will vary depending on what type of boat you have (i.e. fishing boat, yacht, speed boat, sail boat, etc). I’ll give you a few ideas you may consider…
Your list may include such items as life jackets, proper flotation device, ladder, VHF Radio, Paddles, GPS, proper ropes, navigation lights, maintenance equipment, marine charts, compasses, and last but not least, a “ditch bag” with flares and drinking water. As you plan, always plan for the safety of those you have on board and have fun!!
My radio has shrunk!
I’m reminded of the old film “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”. I think it was a Walt Disney Production and was a light hearted movie of an absent minded professor who managed to shrink his kids. Well, nowadays, the whole world seems to have shrunken a bit with technology where it is. Everything has gotten smaller!! Handheld radios really didn’t appear on the scene until the early 1960’s. I would suppose that the comic strip character of Dick Tracy had something to do with spurring on the actual inventions – maybe?? These first handheld radios weighed in at just over 2 pounds and was nearly as big as a standard kids school lunch box plus they sported an antenna about a foot long! What a treat to realize that we can enjoy a handheld VHF Marine Radio nowadays which literally fits into the palm of your hand and can broadcast many nautical miles with clarity. So…the old saying that good things come in small packages is really quite accurate in this case. The VHF marine radios on the market today are much superior to those of the 1960 era. Let’s enjoy what technology has given to us!
Speakers with that belly jiggle…
What fun to plug in your latest and greatest mp3 recordings into your marine radio receiver on board as part of the well designed marine audio system you put together! Your friends will love it!! Now, my taste in music has changed over the years, but I still really enjoy some good old rock ‘n roll music out of the late 50s or early 60’s as I sit back for an enjoyable afternoon …or maybe some country from around that era. Maybe some of you like heavy metal (I’ll just be on the other boat – haha). Whatever your taste in music, there’s nothing like hearing it like it’s supposed to be heard. Consider installing some Marine Sub-Woofers on board to you can feel the music. I really don’t know how much it will kill the fishing to turn up the music, but be considerate – make sure you’re not making the neighboring boaters angry with the volume of your music. Remember – sound travels a long way over the water. I guess if you did scare away all the fish, you wouldn’t have to clean any fish! Be safe…
What if I use batteries?
If you are using a hand held unit – whether it’s a CB Radio or a VHF Marine Radio, you’re going to have to use batteries to make it work. A good point to remember when using your hand held VHF Radio is that the higher wattage setting you are using, the more power it will draw so don’t use more than you have to. Remember – you can very effectively communicate over 20 nautical miles with a hand held unit at only 1 watt. Some are finding that buying a radio that has the capability of running on standard alkaline batteries vs the “more popular” rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Why? Because (as we all know from using our cell phones) the lithium-ion rechargeable batteries can poop out on you when you need them the most whereas the standard alkaline batteries can be stored on board for a number of years with little or no loss of stored energy. Have a great day!!
How far can I talk?
Well – that’s a funny way to ask a question! It kinda stuck my funny bone when I wrote it, but that’s just what it boils down to, though, when trying to figure out just what kind of VHF radio to purchase for your boat. Keep in mind that even though the available wattage on your Hand Held VHF Radio may be somewhere between 3 to 6 watts, you may not have to use those higher settings. You very likely will be able to set your hand held VHF Radio to the One Watt setting and have the capability of providing reliable communication for a distance of up to 20 miles from shore at a height of about 1 meter above the water. I know in my boating experience, it’s rare that I needed more than those capabilities. It’s also a really great idea if purchasing one of the hand held VHF Radio units to maybe choose one of the upper end units which will give you flotation and submersible capabilities for the radio. That way, you can have one possible stored in your “abandon ship” bag if you have one. Happy boating!
Major differences between fixed and hand held…
When selecting which radio is the right one for you, you must consider the limitations of each unit. In today’s world, the use of microprocessors and integrated circuits make it possible to achieve amazing results with even the smallest of units. Maximum transmit power and non availability of digital selective calling may be the only two main factors that will come up on the short end when comparing a fixed VHF Marine Radio to a hand held VHF Marine Radio. Other than that all of the VHF Radios operate on all allowable transmit and receive channels – including all NOAA Weather Channels.
No need to be costly to be safe!
As I look at the thermometer this morning, it’s hard to imagine that just a couple of months from now we will be thinking spring and the warmth of summer. The reality is, however that the temp is 5 degrees below zero right now and I find that the snow starts creaking under your footsteps as you walk on it. The snow will soon be gone and it will be time to launch you boat in the north country. Along with that comes the normal “checklist” which for everyone should include a VHF Radio. Now, a VHF radio doesn’t have to be a fixed unit, although that’s a nice way to go. A 
handheld VHF Marine Radio can serve quite nicely as the primary communication device on smaller boats. It can also serve as a backup for a fixed or mounted unit.