Archive for January, 2011
Like your favorite tunes??
Like your favorite tunes? Of course you do! We all like to listen to our favorite tunes and most of us appreciate when they are played through quality speakers which allow the true sound of the music to be heard clearly. There are a lot of speakers out there that simply don’t do the job! Why not upgrade your speakers so your music sounds nothing less that GREAT when you have your friends over! Now, I’ve found that marine speakers are durable and since they are waterproof, they can be mounted on your deck in the back yard, on board your pontoon, or just about anywhere else you want to listen to music without worrying about whether or not they will be ok there. What makes a party?? I’d like to suggest that it’s a comfortable mixture of friends, food, and favorite music. Make it your goal this season to step up your old speakers to digital quality marine speakers – speakers that will add that “wow” factor when entertaining. Enjoy. Happy Boater.
Affordability is the key…
I know that there’s a rocky road we sometimes have to walk when deciding when we can afford the “something special” we’ve been wanting. Well, I’m here to tell you that if that something special is a hand held VHF Marine Radio for your boat this coming summer, now is the time to think about saving for it. Since the price isn’t that much – one could purchase a good floating hand held VHF Marine Radio for under $130. Now – what does that amount to…..let’s see, we have about 5 months in the north before we really have nice enough weather to want to be out on the water. That’s 150 days! That means that if you set aside only 86 cents a day (or $6.02 per week), you would have enough for your new radio by the time you needed it! Now, what’s painful about that? Sometimes it helps to break things down in order to get a different perspective on the situation. Some fixed mount VHF marine Radios are even less expensive, so get your show on the road and plan for this next boating season. Always be safe! Happy Boater.
It doesn’t do any good to have a radio if you don’t turn it on…
Yep – it happened to me. Some things you really don’t want to admit to anyone, but I guess a little humble pie is good for us once in a while. I was taking a run for the local school district. It was a nice morning – good roads – light traffic – and and I was right on schedule – enjoying a very quiet ride. When I returned, I realized just why I had such a quiet ride. My radio had been shut off and I didn’t see that it wasn’t functioning. No wonder it was quiet!! I found out they had been trying to reach me and couldn’t get through on the radio system they are using which is very much like a CB Radio with only 2 channels. All ended well, but I’ll check the radio from now on to make sure it’s indeed ready to operate and in the “on” position. It doesn’t do much good to have a radio and then have it turned off!!! Go figure!!! Although, I have to admit, it sure was a peaceful morning! Happy Boater.
Come up short on installation skills?
Let’s face it – some folks just don’t have the time or the energy to install a VHF Marine Radio into their boat or pontoon…and if they do have the time, they maybe don’t possess the skills required to wire it into the electrical system on board. A simple solution for this situation would be to opt for a hand held radio. Yes – a hand held VHF Marine Radio does everything a base unit does – except it would obviously have smaller speakers that may not be as deluxe as those mounted on board for your sound system, and maybe the buttons are smaller. The reality of it is that you can obtain all the critical information needed to keep you out of harms way while on the high seas and you don’t have to take time to mount it – it could simply slip into your pocket!! Most of the hand held VHF Marine Radios are waterproof and will float if dropped into the water – what a bonus!! One must be aware that the signal probably won’t be as strong as that of a base unit with an antenna, but non-the-less you have one GREAT radio in your hand with one of these. Happy Boater.
Every day gets longer now….
If you’re like me, you feel a certain rush at even the thought of the days getting longer now until we will again be enjoying daylight saving time and warm summer evenings. Now – we’re not there yet as I note that my Christmas decorations aren’t even down yet and the snow in the yard is a couple feet thick, so a little imagination is advisable and timely when pondering the warm summer eves. Make no mistake, though, it will be here soon and then you probably won’t want to take the time to be installing new equipment on your boat at that time – right?? Why not take advantage of this downtime and install that new VHF marine radio you’ve been saying you wanted every year but haven’t taken the time to install one? VHF Marine radios have been billed as the single most important piece of communication equipment you can have on board your vessel when on the water. With these little wonders, you gain 24/7 radio access to the United Stated Coast Guard on channel 16 as well as being able to receive current weather advisories or warnings. Imagine getting these important transmissions in a timely fashion so as to be able to get off the water or hustle to a safe haven before you find yourself and those on board in peril. Place safety on your side of the table!! Happy Boater.
CB could stand for “Christmas Blizzard”
I don’t know what it was like where you live, but we got about 16 inches of snow on the Wednesday before Christmas. This did 2 things….it insured our receipt of a “WHITE” Christmas, and it made travel very difficult for families coming home. It’s times like these that folks sure feel that little added comfort level when they have a hand held CB Radio with them – if only for security. With many, many cars slipping into the ditch in Minnesota, there was great opportunity to use them to call for help. Cell phones were widely used also, however, there are a lot of spots in Minnesota where a cell phone is entirely useless! (Sometimes that’s a blessing!! …they can’t find you!!!) All kidding aside, for the small cost of a hand held CB Radio or even a mounted CB, you can gain a large sense of security when traveling. …and it can be fun, too! Many times I’ve met others on the CB who just by chance were headed in the same direction and found we had a lot in common. There really are a lot of nice people out there. My mother used to say that a stranger is just a friend she hasn’t met yet. What a great way to look at it. Happy Boater.
Do I need an amplifier?
My guess as to an answer to this question is that we probably don’t know if we need one or not. Most of the marine radios and VHF marine radios out there come with a very good amplification system right from the factory. Well, you might say, why do they sell amplifiers if the radios are so good? The answer is simple. Not everyone’s situation is the same. Some of us stay within just a couple of miles of shore while others are venturing out 20 plus miles into the blue waters. Depending on the atmospheric conditions, you may be at the very edge of your broadcasting capabilities. This is when you need an amplifier. It will simply boost your broadcast signal so you message can be received as well as being able to hear a reply from someone. If you just stay close to home, you probably don’t need an amplifier. Of course, a taller antenna would also be required the further you venture out from shore. Always be safe an know your limitations. Happy Boater.
What makes a speaker a “marine audio speaker”?
Are you one of those who think that a speaker is a speaker?? If you are, consider this…. Years ago we just had an old phonograph or an AM radio to listen to – most of time through very crackly speakers. Those speakers were designed to just make an audible noise as those impulses were sent through it. Sound is more sophisticated in today’s world. We actually send different sounds (different frequencies) through different parts of the speakers – thus duplicating the sound more realistically. This is referred to as digitally reproduced sound. The different parts of the speakers (the woofers – for bass notes and the tweeters for the high frequencies) sort the sound out and the result is a very clear crisp sound that is much easier to understand. Background noise on the recordings actually are eliminated in the recording process so as to enhance the final product and ultimately raise the enjoyment factor. Now – where we turn the corner from regular speakers to “marine audio speakers” is the fact that marine speakers are waterproof – that’s right – they are not affected by the weather. Let it rain – your speakers will remain in great condition – ready for the next tune to be played through it. Use them on your boat, pontoon, deck, back yard, or wherever you want to place a speaker!
Happy Boater.
Digital clarity is where it’s at…
I’m sure you all have found yourselves in a situation where you have tried to understand something coming over a loud speaker in a public place – whether it was a shopping center, a ball game, or on a cruise. Following the announcement, many times you would look at the person you were with and say – “what did they say???” Am I right? Most of these instances are caused by the poor quality of the speakers you were listening to. Good speakers make a huge difference when trying to decipher what in the world you are hearing. The funny part about all this is that good quality speakers are really very inexpensive and should not be one of those things overlooked when outfitting your boat or pontoon this year for the season. Why not enjoy some of your favorite music played digitally through great waterproof marine speakers? Your friends will definitely appreciate being able to actually understand what the words to the songs are – I know I do. Have a great, safe summer. Happy Boater.
Here’s comes another year – ready or not!
Somehow those years just come and go and none of us can do anything about it! Not quite sure that I like it that way, but it’s the way it is, I guess. Last year I set some goals or resolutions and am happy to report that I actually was successful meeting my goals (almost all of them) this past year. The older I get, the more I have settled into the thinking that the most basic of biblical teachings like being kind to others and treating them like you would like to be treated is the right thing to pattern our lives after. It’s especially important to think along these lines as we focus on our goals for the coming year. Life’s just too short to do it any other way!! One thing that I would hope that all of you with a boat would commit to doing this year would be to install a VHF marine radio on board. With this added item on board, you will be able to keep those on board with you safer by being able to receive important weather updates and you will have the 24/7 communication with the USCG available if you needed it when out on the water. It seems like those really inexpensive things like a marine radio or waterproof marine speakers are usually among those things a person keeps putting on the “back burner” when getting ready for the new year. Let’s make this year a winner in this area – have proper communication equipment installed today. Happy Boater.