Posts Tagged ‘hand held VHF Radio’
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.
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!