Posts Tagged ‘Marine Radios’
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.
What’s the difference between “Simplex” and “Duplex” transmissions?
Most modern day VHF Marine Radios offer the basic transmit and receive capabilities. One way they can communicate is where communication can take place in only one direction at at time. This is called “Simplex” transmission. On each of the radios, there is a button on the side of the microphone which determines whether the user is transmitting or receiving a communication. You press the button to transmit or release the button to receive a communication. “Duplex” transmissions (where communication can take place in both directions simultaneously) is, however, available on the majority of channels. Each duplex channel has two frequency assignments. The history behind this indicates that in the days before mobile phones and satcomms became widespread, the duplex channels could be used to place calls on the public telephone system for a fee via a marine operator. So you see, we’ve come a long way in improving our communication possibilities when on the water. History was never my favorite subject in school, but when you come across some of these interesting facts, and you realize that all this happened within your own lifetime, it really hits home. Let’s enjoy (and appreciate) those simple marine radios we take for granted! Happy Boater.
Tired of “squeaky and squawky”?
Does your current sound system sound a bit squeaky and squawky? You know what I mean – the words are hard to understand, the music, when played through your system is anything but pleasant, and sometimes it would sound better if just left the switch in the “off” position. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be like that and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to get the sound you deserve! I have to wear hearing aids in my ears and I can tell you that if I don’t have good quality sound coming out of the speakers, I have a hard time understanding the words. If any of you have to wear hearing aids, you know exactly what I mean. Do yourself a favor – make a small investment in sound equipment to gain a large return in satisfaction and listening pleasure. Consider a marine radio (so you can use it outside on your boat, pontoon, patio, etc) with a set of marine speakers to round off your sound system. Many marine radios will allow your to play your pre-recorded MP3 and I-Pod tunes though the sound system by simply plugging them in! Enjoy. Happy Boater.
Add the Music Dimension to your Party…
It’s a nice day – you have a few friends coming over – you want to make an impression on them. Why not put them on your boat or pontoon, spend a day on the water! That is really a great way to spend the day!! One dimension to your party that you don’t want to sell short is fine music. Nearly everyone likes music. It seems to be one of the few things that really cross international lines easily – a common thread of satisfaction which we can all enjoy. It’s really quite easy to provide that missing dimension to your party in today’s world. Many marine radios are available with MP3 and I-Pod plug-ins. You can play your own pre-recorded music through your speaker system on board your own boat! I would highly recommend choosing marine speakers vs standard speakers as they are not affected by rain or inclement conditions that we all encounter occasionally. Make fun memories this weekend. Install a fine marine sound system and party on. Happy Boater.
Mobile people require mobile communication!
I stopped to think the other day just how different we are in today’s world compared to just 50 years ago. People are flying through the woods in the winter time on snowmobiles and in the summer you see atv’s, motorcycles, boats, and many other variations of motorized “toys” going in every direction. When I was a kid (at risk of dating myself), we had motorcycles and boats, but nobody every thought of all terrain vehicles, jet skis or snowmobiles! We used to be outside making our own fun – building tree forts or just walking in the woods during the day and then we were all expected to be home at suppertime to eat with the family. Things have definitely changed and I for one am not sure it is for the better. I can certainly see how it has become more critical than ever that we have better communication devices available to us like hand held CB Radios, or hand held VHF Marine Radios just to keep in touch with those we love! I really do like progress, but it seems to me as we look at the summer season upon us, we should not overlook that the first line of communication isn’t an electronic device, but a simple conversation over a meal. Happy Boater.
Marine requirements on small lakes…
The list of actual requirements as I understand it for marine radios and other communication devices to be a part of the equipment on board a small craft on a small lake is a very, very short list – fact is, it really is non-existent as far as I can tell. It would be wise for each boat owner to assess his/her situation – deciding just how far from shore they could be at any one time and thus making the decision as to whether or not a marine radio with a weather channel would be appropriate. Then – it comes right down to basics……checking with home (or your cabin or others on the beach) as to when it’s time to eat! One may consider a CB Radio (maybe 2 hand held CB Radio units) to accomplish that communication link with your friends or family. Beyond that, it boils down to whether or not you want to have fun on the water listening to some of your favorite tunes! This could be accomplished easily with one of the fine marine radio receivers available on the market today – one set up to receive your memory stick as plucked out of your i-pod or your MP3 player. The first step to having a great day on the water if always to be safe and prepare properly for the day. Have fun! Happy Boater.
Why add a VHF Radio if it isn’t required?
True – VHF radios are not required in many areas of the world – and particularly if your boat happened to be less than 65.6 feet long. Does this meat that you should not put one on board? Certainly not!! Fact is, many boaters find they require 2 on board – one VHF Marine Radio for monitoring communication between them and the coast guard with regard to the weather and another (usually a hand held VHF Marine Radio) to be used in the event of an emergency requiring the evacuation of the ship. Sure is nice to know that there are waterproof hand held marine radios available so even though you may be bobbing around in a raft somewhere, you’ll be safe and you’ll be able to communicate with the Coast Guard to gain assistance.
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!
Essential Marine Communication
When you are out on the water, communication is one of your most valuable tools. While the open seas provide the opportunity to experience nature at its most serene, it is important to have a safety line that keeps you connected to civilization. VHF marine radios provide this much-needed safety net.
VHF stands for very high frequency. The frequency range for VHF is 30-300 MHz and provides a reliable connection for a variety of communication. These are the same frequencies that are utilized in FM radio, TV and other long-range devices.
VHF Basics
When I purchased my first boat, I put little thought into the peripheral items that I would need. After making my initial down payment, I had little money left over for inner tubes, water skis and other accessories. One item that I was told was essential, however, was a VHF radio.
While on the water, VHF radios are the most reliable means of communication available. They allow you to have correspondence with other vessels and the mainland. The signal is designed to work very well within a relatively localized area, ensuring a true and reliable connection.