Posts Tagged ‘Marine VHf Radio’
Think Spring!
I know I’ve lived in this area too long to think that spring is right around the corner. However, this “January thaw” is really enjoyable. We have actually seen temps into the upper 30’s F this past week. Just about the time we get used to it, we will have another winter storm moving in this weekend. Old man winter is still alive and well. Use this time wisely to both tune up your engine as well and making sure that all of your communication devices are up to par. Remember – as captain of your boat, you are responsible for those on board with you. Take a minute to assess your boating safety needs. A very inexpensive item such as a Marine VHF Radio (or a Hand Held VHF Marine Radio) can make the difference between a safe outing and a tragic one. Enjoy your day on the water!!!
Why Does my VHF Radio Work?
If you ever have wondered just what is VHF and how does it work, maybe we can shed a bit of light on this today. VHF frequency falls between HF (high frequency) and UHF (ultra high frequency). VHF radios have a precise area of broadcast because the ionosphere doesn’t usually reflect the signal very much beyond its immediate surroundings. Because of this fact, for reaching a target in close vicinity, you can’t beat a VHF radio. It doesn’t interfere with other broadcasts in the near vicinity.
There is, however, a disadvantage to VHF frequency – some land features will block its signal. On the other hand, VHF users don’t have to be concerned with signals being obscured by buildings or distorted by naturalistic sounds in the atmosphere or by conflicting signals from nearby equipment.
Let’s Talk Safety!
Besides the normal run-of-the-mill safety items you might have on board like paddles, life jackets, ladders, lights, rope, anchor, first aid kit, etc, there are other items that are equally important.
Of those items, there is one that stands out at the top of the list. That item is a VHF Radio
. Why?… …because VHF Radios are equipped with Digital Selective Calling (DSC). This allows you to call the Coast Guard or other boaters close to your area. I doesn’t matter whether you have a hand held VHF Radio, many choose to have one installed on their boat. It’s totally up you , but you’ll be glad you didn’t overlook it if some emergency came up and you needed it. It’s one of those things that you hope you never have a use for, but is priceless if ever needed.
Let’s Talk VHF!!
Just what are some of the capabilities and characteristics of a VHF Radio? These radios are available in fixed units, hand held units, and submersible units. It is not out of the question to have more than one onboard. VHF Radios require minimal power to transmit. The lower power should be used whenever possible as all units have the capability of transmitting on either 1 Watt or 2 Watts.
Most VHF sets only allow only one person at a time to talk, unlike the cell phone you probably have on your hip. When transmitting, the user must depress a “transmit button” on the microphone. This process of only one at a time talking is called simplex. Duplex sets are also available, but usually are much more expensive.
When mounting your VHF antenna, it is advisable to mount it has high as possible since VHF radio waves travel in a straight line.