Posts Tagged ‘VHF marine radios’
Will summer ever come???
I sometimes wonder if these short “breaks” in the weather just happen to fool us into thinking that spring is just around the corner. I just received an email from a friend showing a picture of 2 deer walking through someone’s back yard and all you could see was their heads sticking up out of the snow. The caption was something like “yep, I think spring is right around the corner now”. It made me chuckle because that’s not too far from the situation I’m looking at out my kitchen window. Hard to believe that just a few weeks from now we really might get spring! So far, the weatherman has just been toying with our minds up here. This winter in Two Harbors, MN the bay never iced over. That could mean an early start to the shipping season – we all hope so. Of course, along with marine traffic, comes the chatter over the VHF Marine Radios on board the vessels. Once again reminding us of the importance of the communication devices so vital to the safety and well being of our guests on board as well as others.
How about those Ice Breakers…
Sure is fun to watch as the Coast Guard as well as local tugboats with reinforced bows attack the ice to open the harbor earlier to allow for early shipping. They hit the ice hard, crawl up on top of it, and then crush through it. Then they back up and hit it all over again. They sure take a beating! Just think of the communication that has to be constantly updated between the vessels when they are ushering a 1000 foot ore boat out of the harbor. I can only guess they all are using VHF Marine Radios almost exclusively. Nothing like having good, clear communication when faced with close encounters while breaking a path through the ice for another vessel!
No Test! What could be easier…
I
f you’re worrying about having to take a test in order to own and operate a VHF Radio, you can put your mind at ease. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 allows boaters to own and use VHF Marine Radios without having an FCC ship station license. What does that mean??? It simply means that there is no paperwork required, no classes to attend, and no other hassles involved in purchasing and learning to use a VHF Marine Radio. What could be easier! Now – be aware that if your boat happens to be 65.6 feet or longer or if you plan to travel in foreign waters, you will be required to have a Radiotelephone Operator Permit. You will have to fill out the form to get the permit, but there are no tests or exams – only a 1-time fee which is good for life. Happy Boating!!
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!
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!