Posts Tagged ‘VHF marine radios’
I miss the piles of blue ice…
This year on the shores of Lake Superior something is amiss. Warmer weather this year in the northland has played havoc with our normal sequence of events. Nearly every year the lake is white with ice so the ice breakers have to plow and chew their way through the masses of ice. Usually they are escorting a ship either out or into the Duluth harbor – communicating constantly on their VHF Marine Radios with the loaded vessel to insure safe passage through ice that sometimes reaches 4 feet thick or more. These “chunks” of ice or mini ice flows usually end up on the shore in piles many feet tall following a strong northeast wind which drives the ice against the shoreline and piles it high. When this happens, you experience the beauty of “blue ice”. Why does the ice appear blue? When the light penetrates deeper into the ice, more photons from the red end of the color spectrum are lost. A lack of reflected red wavelengths produces the color blue to the human eye. We have to enjoy each day! Happy Boater
Keep CB transmissions close to be clear…
The other day, as I was filling in for the school district driving school bus, I became aware of just how irritating that constant “squawking” on the CB Radio was when driving. Now, it isn’t irritating when you can understand what is being said, but sure is frustrating when you have to guess if someone is trying to reach you or if there is a message out there that the base station is trying to communicate with all buses. All equipment reaches it limit at some point – that’s why there are different types of antennas as well as different types of communications devices available from CB Radios, to VHF Marine Radios and others. Don’t expect one radio to be the answer to all your needs – take a step back and try to anticipate what distance you will require of your equipment for clear, safe communication. …and above all – be safe! Happy Boater
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!
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.
Is a license required for a VHF marine radio?
Legally, a VHF radio is only required to be on board if your boat is over sixty-five and 1/2 feet long.
Why keep my radio tuned to Channel 16?
The answer is simple – so you can put yourself in a position to be able to offer assistance to 
another boater in the vicinity. If you were to intercept a distress call from another vessel, start heading toward that vessel immediately, but wait for a break in the radio communication between the Coast Guard and the vessel to call and inform the Coast Guard that you are in the vicinity and are in route to the vessel in peril. It is, of course, always recommended to take a certified radio operators course sometime to be better aware of proper protocols in situations like this one mentioned above. Contact your local Coast Guard Station to inquire about courses to operate your VHF Marine Radio.