Posts Tagged ‘VHF Radio’
VHF and hunting are a good fit….
With hunting season coming up on us so quickly, now is the time to start thinking about getting that little hand held VHF marine radio you’ve been thinking about – you know – the one that will just fit into that empty vest pocket you have in your hunting garb. These little radios have quite a range when unobstructed so you could realistically reach another person within a 6 mile radius of where you are. Talk about a nice tidy insurance package if you need it! Every year someone gets lost or has some problem in the woods that requires medical attention. What a blessing it would be if you were able to reach someone for help – somewhere where your cell phone won’t work…and up here there’s a lot of those places!! Think long an hard this hunting season as you’re packing your hunting clothes full of all those “must haves”, preparing for that first morning of the hunt. Who knows – maybe you’ll be the one that gets the big one and then you’d be real glad to be able to call someone to come and help drag it out of the woods! Always be safe. Happy Boater.
October and November can bring some inclement weather – be ready…..
The song writer didn’t just make up the phrase “the gales of November” – they really happen. I can’t imagine going out fishing or something in October or November without a VHF marine radio on board – one that has the capability of receiving regular weather updates. These are so important because these storm fronts really close in fast and end up being in charge. You always want to allow yourself enough time to get to shore with your passengers and these radios will provide you with that convenience. The USCG will always broadcast over channel 16 any important or critical information they feel is needed to keep you and those you have on board safe. Listen to them and heed their words – they know what they are talking about – that’s their business. Take time to be safe. Happy Boater.
Big things definitely come in small packages…
One of the best kept secrets of the modern world we live in just how much progress has been made recently with the mandatory digital transmissions now required on all new production of VHF marine radios. It is my understanding that BOTH hand held VHF marine radios as well as fixed VHF marine radios are required to have this quality on a “go forward” basis. You, the user come out the winner in a situation like this because there is really no comparison between digital quality and what we used to accept as normal radio communication. That’s not to say that there are still a lot of “old stock” items out there being sold in “online auctions” etc which were purchased at a real low price on closeout and they are sold as new items. Are they good – sure. They just may not have the digital sound quality that you want. Ask questions when purchasing these items. Don’t be fooled. Above all, take a moment and assess you needs for your “emergency kit” on board your boat or in your hunting equipment. Yes – I said hunting equipment. A hand held VHF marine radio tucked into the vest pocket of your hunting jacket just may be the little item that saves your life or the life of someone in your hunting party because it likely will allow you call for help in areas where you may not have any cell service. Always be safe. Happy Boater.
With hunting season coming up, a hand-held VHF Radio may be the clear ticket for you!
Every year we hear reports of hunters getting lost while hunting in areas they are not familiar with. They live and work in a big city and then expect to jump right into the woods and pretend they’re Daniel Boone or something. Even those of us who live in the woods all our lives have to be careful not to get turned around while walking through dense forestation. It’s real easy to get turned around – I’ve had it happen to me and let me tell you – it is not a very friendly feeling. I knew the way out, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember how far in the woods I was – a half mile?…a mile?…I didn’t know. I can happen fast. Then, there’s that moment when you check your compass and low and behold you convince yourself that the compass is WRONG. First BIG mistake. You always have to believe your compass. Now, wouldn’t it be a great idea to invest in a little hand held VHF marine radio that would fit nicely into your vest pocket and not even take up any room? There ‘s a lot of hunters that are realizing that this is the way to go. It would be a great resource and peace of mind for all hunters. Be safe always. Happy Boater.
Don’t be caught off guard with the weather…
On many of the marine radio receivers as well as the VHF marine radios available (both fixed units an hand held units) you will be able to receive any alerts and advisories from the USCG or from the national weather service on NOAA. These broadcasts are critical to keeping you safe when on the water. I noticed just this morning as I was traveling to town patches of very dense fog. Now, if I had been planning to head out on the big lake (Lake Superior) for a bit of fishing and relaxation, I would certainly want to take with me a radio with those capabilities. With front systems moving in rapidly, it is often difficult to get off the lake in time when the spot where the fish are biting is maybe 5 miles out from shore and you’re trolling with deep lines at maybe 175 feet deep. You really aren’t allotted a lot of time from the time you see the clouds coming over the basin ridge until you are feeling the increased winds and maybe being pelted with rain as you are caught in a thunderstorm. Don’t be one of those that are heard saying…”I just didn’t know that the weather was going to get bad”. Live on the cutting edge of technology with one of these very fine radios. Happy Boater.
Emergency crews can sure make good use of a hand held VHF Marine Radio…
As I was leisurely cruising around the lake at my cabin this past weekend, I was amazed that I was able to see the billows of smoke from the forest fire in the boundary waters canoe area filling the sky to the northeast of my lake home. It was pretty dramatic to see. Also, I was sure glad that the wind was taking the smoke away from me instead of filling the air around where I was with that pungent smell of stale, smoldering smoke. Now that the evacuation has begun, I would be pretty sure that there are a lot of folks using Hand Held VHF Marine Radios for communication in that area, although, they have still not allowed a tower to be installed up there. Too bad, I say…. I saw towers in Kansas that were really well constructed and painted dark green with trees planted right in the middle of the tower so as to make the tower less obvious. Sure would be nice if the folks fighting over this could come to come agreement. I think the “good” surely outweighs the “bad” – especially in a rescue situation is someone is lost up there. Happy Boater.
Hand Held VHF is really a great way to go!
Even if you aren’t the handiest person around and you don’t feel like cutting holes to install those marine speakers into your boat or pontoon (even if it IS easy), you need to consider a VHF Hand Held Marine Radio. These little radios fit into the palm of your hand and if you drop it into the water – guess what – they float!! …AND they’re waterproof!! This makes them an ideal item to include in your emergency bag to have available for that “just in case” time we never want to think about. These little radios are becoming increasingly popular. That’s because more and more folks are discovering just how effective and useful they are. They can obtain the latest and greatest weather updates from NOAA as well as any important broadcasts sent out from the USCG as related to current conditions. Get on board and enjoy the technology we have available to us today. Happy Boater.
“Marine speakers” is the way to go…
It sure makes me wonder why in the world some guys invest good money to put a great VHF Marine Radio into their boat and then plug it into some old worn out speakers that probably don’t even have digital sound capability. Since all of the newer marine radios are now digital quality, why not get the best bang for your buck and allow the sound to flow through a speaker that is capable of handling the output from the radio! Your radio may have the capability of putting out great sound, but if you plug it into a “less than desirable” speaker system, you’ve actually gained very little. If you have some trouble with hearing loss, you owe it to yourself to go digital. It makes all the difference in the world. You can actually understand what the person on the other end of the conversation is saying! New concept, hey?? Do yourself a favor and make the switch to digital (marine speakers as well as VHF Radio) - you won’t regret it for a minute! Happy Boater.
Kayaking requires respect for the lake you’re in…
This summer I believe there have been at least 4 instances where kayakers had to be rescued by the Unites States Coast Guard in the waters of Lake Superior – and that is only in this small corner of the lake that I’m living in! I think that too often, the element of respect is what is missing when some of these boaters – yes, some of them ARE experienced – set out for an afternoon of enjoying the water. Those waves always look bigger to a person when you’re riding them out than they do when you’re sitting on shore just enjoying the scenic view. Sometimes a person tends to become overconfident, thinking that I’ve done this before and bad things always happen to “the other guy”. I know you wouldn’t catch me in a kayak on Lake Superior without a hand held VHF marine radio in my vest pocket – or fastened to the boat someplace. These little radios are waterproof to about a meter so water isn’t a problem and then if you encounter a bad situation, you will have direct communication lines to the USCG and based on what I’ve observed, they have been on the scene within 5 minutes. Good Job USCG!! Have fun, but be safe. Happy Boater.
VHF scores high in safety…
In my book, VHF marine radios are right up there near the top for safety items (if not right at the top). The past couple of weeks have certainly reinforced my thinking. It seems like every time I turned on the television, someone was either missing or there was another emergency happening. I know that emergency personnel use VHF Radios widely and I believe that it’s because they are so versatile. They can either be placed in a vehicle or ATV as a mounted unit or carried in your vest pocket as a portable hand held VHF Marine Radio. Now, I know they have to be used in an area that is not obstructed by trees, hills, or buildings in order for it to work at its best efficiency, but it’s a giant step in the right direction. I think about that scout that got separated from his troop in the western wilderness this past weekend – I’ll bet he’d have a given a million dollars to have had a little radio in his vest pocket so he could have called for help. As it turned out, he was found and that’s GREAT!! But, I’m sure he had some harrowing moments as he spent the night in the forest – alone. I’m sure the searchers were well equipped with the latest in communication equipment as they diligently executed their search efforts. Always be prepared. These radios are even affordable – something that everyone that plans to spend time away from civilization should seriously consider. Be safe. Happy Boater.