What do I need in a Marine CB radio

[jerryt]

I'm looking into purchasing a marine CB radio. I found the cobra MR HH 90
Marine VHF radio. If someone could please follow this link http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=shop/flypage&product_id=411 and check out the specs, please let me know if this is good enough for salt water inshore boating and enough to contact the Coast Guard, if necessary. Any other advice is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

Electrics, electronics and trolling motors, non engine

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

That would be fine for short range,a mile or two. For about a hundred bucks you can get a fixed mount Cobra VHF radio that would do a much better job with a good antenna.
You know these are not CB radios? Totally different band.

I bought one of the Cobra MR F55 on sale for 99 bucks online..

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

You are confusing a Citizen Band (CB) radio with a VHF Marine Radio. They are two different animals and operating rules are different. A CB radio is a 10-4 good buddy cit chat type of radio that was found in cars and still used in some over the road trucks and are still available. Channel use is wide open. But the question is, who do you plan to communicate with and where? A VHF radio has specific channel use rules and improper use can get you in serious trouble. Know what you are buying. If you boat inland waters a VHF radio may be of little use since you can generally see shore on most lakes and cell phones and FRS/GMRS radios might be a better option since more people use them. If you are in costal waters, navigable waters like the Mississippi, St Croix, the Great Lakes, and associated water ways, then a VHF is a requirement for safe boating.

 

[jerryt]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

Thank you very much for your help. I just purchased my first boat just a few days ago. I will be taking boating classes early January. Thanks for the tips and advice.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

You can buy a hand held VHF of various brands for about $70. Check out the availability at your local "Wally World" (Walmart) or marine store. Hand helds normally don't have the range of a console mounted radio but they are better than not having a radio at all. I participate in SAR (search & rescue) operations on occassion and have used a hand held to communicate with Coast Guard boats and helicopters, as well as local marine patrols.

Although they are usually sold separately, I recommend a speaker/mic for use with the handheld. They plug into the side of the radio and allow you to clip the radio in any convenient location on your PFD or clothing, while clipping the speaker/mic on your upper chest, near you ears and mouth. I don't recommend use of the cheap, cell phone type ear pieces with a mic boom that sometimes come with these radios. I have tried to use them and have found the mics to be very marginal in performance.

Learn how to make use of the radio's weather bands too. By getting in the habit of listening to NOAA Weather Radio, you will take a very important step in assuring a safe and pleasurable boating experience.

 

[achris]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

The only thing I would be concerned about, is that a hand held will lay in the cabin until you need it. By then the batteries will be flat and you'll really wish you'd spent the extra money and bought a console mounted unit that runs off the main battery.

Chris...............

 

[zzzzz]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

keep in mind that VHF is "line of sight" transmission and reception...anything(trees,buildings,etc.) in between you and the other party will be detrimental to your communications...you'll get prox. 5 miles of transmission/reception for every foot of antenna height so an 8 foot fiberglass gives the best service

 

[Outsider]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

.. and you'll really wish you'd spent the extra money and bought a console mounted unit that runs off the main battery.


Unless a dead battery is the problem, in which case you're SOL since you didn't buy the hand held with extra batteries. Hand helds are fine for inshore as long as the user is aware of limitations (most VHFs will NOT reliably do what their owners think they will); I have one for backup that I charge before every outing, and it worked just fine the day my console unit took a dump. As with most anything to do with boating, preventive maintenance and proper prep go a long way towards a happy ending ...

 

[Outsider]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

5 miles of transmission/reception for every foot of antenna height so an 8 foot fiberglass gives the best service

According to antenna manufacturers, range of both antennas is combined to guesstimate actual operational distance. All else being equal, 5/1 would mean your 8' antenna could reliably communicate with my 8' antenna from 80 miles away. Sounds a little optimistic ...

 

[achris]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

5 miles of transmission/reception for every foot of antenna height so an 8 foot fiberglass gives the best service

According to antenna manufacturers, range of both antennas is combined to guesstimate actual operational distance. All else being equal, 5/1 would mean your 8' antenna could reliably communicate with my 8' antenna from 80 miles away. Sounds a little optimistic ...

I was once out about 60 miles from a base station with my 8' antenna and was talking to him like he was standing next to me....

Chris............

 

[wire2]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

I was once out about 60 miles from a base station with my 8' antenna and was talking to him like he was standing next to me....

Chris............

Ah, that's apples to oranges.
A base antenna will always greatly improve performance, especially if it's a directional one.

 

[BillP]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

The link didn't work for me but if it's a marine VHF there should be no problem. Marine radios have a dielectric coating to seal out moisture and about all you get by spending more money is more options...scanning, programming, etc. Like posted by others the power and range on 5 watt handhelds is less than 25 watt console models. Both have way less range than most folks think. It's all line of site. VHF doesn't bend and skipping is very rare...but does happen. BTW, the USCG has ceased taking distress calls from phones so you have to use a vhf or ssb to do it. TowboatUS take phone or VHF calls if you have their tow service.

Here's approx distances taken from a VHF Range and Line of Sight Nomograph provided by Northern Radio...Handhelds do approx 5-8 miles max. A console with 8' antenna height talking to another 8' antenna is about 8 miles. An 8' antenna talking to a 350' USCG tower will reach about 25 miles. Many radios will receive longer distances than they can transmit to. Talking 60 miles with an 8' antenna has the receiving antenna off the scale at over 2000' high.

If you buy a handheld get one with the battery and cig lighter plug in for power. Then you don't have to worry about running the batt down. Not all handhelds have the option but some come standard with ac and dc cig lighter charging.

bp

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

I agree that console mounted radios with long antennas are better than handheld but I think sometimes people don't buy VHF radios, because they don't want to spend the money for a mounted unit and think the handhelds are no good.

Handhelds are inexpensive and can be very useful. Even at low prices, there are brands that come with rechargeable batteries, cigarette lighter chargers, NOAA weather channels, etc. Some can be used either with the rechargeable Litium Ion battery or a number of standard AA cells. I use the rechargeable but keep some AAs in the boat for backup.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

Just a point of clarification - a cell phone is still a good way to seek help in areas where coverage is present. If you call 911 and tell them your situation, they will call the Coast Guard and/or other rescue agencies. In fact, the Coast Guard Auxilliary here in New Orleans emphasizes use of a cell phone for emergency use when they do courtesy inpsections.

I can also say that the New Orleans Sector of the 8th Coast Guard District uses phone coverage for other rescue related activity. I particpated in a SAR over the last couple of weeks and talked with the Ops folks in the New Orleans Sector frequently via cell phone.

 

[BillP]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

Just a point of clarification - a cell phone is still a good way to seek help in areas where coverage is present. If you call 911 and tell them your situation, they will call the Coast Guard and/or other rescue agencies. In fact, the Coast Guard Auxilliary here in New Orleans emphasizes use of a cell phone for emergency use when they do courtesy inpsections.

I can also say that the New Orleans Sector of the 8th Coast Guard District uses phone coverage for other rescue related activity. I particpated in a SAR over the last couple of weeks and talked with the Ops folks in the New Orleans Sector frequently via cell phone.

Didn't mean to confuse anyone. Maybe more clarification is needed...the "official" word from the USCG is they won't take direct phone calls for distress. A distress call by phone should be done through 911 and will be passed on to them from agencies who handle 911 calls. What the USCG does "unofficially" if you call them direct can only be guessed about but I imagine most locations will respond anyway. Bottom line...the phone is better than nothing but takes a distant 2nd place in safety compared to direct calling through VHF.

Also, the USCG AUXILLIARY is a totally different branch organization comprised of volunteer private citizens. They are not the ones you are calling when in distress. No formal credentials are required and anyone can join.

bp

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

Are there any brands of handhelds we should stay away from? Ones with poor reputations and receptions from previous experiences?

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: What do I need in a Marine CB radio

With permission from the mods I'm going to tell it like it is. VHF radios are built like brick sh**houses. I bought some off of Ebay, 3 "broken" VHF radios, the newest probably from the early 90's, the oldest, oh gosh, 70's vintage. Within 10 minutes we had 2 of them working again, and the 3rd turned on and transmitted, but was only static on both. However, every button on the front worked and it was so old it had a full keypad like a phone!!

I have never heard of one going out with just a little bit of care they should ALL last as long as you'd want to look at them. One of the broken ones that I still use today is faded so bad (from the sun) that it is yellow. I took it apart for the hell of it and found that the plastic parts covered by the front were still a gleaming white, an indicator that the radio sat for YEARS on a boat somewhere, unprotected. And that radio works the best out of all of them. It's transmit volume is a little low, but other than that its great.

More important than the radio is the antenna and it's mounting location. Obviously higher is better, but longer is also preferred. If you can do it, get an 8" antenna. I have 3 footers and they are ok for less than 3 or 4 miles in hilly terrain, an 8" seems to reach out and touch someone! LOL They are all line-of-sight, but a longer antenna can bring in weaker signals, giving you that much more range.

Personally I would opt out of a handheld. I own one and if you don't stay after the batteries it becomes a boat anchor real quick. That was another broken ebay special, one wire soldered and it came back to life, but it only transmits 3 watts of power, no matter what power setting you put it on. Oh well, still works.