Handheld vhf radio range?

[fishingdan]

I have a handheld vhf radio for my boat. I have it mainly for emergencies. Someone mentioned that these have limited range. What is the range of these units on their max power setting (5 watts on my unit)? <br /><br />I don't go off-shore very far (always in sight of shore), but if the range is really limited, I probably need to consider a permanent unit.<br /><br />Any advice?

 

[JB]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

Figure on 5 miles in decent conditions, Dan.<br /><br />You might get 15-20 miles once in a while, but not when you might need it.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

I smell another new toy coming Dan........<br /><br />For safety's sake I'd get a real radio, and use the handheld for backup. Gotta think about when there's a lot of traffic on the airwaves and this muffled quiet voice is calling a mayday over all the other crap on the waves. And most captains have their engines running, their not broken down...... Key is the 6 foot antennae.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

What if I yell really loud into the radio? Will that get me an extra mile or two? <br /><br />No...I was afraid of that. What do you folks recommend for a decent basic unit? <br /><br />I bought my share of toys this winter, but this one can actually be justified! After all, safety first!<br /><br />Thanks

 

[RatFish]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

As Luna Sea said, The antenna is the most important component. Just my 2 cents.

 

[nickpokorny]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

it all depends on how high the antenna is, is to how far your range is

 

[Boatist]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

With a hand held on 5 watts boat to boat 2 to 5 miles. Add a 8 foot 6DB antenna and the effect power will be 20 watts.<br />I agree with ratfish put the money in the antenna. I really like the Shakespeare Galaxy 5225 antenna. Any of the Galaxy series are good. However boat to boat even with 25 watts and a good 8 foot 6DB antenna range is about 10 or 11 miles.<br /><br />Calling the Coast Guard in a lot of places range can be 80 miles or more. Reason for this is they often have their antennas mounted on top of a high mountain. Out here in my area Coast Guard has one antenna on top of a 3000 foot high mountain and another on a 2500 foot mountain.<br /><br />Buy a good quality radio and it will last 20 years or more. I like both ICom and Standard. ICOM 402S is a nice radio but not the cheapest.<br /><br />Make sure when you find what you want you check here for prices. IBoat has had some good deals.<br /><br /> http://mastercatalog04.westmarine.com/0065.asp <br /><br /> http://mastercatalog04.westmarine.com/0075.asp <br /><br /> http://mastercatalog04.westmarine.com/0056.asp

 

[KRS]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

A handheld is worthless when the battery dies. An installed mobile unit can utilize the boat's battery power long after the batts have drained and can't start an engine.... feels safe to know that.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

Thanks for the suggestions. I will start the search for a radio.

 

[jurgenscraft]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

I have been using a Alinco DJ5/TE VHF/UHF HAND HELD tranciever as a back up radio for a couple of years ( this is a Amateur Radio transceiver with marine band capabalities )I use this with the cigarette lighter cable which gives me 6 watts output into the rubber duck type antenna, I also use the speaker microphone ,which adds to the ease of opperation I find this particular set up to work quite well as a back up system over a short range, our N.S.R.I.( national sea rescue institute ) opperate from rescue stations along the coast and at some large inland dams and water ways, these stations are equiped with fairly significant radio stations including high antenna towers on which the vhf and hf antennas are mounted, even though there are these elobarate antenna systems, communications using hand held are limited to short range (2 to 3 Km average) compared to permanently installed 25 watt radios with a gain antenna (10 to 15+ Km Average),in my case a ICOM radio and a colinear antenna giving approximately 6 Dbi.my advice is install the best radio communications system you can afford, your life and property my depend on it,consider the cost of your boat and equipment against the cost of a decent radio and antenna,good insurance do you not think.<br />Kind regards William Wright

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

When You buy & install your fixed mount radio, & ant. try to hook up or get an adapter to hook up your hand held to the fixed mount ant., in case your boat batteries die. Also keep fresh batteries in the hand held. Remember "One Oh S**t wipes out a whole lot of Atta Boys" Good Luck, Have Fun Joe

 

[captharv]

Re: Handheld vhf radio range?

Joe said it.<br />A HH radio, by itself will give one a false sense of security.<br />I was one of the CG auxiliarists who had to search for distressed boaters. radio communications made it easier. <br />Captharv