hand held vhf radio, yes or no

[trouttamer]

good morning,
i do a lot boating on the st. lawrence and lake champlain in up state NY. i am considering investing in a vhf. is a hand held radio as sufficient as in dash with antenna?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: hand held vhf radio, yes or no

Sufficient or Efficient? A handheld is better than no radio at all but not a replacement for a "real" radio. Handhelds are normally 1W/5W output whereas the big radios are 25W and use a more efficient antenna so they will reach out much farther.

 

[trouttamer]

Re: hand held vhf radio, yes or no

i like the term efficient. your info is what i wanted to know. looks like i can get a desent radio and antenna for $150 from here or bass pro. do you have any suggestions? i have the alumacraft navigator 175 cs with plenty of room for radio and antenna

 

[Silvertip]

Re: hand held vhf radio, yes or no

I have a Navigator as well. I have a JRC 200. It's mounted up front in the cubby under the bow. I use a shorty stainless folding whip antenna. I fish large inland lakes where most folks don't have a VHF but I do fish the Mississippi and its handy there. The weather band allows keeping tabs on approaching fronts. Where you boat you should have a big radio and a handheld for backup.

 

[95yj]

Re: hand held vhf radio, yes or no

Exactly. The handheld sits in the cabin on a charger just in case the main radio dies.

 

[jurgenscraft]

Re: hand held vhf radio, yes or no

Good evening, I would be asking what is the best radio for my requirenents, I have both, a hand held and a Icom m442 and you Know What, I hardly ever switch the hand held radio on , other than to check that it works ,because of its limitations I treat my hand held as a standby radio only, it simply cannot compete with my 25 watt radio and 6db gain antenna. but I suppose it is all a matter of choice and what one considers ones saftey to be worth.
Kind Regards William Wright,

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: hand held vhf radio, yes or no

i have both also. when alone, i have the handheld in a waterproof bad, on my body. if the boat and i some how get separated, atleast i still have hope. also an automatic inflateable vest.

 

[drewpster]

Re: hand held vhf radio, yes or no

I used a handheld for several years on the Tennesse. I want a big radio eventually. But given the traffic on my section of the river, the many TVA locks, and a CG station close by, a handheld is all I have ever needed. Still having two is better than one.

BTW you should hear the CG when they fire up thier radio net! I swear it comes through my fillings when they talk on that thing.