Re-vhf radio problems

[jay_merrill]

Re: Re-vhf radio problems

My technical knowledge is pretty limited, especially now. I studied what was required to get the Restricted Radio Operators Permit, because doing so was a requirement in the flight training program that I was in at the time. It would be kind of a stretch to say that I was expert in the matter, then or now.

Here's sort of a wacko thought that I had during the course of this thread - if you were to buy 200' of coax, some weather balloons, and some helium, could you run an antenna 200 feet into the air to get better LOS? Would you have so much line loss in the 200' of cable that the value of doing so would be negligible, or would it work? What do you think? This off the wall idea assumes a no wind or light wind condition, because with a stiff breeze, you would just have a balloon trailing in the water 200' away from your boat.

I have no idea and I'm not likely to try this, but the idea is sort of interesting from the standpoint of a boating survival gear kit. Obviously you wouldn't do this on a small boat, but on a boat large enough to have some storage space, it might not be that crazy.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Re-vhf radio problems

Dont try it. First low loss Coax is heavy so would take a big balloon.
Second you would find it wrapped around a bridge or the prop.

Even 200 foot high your range is only 20 miles. Not worth the risk. If you need long range get a Ham Radio license an use the short wave band of 2182 Khz or some other band that can transmit over the horzion. This is what many Sail boats or boats crossing the oceans use.