VHF+Antenna, this a good combo?

[Outsider]

Re: VHF+Antenna, this a good combo?

The reason is that the USCG requires this radio upgrade and if your found to have obsolete equipment they can remove you from the water ..

Oh, please! SC-101 radios have not been banned, do not require upgrade, and the Coast Guard cannot/will not 'remove you from the water' if you use one. Don't confuse what you will soon be able to buy with what you can use, just like the bulb example. The government has dictated new standards for light bulb manufacture which incandescent bulbs will not meet. They aren't obsolete, and will work just as well as they did the day before,you just won't be able to buy replacements. Same with this VHF business, SC-101 radios will work just as well the day after as they did the day before - and be just as legal. Oh, and FWIW, the OP received the radio as a gift, so what he 'should' buy is sort of irrelevant. Guaranteed his lack of knowledge of antennas is much more crucial to his safety than SC-101 v. Class D ...

 

[Dolfan0925]

Re: VHF+Antenna, this a good combo?

Ok. So, This radio cost like $90. I'm not spending more than the radio for the antenna. Like nobody that's going to go no further than the Intracoastal has a radio anyway. This is way overkill to even do as I will almost ALWAYS be within an easy swimming distance from shore. I was just wondering if the antenna paired with the radio will function at all. I can upgrade stuff later. But for now I have a $900 boat, and will upgrade to the super-fancy stuff when I get more money. For now I just want a radio primarily to learn how people talk and the proper things to say and channels to say them on.


And ya, I don't think the coast guard is gonna board me and see my radio and put me in cuffs.

 

[Auxlarry]

Re: VHF+Antenna, this a good combo?

Good thought Dolfan! I believe everyone on the waters around Florida should have a VHF radio. The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers some good communications classes and boating classes in your area.
Here is something that a lot of boat owners with VHF don't know or don't follow:

Radio Watchkeeping Regulations
?Any vessel equipped with a VHF marine radio must maintain a watch on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) when not communicating, in accordance with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Radio Watchkeeping Regulations. VHF channel 16 must be kept clear of intervessel communications apart from distress and emergencies. Other channels may be used for general communication.

Here are a couple of sites you can visit and learn: http://www.uscgboating.org/ http://www.uscgboating.org/fedreqs/default.html

Enjoy your boating experience and stay safe!