I'm disappointed in this response as a moderator. Irresponsible speculation and the spread of generally unsafe behavior. The Coast Guard would disagree with this statement. You should know better. If you're not sure don't speculate. And I guarntee every single LEO and Tow boat operator on that body of water is running a VHF. They're more than likely using an alternate channel for coms and monitoring 16 for inbound hails.
Sorry to have seemed cavalier Shrew ... But it's hardly speculation. I'm part of one agency in the state
All of the boats I mentioned in my post are equipped with VHF. And I didn't say not to have one. However, I have had conversation with TWRA, the Tow Boat, County Sheriff & two fire departments. The bulk of the non-TAC COMs they do is via cell - with the local boaters.
Part of that is also due to how radios work. Here in TN, many of the bodies of water are tucked into hills. That's not true of all other places, but VHF is line of sight ... so any elevation that goes over your radio blocks your signal (or at least degrades it). I typically can't get range (even if I put a taller antenna up) to reach the tow boat station if I'm more than about 3 miles away due to hills and islands.
I
CAN raise any of them on the VHF radio, but even the last time I contacted the tow boat (my Silverline konked out), they ran nearly everything off the cell phone ... including ask that I message GPS data over to them.
In the SAR work that I do here in the state, the agencies do communicate on tactical channels during operations. But those TAC frequencies aren't marine frequencies.
^^^ Last year I spoke with a sheriff on one of the local ponds. He stated they don't used VHF just cell phones for the territory that he covers.
Just so around here. On the Tennessee River and the Cumberland River (close by me, anyway), there is more VHF traffic due to commercial traffic and some USCG activity, but much of the non-tactical communication happens via cell phone.
Since the O/P specifically mentioned going on the Great Lakes, all this inland lake talk is off topic... The Great Lakes are VERY much VHF territory!
In the initial post the OP said they wouldn't think of going on the Great Lakes without a VHF, and seemed to be asking specifically about having one inshore on the Mississippi, so that's what I was really answering. And I agree with your earlier comment: Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. And suggest that having one on board - even if it doesn't get used - teaches you about using it if you do need it.
