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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
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 VHF handheld question:		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Initially Posted - 01/21/2006 :  23:16:42  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Do all 5 watt handhelf VHF radios have the same range, or are there models that have a range further than 5 miles?
Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

PRETTY PENNY
'01 C-250 WK, Hull #558
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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 01/21/2006 :  23:46:08  Show Profile
With antenna height and gain being the main determinants for VHF range, the relatively equal transmit power of VHF handhelds pretty much puts them on the same plane as far as range goes.
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Waterboy
Navigator

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USA
204 Posts
Response Posted - 01/22/2006 :  11:07:03  Show Profile  Visit Waterboy's Homepage
To further what dlucier said, you might want to check and see if some handhelds have different antenna options, from a longer whip to a coax connection with a hard mounted antenna on the boat. Regardless of whether the antenna is hard mounted or a longer whip attached to the unit, getting it as high as possible will result in the best range - eg., stand up on the cabin top rather than hunker down in the cockpit (conditions permitting).
Edited by - Waterboy on 01/22/2006 11:07:45
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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5904 Posts
Response Posted - 01/22/2006 :  12:16:08  Show Profile
I also agree that handheld vhfs have about the same range. The most important difference between them is the battery. The better ones have lithium/ion batteries that are longer lasting, and that don't have a "memory." They can be recharged at any time, regardless of whether they're partially or fully discharged.

Icoms have a good reputation, and West Marine has what appears to be a pretty good online-only warehouse sale on them now.

They have an Icom M32 Li, which I think is a good buy at it's regular price of $179.99.

They also have an Icom M1V with a lithium/ion battery on sale for $144.39 that looks pretty good.
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 01/22/2006 :  23:39:06  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Is it possible to connect a handheld to an 8' stern rail mounted antenna to gain transmission height? For the ICOM IC-M1V you can get a Shakespeare adapter Sma TO-PL-250. Is this what would connect a handheld to a conventional rail mount antenna?
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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts
Response Posted - 01/23/2006 :  10:01:47  Show Profile
>"Is it possible to connect a handheld to an 8' stern rail mounted antenna to gain transmission height?"

IMHO You wouldn't get that much elevation gain... dunno if it would be worth the effort for the elevation alone (pretty nomninal). On the other hand you'd get better gain from the antenna.

Gain is the amplifying effect an antenna can offer by propagating the radio signal into a smaller area rather than broadcasting in a sphere to the whole universe. 'Full size' antennas offer a lot better gain than the little nipper attached to a handheld.

A good analogy to help understand antenna gain is a focusing flashlight. Focus the beam into a small spot and it's very bright (high gain). Focus the beam into a wide area and it's dimmer but covers a wider area (low gain).

So, high-gain antennas sound like a great idea... but there's a gotcha. The 'beam' is broadcast at right angles to the antenna. Imagine a pair of your focusing flashlights taped to the mast... one aimed to port and one to starboard.

When a sailboat is heeled over, one beam is aimed at the water... the other is aimed up into the sky. With narrow beams, your power is wasted transmitting to nowhere. That's why sailboats usually have the short 'squatty body' antennas with lower gain. The 'beam' is bigger and the signal band is more likely to reach another station.

If I was going to do something to imcrease my handheld propagation... I'd mount a 6' stainless mast to the stern rail with a 'shorty' whip antenna on top. Having a mount like that also makes a good spot to mount a GPS antenna etc.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.