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 Is this garbage, or worth it?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts
Initially Posted - 05/02/2006 :  09:21:40  Show Profile
Hi folks, I'm attempting to prepare properly for our trip up to Cleveburg for Nationals in June. Can't Wait!!!!

Anyway, I'm thinking we need a VHF, even just a small handheld. A friend of mine found this and pointed it out. What do ya'll think? Our normal cruising grounds are a small inland lake, Alum Creek Reservoir, where we are never more than 3 miles from the State Marina. We've never had a need for a VHF on Alum before, and if there was a real problem, the cell phones work. The big thing we want however, is to be as safe as possible on Lake Erie for Nationals for the least amount of money. We don't anticipate cruising Lake Erie too often either.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/239518/10001/542/64/3

Thanks ya'll!
Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio
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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts
Response Posted - 05/02/2006 :  09:37:07  Show Profile  Visit Champipple's Homepage
That will be great....you will also be able to monitor the communications from the race committee...
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 05/02/2006 :  09:38:44  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
It looks like a good fit for your needs. On our lake we mostly use them to invite each other to raft up or meet someplace.
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Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts
Response Posted - 05/02/2006 :  12:26:13  Show Profile  Visit Ericson33's Homepage
I have a apir of them that I use for the VHF. They work well our club sits back about 1 mile where we race. the great think is that if you loose 1 you have another one. I tend to use the NOAA weather band all the time at home to check the weather. As for quality, Our 2 yaer old boy loves to throw them all over the place, and they still work fine, well untell he throws them out the car window :0 I might step up to a higher priced unit that has more distance but thats about it. 3 1/2 Stars
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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts
Response Posted - 05/02/2006 :  13:58:51  Show Profile  Visit britinusa's Homepage
Our 'backup' radios are motorola talkabouts T5950
We purchased a pair of them for $39 last year.

[url="http://motorola.digitalriver.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayProductDetailsPage&SiteID=motostor&Locale=en_US&Env=BASE&productID=36069300"]a quick google found this[/url]

Paul
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Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
855 Posts
Response Posted - 05/02/2006 :  23:51:01  Show Profile
Ben,
I just got my West Marine mailer today.
Your pair of Cobra HH200 VHF is on sale for $79.99
I don't know anything about this set, but it's a great price.
I would buy the waterproof bag too.
If this is your only radio, I would get VHF because Channel-16 is monitored.
Also, the weather channel feature is nice too.

Russ (C250WB #793)
Edited by - Russ.Johnson on 05/02/2006 23:52:02
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boatgt
Navigator

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117 Posts
Response Posted - 05/03/2006 :  00:19:47  Show Profile
Ben,
I have been using those radios for about a year now and they work great. I bought them about this time last year when they went on sale for $79.99. I also sail on an inland lake so distance isn’t a big priority for me. (Lake Watauga in East TN) I actually use the radio at least once a week to check the weather. They have a WX button to listen to the NOAA broadcasted weather reports. The set come with 2 radios, rechargeable batteries, 2 chargers, and 2 waterproof bags (I never use the bags). One radio is on my boat and the other stays in my Truck. My dad also purchased a pair and they work great for him as well. They might not be top of the line but for the price you can’t beat them. The only bad thing I can think to say about them is I wish they came with a car charger. Not bad for less than one boat unit!
Gene
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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts
Response Posted - 05/03/2006 :  06:11:24  Show Profile  Visit Turk's Homepage
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Ben</i>
<br />Hi folks, I'm attempting to prepare properly for our trip up to Cleveburg for Nationals in June. Can't Wait!!!!

Anyway, I'm thinking we need a VHF, even just a small handheld. A friend of mine found this and pointed it out. What do ya'll think? Our normal cruising grounds are a small inland lake, Alum Creek Reservoir, where we are never more than 3 miles from the State Marina. We've never had a need for a VHF on Alum before, and if there was a real problem, the cell phones work. The big thing we want however, is to be as safe as possible on Lake Erie for Nationals for the least amount of money. We don't anticipate cruising Lake Erie too often either.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/239518/10001/542/64/3

Thanks ya'll!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Just be aware that they only have 2 watt transmit power. Most handhelds have 5 watts. Still powerfull enough for several miles but not as powerfull as the more expensive counterparts.
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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts
Response Posted - 05/03/2006 :  06:22:56  Show Profile
Thanks ya'll. Upon your recommendations I took the plunge and paid my money. This talk of $79.99 has me just a little bit disappointed. They weren't on sale at my WM, but I still feel like they were a good price at $124.99.

Now I'm one more step ready for Nationals!
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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts
Response Posted - 05/03/2006 :  10:32:27  Show Profile
Ben: That sale starts 5/4, so take your receipt back in and they'll give you the difference--I've done it a couple of times.

As for the power, in a race environment, it's best to use the low power (2W) on a switchable radio so all that local chatter doesn't carry for miles, making other communications difficult. Those will serve you just fine for that specific purpose--if you were doing more sailing on big water, you'd want a better handheld <i>and</i> a fixed radio with a rail-mount or masthead antenna.
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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts
Response Posted - 05/03/2006 :  11:58:51  Show Profile
That is excellent news, Dave. Thanks for the info! I already have a call in to my wife to keep track of the receipt. I suspect our local WM will do the right thing, they're a pretty good group of guys.
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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.