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RL
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/08/2002 : 14:56:42

I'm looking for a handheld marine radio to use on the great lakes. Is this a good idea, and would anyone care to make a recommendation.
Thanks

Free Spirit

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2002 : 17:04:31

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I'm looking for a handheld marine radio to use on the great lakes. Is this a good idea, and would anyone care to make a recommendation.
Thanks

Free Spirit
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Yes it is a very good idea. We have a mounted radio, but if our batteries ever die, so does it. Ergo, we also cary a handheld. Its an old horizon standard, but it does what we want. When it is on the boat, we keep it inside some anti static wrap a sealed tupperware type box well away from anything metal. If the boat gets hit by lightening, we should at least have that radio as well.

As for recommendations....I haven't bought one in ages, so I am not qualified to recommend.

dw

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d603b3127cce9f858f0ef3ef0000001010" border=0>

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2002 : 17:44:21

A VHF handheld radio is a good backup to a fixed mount unit and can be taken into the dinghy if necessary, but I wouldn't use it as the primary radio because of the handheld's shorter range and lower power. The two things governing radio range are antenna height and output power. Since the signal from a VHF radio travels primarily line-of-sight from antenna to antenna, the higher the transmitting/receiving antenna, the greater the transmitting/receiving range. Additionally, the fixed mount VHF units have a higher output power than handheld units which enhances their range.

Since you are a Great Lakes sailor, chances are you might sail out far from land and if you run into trouble you will need a long range radio which will have the capacity to get you assistance if you ever need it. If you are a coastal sailor you can use your cell phone for relatively close to shore emergencies, but for long distance communication, I recommend getting a fixed mount and use the handheld as an emergency backup.

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
Catalina

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2002 : 11:35:30

On Lake Erie your Cell phone (depending on type...CDMA, GSM, TDMA or traditional analog...and location) will range between 3 & 5 miles out, and at night I've gotten as many as 11 miles out and made calls.

Radio Waves travel faster and Farther over water...Don't know why, just remember that as a selling point from the old cell phone days.

dw

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John G-
Admiral

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793 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2002 : 11:54:38

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I'm looking for a handheld marine radio to use on the great lakes. Is this a good idea, and would anyone care to make a recommendation.
Thanks

Free Spirit
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
RL – I just bought the Standard Horizon HX2060S. About 1.8 boat units. It says it’s submersible I hope to NOT have to find out. It feels great in my hand and has some good features. I’ve only had it for a month and now my season is over but it worked well for the short time I needed it.
Since I single hand I feel it's a good idea to have a radio within reach. Also my batteries got low this season the VHS mounted below didn’t work very well on high. Redundancy is always a good idea.
BTW I sail in Long Island Sound and it worked from the middle of the Sound.
Good luck.
 

[url="http://www.peregrinefund.org/"]<img src="http://www.peregrinefund.org/images/intro_mid_image.GIF" border=0>[/url]
 John G- "PEREGRINE" C25-#4762 FK

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2002 : 12:57:37

"Radio Waves travel faster and Farther over water..."

They may travel farther due to bouncing off the water and cloud cover, but radio waves propagate at a constant speed.

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
Catalina

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2002 : 18:09:27

Mary likes her Raymarine 100 -- got it as a door prize at last year's Catalina Rendezvous. Good backup to the fixed mount radio. Dad likes that it has a rechargeable battery pack, plus you can put in regular alkalines if the Nicad pack goes dead. <img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cf33b3127cce91be9f86407e0000001410" border=0>

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2002 : 20:40:18

Richard,

Will my daughter's GameBoy cartridges fit into Mary's Raymarine 100 handheld? <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
Catalina

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2002 : 14:10:33

Don:

GameBoy cartridges might void the warranty? However, Raymarine has a great reputation for standing behind their products whether still under warranty or not.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2002 : 17:31:11

A few months ago when my 17 year old Midland VHF radio died, I went into West Marine to look at handhelds to replace it. I talked to the store guy I have subsidized extensively the past few years, and told him I wanted a handheld that I could also hook up to my mast radio for extra range. "Forget it," he replied. "Only use a handheld as a backup to a fixed mount. If you're ever in serious trouble, the handheld might not have the range to get you help." When a salesman tells me not to buy something he sells, I listen.

Brooke

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Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2002 : 19:35:22

If you are looking for a handheld VHF read May 2002 issue of Practical Sailor they tested 13 radios and rated them. I agree with the others. We have a mounted one and the handheld is a back up, plus it goes out on the 12' sailboat just in case.

Bryan Beamer
Daylight Again
C250wk #495

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2002 : 14:06:18

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
"Radio Waves travel faster and Farther over water..."

They may travel farther due to bouncing off the water and cloud cover, but radio waves propagate at a constant speed.

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
Catalina
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Wasn't sure if it was faster or farther, figured one of you guys would correct me...

dw

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d603b3127cce9f858f0ef3ef0000001010" border=0>

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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.