Why Buy a VHF?

[busumark]

i have to check with the fisheries if a handheld vhf is good for them to use on a boat. does anyone knows if it has to be a handheld or a base vhf to use on a boat according to the law

[skip]

I don't believe the law makes any distinction about that issue. Ultimately you are reducing your transmit range with a handheld which I believe has 1W/5W (Hi/Low) versus 1W/25W on a fixed that will also have an external whip antenna.

I feel that if you go offshore you should really consider a fixed unit and keep a handheld as a backup or for more coastal operations.

[Gazzetta]

Hi guys,

I'm in the process of buying a VHF and would like some guidlines from the experts. 

I was thinking of getting a handheld one as I think the battrey will drain out if I use the gps and vhf without charging the battrey (as i'll be using the small motor which is not connected to the battrey.)  What's the range of a hand held one ?  Do they have the DSC ? 

Are there any advantages of a fixed one over a hand held except distance ?  How long will a handheld battrey last ?

Any info is appreciated.

Thanks
Chris 

[skip]

Chris, alot depends on the model for battery life. It isn't so much receive range which is line of sight bearing in mind the curvature of the earth, but transmit power which on handhelds is 5W versus 25W on fixed. Dont know how to translate that into a range figure.

Not sure about DSC on handhelds, dont think so.

[busumark]

i bought a handheld vhf from caruana marine bir id-deheb this morning the navicom rt-300 for LM40. i dont think that you will find cheaper. those that are registered MFC or MFB and need a vhf to go out more than 3miles handheld vhf are good. i cheked with the fisheries an malta comunication authority

[skip]

Busumark, if you're MFC registered by under 6meters can you leave the 12nm limit normally imposed on vessels under 6m?

[busumark]

no under 6mtrs no one can go further tham 12nm even if you are MFB or MFA. on the west coast the miles start to count from a line that you make from filfla to the last point of gozo. on that imaginary line its like that you are still on land

[Gazzetta]

Hi Busumark,

Seems really a good one !! Very reasonable price aswell.  What distance does it cover ? 

Thanks
Chris 

[busumark]

i dont know the distance but all handhelds are the same because they have 5W power. you can change the antenna and receive three times as much. but only receice because to send it will be the same

[galeacw]

has anyone got a cobra vhf?   what are your experiences?

[bigboy]

Camkev and myself have cobra handheld vhfs. We bought them from white sails marine i nta xbiex. They are quite good radios and for a very reasonable price.

With mine i had some problems with the charging system but after them cheacking it i was givin a new one.

Though right now it seems that lowrance vhfs are some good piece of equipment and i am in the process of buying one to install onto my new boat.

[galeacw]

Thanks bigboy,
I ll go have a look.  I wish to buy a handheld as i do not intend to go more than 6 miles... and also its an open boat and if i leave it at sea i have to remove the base.  But i guess the handheld is enough for us!

[blueskip]

I have a handheld which I bought when I had a 13ft Dell Quay Dory which had a pull start outboard (so I didn't have a battery aboard), I still have it, & still use it to talk to friends, whilst my main DSC VHF is on "listening watch" on Ch16.
Seeing as we dont go a long way offshore like some of you guys in Malta do we can probably make do with a hand held, but has already been said they dont have the same power as a base set, & therefore dont have the same range. If I lived in Malta & travelled well offshore like you guys do, I would have a DSC VHF linked to a cheap hand help GPS, (or my main GPS), "just in case"

[digger]

I have a fixed cobra vhf bought of e bay it is good.

[galeacw]

I am considering the cobra MR HH 325, as it seems to be quite good.  11hrs standby time, NIMH battery, illuminated display, 1/3/5 watts, signal strength meter, channel scan etc... for 154eur.
I think its a good deal