Fishing Forum

some one reading this may need help some day

A $200 GPS VHF Marine Radio could save your life are get you help

How to Use a VHF: It Might Save Your Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6st0cGy_fWM

GPS VHF Marine Radio
To further enhance the GMDSS system, the U.S. Coast Guard has
updated their communication equipment under a program known as
Rescue 21. This updated equipment now offers not only improved voice
communications, but a direction finding function and a greatly improved
rescue capability for vessels equipped with a valid MMSI (Maritime
Mobile Service Identity) number installed VHF-DSC marine radio,
particularly if also connected to a Global Positioning System (GPS) or a
GPS/chartplotter.
While cellular telephones are very useful on land, they should not be
considered an adequate substitute for a VHF-DSC marine radio.
Because the VHF-DSC radio enables contact with other vessels in the
vicinity as well as the Coast Guard, it is extremely effective in an emergency.
It provides much better offshore coverage.

A good app to have on your cell phone so you can tell someone where you are at is GPS Status & Toolbox


Coast Guard - Boat Safety Inspection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTXCz5GxaF8

It is important for EVERYONE who is on a Lake to know what is required by law and to have all of the necessary safety equipment, whether or not you anticipate being stopped and checked
[signature]

great post robert ,i've sworn by vhf radios for years
[signature]

I am a big fan of safety, not so much of a false sense of security. VHS sounds sooooo good, but it is a false sense of security on most waters. It is only usable if there is a coast guard facility on the water, if you have line of sight, or if other boats on the water have it. I tossed mine overboard out of frustration.

My experience is that with few exceptions, that is just not the case in shore. Sure, on the coast, I assume Lake Powel might have sufficient repeaters for much of the Reservoir, but even then the coverage is going to be zero in many of the canyons.

If you want to be "safe", the best safety tool you have sits on top of your shoulders. USE IT!

But, that tool tells us that back-up is always important. So, if you are going to get something, get something that will actually be useful for most of the time.

[url "http://www.basspro.com/Garmin-inReach-Explorer-Satellite-Communicator/Navigator/product/184044/"]http://www.basspro.com/Garmin-inReach-Explorer-Satellite-Communicator/Navigator/product/184044/[/url]

Satellite communication is not cheep, but the programs for these units is pretty inexpensive. I would keep my cell phone around for most cases, but, this is tested and reliable technology.

i can't not disagree more , there are a lot more people on the water with vhf radios than you think , and they are your best source of help on the water . plus almost all marinas on larger bodies of water monitor channel 16, it is also a rule that boaters with radios monitor channel 16 too.
the post was vhf over cell phones .
the one thing i do agree on is the use of your head while in the wild .
[signature]

We will need to [#ff0000]agree to disagree[/#ff0000]. My experience is just as indicated, VHS is NOT landlocked usable.

I have saved too many other boaters in too many states and never found Cell phones or VHS to be reliable.

As Yoda said, "My own counsel will I keep". But, at least in this case, our deferring opinions should get people researching and considering their options.

I thought we were supposed to be monitoring channel 16? I guess I've[crazy] been on the wrong channel all this time.
[signature]

[quote KOKANEE]I thought we were supposed to be monitoring channel 16? I guess I've[crazy] been on the wrong channel all this time.[/quote]

Ya, no one knows for sure.

I tossed mine overboard on Roosevelt in Washington State when I had a big boat in toe that had hit a floating tree and was taking on water. The lake is run by the Bureau of Reclamation and on one was apparently monitoring any channel. The Corps of Engineers runs the dams just up stream and down stream and they were too far to get the call. No cell phone coverage in that location.

I beached the boat and took mine on a 30 mile run to a Park camp site to get help, then gassed up and ran back to the stranded boat.

What did I say? My own counsel will I keep?

it is 16 i don't know where my head was last night [blush]
[signature]

your talking about the north west , in ut they have good monitoring at strawberry 3 stations plus coast guard, flaming gorge at least 5 marinas plus wyoming and ut fish and game , powell ever marina and dwr , jordanelle full time rangers,willard full time rangers deer creek full time rangers ,starvation full time rangers ,plus many many more private boater's. the point is the more people that have vhf radios the more effective it is . that's my point.
[signature]