02-02-2008, 01:51 AM
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] [unsure]I do not understand why some anglers actualy do not carry a VHF radio (marine-2 mtr) and if there is one on there boat they do not use it as we should- but even then, a VHF Radio will get you assistance a darn-sight faster than 911 on a cell phone, how many of us do not want to be bothered while fishing, so we turn off our cell phones, or do not put them on the boat for fear of losing it. here is a possible solution we can look at.[/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] With advancements in technology there are hand held radios that offer aamazing performance, the question is why a hand held?[/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4]All things being equal, fixed mount units do offer more power and longer range mainly due to there long antennas and 25+ watts of power (some ranges over 75 miles) Compare that to the stubby little handheld antenna and 5 watts of max power. of course VHF signals travel via line of sight (on water there is little or no obstructions in the way) making the wave travel a long way, they can also bounce off the upper atmosphere (E-layer skip) This also holds true for hand helds as well as the big radios. There is actually a formula for line-of-sight transmissions, The square root of the hight of the tip of the antenna above the water 1.5 will give you an approximation range. [/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] So in the best of all possible worlds, your boat should have a fixed-mount VHF Radio, especially if you fish out of sight of land, the hand held comes in to play when you are fishing as a group or in proximity to other boats.[/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] A surprise benefit to most new handhelds is the weather , and GPS, yes GPS, take your hand held and you have a porable navigation system with you, besides I would rather listen to weather reports, than take on the Cell phone to a solicitor or unwanted family member, (most of us just turn it off) when trying to land the BIG one. Most of the new hand held are water tight and ome even float if you drop it over board, [cool]YES FLOAT, (Does your cell do that?[unsure]) and the VHF radios are with in the 140-170 frequency range, what does this mean, it will transmit and recieve Marine band, Channel 16 is like the 911 on the cell, many Utah lakes have officers and land base units that monitor this channel (CH 16 156.800) FishNCoach does from home and I hear Utah lake, pine view, willard bay PD, and others.[/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] The other advantage with hand held VHF is they use rechargable battery making them light in weight, less expensive to maintain.[/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4]some brands I like and are excellent in price are ICOM (waterproof-floats), Horizon, Stanard, and Uniden [/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] [
]So what does all this mean, we here at BFT need to use VHF radios more offten and keep it on a Channel like CH 69 (frequency 156.475 non-Commercial) with The Emergency Ch-16 ready, this way we can call (if needed) to other BFT and here reports at hand. There have been many on the same water fishing and have never known the other was out there till the time was over or cleaning fish.[/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] Some BFT anglers have been using small GMRS or FRS radios, my experience (Own and operate W7UTA radio station) with this is less distance per watt power (VHF more distance same power) and VHF radios are about the same in price and come with more features. [/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] Please understand that I am only trying to pass on what I know about Marine-VHF Radios, and I see a lack of it in Utah and the surounding areas, if you fish other places in the world you really do here anglers using VHF radios, The advantage we have here in Utah is it is quiet here and less nosie and interference, making the use of VHF radios nicer in our area. [/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4]Something to Think about [sly][/size][/#400080][/font]
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[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] With advancements in technology there are hand held radios that offer aamazing performance, the question is why a hand held?[/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4]All things being equal, fixed mount units do offer more power and longer range mainly due to there long antennas and 25+ watts of power (some ranges over 75 miles) Compare that to the stubby little handheld antenna and 5 watts of max power. of course VHF signals travel via line of sight (on water there is little or no obstructions in the way) making the wave travel a long way, they can also bounce off the upper atmosphere (E-layer skip) This also holds true for hand helds as well as the big radios. There is actually a formula for line-of-sight transmissions, The square root of the hight of the tip of the antenna above the water 1.5 will give you an approximation range. [/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] So in the best of all possible worlds, your boat should have a fixed-mount VHF Radio, especially if you fish out of sight of land, the hand held comes in to play when you are fishing as a group or in proximity to other boats.[/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] A surprise benefit to most new handhelds is the weather , and GPS, yes GPS, take your hand held and you have a porable navigation system with you, besides I would rather listen to weather reports, than take on the Cell phone to a solicitor or unwanted family member, (most of us just turn it off) when trying to land the BIG one. Most of the new hand held are water tight and ome even float if you drop it over board, [cool]YES FLOAT, (Does your cell do that?[unsure]) and the VHF radios are with in the 140-170 frequency range, what does this mean, it will transmit and recieve Marine band, Channel 16 is like the 911 on the cell, many Utah lakes have officers and land base units that monitor this channel (CH 16 156.800) FishNCoach does from home and I hear Utah lake, pine view, willard bay PD, and others.[/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] The other advantage with hand held VHF is they use rechargable battery making them light in weight, less expensive to maintain.[/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4]some brands I like and are excellent in price are ICOM (waterproof-floats), Horizon, Stanard, and Uniden [/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] [
]So what does all this mean, we here at BFT need to use VHF radios more offten and keep it on a Channel like CH 69 (frequency 156.475 non-Commercial) with The Emergency Ch-16 ready, this way we can call (if needed) to other BFT and here reports at hand. There have been many on the same water fishing and have never known the other was out there till the time was over or cleaning fish.[/size][/#400080][/font] [font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] Some BFT anglers have been using small GMRS or FRS radios, my experience (Own and operate W7UTA radio station) with this is less distance per watt power (VHF more distance same power) and VHF radios are about the same in price and come with more features. [/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4] Please understand that I am only trying to pass on what I know about Marine-VHF Radios, and I see a lack of it in Utah and the surounding areas, if you fish other places in the world you really do here anglers using VHF radios, The advantage we have here in Utah is it is quiet here and less nosie and interference, making the use of VHF radios nicer in our area. [/size][/#400080][/font]
[font "High Tower Text"][#400080][size 4]Something to Think about [sly][/size][/#400080][/font]
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