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Boat Forum / Cruising / July 2004decent 2 way radios
HELP This has likely been covered before. I want to purchase some affordable 2 way radios so that I can leave 1 at the cottage, and take the other in the boat so we can communicate effectively. It'd be nice if they had noaa weather too, but not mandatory. Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work beyond several hundred yards!! Any suggestions on something you've used and worked would be most helpful. Thanks Brad Technician ham license and two 2 meter radios. > HELP > This has likely been covered before. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Brad Not very good range unless there is a repeater around. Doug, k3qt s/v Callista > Technician ham license and two 2 meter radios. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > > > Brad Depends on antennas and line of sight. A 25 watt with mast mounted antenna (50'), and 25 watt at the house with a mast mounted antenna of say 30' will give a line of sight distance of 14.68 nm. Should be able to work 15-20 miles. Same as marine VHF. krj > Not very good range unless there is a repeater around. > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >>> >>>Brad Never seen a handheld with 25W output. > Depends on antennas and line of sight. A 25 watt with mast mounted > antenna (50'), and 25 watt at the house with a mast mounted antenna of [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > >>> > >>>Brad He's talking boat to house. Why use handhelds. If he only wants the range of FRS 3-5 miles, 2 meter handhelds will work. krj > Never seen a handheld with 25W output. > [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] >>>>> >>>>>Brad I've had very good luck with FRS. If yours aren't good for more than a couple hundred yards then there is something wrong with them. That is unless there are major obstructions between the units. FRS is line of sight. Doug, k3qt s/v CAllista > HELP > This has likely been covered before. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Brad > HELP > This has likely been covered before. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Brad Cheapest is a CB radio and/or walkie talkie. Most people have a couple around.  SignatureJere Lull Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD) Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/ > Tried 2 FRS (cobra and something else (can't remember)) that were > supposed to have 6 and 5 mile range respectively. They didn't work > beyond several hundred yards!! I have a set of Motorola GMRS (the higher power, "5 mile" version of the FRS) and I thought that they work great! I have reliably communicated over 10 miles, "flybridge to flybridge". I am sure that dinghy to dinghy would be a lot less, but still a mile or two should be solid. Any radio you get will basically have the same limitations. High frequency (HF) communications ("CB" band) is very unpredictable. VHF communications is essentially line of sight. With enough power you can get the signals to bounce off large buildings and mountains which can substantially increase the range but in a difficult to predict manner. The best way to increase the range is to increase the "line of sight" distance, which usually means elevation. A handheld radio has its antenna right in your hand. They have low power and no "gain" in the antenna. A fixed mount radio will allow the use of an antenna that you can a) get outside to eliminate attenuation of walls b) get it higher so it can "see" farther, and c) have "gain" so that you get more signal going where you need it. The problem is that there are very few legal options for a fixed station radio. A marine VHF radio is fine in the boat but not legal in your cottage unless you have a special license. I am not aware of a base station FRS radio. Amateur radio would be great, but you need the license. Rod |
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