YF24FL
08-03-2012, 03:27 PM
can somebody give me a steer on how far the VHF radio will reach off Ponce Inlet and also cell phone coverage from the ground based towers? Am guessing 10 miles?
Florida & Georgia - VHF and Cell Phone Range
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docters oarders
08-03-2012, 03:50 PM
Not 10 off ponce. Atleast my cell. Loose services before loosing site of land . Verizon and sprint.
SaltyG
08-03-2012, 05:33 PM
You will generally loose cell service between 7 to 9 miles. VHF range, boat to boat is about 12 miles. VHF range from your boat to coast guard is generally 20 to 40 miles depending on USCG antenna height. Beyond 40 miles, you will want a satellite phone. As a safety measure, have an EPIRB.
YF24FL
08-03-2012, 05:49 PM
thanks for comments on cell and VHF ranges - have a ResQLink on board which hopefully we never need. Good weekend to everybody.
Danny33486
08-04-2012, 07:58 AM
I can get a crystal clear radio check 25 miles off Port Everglades to the Sea Tow Automated Radio check. Cell phone dies around 8 miles off.
bigbender
08-04-2012, 08:36 AM
Your vhf range will also depend on the setup you are running, height of antenna, digital vs. regular, etc. I have an 8' antenna on top of a standard heigh T-top (tip is probably 15' off the water or so) and can get 20 or so miles without much problem.
gfretwell
08-04-2012, 09:06 PM
I would try to find a cell phone with an external antenna if I really wanted to get out that far. Back in the olden days the AMPS66 analog phones were right up there with VHF for range if you had a real antenna.
DreamCatcher14
08-06-2012, 07:13 AM
A good 8' vhf ant and unit should get 20 miles without an issue.
Cell phone coverage will vary with each carrier. AT&T/Bellsouth is one of the best in S Fla and I could get 2 bars at 19miles out of haulover. We now have Metro and can only get about 5 miles.
Cell phone coverage will vary with each carrier. AT&T/Bellsouth is one of the best in S Fla and I could get 2 bars at 19miles out of haulover. We now have Metro and can only get about 5 miles.
jaredsrt
08-06-2012, 07:37 AM
Out of Sebastian Inlet, I have service on my AT&T iPhone until about 20 miles. Must be a tower near the inlet though, because if I run more than a few miles North or South, I loose it.
alacrity
08-06-2012, 08:10 AM
A good 8' vhf ant and unit should get 20 miles without an issue.
Cell phone coverage will vary with each carrier. AT&T/Bellsouth is one of the best in S Fla and I could get 2 bars at 19miles out of haulover. We now have Metro and can only get about 5 miles.
agreed. coming back yesterday from bimini i was able to text family/friends from about 19 miles out with AT&T
Cell phone coverage will vary with each carrier. AT&T/Bellsouth is one of the best in S Fla and I could get 2 bars at 19miles out of haulover. We now have Metro and can only get about 5 miles.
agreed. coming back yesterday from bimini i was able to text family/friends from about 19 miles out with AT&T