*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: The next great author was John Milton. Milton wrote Paradise Lost. Since then no one ever found it.
I would recommend going with the fixed mount. If you go offshore regualry, you will want to be able to monitor (and talk to) other boats in the area, grab fishing reports, etc. A handheld wont last long enough battery wise to be on all day and have transmit juice at the end of the day if you REALLY need it. That being said, I have always had great luck with Standard horizon for my handhelds, which stay mostly in my ditch bag. Be safe.
__________________
Reel Addiction
Hydrasport Vector 3300 CC
Twin Verado 275's
Location: St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands / Sammamish, WA
Posts: 323
I had the ICOM M34 for a season and it's quite decent as far as handhelds go. Unfortunately it sprouted feet and walked away...
I replaced it with a Standard Horizon HX-850S. This unit floats and is submersible, has built in GPS, and has DSC (you setup a MMSI number the same way as a fixed VHF.) It's a great, albeit chunky, unit. On high power it puts on 6 watts.
That said, the most you're going to get out of one of these is still under 10 miles I'd say.
It was probably appropriate to respond to me the way you did. I was trying to help, but I was also being a bit of a smart-ass.
I was doing that to make a point. Your original reasoning behind the use of an HT is so uncharacteristic of what an HT is designed for, I actually did think you were trying to be funny. People come here asking some pretty odd questions.
Some other folks piled-on and basically told you things you didn't want to hear, even if these things were generally correct.
Along comes rwidman with a civil and pertinent response that also raises additional considerations and you respond by telling him and another respondant to "blow each other?"
The one I borrowed from my neighbor was also a Standard Horizon (not sure which model) but maybe I'll get one of those to try out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rdollie
I had the ICOM M34 for a season and it's quite decent as far as handhelds go. Unfortunately it sprouted feet and walked away...
I replaced it with a Standard Horizon HX-850S. This unit floats and is submersible, has built in GPS, and has DSC (you setup a MMSI number the same way as a fixed VHF.) It's a great, albeit chunky, unit. On high power it puts on 6 watts.
That said, the most you're going to get out of one of these is still under 10 miles I'd say.
Well, probably so. But if you and your buddy REALLY couldn't communicate on his handheld "a few hundred feet away," either one or both of you guys have the problem you just alluded to, or you're having some Canuck luck with either your receiver or his handheld. To say an undamaged and properly operating HH's range is limited to "a few hundred feet" is totally totally ludicrous.
"Predicted next post: Can someone recommend a good signal mirror ? I don't want to deal with having to change the battery in an EPIRB"
I was waiting for this humor Elusive, LOL!
I have an ICOM M72 as a backup handheld and it came in handy this past spring when, much to my surprise, my Standard Horizon PS1000's Mic was not working as it had been the week before. It was the reason why I both bought and carry it.
I had to send the RAM Mic back to SH and (I had to pay) to have them fix/replace the Mic (I misplaced my receipt and WAS under warranty)-boo-hoo.
I've been leery of Standard Horizon Mic's now since the older HX150S' Mic also went out. I use the 150 just to listen since it won't transmit. It costs a flat $60 to fix according to Standard Horizon/Vertex Standard, not worth it.
I used to question the value of radio checks, but do not anymore and check mine every time I go out.
You don't even need to spend the big bucks on a HH VHF. Instead, since you ONLY need it for chatting with your buddies, spend about $40 and get a nice CB radio. You'll get about the same range, it's about AS dependable, and you will have many more channels to choose from.
Here's what I have heard about VHF hand helds in this thread:
Weak batteries
Dead batteries
Short TX range
It got legs
Some of them float
They're convenient
The OP answers all these bad things with; Oil Rigs.
The VHF radio is not a convenience item. It IS a valued piece of safety equipment. When you ACTUALLY NEED to pick it up, you better know where it is, and you better know it will work as good as it did last time you used it.
Why would you care if it floats? When you must have this radio the seas are probably pretty dang nasty, so if you drop your floating hand held overboard, you are going to be 15 feet away from it in 2 seconds flat. Is the OP going to send on of his guests to get it? Probably! And remember if you get into 8 foot seas you have already cut your TX distance (line of sight & the extra tall hand helds antenna) by what could be a 'lifes' distance.
And, while some of the offshore oil rigs 'monitor' marine VHF channels, I'm positive they don't have a designated 24/7/365 radio guy that really gives a rats *** about some boater in trouble.
Say OP, would you ONLY bring your BB gun to a Bear hunt?
Bottom line.....when you need the radio, you are shooting for the USCG or another boater. Not an oil rig...unless you're late for work!
Edd
__________________
Of course, if you are young enough to still be immortal, or if the look of your boat is worth more than the safety of your passengers, please disregard.; 'sandyda'
I had a fixed mount with 4' antennae on my 18 skiff. The radio died. I decided a handheld was all I really need. I fish the back bay and beachfront, thats it. I bought a Standard Horizon HX850S. Mainly because it had built in DSC, I'm not impressed with it. It seems to receive pretty good but I don't think it transmits well. Two - 3 miles is what I seem to get.
I don't/didn't use either very much.
I'd say a good handheld is good for a bit more than a mile. Maybe 3 miles. It's definitely not something I'd want to only have being offshore 30-50 miles though. And I'd definitely not rely on an oil rig monitoring Ch16 for any distress calls to help relay a message. . . But thats my opinion.
If you don't want a monster VHF antenna, you could consider a mounted vhf with a shorter VHF antenna like a 3 or 5 ft vhf antenna. That would gain you a LOT over the 5" 6w handheld units. . . Think about it, a 3ft antenna transmitting at 25W vs a handheld at 5" antenna at 6w. . .
Also, you have to consider the portable/charging considerations of a handheld unit. Generally the best handheld units are considered to be the Standard Horizon or Icom units.
Silk Soymilk. And I give my wife the extra handheld to call me with. She cant reach me when I am offshore but it makes her feel better. lol
There are 3 rules for this:
She should stay off 16.
She should not identify as a shore station
She should try not to get caught by the FCC or PO someone who might report her to them.
__________________
Hit the waves on ham radio, even when it rains or snows.
There are 3 rules for this:
She should stay off 16.
She should not identify as a shore station
She should try not to get caught by the FCC or PO someone who might report her to them.
Thanks 2dogs and anthem, that just so happens to be what I ended up buying. It isnt installed yet but it is only four or five feet long. I havent seen it but the marine shop installing the equipment recommended the same thing along with the handheld which they gave me half price on am ICOM M34 handheld ($70) for buying the M304 base unit ($150 for the $304). Seemed like a good deal but considering what Im spending with them I am quite sure they are getting the money from me anyway ;-).
What is the deal with people from areas that lack oil rigs? Manned oil rigs monitor VHF radios consistently due to the fact they have a constant flow of ships coming and going with supplies and personnel. Usually when we fish a manned rig (which are everywhere around the mouth of the MS River) we call and ask for permission to tie up if that is the plan or if they are conducting any type of work that we would keep away from. Now granted this has been on different boats since I just got my new one and have been without for some time but my friends, charters, etc... seem to do it that way whether its on a handheld or a base unit. Im not an idiot but it seems some of you guys chimed in just to start sh*t. Totally unecessary (kinda like my earlier comment) lol.
Lol at the wife thing. That is a good idea "take out the batteries". I just had the picture in my head of this lady repeatedly trying to call you and getting no response. That was good.
One more thing for those of you who have simply come along to run your mouth and talk trash about how cool and "expert" you are, the next time you start to pass under a bridge, aim for one of the pilings, pillars, etc.... and as your boat goes down try to get in a call for help from your base unit.
There was some philosopher who said something like " . . . we tend to mock what we do not understand . . . " How true in some posts, though, as it does go both ways, like VHF/CB communication, we can choose what to read and as higher-order intellectuals, filter and control our emotions, unlike kids. So in a true online/virtual reality world, we choose to invite all manner of keyboard-striker to respond in ways we'd never dream and we go from there, looking forward more than back.
I go through and find the humor, and there were some doozies in this thread, that kind of humor is priceless and my wife catches me laughing at something most would see no humor in.
You are right though, most of us, including myself, don't know the first thing about an oil rig, never mind ever having laid eyes on a real one far out on the water, absolutely we don't know a thing about them, but like in anything, eventually the good stuff comes out, like you getting a VHF and us understanding a little more about how there is some measure of safety around oil-rigs, something I didn't know about.
Good deal all around and I sure enjoyed this thread. How about some pics of the new VHF's as well as all the oil rigs, I'd love to see
