boat / camper radio combination

[sweet03cobra]

I return home from my deployment in a few months and taking a fishing trip to canada. My wife just had another little one and wants to go but just hang out in the camper. My question is, I'm looking for a base station cb for the camper and a portable for the boat. I need something strong enough to reach the lake through about 1.5 miles of woods. Any ideas, brands, links, etc? I'm new at this and was referred to this site. thanks in advance.

thanks

fred

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

Cheapest way is a good set of FRS handheld radios. Get the good ones and not the cheap ones

Thank you for your service...... come home safely!!!

Bob - Retired Army

 

[sweet03cobra]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

what would be an example of good ones? 2 years ago I bought a set of ones at cabelas for 90 bucks and they didn't reach. thanks and I hope to make it home soon.

 

[rbh]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

Not many hand held radios are going to punch through 1.5 miles of woods especialy if its summer and the leaves are out.
My little motorola FSRs do about 1.5-2 km with no obstructions.

If you can get an antenna high into the tree line (possibly a whip antenna) a vhf base station and a hand held would probably work.

 

[sweet03cobra]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

so are the vhf bands the same type you buy at walmart or cabelas etc? If not where does a guy buy something like that? If not is there a booster for you motorals? How do I know which channels match or bands or whatever?

 

[rbh]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

The base station style are the same as the ones you use in a boat, you see lots of guys in the bush use these, mount them in thier logging trucks.

These are from a company up here, but should be everywhere down there.


ICOM Canada

 

[blouderback]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

No cell phone coverage at the lake?

 

[roscoe]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

All I can say is good luck.
Have tried several radio types.
Trees, rocks, and short antennae are your enemies.

If communication is really important, rent a couple of satellite phones for a week. And then hope she doesn't get bored and start calling her friends.




Satellite Phone Rentals



Thanks for your service.

Where are you headed in Canada?

 

[bassman284]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

All I can say is good luck.
Have tried several radio types.
Trees, rocks, and short antennae are your enemies.

If communication is really important, rent a couple of satellite phones for a week. And then hope she doesn't get bored and start calling her friends.




Satellite Phone Rentals



Thanks for your service.

Where are you headed in Canada?

Wow that looks great roscoe. Bookmarked for sure. I rarely need anything like that and never realized you could do it that inexpensively. Something to think about for sure.

As to cell coverage at a Canadian lake, my guess is probably none. I live halfway between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids in what the newsies are fond of calling the "380 Corridor". Lots of business activity, lots of cell towers. There are two lakes within 5 miles of me (and 380) and my cell coverage on them is slim to none, mostly none. Folks with other cell service say the same thing. The sat phone would be the hot setup I think.

 

[NYBo]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

Please be aware that the radio rules are somewhat different in Canada.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

Research the "business band" VHF radios and check into the Canadian rules....... I am aware of the USA ones. Possibly the Canadian brothers we have here can help. I do know that Canada has LESS restrictive rules about scanners and a few other radio items.

 

[Splat]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

If you really want to use radio comms, I'll toss a vote out there for ham radio. Sure you'll need a license but its only a 25 question multiple choice one... its super easy to get your tech license and it will grantyou access to the vhf and UHF bands. There's bound to be some repeaters up that way to get you coverage, and if not you can use mobile rigs at 50 watts(MUCH better than any cb or FRS/gmrs) for simplex operation.

If you tell me the area your looking at I can look to see if there are repeaters in that area or can answer any questions you may have.

73
Bill



Edited to remove my callsign, its fine to be posted while the topic is relevant, but doesnt need to be out there for eternity. If you want it, just PM me. I'd be happy to tell ya.

 

[Splat]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

Btw china has flooded the ham radio market with cheap ht's over the last year or so. You can easily get a full 5watt hand held ht with a desktop charger for about $60

Bill

 

[sweet03cobra]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

No cell phone coverage at the lake?

none

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

If you really want to use radio comms, I'll toss a vote out there for ham radio. Sure you'll need a license but its only a 25 question multiple choice one... its super easy to get your tech license and it will grantyou access to the vhf and UHF bands. There's bound to be some repeaters up that way to get you coverage, and if not you can use mobile rigs at 50 watts(MUCH better than any cb or FRS/gmrs) for simplex operation.

If you tell me the area your looking at I can look to see if there are repeaters in that area or can answer any questions you may have.

73
Bill
N8DOA

Btw china has flooded the ham radio market with cheap ht's over the last year or so. You can easily get a full 5watt hand held ht with a desktop charger for about $60

Bill

Yes, you are right and I even own a Wouxun (among all of my other equipment and it works fine. I have my "general" license but even after years of trying my wife will not take her exam....... both would have to have the technician license..........

on a brighter note the "tech" license is easy as evidenced by the amount of young children that have taken the class and passed

SO....... sweet03cobra if you and the wife were willing to become licensed your communications problem could be solved!

Yes, China has many cheap Ham radios available and you would eventually gravitate towards a good (known brand) 2 meter set up.

Good suggestion Splat!

 

[sweet03cobra]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

so how do I do this license thing? I am not computer savy so anyone have a good radio combo or a base station like you put in a truck or boat with a walkie talkie type handheld one? I see alot of terms here flying and I have no clue what they mean.

 

[Don S]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

so how do I do this license thing? I am not computer savy.

Click Here to learn more about the license.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

so how do I do this license thing? I am not computer savy so anyone have a good radio combo or a base station like you put in a truck or boat with a walkie talkie type handheld one? I see alot of terms here flying and I have no clue what they mean.

You can pick up the book which has a cd from Amazon Ham Radio License Manual with CD (Arrl Ham Radio License Manual): arrl: 9780872590977: Amazon.com: Books and do it on your own or find someone who will help...... once you are stateside ......there are free classes available from most Ham Radio clubs.

The book has all of the questions (Exactly as the test) and answers in the back but the test is only a few questions from each section.

A pair of handheld radios will work fine or a handheld and a small mobile radio at the camp. When I first started I would use my toolbox to mount my magnetic mount 2 meter antenna (2M is the band and the antenna is only 19" long).

Yep do some looking and look at the ARRL web site and the club list Search for ARRL Affiliated Clubs will give you an idea where there is a local one by location.

Do not let the terms scare you since they are abbreviations and acronyms that are new to you. Not hard to pick up the terms at all. You did not know ACU, FEBA, IED years ago and now you do

 

[sweet03cobra]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

yeah that is true. ACU is out, not it is the OCP and ABU. That and would you have suggestions where to buy a good set? Either two hand helds or a base and a handheld. Would these also have the freq or channel I would need to be legal in the boat if I decide to hit the big water?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: boat / camper radio combination

Get your license first and then you can get a cheap but okay pair of handhelds on ebay or ask another radio operator where to buy. There are a ton of stores but they require your license to sell to you. The handheld and mobile radios are tuned to a frequency that you choose withing the band (as long as it is not in use)........

Sadly the Ham Radio license does NOT allow tuning of a marine band (marine VHF frequencies are 156.000 to 162.025 MHz and the ham radio operators are limited to 144.00-148.000 MHz which are in the 2 meter band (among more frequencies that are permitted)

For regular communications on land or water the 2 meter ham frequency will work........the Marine Band are limited to water use and are marine radios designed as such.