Vhf

[YamahaF200]

hey guy's. i'm needing some advice/input on what type of VHF radio and antenna to buy (best bang for the $$$)

thank's

 

[bvmbandit]

Re: Vhf

Standard Horizon makes a GX1700 that is a nice radio. You can select between 1 and 25 watts, it has built in GPS, and the front mount speaker has loud undistorted audio. It has wiring for an external speaker. Standard Horizon is Yaesu's marine radio. Yaesu makes good amateur radios as well. They also make Vertex radios which are military spec equipment. I found the GX1700 for quite a bit less on this site than any other website while shopping for a radio. Shakespeare makes a good antenna. Run a single chassis ground wire from your bilge to the radio chassis ground terminal. Use the water as a natural ground plane.

Scott

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Vhf

If you already have a GPS ChartPlotter/Sonar, The Standard Horizon GX1200 would be a good choice.

Pacific Aerials makes a quality line of antennas at more than reasonable prices.
Some models allow the antenna to be removed form the base without removing the cable.

 

[YamahaF200]

Re: Vhf

i went and bought the Standard Horizon GX1600. it seems to be a nice unit. i have a Garmin GPS already so the GPS on the Standard is not needed(?)
question,...how far does the antenna have to be from the radio? i bought a Shakespear 5400XT 4'. i plan on mounting it on the grap rail around the CC with a SS quick clamp on system. will this be a problem?
thanks friends for the help

i ask this because the manual says to mount antenna 36" from any passenger so not to be effected by RF exposure. there isn't anywhere else to mount the antenna that wouldn't require drilling more holes and it being a PIA to wire.
RF exposure? hmmm? we probably get more exposure from this from the usage of our cell phones,...and that's everyday

 

[jhebert]

Re: Vhf

Standard Horizon ...also make Vertex radios which are military spec equipment.

This is no longer true. The VERTEX land mobile radios are now made by Motorola. Several years ago Motorola purchased Vertex/Standard-Horizon. They likely did so to obtain the VERTEX land-mobile products. Motorola then sold off Standard-Horizon to Yaesu, who then changed their name to Yaesu Musen.

If you are interested in the details, see this article I wrote at the time of the acquisition

Standard-Horizon To Be Acquired by Motorola - Moderated Discussion Areas

and this article announcing the spin-off

Yaesu

I do not recall at any time that VERTEX made radio communication equipment for the USA military.

 

[jhebert]

Re: Vhf

For installation on a small boat, I highly recommend the antenna and mast described in

continuousWave: Whaler: Reference: VHF Antenna

I have been using this antenna and mast installation on my own boat for seven years. The performance of the antenna is excellent. The durability of the antenna and mast is excellent.

In choosing a VHF Marine Band fixed-mount radio you will be getting a CLASS-D DSC radio, as the FCC has mandated them as the minimum required radio. I have had excellent experience with the Standard Horizon radios. Their least-expensive VHF Marine Band fixed-mount radio is their model GX1200.

GX1200 Specifications

 

[YamahaF200]

Re: Vhf

how do you know if the fitting that is installed on the cable end is actually going to work? i turned my radio on (at home), after entering the MMSI #, turned it to Ch27, keyed the mic, hoping to receive a automated voice mail from SeaTow that my radio works.
does the VHF work on land, at home in the driveway?
sorry for this question if some of you more experienced boater's find it to be "ignorant", lol
but thanks for the education

 

[NYBo]

Re: Vhf

Even though it's technically illegal for you to transmit from land without a proper license, yes, it works from land.

You did do more than just key the mike, didn't you? You have to say something, and your transmission is them repeated by the automated system. Automated Radio Check Service by Sea Tow - YouTube

 

[YamahaF200]

Re: Vhf

Even though it's technically illegal for you to transmit from land without a proper license, yes, it works from land.

You did do more than just key the mike, didn't you? You have to say something, and your transmission is them repeated by the automated system. Automated Radio Check Service by Sea Tow - YouTube

Thank's for the link, and yes, i did exactly that but didn't get a response from SeaTow. i'm thinking the antenna connector is not properly installed or the SeaTow tower in New Orleans is too far to reach.
SeaTow New Orleans Ch27 according to radio manual and SeaTow website.
Thank's

 

[jhebert]

Re: Vhf

[D]oes the VHF [Marine Band radio] work on land, at home in the driveway?

Yes. Let me ask you this: what sort of mechanism would prevent a radio receiver or transmitter from working on land? How would the radio receiver and transmitter become aware of their location?

 

[YamahaF200]

Re: Vhf

Yes. Let me ask you this: what sort of mechanism would prevent a radio receiver or transmitter from working on land? How would the radio receiver and transmitter become aware of their location?

"does the VHF work on land, at home in the driveway?
sorry for this question if some of you more experienced boater's find it to be "ignorant", lol
but thanks for the education "


LOL!!! It wouldn't know it's location LOL. Your right. I guess I can't receive a signal because of where I'm located in relationship to SeaTow's transmission tower in New Orleans, which is about 40 or so miles away. Or the antenna coupling isn't installed correctly(?)
Perhaps when I get on the water (later today) it will transmit and receive (radio check)over water better.
Thanks!

 

[YamahaF200]

Re: Vhf

"just" got off the land line with "SeaTow" and I was told by their operator that the vessel needs to be on the water for the radio to transmit to their tower in New Orleans from Slidell.

I asked him about the video on their website where the guy is conducting a radio check with a hand held unit, which has less operating watts as my hard mounted unit and the hand held version has a substantial shorter antenna,...and why he was able to do so.
Well, LOL, I'm in disbeleif

 

[NYBo]

Re: Vhf

...about 40 or so miles away...

This is why you got no response. You're way too far away from their antenna.

 

[YamahaF200]

Re: Vhf

This is why you got no response. You're way too far away from their antenna.

I had a chance to take my boat out for some fishing yesterday afternoon. I got to Lake St. Catherine and tried a radio check. "Immediately" I received a reponse to my test from someone from Chalmette,...loud and clear and they reported my transmission to be the same.
I am releived that that the radio works with both transmitting and receiving.

Thanks for everyone's help. I really appreciate the patience and understanding to a new VHF owner(my 1st one) LOL.
Have a gr8 day my friend's !!!