handheld radio?

[Kelly Hanson East]

Ray - I think its worth getting one DSC enabled - that is, you go the BOAT US website and apply for a 'MMSI' (unique ID number) and then carefully key it into the VHF radio.

Most of the DSC radios have a distress button which, when activated, will 'squawk' your unique number to other DSC boats

CAVEAT - Depending on where you are boating, the CG may or may not be monitoring DSC transmissions, so dont count on them. You can see which areas are active at the Coast Guard website.

[NiceAft]

Thanks Stephen. I've written everything down.

Ray

[Kelly Hanson East]

One thing I dont like about the HX471 - it can only be charged in the cradle - no plug. My cradle is mounted on the wall near the head so I can grab the handheld in an abandon ship drill - it is also interfaced to my GPS so it can transmit last position.

On edit - on reflection, the reason for the cradle vs plug of course, is waterproofing. Its hard to make a radio with a DC plug that will survive dunking. Live and learn.

[Hamin' X]

One last comment on handheld radios. I believe that it is important to be able to re-power your radio under emergency conditions. The radio that I keep in my ditch-bag is an ICOM M2A (Now discontinued model).
IC-M2A
It has a battery tray that accepts AA batteries and I keep an additional 8 pack of AA's in the bag. This is in addition to being rechargeable as normal. Rechargeable radios have a high self-discharge rate when not in use. The AA's have a five year shelf life. I haven't checked, but am sure that similar models are available from most manufacturers.

~Rich

On Edit:

West Marine has This Standard handheld with the AA option:
STANDARD HORIZON HX270S Handheld VHF

~Rich

[Captain Steve]

I got the M2-A also. Same reason packed in my ditch bag with spare batteries.

[Kelly Hanson East]

probably belongs in Main Board....

[pokerrick1]

Just remember, you need POWER to get back to the source you are hearing on a handheld - - - - just because you can hear someone does NOT mean he can hear you Handhelds are fine for short range, armadas, in a marina, etc., but for emergencies offshore one need a bigger antennae and POWER! Been there done that

Rick

[waternwaves]

for short range comm........... we have upgraded our cells to nextel (spring) hybrids.....

can be used as a cell phone if there is a tower.

direct connect walkie talkie if there is trunked uhf nearby


and the new roam direct connect where there is no towers........ each phone can contact other hybrid phones like a walkie talkie................ just need the ID number of the phone....


it was most useful up at the wilderness Stehekin end of lake chelan no coverage there.......... and we were getting 8 mile range without problems....

[Terry]

Ray - I think its worth getting one DSC enabled - that is, you go the BOAT US website and apply for a 'MMSI' (unique ID number) and then carefully key it into the VHF radio.

Most of the DSC radios have a distress button which, when activated, will 'squawk' your unique number to other DSC boats

CAVEAT - Depending on where you are boating, the CG may or may not be monitoring DSC transmissions, so dont count on them. You can see which areas are active at the Coast Guard website.

Hhmm, I have an MMSI number in my main radio on the Mac, my old handheld is not DSC capable so it is a non-issue. But suppose I did get another handheld that is DSC enabled, to which boat would I have it identified to. I have a 9' inflatable dinghy that I take the handheld with me in. The MMSI number identifies the boat, in my case a 26' blue MacGregor sloop. Now in an emergency I would grab the main radio and press the red button identifying the blue Mac. If/when I get another handheld, would I not get it identified with another MMSI # to my dinghy in case I abandon ship? Just a thought.

[Kelly Hanson East]

I struggled with that same issue. The CG told me to me to use the same MMSI for the base station and handheld VHF, linked to the main boat.

Of course, I got a second MMSI and linked it to the main boat. I dont think it makes sense to link it to a dinghy. Be aware that some (most.all?) VHF radios only give you a few attempts (3?) to enter the MMSI number, then they run out of RAM.

[Wind Chime]

We have the Standard Horizon HX270S Handheld, that Rich spoke of.

It has done very well for us, but only reaches a max of 5 knot miles line-of-site. (as do most handhelds) but is fine for marina communication and close area ship-to-ship. The nice thing is it works on rechardable or standard batteries, and charges on A/C or D/C.

We will be adding a larger 25 watt D/C unit with mast attenna this spring, but will always keep the handheld on board for emergency. My thinking is if we're taking on water, it's going to get to the batteries very fast and short out the unit, or an electrical fire will take it out, or just a dead battery. Now when I really need to call for help, I can't.

At least with a 5 mile handheld I can get another boat to relay my mayday to the Coast Guard. Plus, worst case, if I do have to seperate from the boat (Macsunk because I took out the bow foam to install the freash water blatter) and have the handheld in the ditch bag, I can call mayday from the dingy. And a that point ... as the sun is setting and I'm cold and wet, floating alone in the dingy, kicking myself for not seeing that deadhead log that holed the boat, I am not sure how important it is for me that the dingy is registering to the CG as the main Macvessel

We also use a set of Motorola handhelds for, dingy-to-ship and ship-to-shore. Or in most cases, ship-to-shopping mall.

PS
if not done already ... get your "VHF Restricted Operator's Certificate (Marine) with DSC endorsement. (it's manditory here in Canada)

Darry