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i am interested with handheld radios that i can use for multi activities. there are some handheld VHF-UHF radios that very popular among backpackers, campers which seems fine. there is also the type that being sold as MARINE VHF. i need little help to sort things out. are they all same? if i get a VHF-UHF radio, can that be also used for nautical purposes?

Generally not. I think that the radios that you are referring to use what are called the "itinerant" frequencies in the VHF and UHF business bands. There are also Family Radio Service (FRS) radios that utilize special UHF frequencies. Any radio that you use for Marine service, must say marine. This is not for waterproofing, just means that it is designed to work on the marine frequencies. I have seen some handhelds that have both Marine and FRS in them, but I would caution you that combinations are a compromise.

~Rich

Hamin' X wrote: but I would caution you that combinations are a compromise.

~Rich

Coming from a Mac owner

I have a handheld from West Marine that does VHF(marine), AM and FM broadcast and aircraft (receive only), and FRS (channels 1-14). It might be the VHF250 but I don't have it in front of me. The AM doesn't work that great; probably because of the small antenna but the other frequencies work good. I got it because I thought the FRS would be handy and it was on our trip to Flaming Gorge where we caravaned with 2 other boats. Note that this radio only has the basic FRS (ch 1-14); some of the "FRS" handhelds have more frequencies than FRS which this radio will not get.

I've always liked to get higher quality stuff, which this one is, but sometimes with something that's easy to loose or drop in the water I think cheap may be better.

The Standard Horizon HX 471 has both Marine VHF and FRS capable bands (as well as FM, Airline, AM bands for receive only)

We use two of them on the Cape - once you step off the boat or dinghy, remember, you cant use a Marine VHF legally unless you have a shore license.

Once the kids hit shore, the call in to the mothership and we switch to FRS band for family communication.
IF we lose touch, the land based people can switch back to VHF 16 for receive only of course.

thanks. i probably would't use it much so getting a cheap one suits me fine. there is one on the market from midland that claims for 12 mile range. is that the same deal like walkie talkies that they advertise themself for 35 mile range and you can't even communicate from room to room?

littledevil wrote:there is one on the market from midland that claims for 12 mile range. is that the same deal like walkie talkies that they advertise themself for 35 mile range and you can't even communicate from room to room?

Yep, VHF is line-of-sight. With handheld at head level to another handheld at head level, figure about three miles under ideal conditions (not likely). VHF will travel about 30% over the horizion and UHF about 20%, due to atmospheric bending.

~Rich (N7ZH)

Hamin' X wrote:

littledevil wrote:there is one on the market from midland that claims for 12 mile range. is that the same deal like walkie talkies that they advertise themself for 35 mile range and you can't even communicate from room to room?

Yep, VHF is line-of-sight. With handheld at head level to another handheld at head level, figure about three miles under ideal conditions (not likely). VHF will travel about 30% over the horizion and UHF about 20%, due to atmospheric bending.

~Rich (N7ZH)

Rich,
How come is it that my little Uniden Atlantis handheld can pick up 4 different WX weather staitons from inside my house on land several miles from the water if it is line of sight? Powerful little sucker ain't it.

Practical limit for XMIT and RCV about 3 km Ive found on the Cape - that doesnt include going to HI POWER mode though.

Regarding the question above - because the weather broadcasts usually are originating from 200 foot towers somewhere

Kelly Hanson East wrote:Regarding the question above - because the weather broadcasts usually are originating from 200 foot towers somewhere

Thanks Stephan. To further clarify; NOAA transmitters are often 1KW in power and located on high landmarks. Far cry from a 5W handheld that may in fact be only putting out 3W on a good day and into a rubber-duck antenna that is almost as efficient as a clothes hanger. Just because you can hear a station, doesn't mean that they can hear you.

~Rich

i will look around little bit more than. around $40 you can expect much but my cell phone may be more dependable in case of emergency compare to 3 mile range chepo handheld.

Cell phones are great if you know who to call and have their #s handy. VHF CH 16 is monitored by most boaters and you will stand a better chance for emergency help. A 911 operator may or may not have a clue how to help.

I just bought a WM VHF200 reconditioned handheld with a 3 yr warranty for $97.00 Make sure you get a unit that has a recharge base. We use Uniden FRS's during docking/trailer loading etc since it is illegal to use the VHF, but the small FRSs are also more convenient.

Bob

my recent experience with my handheld radio was not encouraging,during wet weather,visability was poor,i could not even hear the Coast Guards transmittions.

as a part of your safety/distress kit they are great but as your main VHF,they are very limited.I have since bought a Horzon 1500 VHF with dsc

It is a legal requrement in Europe to do an approved radio course for your VHF,i did it and was charged $150.00 to learn someting that i could have learned in 10 mins from the manufacturers documents.

Extremely informative thread guys. Before it ends, are there any other bits of information that any of you feel should be known by someone who is interested in getting a hand-held


Ray

I started out with handheld, on advice that in Puget Sound area, hills and islands get in the way of longer range afforded by a hard wired fixed radio. We trailered back East and quickly found that the extra range was desirable. We heard boats we couldn't talk to, and had to rely on relayed messages. Also, got much better coverage of Coast Guard frequency and weather. Ended up installing a fixed radio on the trip, and have never regretted it. We still carry a hand held, mostly for talking to marinas on the way in or out.