Skipper of the Sea Que (CQ)

Marine VHF Radio: There is much material to consider.
What are your needs and expectations? What kind of boat(s)? Both fixed and handheld types are getting less expensive. Here are some thoughts. Do you want or expect to need or use your radio with the Digital Selective Calling and distress/location system? If so, your radio must be capable of such operation – it uses Channel 70 – that’s the main DSC channel.
Basics of DSC http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/dig0101.htm
Too much info on DSC http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/dsc.htm
Do you want to monitor NOAA weather radio? Do you want NOAA weather alerts?

Ease of operation: Is it easy to change channels, modes, volume and work the other controls or are there tiny buttons with multiple functions, small writing or little knobs? How well can you adjust the radio in foul weather? Is the radio weather resistant or splashproof or submersible for “x” minutes at “y” feet?

Antennas mounted on a handheld are the least effective at sending and receiving signals. They are usually rubberized and about 6 inches long. There are improved antennas and telescopic antennas that may fit on some handheld radios. They WILL improve the performance of your handheld but are usually unwieldy and telescopic type whips always pull apart or break. Larger antennas mounted on a handheld add stress to the connector and may eventually cause a problem. In general, you can not beat the performance of a fixed mount gain antenna. You will talk and hear better and get more distance with a better antenna regardless of the type of VHF radio. For optimum sending and receiving the antenna should be high and vertical (the top of a sailboat mast is ideal for an antenna). You can use a handheld radio with a fixed antenna on the boat as a good compromise (I often do that).

Assume for a moment that both your fixed and your handheld use the same antenna and we will test and compare performance of the radios. They will usually receive signals equally well (this can vary between models and from brand to brand). The technical specifications usually reveal how well a radio picks up a weak signal and other great information however people rarely look at those and some specs use different standards making comparison difficult. The audio (sound) you hear will be nicer with a fixed radio. What you hear will be louder, less distorted and the larger speaker in the fixed radio will sound better. Makes a difference when the boat motor is running or there are other ambient noises. The speaker in the handheld is small and won’t go as loud and compromises the sound you hear. Some handheld radios can go louder than some others can (in the radio specifications under audio output – measured in watts or milli watts and associated with a % of distortion when set to a certain loud level).

Both the handheld and the fixed radio have a low power switch for transmitting – let’s assume they are both ONE watt and still use the same antenna. They will each have the same “talk power”. With the same antenna and 1 watt there is no advantage to either fixed or handheld. Just the ease of holding a radio vs a microphone. However, the handheld, with a maximum transmit power of 5 watts will not be heard as strongly or as far away as the 25 watt high power available from a fixed radio. Will you need that extra power? Once a “full quieting” signal (no static in the background) is achieved at the intended receiver then adding more power from the transmitter will not improve communications and should be avoided (under normal conditions).

Handheld is OK for many Lake Winnie boaters. With a handheld you need to find a place to mount it while you are under way and still be able listen and use it. You don’t want your handheld falling off the seat or hanging on your belt. You want it placed securely with the speaker pointing at you and the built in antenna in the best position to hear other stations. Will any plugs on the radio interfere with your expected mounting location? You need to be able to read the display to see what channel you are on (even in the sun). If you wear Polarized glasses you may need to check any radio LCD display to see if you can read it or if you need to tilt your head (repolarize) or remove the polarized glasses to read the LCD). If you choose to run your handheld from ship power (cig plug) you need to think of where to store the wire when not in use, where that wire will run and how to keep it while cruising. Same for the wires used for any external antenna and/or speaker. Some handhelds have a plug for external DC while others require an adapter (usually an option) that replaces the battery to get the external DC.

For you, Island Girl, I would think of a handheld. Why? Because you can take it with you to the island camp and in the car to listen to the local boat activity on channel 16 if you wish. You could even mount an external, fixed antenna on the boat, house or car for better results. Although a fixed radio is much simpler – no batteries or accessories to contend with.

When you shop for a VHF consider one that allows you to SCAN a few channels. There are several SCAN modes, one type is PRIORITY scan – that allows you to listen to one channel while checking another channel (like 16) for activity. For a handheld, look for one with an external plug for DC (cig cord), external antenna capable and external speaker (earphone jack?). You may want an optional external microphone so the radio stays in place (if the radio has such an option) when you talk. Maybe even a noise canceling mic so you can be heard over the motor (another optional item). Do you need a case or pouch to hold the radio? Sometimes the hi/low output power is determined by which battery pack you use (voltage of the battery = max power output). You will only get 5 watts with a 12-volt (or 13.8 volt) pack. A 12-volt pack will not last as long as the same physical size 8.4-volt pack with the same type battery. Will the battery attached to your radio charge while you are running off the cig cord? Do you need a charger at home to replenish the batteries and/or use the radio? Rapid Charge (an hour or 3) or regular charge (16 hours)? Make sure your base charger can charge your batteries in Rapid Charge mode if you have that style battery. Rapid charger is often another optional accessory. Add in the cost of an additional battery pack or two to your budget.

Handheld or walkie-talkie radios require care and feeding of batteries (which can be a whole thread itself)
What kind of battery? You mention no NiCads because of the “top off” problems. I top off my NiCads and recharge if unused for 3 or 4 weeks (will you do that with your Marine handheld batteries in winter?). On occasion I do a full discharge of my NiCads and then give them a full charge (careful not to let them run too far down). I won’t debate the myth and theories about “memory effect” on NiCads on this forum. Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) are a bit more expensive and have more CAPACITY than the same size Nickel Cadmium. I understand that you can NOT recharge NiMH as many times as you can recharge a NiCad before the battery won’t hold a good charge. My newer batteries are NiMH but I still have some NiCads in service. I hear that Lithium is OK but I have little experience with that type (and I don’t recall the results of a comparison I saw some months ago). what to look for Battery specifications – voltage, capacity (measured in amp hours or milli-amp hours – the bigger the number the more energy in the battery at that voltage), charger type required, physical size/weight, expected number of recharges. Can the radio be used during all battery charging options? Do you need to open the radio to change the batteries or is there a slide or snap on method? Are the batteries held securely or can they easily be dislodged?

I have both fixed and handheld. I prefer to use the fixed radio but usually leave it stored below and use the handheld with external power (12-volts) and my fixed ship antenna. I don’t leave the radio in the cockpit when I’m on shore. I too worry about theft even though my fixed radio is over 25 years old, only 10 channels and uses crystals for frequency control.

My boat has an 8 foot long 6 db gain antenna which I use with either radio. Some antenna manufacturer claims that their expensive 8 foot 6db antenna can be heard at a longer distance than when using their economy 8 foot 6db antenna. I wrote and finally spoke with their technical department and did not get what I consider any good, technical answer (but then I don’t always understand Shakespeare) about how their expensive 8 foot 6db antenna outperformed their economy 8 foot 6db antenna. It’s a ratio of power out of the transmitter to the power radiated from the antenna - be the antenna made of gold, copper or wood – if it measures 6db (referenced to the same standard) then it transmits and receives just like any other 8 foot 6 dB antenna of that style, PERIOD.

By the way, you can mount some antennas on a bow rail or have one installed rather cheaply. Put in a hole and run the wire. Some boat wire harnesses already have a place for you to tap for a 2-way radio power feed (check you boat manual wiring diagram if you have such). If your choice is based just on the installation portion of the fixed radio my advice is to bite the bullet and have it installed (you could do it yourself). The installation will probably cost less than all the optional accessories you need for the handheld. If you install it yourself and have some engine whine (alternator noise) on your transmitted signal there is an easy filter fix for that common problem.

Hope this gives you some things to think about. Any specific questions please ask or e-mail me.

Good luck - see you on the Lake.
AL, Skipper of the Sea Que (CQ)